For business owners or homeowners who intend to get CCTV system to assist them to prevent crimes, there are many important points they should know. Basically, there are 2 types of CCTV cameras, i.e. digital and analog. The users are advised to evaluate their specific needs carefully before deciding which system they want to install.

I am here to share with you the main differences between network IP cameras and analog CCTV cameras so that you can make better purchasing decision.

What are IP cameras? These cameras are security cameras. They use the internet to transmit images and control signals. All the data is transmitted in a digital format over an Ethernet connection. We can access each camera like our own computer because every device has its own network IP address. These cameras allow the users to view and monitor numerous units at the same time from different locations through internet. In other words, the users can access the digitalized videos from any part of the world anytime as long as they have internet connection. The users do not need to bother about the distance between two places. They are not required to install complex cables because the cameras can be routed to a wireless hub easily. If compared with analog cameras, IP cameras are able to provide better quality of images.

Now, let’s take a look at the analog CCTV cameras.

Analog cameras turn the video signal into a format that can be received by a television or other receivers. The users can also view the videos through VCR or monitors. These devices come in a large variety of designs and sizes. You can find mini covert cameras as well as large PTZ models in the market.

Both IP-based cameras and analog cameras are able to transmit signals either through wired connection or wireless connection. To be frank, IP-based cameras are more flexible because they can transmit data through switches, hubs and routers easily while analog cameras are not able to do so. In addition, these cameras have encryption built right into them. They are able to provide more secured network. The users will not face so many problems when they come to interference. On the other hand, the analog cameras are more economical and they are more suitable for users who have budget constraints. Besides, these cameras are easier to work together with the users’ existing CCTV cameras. They can match with any brand of cameras easily.

To sum up, it is indeed a hard task for the users to make their selection on either an IP camera or an analog camera because both types of cameras have their own “strengths and weaknesses”. Being a smart user, you need to spend more time to explore the differences between the two cameras and find out which suits your needs most.