Networked DVRS (Analog) V/S IP Cameras and VMS

Ram Natarajan Cradle Technology CTO talks about the advantages of Networked DVRS (Analog) V/S IP Cameras and VMS

Smart networked Analog Servers like enVigil incorporate efficient streaming of compressed video ( MPEG4 or H.264) using a matrix of cameras and streaming a single of channel of Video with multiple cameras embedded into it. This is accomplished by having a matrix composition in the memory at a high refresh rate ( about 10 to 15 frames a second), encoding using MPEG4 or H.264 and streaming it at anywhere from 200 to 500 Kilo-bites per second. The resulting user experience is much better compared to remote view of NVRs or consolidating IP cameras at the same bit rate. This is mainly because the IP cameras stream individual JPEG streams and because of the low Internet bandwidth available one ends up with a inferior quality of video with low refresh rates. Since it takes enormous amounts of processing power to composite the incoming IP streams in a matrix form (because it involves decoding the incoming JPEG/ MPEG4/ H.264 IP streams scaling down and composition), it is impossible to achieve the same smooth motion rendition video as with the networked Video Servers.

Also with IP Cameras the internal LAN bandwidth requirements significantly increase when the number of cameras exceed 32 and when you want to save the video data at high quality. You are forced to use a parallel network that will carry the IP Video Streams. So in affect the claim from IP Video Surveillance people that the customer will save on wiring is just not true. In terms of power supply the IP cameras and Analog cameras behave in the same manner, in that they need a power supply unit. Analog has an advantage since the power and Video, Audio and RS485 signals can all run on a single CAT5 cable.