Hybrid Systems
So... What's the best approach?
GuardDog's Opinion: The answer to this question is totally a function of your application requirements.
The following are some "rule of thumb" guidelines...
1. Analog cameras recorded on a DVR are going to be most cost
effective and will provide adequate video security for most
applications. If the required cameras are in excess of fifty (50),
Total Cost of Ownership should be carefully evaluated. At this
point (about 50 units) it is possible that an IP solution might
begin to provide a benefit.
GuardDog's Opinion: The answer to this question is totally a function of your application requirements.
The following are some "rule of thumb" guidelines...
1. Analog cameras recorded on a DVR are going to be most cost
effective and will provide adequate video security for most
applications. If the required cameras are in excess of fifty (50),
Total Cost of Ownership should be carefully evaluated. At this
point (about 50 units) it is possible that an IP solution might
begin to provide a benefit.
2. Virtually every installation will benefit by utilizing both analog
and IP cameras. These are called "Hybrid" systems.
EXAMPLES
a) All the cameras are located in one building but there are two
(2) areas that would provide a better field of view if the
cameras are able to be mounted (and powered) from another
building.
SOLUTION: Hybrid DVR with analog cameras on main
building with two (2) IP cameras mounted on building 2
(powered from building 2) and connected via a convenient IT
Network switch to the company network. Video is "migrated"
to the Hybrid DVR via the company network and since overall
bandwidth is not a premium there is little overall effect to
the speed of the IT Network.
b) Busy convenience store is considering a new video system
but has need for 20-25 cameras to cover all the inside and
outside (including fuel pumps).
SOLUTION: The transaction zone can be easily covered
using a single 2.0MP IP camera (vs. 3-4 analog cameras) and
a single PTZ camera (vs. 4-6 outdoor pump cameras) can be
installed to provide license plate ID at all the fuel pumps.
Net result is cleaner video in the T-Zone and license plate ID
at each of the pumps. With an overall camera reduction of 4-
10 units the project can be completed with a less expensive
16 channel Hybrid DVR.
c) Multi-level hospital build specification call for 85 total
cameras with a mixture of cameras including a dozen PTZ's,
30 vari-focal domes, a dozen fixed length vandal domes and
another 30 or so varifocal box cameras.
SOLUTION: At first glance this seems to be an ideal IP
camera - network video recorder application. But let's count
the costs...
Operating 85 IP cameras on the hospital's critical application
IT network will demand ~65,000 kbps of continuous
bandwidth. With this level of continuous bandwidth demand
a single IT network will experience significant latency. A
separate network system is required.
Since it's new construction and no wiring presently exists this
is a fixed cost (about the same regardless of technology
choice). However, the IP camera system requires POE
network switches, which at a cost of ~$7500 are about 35x
the cost of simple 12vdc or 24vac analog camera power
supplies.
Additional expenses include 4x the comparative costs of a
single NVR solution and the annual software license to
support the 85 cameras is $8,000. Upgrades require
additional cost. This is a good example of evaluating Total
Cost of Ownership.
Also, not often discussed by proponents of IP camera
technology is the potential for entire system down-time
should there be any kind of NVR component failure.
Equipping each floor with a 32 channel Hybrid DVR (with the
capability of throttled bandwidth image transmission via the
hospital's primary IT network) will provide no significant
bandwidth load on the network but will provide excellent
video communication to the hospital's security office.
The hybrid system also comes with free lifetime software
upgrade benefits, the ability to add a few IP cameras (if ever
necessary) and delivers 13% no-added cost future capacity.
ALL THIS FOR ABOUT...
... 1/2 THE TOTAL INSTALLED COST, and,
... 1/4 to 1/3 OF THE TOTAL COST OF OWNERSHIP!
and IP cameras. These are called "Hybrid" systems.
EXAMPLES
a) All the cameras are located in one building but there are two
(2) areas that would provide a better field of view if the
cameras are able to be mounted (and powered) from another
building.
SOLUTION: Hybrid DVR with analog cameras on main
building with two (2) IP cameras mounted on building 2
(powered from building 2) and connected via a convenient IT
Network switch to the company network. Video is "migrated"
to the Hybrid DVR via the company network and since overall
bandwidth is not a premium there is little overall effect to
the speed of the IT Network.
b) Busy convenience store is considering a new video system
but has need for 20-25 cameras to cover all the inside and
outside (including fuel pumps).
SOLUTION: The transaction zone can be easily covered
using a single 2.0MP IP camera (vs. 3-4 analog cameras) and
a single PTZ camera (vs. 4-6 outdoor pump cameras) can be
installed to provide license plate ID at all the fuel pumps.
Net result is cleaner video in the T-Zone and license plate ID
at each of the pumps. With an overall camera reduction of 4-
10 units the project can be completed with a less expensive
16 channel Hybrid DVR.
c) Multi-level hospital build specification call for 85 total
cameras with a mixture of cameras including a dozen PTZ's,
30 vari-focal domes, a dozen fixed length vandal domes and
another 30 or so varifocal box cameras.
SOLUTION: At first glance this seems to be an ideal IP
camera - network video recorder application. But let's count
the costs...
Operating 85 IP cameras on the hospital's critical application
IT network will demand ~65,000 kbps of continuous
bandwidth. With this level of continuous bandwidth demand
a single IT network will experience significant latency. A
separate network system is required.
Since it's new construction and no wiring presently exists this
is a fixed cost (about the same regardless of technology
choice). However, the IP camera system requires POE
network switches, which at a cost of ~$7500 are about 35x
the cost of simple 12vdc or 24vac analog camera power
supplies.
Additional expenses include 4x the comparative costs of a
single NVR solution and the annual software license to
support the 85 cameras is $8,000. Upgrades require
additional cost. This is a good example of evaluating Total
Cost of Ownership.
Also, not often discussed by proponents of IP camera
technology is the potential for entire system down-time
should there be any kind of NVR component failure.
Equipping each floor with a 32 channel Hybrid DVR (with the
capability of throttled bandwidth image transmission via the
hospital's primary IT network) will provide no significant
bandwidth load on the network but will provide excellent
video communication to the hospital's security office.
The hybrid system also comes with free lifetime software
upgrade benefits, the ability to add a few IP cameras (if ever
necessary) and delivers 13% no-added cost future capacity.
ALL THIS FOR ABOUT...
... 1/2 THE TOTAL INSTALLED COST, and,
... 1/4 to 1/3 OF THE TOTAL COST OF OWNERSHIP!
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