The first CCTV system was designed by Germans to observe the launch of V-2 rockets. After seven years, the first commercial CCTV system was launched in the United States under the name Vericon. In the year of 1968, to protect the main business street from crime, CCTV systems were installed in New York. In the 1980s, these systems were widely used specially in public areas. In the present scenario, local authorities have made it mandatory to install security camera systems at public places like bus stations, schools, colleges, shopping malls etc. This more than seven decades old technology is still evolving exponentially and now we have various kinds of commercial and home video surveillance systems.
Ceiling-mounted or wall-mounted cameras primarily designed for indoor use are known as bullet cameras. However, these cameras are without Pan/Tilt/zoom (PTZ) functionality. Dome cameras come with PTZ functionality. Currently, Network/IP Cameras are commonly used for video surveillance. These cameras can transmit images or video via the internet. The power of remote monitoring we are having is because of network/IP camera. The network of these cameras can be wired or wireless.
HDCVI Cameras: The latest technology used in security cameras is High-Definition Composite Video Interface (HDCVI). Before the existence of this technology, cameras could transmit only analog video that too with limited resolution of 960h. The maximum resolution it could give was 960 X 480. This advanced technology is an alternative to network/IP cameras. Video transmitters and receivers used in these cameras can transmit high resolution video of 1080p via same coaxial cable used for standard CCTV cameras. HDCVI cameras are less expensive. Technologies like HDSDI (High Definition Serial Digital Interface) and IP network transmission cost more as compared to HDCVI.
A comparison between HDCVI and HDSDI:
• The limit of an HDSDI camera is just above 330 foot. Whereas that of an HDCVI camera is 1,500 foot.
• Using HDSDI technology, we can transmit video only. With the HDCVI technology, we can transmit video and audio with less cable infrastructure required.
• To transmit video using HDSDI technology, we need a high quality copper core coaxial cable. On the other hand, using HDCVI technology, we can transmit video over almost all standard cables used for CCTV cameras.
• HDCVI costs less when compared to HDSDI.
• HDSDI is not suitable in high RF environment as it is vulnerable to interference. HDCVI, on the other hand, uses low frequency modulation technology and hence can transmit high quality images or videos.
A comparison between HDCVI and network/IP cameras:
- IP cameras cannot transmit data over coaxial cable natively. However, HDCVI can.
- IP cameras have the limit of above 300 foot. HDCVI can cover up to 1500 foot.
- HDCVI cameras work without any latency or collisions issues. Moreover, these cameras do not consume any network bandwidth.
- The cost of HDCVI is less than that of network IP cameras.
HDCVI is considered as the next wave in CCTV technology. There are different types cameras used for video surveillance. The choice of the camera depends on the situation and location.