How to select, install and configure IP video cameras, how to launch a video surveillance system. The best IP cameras for video surveillance IP camera for indoors

Wi-Fi cameras are in demand:

• to monitor children, household staff and employee work;
• monitoring the condition of retail outlets and public places;
• monitoring the situation at construction sites;
• observations of animals and plants in laboratories and research centers;
• control of local areas, parking lots and basements, entrances to protected areas.

Capabilities of IP CCTV cameras

• With IR illumination, shooting at night is possible.
• Recording according to a scenario, when shooting begins when a motion sensor is triggered or the power supply to the object is lost.
• Image scaling, including online.
• Shooting in difficult conditions, including strong light exposure.
• Power supply via connection cable provided that PoE technology is supported.

Depending on the location, IP cameras can be either outdoor or indoor. First of all, they differ in the degree of protection of the case. In addition, there are differences in functionality.

According to their design, WI-FI cameras are divided into dome and cylindrical. In the first case, they have a wide viewing angle and allow you to obtain panoramic images of the object. In the second, the cameras have a directional effect. However, due to the zoom lens, shooting at different scales is possible.

Depending on the connection technology, there are wired and wireless cameras. The advantage of the first option is the stability of the connection to the server for data transfer. For the second - the ease of connecting equipment to the LAN network. In this case, Internet and cellular communication channels (3G online cameras) can be used for data transmission.

Archive storage can be organized:

• on the server of the local network in which the device operates;
• in the Internet cloud;
• offline on a memory card.

Features of deploying systems based on IP cameras

1. View recordings without using a computer. To organize video surveillance, it is enough to install a monitor and a video recorder.
2. Video surveillance via the Internet. Remote access is implemented through a special application on a smartphone or computer. Data is transmitted using a P2P server located on the Internet. In this case, you do not need to obtain a static IP address from your provider.
3. Working on a local network. Online broadcasting and access to archives are carried out via LAN network computers and do not require an Internet connection.

IP cameras from Zodiac Wireless Solutions LLC

We cooperate directly with manufacturers and sell equipment without intermediaries. Due to this, we set favorable prices for the entire model range. From us you can buy IP video cameras for surveillance systems for any purpose. There are both cheap home options and professional solutions for organizations. We also offer ready-made kits for apartments, cottages, small shops and cafes. When making your own choice, take into account the viewing angle, lens sensitivity, resolution of the resulting image, supported data formats, and functionality. Delivery of orders is carried out throughout Moscow and throughout Russia.

Examples of using IP surveillance cameras

Mini IP camera Zodiak 910	PTZ IP camera Zodiak 909	Dome IP camera Zodikam 300
Outdoor Wi-Fi camera Zodiak 315W	PTZ Wi-Fi camera Zodiak 309	Zodikam 202
Compact PTZ Wi-Fi Camera

Similar to their outdated analog predecessors, digital IP cameras create images of moving and stationary objects and transmit this information to monitors or storage devices. To install video surveillance using IP cameras, there is no need to lay a coaxial cable. It is much easier to use computer infrastructure. There are no restrictions on the distance from the monitor to the camera. The thesis that information in digital form is much easier to analyze and save is not subject to discussion.

Depending on the model, IP cameras are equipped with a number of additional options, for example, a motion sensor, recording to a memory card, and improving image quality.

We have compiled a list of the best IP cameras based on expert assessments and reviews from real customers. Our recommendations will help you make a choice that suits your needs and desires. There are many competitors in the global technology market, but we have selected the best manufacturers and recommend paying special attention to them:

1. Hikvision
2. Rubetek

For video surveillance For home Outdoor With Wi-Fi With microphone Resolution: Full HD P2P support Motion detection

*Prices are correct at the time of publication and are subject to change without notice.

IP cameras: For video surveillance

Motion detection / For video surveillance / Resolution: Full HD/ Street

Main advantages

• The level of protection of the camera from dirt and moisture getting inside the device meets the IP66 standard, which is established for devices located outdoors
• In the list of options, it is necessary to note the wide dynamic range, thanks to which a good picture is obtained when shooting objects of different contrasts
• Infrared illumination with a range of up to 30 meters makes the camera an indispensable assistant in places with poor lighting
• Video signal data compression is carried out using the innovative H.264 codec, which makes it possible to significantly save disk space
• The device has a sensitive motion detector and a mechanical-type infrared filter to correct color rendering at any time of the day.

Motion detection / For video surveillance / Resolution: Full HD

Main advantages

• The proprietary EXIR system based on thin-film light-emitting components and a rectangular lens produces uniform IR illumination at a distance of up to 30 meters
• Compliance with IP67 class ensures complete protection of the camera from the penetration of dust and water, which allows the device to be used in all weather conditions
• A basic video sensor based on a 1/3 CMOS matrix with progressive scanning and a resolution of 4 MP produces high-quality images at any time of the day
• The device’s support for intelligent smart video analytics guarantees highly accurate motion detection, as well as the operation of an anti-sabotage system.
• Additional security in terms of data retention and protection against unauthorized access is provided by IP address filtering and user authentication

Motion detection / For video surveillance/ For home / Resolution: Full HD/ With Wi-Fi / Outdoor

Main advantages

• A comprehensive image enhancement system with support for BLC, ROI and 3D DNR technologies ensures high quality video images in low light conditions, direct exposure to sunlight and other negative factors.
• Day/night mode switching can be done automatically, according to a schedule or an alarm.
• Motion detection algorithms detect the intrusion of objects into a specified field of view or the intersection of a specific line
• Compliance with IP67 and IK10 standards guarantees complete protection against dust and water, as well as the operability of the device after shock loads of 20 J on the external housing
• Supported video compression codecs include standard MJPEG as well as H.264/264+
• Power can be supplied via a standard 12V adapter or via PoE, allowing the camera to be mounted remotely from an outlet

Show all products in the category “For video surveillance”

IP cameras: For home

Motion detection Resolution: Full HD

Main advantages

• Innovative 1/2.7-inch CMOS sensor with high sensitivity and advanced scanning system ensures good video quality in places that require identification of small objects or visitors' faces
• A characteristic feature of the model is the Wi-Fi module, which is built into the camera. The presence of the module makes it possible to broadcast a video signal wirelessly, which greatly facilitates the installation of the device
• The device is powered from a 12 V power supply or uses PoE technology
• The microphone built into the video camera makes it possible to transmit audio signals
• Even in poor lighting conditions, the infrared illuminator helps you shoot video effectively at a distance of up to 10 meters

Motion detection/ For home / P2P support / Resolution: Full HD/ With Wi-Fi / With microphone

Main advantages

• Glass optical system and high-sensitivity sensors provide high-resolution video with full detail and color balance.
• The camera rotates 340° and tilts 90° allowing you to fully view the room wherever the device is installed
• Built-in speaker and microphone provide reliable two-way audio communication
• It is necessary to emphasize the alarm mode. When operating in this mode, the device makes a short video when an object moves in the field of view. A notification is sent to the smartphone with access to the footage
• The device has infrared illumination, which allows you to clearly recognize objects in night mode. It helps to shoot in the dark not only indoors, but also outdoors

The camera can be connected via wire or Wi-Fi. Swivel system helps improve reception conditions

The device is equipped with a power port, and there is a special slot for a memory card

The device can realize its capabilities without a Control Center (implying a “smart home” system). It is possible to bind 64 RUBETEK sensors to the camera via RF frequency for complete control over the object

All necessary and future video recordings can be stored in HD quality on a memory card, external drive and in the cloud

Show all products in the category "Home"

Evgeniy Sedov

When your hands grow from the right place, life is more fun :)

Content

Analog video surveillance systems are being replaced by an IP camera, which, like a computer, has its own IP address. The device was developed quite recently, but immediately won the championship in ease of use and functionality. The main purpose of the device is security and monitoring of objects. Information is recorded and transmitted in encrypted form.

What is an IP camera

The best technology for visual surveillance is an IP camera that transmits images in digital format over TCP/IP networks, for example, over WiFi. At industrial and public facilities, in homes or offices, such surveillance systems have become, if not a mandatory attribute, then a very common technique. IP cameras record everything that happens in the room or around it. Information may be needed to ensure security, control the work process, and discipline employees.

Principle of operation

IP surveillance cameras are a mini-computer that performs a limited number of functions: receiving a signal (audio, video), data compression, transmitting information to the receiver. The image enters the CCD matrix and is converted into an electrical signal. Unlike analog systems, the IP video image is transmitted via a local network or the Internet. Each device has an IP address, an IP server, and an integrated network interface. Data, thanks to a static address, can be accessed anywhere in the world.

Kinds

IP video cameras quickly burst onto the market, quickly gaining popularity. Manufacturers are constantly improving equipment, adding additional functionality, and expanding its capabilities. The result is an extensive product range. It can be classified according to several parameters:

1. Terms of Use. The location in which the IP camera will be used determines the quality of its housing. Outdoor use will require serious protection from dust, dirt, precipitation, and temperature changes. In some cases, a vandal-proof housing is needed. Inexpensive options with minimal protection are suitable for the home.
2. Viewing angle. Based on this parameter, cameras with a fixed (standard, wide-angle, telescopic) and variable viewing angle and focus (rotary systems) are distinguished. There are also panoramic ones that can rotate 360°.
3. Availability of additional options. For certain operating conditions and requirements, additional functions have been developed: IR illumination, sound recording, recording data on a memory card, image enlargement, motion sensor and others.

Connection

Even without involving the services of specialists, you can connect an IP video camera. There is a connector on the back of the device for a wired connection. It will help answer the question of how to connect an IP camera to a computer or laptop. To do this, you will need a network cable with the appropriate connectors. For a wireless connection, a router is used.

Settings

Using certain settings, you can get full access to the options of an outdoor or indoor IP camera. The devices operate autonomously, so no other equipment is required. Install the camera in the desired location, configure the connection, shooting quality and operating conditions. You can connect directly to the local network using a wired or wireless method. Modern models already have an internal network or a program for connecting to the Internet.

Buy an IP camera

The consumer market offers a wide range of models of this modern technology. Manufacturers from many countries around the world offer products that differ in functionality, shooting quality, methods of transmitting information, design and other features. They have a common main function - transmitting video images in digital format.

Wanscam

A multifunctional device from Wanscam provides the ability to view video not only online, but also recorded. High resolution, many additional functions, simple setup of the IP camera for viewing via the Internet make it a leader among indoor surveillance devices:

• Model name: Wanscam megapixel HD HW0026-1;
• price: 1100 rubles;
• characteristics: internal, color image, wireless;
• pros: memory card up to 64 GB with the ability to view remotely through an application for devices with Android, Windows and iOS, high resolution 1280*720 pixels, low power consumption, infrared filter;
• cons: not found.

Another successful development of the famous Wanscam brand is HW0052. The IP camera provides high-quality resolution for clear images, a powerful processor, and protection from humidity and low temperatures. This device is ideal for connecting to a video surveillance system from several cameras in a country house:

• Model name: HW0052;
• price: 2150 rubles;
• characteristics: street, viewing angle – 85 degrees;
• pros: easy setup, automatic activation of IR illumination;
• cons: no audio, no memory card.

Ocam

Taking care of its customers, Ocam offers a wide range of cameras for remote surveillance of a home, office, factory or surrounding area. Buying an IP surveillance camera from Ocam is a step towards business or home security. Among the products, the following option is in particular demand among consumers:

• Model name: OCam M3 WiFi;
• price: 3450 rubles;
• characteristics: indoor installation, IR illumination, built-in microphone and speaker, network protocols - DDNS client, DHCP client, HTTP / HTTPS, IPv4, IPv6, RTSP, TCP/IP, IP address filtering, 1 mp CMOS GPU sensor;
• pluses: night photography, motion sensor;
• cons: high cost.

Another popular device for monitoring your home or office is OCam M3 WiFi. Simple controls, switching modes in one click, recording photos and videos are advantages that many users appreciate:

• Model name: M3 WiFi series;
• price: 3920 rubles;
• characteristics: room, sound and motion recognition, viewing angle – 120 degrees;
• pros: built-in microphone, speaker;
• cons: no recording to the cloud.

Philips

Vast experience in equipment manufacturing is the basis for Philips’ success in the development and creation of IP video cameras. Products with different functionality and in any price category are entering the market. The existing version is reliable and guarantees good shooting quality even in difficult working conditions:

• Model name: Philips Wireless Home Monitor Silver;
• price: 5990 rubles;
• characteristics: internal, wireless, hard drive capacity – from 1 GB;
• pros: highly sensitive microphone, reliable encryption method, ability to connect 16 monitors;
• cons: not found.

PHILIPS offers a high-quality option for monitoring your home or office at an affordable price:

• model name: IP camera PHILIPS M100E/12;
• price: 3999 rubles;
• characteristics: internal, video resolution - 640x480 pixels;
• pros: unique encryption code for each connection, noise and motion sensor;
• cons: not found.

TP-Link

TP-Link's production is located in Taiwan and is known throughout the world. The products belong to the budget segment of the market, but are of decent quality. The excellent cost-quality ratio has led to high demand for such a camera:

• Model name: DCS-5020L;
• price: 5020 rubles;
• characteristics: color, rotating, Wi-Fi support, focal length 2.2 mm;
• advantages: large coverage of the observation area, low cost;
• cons: no anti-vandal housing.

For home and office, an excellent option that can be purchased cheaply through promotions and discounts is the TP-LINK NC200 IP camera. The wireless cloud camera can be configured to automatically send messages to your smartphone or computer when motion is detected, keeping your home safe. It only takes a few minutes to set up an IP camera; the manufacturer has simplified the task as much as possible:

• Model name: TP-LINK NC200;
• price: 2490 rubles;
• characteristics: internal, cabinet-mounted, viewing angle – 64 degrees;
• pros: high functionality, motion detection, email notification;
• cons: no IR illumination.

Hikvision

The Chinese company Hikvision specializes in the production of video surveillance equipment. The company occupies a leading position in this market segment. Products made in China are of high quality. The following device is actively sold worldwide:

• Model name: DS-2CD2542FWD-IS;
• price: 16,000 rubles;
• characteristics: dome, 4 MP resolution, rotating;
• pluses: anti-vandal protection;
• Cons: IR illumination only up to 10 meters.

An inexpensive option for working outdoors would be the Hikvision DS-2CD2022WD-I. You can order the device on the Aliexpress trading platform, in online stores in Moscow, St. Petersburg or other Russian cities with delivery by mail. The compact body, sufficient functionality, and the presence of IR illumination (up to 30 meters) make this device popular and best-selling:

• Model name: DS-2CD2022WD-I;
• price: 9990 rubles;
• characteristics: outdoor, 2 megapixel resolution, 2 video streams, fixed lens type, minimum illumination for color shooting - 0.01 lux;
• pros: affordable price, support for night mode;
• cons: no vandal-resistant case, low expansion, no power supply included.

Rubetek

Specializing in the production of devices for the Smart Home system, Rubetek is a well-known supplier of IP cameras. The products are distinguished by thoughtful details, high quality, and belong to the middle and high price segment. One of the successful solutions for the home is presented below:

• Model name: RV-3404;
• price: 3690 rubles;
• characteristics: internal, viewing angle – 355 degrees, motion sensor;
• pros: two-way voice communication, external memory card, high resolution;
• cons: plastic case, high cost.

For constant visual monitoring of the territory, experts recommend paying attention to the IP512E-1.0MP. Video recording can be done to the cloud, external storage or internal memory:

• name: IP512E-1.0MP;
• cost: 3261 rubles;
• characteristics: outdoor, mechanical IR filter, viewing angle – 73 degrees;
• pros: infrared mode, fast connection;
• cons: no vandal-proof housing, no Wi-Fi connection.

Zodiac

High-tech solutions for organizing video surveillance. A wide product range, ease of management and configuration, decent quality have become the reason for the popularity of the product among individuals and institutions. The following system is one of the top sellers:

• name: Zodiak 909W;
• cost: 5950 rubles;
• characteristics: internal, rotating, dimensions 105x100x130 mm, night shooting mode - up to 10-15 meters, mobile platforms - Android, IOS;
• pros: built-in microphone and speaker;
• cons: no recording to the cloud.

For street surveillance, several camera options are produced under the Russian brand Zodiak. A compact sample with high video quality deserves special attention from consumers:

• name: Zodiak 814W;
• cost: 4990 rubles;
• characteristics: outdoor, Wi-Fi support;
• pluses: presence of a microphone, recording on a memory card;
• cons: small viewing angle – 65 degrees.

Beward

IP video surveillance is the specialty of Bevard. The narrow focus of activity and the long period of work have become the reason for the affordable price of products with the highest quality. From a series of professional IP cameras for video surveillance, the following option is in demand:

• Model name: Beward CD630;
• price: 6099 rubles;
• characteristics: street,
• pros: night shooting mode, mechanical IR filter, affordable price;
• cons: no Wi-Fi, vandal-proof housing.

Among Bevard's budget options there are many worthy representatives who can ensure the safety of your home. N1250 deserves consumer attention:

• Model name: N1250;
• price: 4077 rubles;
• characteristics: internal, color, motion detector, Wi-Fi module;
• pros: quick installation, Russian-language web interface;
• cons: not found.

Orient

Orient has a special position in the market. The manufacturer has improved the product as much as possible, eliminating any problems during equipment installation. Good resolution, great detail, attractive design make the equipment famous among buyers:

• Model name: ORIENT IP-950-SH14B;
• price: 3528 rubles;
• characteristics: outdoor installation, matrix size 1/3 inches, automatic day/night shooting mode;
• pros: IR illumination range up to 20 meters, waterproof and frost-resistant housing;
• cons: no anti-vandal protection.

Budget and miniature Orient IP-940-OH10B is a good buy for those who want to install indoor surveillance. The product is characterized by high signal clarity, although it belongs to the cheap range:

• Model name: Orient IP-940-OH10B;
• price: 2220 rubles;
• characteristics: Ethernet port, color, dome, internal;
• pros: metal case, powerful IR illumination;
• cons: access only from the Internet Explorer browser.

How to choose an IP camera

A large variety of products can be challenging. To make the right purchase and not pay dearly for unnecessary functionality, start from a number of criteria:

1. Installation location. Cameras can be installed indoors and outdoors. For external variations, protection from temperature, moisture and mechanical influences is provided.
2. Illumination and sensitivity. The presence of day/night functions and IR illumination are important parameters when operating the camera in low light conditions.
3. Focal length and camera resolution. To solve each problem, you should select your own parameters. For a general overview, you need a wide-angle lens and VGA resolution. Determine the denominations of banknotes - high resolution. Vehicle license plate identification – long-focus lens.
4. Video quality and stream size. Modern compression algorithms provide greater archive depth with a small volume of storage systems. Customizable shutter speed, auto iris and other image adjustments create high-quality video.
5. Speaker and microphone. These functions are needed, if necessary, not only to observe, but also to hear what is happening and to convey a message.
6. Price category. Security is expensive. Network cameras that are too budget-friendly may not be of sufficient quality. The reliability of products that will work under any conditions can be determined by focusing on the reputation of the manufacturer and supplier.

Security at the site is not only the presence of some kind of video communication, but also high-quality video surveillance, which allows you to manage the settings of the video server and each of the video cameras. Analogue cameras have been replaced by more advanced and functional IP systems.

Advantages and disadvantages of IP CCTV cameras

An IP camera is a video camera with a built-in network interface that allows you to transmit a video image not in analog form (as via a coaxial cable), but using a digital signal that is fully prepared for further transmission over computer networks and the Internet, i.e. “packaged” in TCP/IP format. By the way, IP television is based on the same principle.

The advantages of IP video cameras are as follows:

Disadvantages of IP video surveillance:

1. High cost of equipment.
2. More complex installation and commissioning, requiring knowledge of network protocols. It is necessary to configure each of the video cameras over the network.
3. Low length of the video line from the IP camera to the video recorder (main PC, server station). Signal amplification may be required - without this, the speed will drop, and for high-quality images from each camera you often need 10 or more megabits per second. If the speed decreases sharply, the image will freeze, be interrupted, or not turn on at all.

From an IP video camera you can receive an image in HD format (1920*1080 or more). More expensive models allow you to shoot video with quality no worse than on the iPhone 6/7/8.

Video: examples of street video shooting from a high-quality IP camera

How to choose an IP camera

Before listing cameras from leading companies and more fully revealing all types of such equipment, it makes sense to mention the scope of its application.

Housing type and optical characteristics

In addition to software capabilities and video quality, it is worth paying attention to the appearance and performance of the camera.

1. The classic form factor (camera module on a transforming leg with a rotating mechanism) is often used for outdoor video surveillance, for example, in the courtyard of a university, hospital or sanatorium. The same cameras, but with a visor like a traffic light, are often used on the sunny side of buildings, where light exposure would prevent cars and people from being seen in great detail.

   Cylindrical cameras are mounted on tripods that allow you to orient the lens in all three planes

2. Desktop models have a stand - they can be conveniently placed on a table or shelf and used as high-definition webcams.

   Desktop cameras are often equipped with a Wi-Fi module that allows you to connect to the server wirelessly

3. Round (dome) cameras can be used in places where there is no need to attract the attention of visitors with sharp outlines of equipment, for example, in the corridors of hospitals and clinics, warehouses, libraries, schools and universities, etc. With their hemispherical shape, they resemble security/security sensors fire alarm, so an ignorant person will not immediately realize that it is a video camera and not a smoke detector or tracking sensor.

   To most visitors it will seem like a smoke detector, and the camera will provide a detailed image of the required areas

4. Large unit cameras can be used, for example, in hospital operating rooms to record videos demonstrating complex operations where it is important to track every small manipulation of vital organs: removal of tumors on the heart or brain, removal of small/multiple foreign bodies, etc.

   In rooms where surgical operations are performed, special cameras are used that allow you to view everything that is happening with the necessary degree of detail.

The full size IP camera has:

• volumetric high-quality optical mechanism with finely tuned focusing, including optical “zoom” - there are no restrictions due to its miniature dimensions, because this is not a “bug”;
• a professional matrix with a resolution of several tens of megapixels and excellent light sensitivity;
• high-performance and ultra-fast video processor and large RAM, allowing you to work with video at high speed - from hundreds of frames per second;
• the best functional units, providing almost instantaneous automatic adjustment to the lighting and contrasts of the transmitted image, as well as fast transmission of a high-quality video signal to the line.

But small-sized (more compact) cameras are easier to disguise. In recent years, the market for video recording and surveillance equipment has seen more and more mini-camera models that are not inferior in image quality to their much larger counterparts.

The aerobatics are ultra-high-speed IP cameras that track a flying bullet or projectile that breaks, for example, rock samples on a test bench placed together with such a camera in a special capsule. Shooting speed - up to 5000 frames per second. Naturally, they require high video line speed - the interface must support at least Ethernet-1000/10000 technology (Fast Ethernet Gigabit) and/or at least IEEE 802.11ac (Wi-Fi speed more than 1 Gbit/s), and the PC or server must have decent performance reserve. The camera itself must be not only shock-resistant, but also explosion-proof in case of intense scattering of captured particles. But such equipment is already exotic.

Types of IP cameras

There are many IP cameras on the market to choose from - it all depends on your requirements. Whether the camera will work inside or outside a building, stand on a shelf or attached to a wall or ceiling, shoot video in high humidity or in a dry and clean room - there is always the most suitable model at your service.

PTZ video camera

PTZ cameras are available in both standard wall-mount and dome form factors. They have frame tilt and zoom functions. Such cameras are well protected from vibrations during a hurricane, which makes it possible to better compress video to save the video storage memory occupied by recorded videos on a PC or server. Optimal compression without sacrificing quality guarantees the fastest possible transfer of captured content to a DVR or server room, and its reproduction on all PCs and gadgets on which you deem it necessary to save this content.

PTZ video camera turns its eye after a person or machine

The PTZ video camera has a software protective mask that is triggered when the viewing angle is accidentally or intentionally changed or the lens itself with the matrix unit is rotated. This function is useful when you do not need an overview of classified objects in the camera’s field of view - in other words, you can obscure or move away the hidden object or part of it.

The function of rotating and “mirroring” the transmitted video image is also available - it is needed for dome cameras when an object moves under them (E-Flip effect). The Auto-Flip function almost instantly rotates the camera module 180 degrees, maintaining the angle of the observed object. And the auto-tracking functionality allows you to effectively place PTZ cameras so that they cover the coverage area of ​​the entire object with the minimum possible number of cameras themselves.

Video: review of the Orient NCL-225HS PTZ camera

Panoramic cameras

These are several simple wide-angle video cameras (2–4 modules), the images from which are superimposed on each other, forming a circular panorama. Video modules are located on a common ring-shaped base. The module can also be a group one - with combined matrices to give the image a panoramic view.

A panoramic camera often resembles a security sensor

There are several video modes for such cameras:

• single panorama (360 degrees);
• two half-images (180 degrees each);
• four quarters (90 degrees each, quadratic video shooting);
• round (general) picture (fisheye cameras aimed straight down).

The disadvantage of a panoramic video camera is the lack of targeted image detail in a specific location.

The recording of the transmitted image is organized either by file (each part of the image is recorded in a separate folder in the form of files by date and time of shooting), or “collectively” (the image is collected in pieces and saved into single files, as parts of photo panoramas on the Google Street server). In emergency mode, when the DVR and/or server are turned off or Internet access (remote access) is temporarily unavailable, the image is recorded on the built-in memory or on an SD memory card.

Comparison of video cameras from leading manufacturers

IP cameras have not yet reached video resolutions of tens of megapixels in the mass segment. Such permission is required only in exceptional cases:

• in hospitals and clinics for remote monitoring of the progress of operations;
• when using macro photography, for example, when carefully checking documents and banknotes, during scientific research - there the video camera is rigidly fixed, equipped with special lenses and is unlikely to belong to the class of IP video surveillance cameras;
• for all kinds of special services to perform tasks requiring high-quality and controlled video images.

Mainly for commercial objects (shops, dealer outlets, markets, offices, etc.) a resolution of 0.3–3.2 megapixels is used - this is enough to identify and detain an attacker.

For review, we selected IP cameras that have a full arsenal of standard functions that allow monitoring from any gadget. Surveillance on the following video camera models is carried out both near the object and from any location.

Table: comparison of TP-Link video camera parameters

IP camera model	NC450	NC200	NC250	NC220	NC230
Matrix type	CMOS
Purpose	stationary	portable	portable with stand	portable
Matrix size	1/4
Permission	1 MP (1280*720)	0.3 MP (640*480)	1 MP (1280*720)	0.3 MP (640*480)	1 MP (1280*720)
Aperture	f/2	f/2.8
Frequency, frames per second	30	20	30	30	20
Video codec	H-264	M-JPEG	H-264
Connecting with gadgets via Wi-Fi	No	yes (up to 300 Mbit/s)
Focus	3.6 mm (constant)	changeable	3,85
Horizontal viewing angle, degrees.	75	64
Nutrition	12 V, up to 12 W	9 V, up to 5.4 W
Housing material	plastic
Size, mm	144*109*106	96*61*24	137*76*69	137*76*69
Permissible relative humidity (non-condensing)	up to 90%
Operating temperature range	0–40 o C

TP-Link IP cameras require a power supply voltage of 9 or 12 V. If the power supply does not have a power reserve relative to that specified in the specifications of a particular model, the video camera will start, but when it starts shooting it will fail and will restart cyclically, and then or will transmit a reduced resolution image in black and white mode and with a reduced frame rate, or it will never start working, issuing a corresponding signal with a text warning at the output and/or flashing the backlight.

The inexpensive TP-Link NC450 IP camera has a resolution of 1 MP, a built-in Wi-Fi module and two-way audio communication

Be careful with IP cameras whose body is made of plastic. Plastic has worse heat dissipation than an aluminum case. As a result of overheating of the IP camera, there may be failures and freezes in shooting and image transmission, and deterioration in the quality of the video signal. In the heat of summer, if the body is not white, the camera will overheat greatly, so purchasing such devices without a protective visor or placing them in the open sun is not recommended.

Table: comparison of Axis IP cameras

IP camera model	214 PTZ	Q8722-E 35MM 8.3 FPS	Q1910-E	Q1910	P5544
Type of execution	domed	standard, street			domed
Matrix type	CCD	CMOS			CCD
Scan	interlaced	line by line
Matrix size	1/4	1/3	1/4	1/4	1/3
Matrix resolution	0.4 MP (704*480)	2 MP	0.3 MP (640*480)		1,3 (1280*720)
Frequency, frames per second	30	8			30
Video codec	M-JPEG/H-264
Backlight	No
Lens focus, mm	4,1–73,8	35	13		4,7 - 84,6
Sound recording	No		No	Yes	yes (codecs G.711, G.726, MPEG-4 AAC, duplex mode)
Net	Ethernet-100 Base-T		Ethernet-100, PoE 802.3af		Ethernet-100
Firmware change	Yes	No
Dimensions (installation)	157*151*165	non-standard	200*170*170 (for installation)		183*183*216
Nutrition	12V DC	24V AC	12V DC		Universal (High PoE 802.3at, 24V DC, 24V AC, 100–240V AC)
SD memory cards	No	SD/SDHC/SDXC	SD/SDHC

Models Q1910 and Q1910-E repeat each other in everything, except for minor differences, such as, for example, the ability to listen to the situation at the site.

Interlaced scanning, unlike progressive scanning, allows you to reduce the frequency band occupied by the image by half. The principle of operation of such an IP camera repeats the outdated analog TV in the PAL/SECAM system - only the resulting image is immediately converted to digital format and “packed” into IP.

Be careful when changing firmware! If you upgraded to an incompatible version, you can limit the functionality or ruin the operation of the IP camera for a long time, and only the manufacturer’s service center will be able to restore it for you.

IP cameras running on 24V AC 50/60Hz are rare. To work with such a camera, you need a power supply that contains only a step-down transformer with a short circuit protection device.

Axis Q8722-E 35MM 8.3 FPS IP Camera has a built-in thermal imager and can continuously rotate 360 ​​degrees

Even less common are IP cameras in which the power supply is completely built into the camera itself - they only need to be plugged into a household power supply. The disadvantage in the event of failure of such a camera is the need to convert these cameras to DC power and then remove the “extra” elements.

Table: best Wanscam IP cameras

IP camera model	HW0042	HW0045	HW0028	HW0022	HW0038
Lens Focus	3,6	2.8–12 (variable)		3,6	4
Night illumination, number of LEDs	2	6	22	6	22
Viewing angle, degrees	120		90	110	85
Purpose of the camera	external
Matrix size	1/3	1/2,7	1/4	1/3	1/4
Permission	1.3 MP (1280*1024)	1920×1080	1 MP (1280*720)	2 MP (1980*1020)	1 MP (1280*720)
Availability of PoE (working with an injector)	Yes	No
Motion sensor, recording based on object movement	yes (supports monitoring of up to 4 zones simultaneously)
Video codec	H.264/MJPEG/JPEG
Connecting with gadgets via Wi-Fi	up to 150 Mbit/s
SD memory card support	up to 128 GB
Nutrition	adapter 12 V 2 A		adapter 5V 2A
Sound recording	No
Size (with packaging), mm	200*180*120	260*280*200	260*280*195	170*70*60	260*280*195
PTZ rotation	No	optical zoom 5x, 355*90°	optical zoom 3x, 355*90°	No
Frame rate per second	25

A 2 MP image is used on a large object, for example, in a long corridor, up to hundreds of meters, or in a vast parking lot, hundreds and thousands of square meters. Optical “zoom” and variable lens focus also help here, allowing you to see, for example, a person walking to his car, left far from the front entrance or the corners of the building where the video camera is located, when auto-tracking functions are turned on.

The Wanscam HW0045 IP camera has a 2 MP resolution and a variable focus lens, so it is designed for monitoring large objects

The larger the memory card, the more reliable video surveillance will be in case of sudden problems in the local network - more videos will be recorded when moving people and cars are detected in the camera’s field of view.

Table: characteristics of Ocam IP cameras

IP camera model	OCam Apple	M2	S1
Matrix type	CMOS
Purpose of the video camera	internal
Permission	1 MP (1280*720)
SD card support	Yes
Frame rate per second	30
Video codec	H-264
Sound recording	Yes
Viewing angle, degrees	105	120*120	115
Motion detection	Yes
Night photography	Yes
Communication with devices via Wi-Fi	150 Mbit/s
Alarm (inputs-outputs)	No	Yes
Backlight	Yes
Power supply via PoE injector	No	Yes	No
Audio duplex mode	No	Yes	Yes

Alarm outputs are used not only when there is a sudden start of movement at a protected object, but also when trying to break an IP camera that has a shock-resistant, vandal-proof housing.

In the latter case, at the first blow, for example, with a bat or fittings on the body, the IP camera begins to send alarm signals over the local network and via Wi-Fi and sends SMS messages through the GSM/UMTS security module connected to the video surveillance system. This function is implemented using a special motion sensor that is sensitive to shock and strong vibration. In addition to the body, such cameras have improved shock absorption, without which the camera itself would turn off forever due to excessive vibration, without having time to signal the owner of the object about the intrusion of intruders.

Further examination of Ocam IP cameras shows that many of the models in this class have similar parameters.

The Ocam M2 video camera differs from other models from this manufacturer in the presence of alarm inputs and the ability to be powered via PoE

An IP camera may not support audio recording and may not have a microphone - it is mainly required that the “sharing” of a high-quality video signal is completely digital, the recording is triggered by the movement of people and cars near the object, and the settings and video signal from it are accessible both over a local network and from anywhere in the world.

What is needed for installation and commissioning of an IP video surveillance system

Unlike analog systems, which used mainly simple video recorders with a switch and a terabyte hard drive, a digital video surveillance system consists of the following equipment.

1. Cat-5e twisted pair cable with LAN throughput (8-wire topology, 4 color-coded twisted pairs) up to 100 Mbps. The cable is connected to each of the IP cameras (analog video cameras used a coaxial cable).

   Each camera must be connected to a cable with an RJ-45 connector crimped with a special tool.

2. RJ-45 connectors (8-pin LAN connectors). Each line will require a pair of connectors.

   HD IP cameras must be connected using all eight wires

3. LAN-Hub device (switch for local networks) when connected to a computer acting as a video surveillance server. If the server station has many free LAN connectors on patch panels, an additional Hub switch may not be required. The same applies to Wi-Fi routers that have LAN connectors - if it is necessary to install several IP cameras (for example, in a one-story gas station office or in a small store), a universal wired-wireless IP video surveillance system is deployed, where you can connect to any of the video cameras via Wi-Fi while on or near the site.

   In large video surveillance systems, IP cameras can be plugged into free connectors on a server rack

4. Some camera models that are powered via a LAN cable require connection to a PoE injector (Power over Ethernet - power supply via a LAN cable with a voltage of up to 48 volts). In such a scheme, one twisted pair is used for power, and the other three are used for data exchange. This is, for example, the Axis M1113 IP camera. Such solutions are used at checkpoints, checkpoints, at the main entrance or entrance, where excess cables should not attract the attention of strangers.

   At the back of the Axis M1113 there is a PoE socket with a LAN interface

The last point requires clarification. The injector is connected to each of the chambers and works as follows. Power to the PoE injector is supplied from a separate power supply with the appropriate voltage (usually up to several tens of volts DC) and then goes through one of the LAN connectors (for example, labeled Power data out) to the camera itself. Data is transmitted through the same cable. The company’s local network (server rack, PC, DVR) is connected to another connector (for example, labeled LAN in). In LAN in lines, the operating voltage is tens of times less than in the PoE power bus. It is important here not to confuse the LAN in and Power data out cables - otherwise you will need to at least replace the next LAN device after the injector, which will burn out if connected this way.

The PoE (Power data out) and LAN (LAN in) connectors have different purposes, so it is important not to mix up the cables when connecting

Features of organizing IP video surveillance in purely optical local networks

Due to the massive transition to GPON technology (the throughput of optical lines reaches 1 Gbit/s or more, typical speeds of 300–500 Mbit/s are already used on low-level lines) and the refusal to wire IP cameras with an Ethernet cable other than a resolution of up to hundreds of megapixels will receive a greater length of video surveillance lines - thanks to an order of magnitude greater noise immunity. This is due to the low influence of industrial low-frequency radio signals on much higher-frequency light (electromagnetic) waves. But such a solution, although it is professional, is still a curiosity, rarely widespread due to its high cost - mainly Internet access through GPON lines is in demand, through which remote viewing is organized.

Assembly of a video surveillance system

The IP video surveillance system includes:

It is much safer not to use a common power supply for all cameras, but to divide them into groups. If there are several cameras, each one should be powered from a separate source. This allows you to not lose complete monitoring of the protected object in the event of a problem.

Setting up IP cameras

After installing IP cameras, placing (if required) additional local network devices, wiring lines and connecting the entire complex into a single system, you need to do the following.

1. Obtain free IP addresses from the site local network administrator, gateway IP address and DNS-IP (if the camera settings require this).
2. Connect each of the IP cameras to the laptop from which the setup will be done, and assign them exact IP addresses. For example, if the address of the gateway (server equipment) in the network is 192.168.0.1, then the address of each camera should be 192.168.0.*, where * is a number, usually from the range from 100 to 254 (it should be different for each camera ). The subnet mask can be 255.255.255.0 or 255.255.0.0 depending on the local network IP address range. Your system administrator will give you the exact information.
3. Set a password to enter the camera to prevent unauthorized persons from accessing the image.

All modern cameras have a web interface that opens from a browser. Some models come with a flashing program: if something goes wrong and you suddenly forget the correct settings, you can reflash the IP camera again.

Video: overview video lecture on assembling and configuring IP cameras

Software tools for users of IP video surveillance systems

If you access your facility from anywhere in the world, then all you need is a PC or gadget with Internet access and knowledge of the IP address subrange of your enterprise network. Access must be open externally in your system settings, but only those who know not only the required IP addresses, but also the username and password will be able to virtually enter the facility. Without the latter, you will not be able to see what is happening at your facility. You need to set a complex login and password so that it is impossible to guess them.

Logging in is no different from logging into any internet server. By dialing the IP of a specific video camera or the general IP of the DVR (or your server room), you will get full access to the video surveillance system of your building.

Video: setting up remote access on the HiWatch DVR

Third-party programs for managing IP video surveillance

After organizing access to your video surveillance system from the Internet, it’s time to take care of managing the recorded video. Among the free programs it is worth highlighting the following.

1. Kodos-Videoset works with IP cameras of various manufacturers, formats and purposes, including web, IP and analog video cameras. Using the Globoss program you can run up to 12 video cameras.
2. The AbelCam application allows you to immediately edit the newly recorded video if it contains obscene or confidential moments. The software also allows you to remove recordings of “dead” zones from a video.
3. The AV100 program has high-speed recording capabilities - up to 120 frames per second. The maximum number of IP cameras is 16.

All the applications presented above also have standard functionality:

• organizing video recordings into folders depending on the date and time of the event;
• start recording based on movement and stop when the movement of objects within the visibility zone stops;
• use of optimal video compression without compromising image quality.

To assemble and set up video surveillance at home or at work yourself, you do not need experience in installing security systems. The installation instructions demonstrate the process so clearly that you can immediately after reading this article buy and run all the necessary equipment with your own hands. Good luck!