IP Camera vs Analog Video Security

Video surveillance is one of the best security measures in the UK. Thanks to technology, we have more options than ever. In this sense, the first choice that arises is to choose between an IP camera and an analog camera. But what is the difference between analogue and IP cameras? Here, we tell you everything so you can make the best decision.

What’s the difference between analogue and IP cameras? 

Meaning of IP camera and analog camera

An analog camera gets its name from the way it transmits video to the receiver, which can be recording equipment, a television, or a computer. The video is sent with analog signals through electrical frequencies in a defined voltage range that the receiver, in turn, also converts into an image through a video-to-video converter.

An IP camera gets its name from being a computer that connects to a computer network through the Internet Protocol or IP, which is the way computers communicate in most computer networks.

Video recording

An analog camera by itself does not work at all, it necessarily requires a computer that receives its video signal to record, analyze or encode it, which is known as a Digital Video Recorder or DVR.

The difference between analogue and IP cameras is that an IP camera is itself a computer, with a processor, RAM, and in some cases even storage, so an IP Camera by itself would commonly be able to record video to an SD or Micro-SD card without the need for a recorder. Even so, it is recommended for multi-camera projects to centralize the recording on a computer, which in this case is called a Network Video Recorder or NVR (Network Video Recorder).

Analytics of an IP camera and an analog camera

Analytics refers to the ability of the camera to recognize patterns in images that could be: Movement, sudden changes in the image, crossing lines, temperature, or others.

Analog cameras do not have pattern recognition capabilities and their transmission medium is also limited in sending more additional information to the video. In this sense, the analysis and computing capacity will be left in the hands of the receiver, which can be a recorder (DVR) or a piece of computer equipment that can analyze the video and act on it.

IP cameras, on the other hand, being computers with cameras that process the information internally, are capable of encoding and compressing it before sending it to the NVR or the recording computer. In their coding process, they can even actively analyze the displayed information in what is known in the media as “Video Analytics” and make decisions based on it.

Maximum wiring distance

Analog cameras are the winners in this category of difference between analogue and IP cameras. The same thing happens with electrical energy, with Alternating Current (AC) it is possible to go further with less loss than with Direct Current (DC) which rapidly loses at greater distances. As the transmission mechanism of the Analog cameras is based on Alternating Currents, they have fewer losses and their signal can reach further, however here not only the transmission of the signal but also the power supply of the camera itself comes into play.

In the case of IP cameras, just like a computer, they use direct voltages and currents to transmit information and their power will almost always be sent through the same ethernet network cable, which is limited to a maximum distance of 100 meters as a rule. However, here you can play a bit with greater distances, sacrificing transmission speed.

Real-time video

When it comes to real-time video, it is also a strength of Analog cameras, since the video is shown with practically no delays when viewed directly from the receiver, which could be the DVR or a computer that receives the signal and to which we connect a monitor.

In the case of IP cameras, the real-time view could have some small delays due to the fact that the video compression, analytics, or any other treatment done to the image will take a little time and could generate a little bit of delay in the live view. However, this will improve at higher camera processing speed and by configuring parameters such as Frame Rates or frames per second of the view in real-time.

NOTE: It is important to mention that these delays have nothing to do with the view of any type of camera on the cell phone or through the internet, since it will depend on additional factors such as internet speed and encryption, among others.

Maintenance cost

If we think about the cost of maintenance as a difference between analogue and IP cameras based on the possible points of failure, the installation of analog cameras implies a greater number of components to be installed, such as converters at each end of the cable and power sources to power the cameras.

The IP cameras in their favor result in a “cleaner” installation that, if well-executed, results in the camera, the cable, and the NVR without additional components.

Resolution and image quality of IP camera and analog camera

Analog cameras until recently had been relegated in terms of image quality and it was their weakest point, but with the arrival of HD/CVI, they received new life to give better image quality at a lower initial cost.

However, the IP cameras will not have limitations, in principle they will follow the trend of computers to improve exponentially and for the moment they beat the analog ones when we talk about 4K Ultra HD resolution, 8 megapixels or higher.

Conclusion

In this article, we went over the difference between analogue and IP cameras. For large installations, it could be that analog video surveillance systems make sense in terms of costs, it could also be relevant for companies that do not want to have cameras connected to their network for security reasons (for which there are also solutions), but the thing to keep in mind here is that analog cameras will eventually be replaced by computing and the higher performance that IP cameras will provide.

Our recommendation will tend to the inevitable: IP cameras and IP video surveillance systems are now the present and will be the future. Although today they may still be on par on some issues, that is about to be reversed at any moment.