What is the Differance between an IP Camera and an Analog Camera

What is a IP camera and what is the difference between an IP camera and a regular analog camera? To first understand the difference one must understand how each of these cameras work. Most think that IP cameras are cameras that can be viewed over the internet. They are correct for the most part correct but in fact IP and analog cameras can both be viewed over the internet. Here is how it works.
Analog cameras connect to a digital DVR which convert the image to a digital image. The DVR then does several different functions. The DVR will record the image and store it on its internal hard drive. The amount of time that the image is store for depends on how large the hard drive space is, how many cameras are connected to the DVR, and how many images per second the DVR will record for (IPS). These are all factors to keep in mind when purchasing a new DVR. 

The camera or cameras can be viewed remotely by logging onto the DVR via the WAN IP address. The WAN IP address is the IP address that is assigned to you by your internet service provider. For example when logging onto  http://74.175.80.104:81/ (user name: admin password admin stream 1 or 2) you can see an example on how to log onto the web client. The user, in admin mode, has access to the DVR and depending on the DVR can remotely view and or view the images stored on the DVR's hard drive.

An IP camera usually uses cat5 wire ran from it to a server. When we say server for the most part businesses and large complexes will be using these. If IP cameras are being used in a residential application the homes router will be the server. The cat5 camera is then connected to the server and is assigned a local IP address on the LAN. The LAN is the local area network. To try to understand the difference between LAN and WAN think of a apartment complex. Anything outside of the apartment, say for instance someone that wants to come to your there they need your address to find it. That would be you WAN. Once they find the apartment they now need your apartment number, that would be your LAN. Its real easy to figure this out and we will be coming out with a article soon going into detail about networking.

Once the IP camera or cameras are connected to the local router or server the networker or installer then needs to access the LAN and with the camera software the networker or installer needs to give each IP camera a distinct IP address. Once the cameras are issued IP addresses they are now accessible over the LAN. Here is where a lot of people even the pros get stuck from time to time. Being viewable over the LAN is great but what is most important is to be able to view these cameras from outside of the LAN. To get out an into the WAN the installer needs to open a port on the sever/router. The port is open to allow access from the outside. If this port is not opened weather it be a DVR or an IP camera a user can not get past the servers firewall to view the cameras. Port 80 is usually the default video port.

IP cameras can store a small amount of data on the camera itself but to be able to record and save a large amount of data a NVR, network video recorder, is needed. This unit work the same as a DVR and will save images from the IP cameras onto its hard drive.

Analog cameras can be turned into IP cameras and IP cameras can be turned into analog cameras with special devises. This is sometimes needed when one has a IP camera system or a analog camera system and they are trying to intergrade a different camera that is not the correct interface as the rest of the cameras. Now distributors have come out with highbred DVR/NVR so the end user can easily intergrade different camera protocols into their systems.





If you would like assistance in the setup of your system or would like more information regarding products and or software please feel free to contact us, we would be glad to assist you.


Sincerely yours,

Stealth Security and Surveillance Corp., LLC
www.StealthCCTV.net
Office: (888)-507-9964