Difference between IP CCTV and Analogue CCTV

In the modern world of CCTV there are 2 main types of CCTV systems. These are as follows:

1) Analogue CCTV

2) IP CCTV also known as Network CCTV

I will give a brief explanation of what each one is and how to tell if you have an IP CCTV system or an Analogue CCTV system.

Analogue CCTV (the Basics)

Analogue CCTV was the first of the 2 systems and dates back to its invention in 1927 and the first commercially available analogue CCTV systems were sold in 1949.

An analogue CCTV system consists of a camera that outputs an analogue video signal, this signal is then sent via a cable (usually coaxial) to a monitor where the image from the camera can be seen. Most CCTV systems will have more than 1 camera and a DVR (Digital Video Recorder) to display multiple cameras on a screen and record the pictures, as well as performing a host of other features. You can connect a DVR to the Internet to allow remote viewing.

A big advantage of an Analogue CCTV system vs an IP CCTV system is cost; analogue cameras need less electronics in them so cost a lot less. This cost saving can make a big difference on multi camera systems.

How to tell if you have Analogue CCTV

The easiest way to tell if you have an analogue CCTV system is to look at the plugs on the cameras and recorder. The vast majority of analogue systems will use BNC connections and if you have this type of connector then you have an analogue CCTV system. The picture below is of the various BNC connections use on common analogue CCTV.

IP CCTV (the Basics)

IP CCTV is a much newer type of CCTV system than Analogue and as the name suggests, transmits the video signal digitally using the “Internet Protocol” (IP). The first IP camera was invented and used in 1996. Due to the available technology and Internet speeds at the time these first IP cameras were unable to stream video over the Internet and as a result were mainly used as web cameras at tourist destinations and they would show a still image that would update every few seconds.

The early IP systems used computers with software to record and display the cameras. As IP systems became more popular and technology caught up, dedicated recorders called NVRs (Network Video Recorders) became available and affordable.

One of the main advantages of IP CCTV vs Analogue CCTV is that there is virtually no limit to the number of cameras that can be used in a system. Another advantage is the vast array of features that IP cameras have compared to analogue cameras.

As IP cameras are digital many of them incorporate things like built-in SD card slots for recording in the camera, this works as a back up if anything happens to your recorder, or if the network has an outage. Many IP cameras have built-in advanced AI features that are not available with analogue cameras.

How to tell if you have IP CCTV

The easiest way to tell if you have an IP CCTV system is to look at the plugs on the cameras and recorder. IP CCTV uses RJ45 connections and if you have RJ45 connections on your system then you almost definitely have an IP system. The picture below shows the various RJ45 connections used with IP CCTV.

Should you get an IP CCTV system or an Analogue CCTV system?

There are many differences between the two types of CCTV systems and there isn’t a system that is better over all so here are a few pros and cons to help you decide what CCTV system is right for you.

Cost

This is often the most important factor in making a decision like this. As there are so many different makes, models and companies selling CCTV this article will compare like for like systems with the same resolution and from the same manufacturer to keep the comparison as fair as possible. In most cases an analogue CCTV system will be cheaper than IP, this is because of the way the 2 different types of camera are made. An analogue camera consists mainly of a lens, an image sensor and a DSP (Digital Signal Processor) and this simple construction keeps the cost low.

An IP camera has the same lens, Image Sensor and DSP as an analogue camera however it also has a CPU/SoC (System on a Chip), Flash Memory, DRAM, an Ethernet Controller and usually PoE power supply. All these extra components are used to power the camera, compress the video signal, convert it and then send it using the Internet Protocol. All these extra components in an IP camera allow its additional features over analogue but also add to the cost, making an IP system the more expensive option.

Picture Quality

In regards to picture quality people will automatically think that that higher resolution = better picture quality; this is very often not the case. Manufacturers know that big numbers sell and can use this to sell their cameras with terms like “High definition” “4K Ultra HD” “8MP”. Terms like these can make you think you are getting a high-quality picture, unfortunately the only thing that “4K” or “8MP” guarantee is that the camera will give you a picture that is 3840 × 2160 pixels in size. Some cameras use a 5MP sensor and upscale the picture to make it 8MP in size, this will give you an 8MP camera that has the same or lower picture quality to a 5MP camera. Other cameras use low quality 8MP sensors and DSPs that are perhaps a few years old or from a low-cost manufacturer, these can give a particularly bad picture, especially in lower light.

When we compared a good quality 8MP (4K) analogue camera to a similar quality 8MP (4K) IP camera using the same lens and image sensor we found that the picture quality was as close to identical as we could see in both day and night conditions.

You may have read or been told that IP cameras are better than analogue cameras, unfortunately it’s not that straight forward. A good quality 8MP analogue camera will produce a better picture than most 2MP, 4MP, 5MP and many 8MP IP cameras. The same is also true in in reverse. If you want the absolute best CCTV camera that money can buy then it will be an IP camera, but this camera will also cost you in the tens of thousands of pounds. This is based on the fact that while analogue cameras can go up to 8MP (at the time of writing), IP cameras can go to at least double this with 12MP and 16MP cameras being easily available, also many IP cameras will have special functions built in that are just not available to analogue cameras.

Cable length

Most modern analogue cameras have been designed to work on cable runs up to 200m using good quality coax cable. If you are using a Coax+Power cable “shotgun cable” to also supply power to the cameras then a safe rule of thumb is to use a maximum of 50m cable for the power. Some analogue camera systems use a system called PoC (Power over Coax) and can supply the power to the camera and send the video signal from the camera on a single coax cable, they can use cable runs up to 200M for power and video.

IP cameras are limited to the same constraints as computer networking meaning single standard (CAT-5e,CAT-6 etc) cable runs of up to 100m. However as is done with modern networks all over the world this can easily be extended using network extenders or switches as well as IP over fibre-optic cables that can have single runs of up to 100KM before repeaters. Ip cameras are also much easier to install in buildings with existing network infrastructure as they can often be added to this network without running new independent cabling for the cameras.

If you are using PoE cameras then the limit is 100M, however PoE injectors or PoE switches can be used closer to the camera to help with this.

Power

Analogue CCTV cameras usually run on 12VDC and every camera needs to be supplied with power. Originally every camera would need to have a power supply close to the camera. This would often mean an electrician would need to install additional power sockets before CCTV was installed. These days, the most common way to power analogue CCTV cameras is to use a central power supply and Coax+power cable commonly known as “Shotgun cable”.

Most IP cameras run on PoE (Power over Ethernet) therefore no additional cable or power supplies are needed; this makes installation easier. One thing to remember is that any network switches or extenders used for the cameras will need to be able to supply PoE to the camera. Most PoE IP cameras can also be powered by 12VDC straight to the camera and then standard (non PoE) switches and networking can be used.

Installation

Installing either analogue or IP CCTV in smaller systems is very similar, you need to run a cable from each camera back to the recorder. The slight advantage with IP systems is that CAT-5/6 cable is thinner than shotgun and therefore easier to run, especially when you need to drill holes to pass the cable through walls etc.

In large organisations and buildings with existing network infrastructure, IP cameras can often simply be plugged into the nearest available network socket or switch. If you are using an existing network this must only be done by working alongside the network administrator. In some networks, adding CCTV to the network may not be allowed for security reasons. In this case you will need to run cables as you would for a normal install.

Size of System

The size of the system usually refers to the number of cameras being used. If you are installing 16 cameras or less, then you can use either IP CCTV or Analogue CCTV fairly easily. For these installs the main reason to chose one over the other is cost. An Analogue CCTV system will be considerably cheaper than a comparable IP CCTV system in this case. If cost is not as important then you may be better off opting for an IP CCTV system as this will give you more functionality with your system and will help to future-proof it for any changes or updates down the line.

For systems over 16 cameras, it is usually better to use IP CCTV. Although you can still use Analogue CCTV for larger systems, you will probably end up using multiple smaller systems instead of 1 single system. This may save a bit of money in the short term but will make managing and using the system much more awkward. IP Systems on the other hand are designed with scaling in mind and there is no real-life upper limit to the number of cameras in a single system. There will also be many advantages to having a large IP CCTV system with its many VCA (Video Content Analysis) functions such as “facial recognition”, “automatic number plate recognition”, “area intrusion detection” to name but a few. An IP CCTV System can also be integrated with other parts of a business like access control, point of sale systems, intruder alarms and even fire alarm systems. Off-site cloud backup is also much easier with IP systems.

Overall Conclusions

If you have got this far you probably already know what system is right for you but if you just skipped passed everything for the short version then here goes.

Analogue CCTV is more cost effective, often without sacrificing on image quality and is ideal for smaller (up to 16 cameras) CCTV systems. This is a great choice for small business and home users.

IP CCTV is a newer, more advanced type of CCTV system with much more functionality than most analogue setups. If you are planning a larger CCTV system (over 16 cameras) or have an existing network, then IP is probably going to be the choice for you. If you need any special functions or can simply afford the extra cost then IP is definitely the route for you.

I hope this post has helped you, if you need any advice or a custom quote for your new CCTV system, please call us on 020 8452 0161 or email us at CCTVInfo@CricklewoodElectronics.com

Alternatively, if you know what you want or just want to browse you will find our latest CCTV here https://cricklewoodelectronics.com/CCTV-and-Security.html