Testing IP Surveillance Cameras
It’s important for electronic security installers to put IP video cameras to some real-world tests before installing the devices.
When dealing with camera settings, you may want to set the camera index midrange and adjust the quality setting accordingly. Testing on H.264H camera showed the group of pictures (GOP) settings at 20fps made a large difference in bandwidth if there was no motion in the scene, while constant motion made little difference in various camera GOP settings. This would appear to be the opposite of what one might expect. Also take into account whether your motion recording detection is being processed at the system edge or the network video recorder (NVR). The edge option will save on transmission bandwidth.
In order to track network bandwidth usage by your megapixel cameras, you will need to implement some software tools. This can be as basic as using Microsoft Task Manager. One tool that IP professionals use is the PRTG Network Monitor. Make sure to check the freeware versions to get you started. Plotting IP video bandwidth performance can help show your customer and IT personnel what to expect in a system (see graph).
Overall, telling customers what the expected bandwidth will be is not an easy task. Make sure you and your techs know how to adjust camera performance settings such as I-Frame rate, quality, compression ratio, percent of motion and light levels. The last thing you want to do is just plug in your cameras and walk away.
If you enjoyed this article and want to receive more valuable industry content like this, click here to sign up for our FREE digital newsletters!
Security Is Our Business, Too
For professionals who recommend, buy and install all types of electronic security equipment, a free subscription to Commercial Integrator + Security Sales & Integration is like having a consultant on call. You’ll find an ideal balance of technology and business coverage, with installation tips and techniques for products and updates on how to add to your bottom line.
A FREE subscription to the top resource for security and integration industry will prove to be invaluable.