What is an IP Camera

What is an IP Camera amcrestt.tumblr.com/post/615464440982355968/what-is-an-ip-camera

An Internet Protocol Camera is a special type of camera that receives data from a controller and sends back captured video and audio feed. These are found used mostly in surveillance. These cameras do not record data locally. The cameras are connected to an ethernet hub or router and from there, the captured footage can be recorded in a variety of ways.

Recording the Footage The quickest way is to use an application to record directly from the IP Camera, you just need to enter its IP address for it along with recording parameters like video and sound quality. The software can be downloaded for free from the internet. An example of a free software is Open Broadcast Studio or OBS. If you want to use hardware. You can connect your IP camera to a CCTV DVR. You just need to follow the instructions specific to your model of CCTV setup.

Does it Need an Internet Connection?

Despite having the word Internet in its abbreviation, the IP Camera can work on a local area network just fine.

How to Look for an IP Camera Before grabbing a specific camera, let’s see first what are the different types of cameras available and their specialty.

1. Dome Camera - This is a camera mounted on ceilings, can rotate to get a better view from different angles, has night vision, and can be used both indoors and outdoors.

2. Bullet Camera - These are mounted on walls, best used for outdoors because it has better lenses equipped to capture images from great distances.

3. Turret Camera - Similar to the dome but needs to be maintained more since the dust build up on the lense will create a haze on the captured image.

4. Box Camera - This is the most expensive of the lot but is also the most durable. It’s versatile and can be mounted in a variety of ways and places. But if used in dim places, additional lighting is required.

Qualities of a Camera Just like shopping for a typical camera, you still need to consider some criteria.

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1. Focal Length - This will determine how far and how wide your camera looks at the subject. So consider where you are installing a camera and what it’s pointed at. You should also know that there are fixed and dynamic focal lengths. A fixed lense is cheaper but this also means you won’t be able to zoom in and out of the subject. The other dynamic type allows you to zoom in and out.

2. Pan, Tilt, Zoom - More advanced cameras allow you to make adjustments in regards to where the camera is pointed. This is more expensive but it may just be worth the extra expense.

Advantages of an IP Camera ● Record at higher resolutions● Record everything at a centralized location such as an NVR or NAS● Easy to install● No extra hardware needed for recording if there’s not enough budget, a free application off the web will do.● Can run on PoE or with a dedicated power line.● If used with PoE power and data can be transferred with just a single wire.

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