| What is an IP camera? | | | | Network Cameras can come with two methods of |
| | | | Zooming: Optical and Digital. One is called |
| In simplest terms, an IP Camera is a | | | | Digital Zoom. |
| stand-alone device that transmits audio and | | | | |
| video through a standard CAT5 Network Cable. | | | | Digital Zoom discards pixels around the edge |
| It has a built-in web server which allows the | | | | of the video fitting the remaining pixels |
| camera to run individually without a PC | | | | into the same space to give the appearance of |
| having to be connected. It also allows you to | | | | Zooming in. This comes with the expense of |
| view the audio and video by connecting | | | | resolution and causes the Zoomed image to |
| directly to the camera with your internet | | | | look very pixilated. |
| browser without any software being installed. | | | | |
| This allows you access the camera from any | | | | A post was made on the forums that addresses |
| location, even over the Internet. Click here | | | | the differences between digital zoom and |
| to learn more about IP cameras. | | | | optical zoom. Click here to view the post. |
| | | | |
| IP cameras have many advantages over | | | | Infrared |
| tradition CCTV security cameras. Some of | | | | |
| these features include wireless connectivity, | | | | When needing to view video in the dark, |
| the ability to view video remotely over the | | | | Infrared is the way to go. Cameras can come |
| Internet, the ability to record to a remote | | | | with a built-in IR (Infrared) lens or the |
| location and ... | | | | ability for an add-on IR lens to be equipped. |
| | | | Infrared is a wave of light that is outside |
| Advanced features of Network Cameras can | | | | of the visible part of the color spectrum. |
| offer added security for certain | | | | Infrared illuminators shine this wave of |
| applications. These features include, Motion | | | | light which the lens picks up. |
| Detection, Pan/Tilt/Zoom, Infrared, Analog | | | | |
| Output and Two-way Audio. | | | | Analog Output |
| | | | |
| Lets discuss these features in greater | | | | Some cameras come with an Analog Output to |
| detail. | | | | configure your camera to be notified of |
| | | | opened doors, alarms, or other events. Once |
| Motion Detection | | | | notified of these events, the camera will |
| | | | start taking snapshots or video. |
| Some Network Cameras come with a feature | | | | |
| called Motion Detection. Hot-Spots can be | | | | Two-way Audio |
| setup within the video frame to detect | | | | |
| motion. Once motion is detected, the camera | | | | A Majority of cameras have audio built-in to |
| will begin recording or generate a snapshot | | | | the camera. This allows you to hear audio |
| which can be Emailed or sent to a web server | | | | along with the video the camera displays. |
| via FTP of the detected motion. Snapshots can | | | | Some cameras come with Two-Way Audio. |
| also be sent of images prior to the motion | | | | |
| and after the motion. | | | | There are two types of Two-Way Audio. One is |
| | | | a Full-Duplex Two-Way Audio that allows the |
| Pan/Tilt/Zoom | | | | user at the PC to hear audio from the camera |
| | | | and also speak back to the camera and have |
| Having the ability to Pan and Tilt adds | | | | audio come out of the camera itself. Some |
| greater security if you have a large viewing | | | | cameras have a speaker port on the back to |
| area. Once logged into a Network Camera with | | | | plug in external speakers which will give off |
| Pan and Tilt capabilities, controls appear | | | | the audio. The second type is a Two-Way Audio |
| next to your video allowing you to move the | | | | within the camera itself. The camera will |
| camera left, right, up and down. The controls | | | | pickup audio and send the audio to the |
| can be used even over the Internet. | | | | speakers hookedup to the camera. |
| | | | |
| Along with the Pan and Tilt feature, some | | | | In the next article we will be addressing how |
| cameras come with Zoom. Zooming is also handy | | | | IP cameras work. |
| when a greater detail of video is needed. | | | | |