With countless CCTV camera systems on the market, it can be almost impossible to decide which solution is best for your commercial property. At Tecsec, we are proud to be one of Perth’s leading commercial CCTV providers, and able to help you keep your business safe and Secure
Our team are regularly approached by people with a wide range of questions about how to keep their business safe. One of the most common questions is whether an analogue or digital surveillance system provides better coverage while still being a budget-friendly solution.
What is the difference between analogue and digital surveillance?
Analogue CCTV cameras record images to a digital recorder which converts the video to a digital format. To view the video, the DVR needs to be connected to a monitor or router to be broadcast through an internal network for remote access. However, there are government regulations for the strength of analogue signals.
Digital CCTV cameras or internet protocol cameras record in a digital format so a conversion process is not required. The digital data is sent to a dedicated network video recorder through the existing network and can be accessed remotely.
Benefits of Digital CCTV camera systems
Higher surveillance image quality
IP cameras offer a much higher resolution than analogue cameras. Even the best analogue cameras cannot deliver the image quality of digital cameras. At Tecsec, our IP security cameras have a minimum of 1.3 megapixels. This is almost three times the average resolution of the best analogue cameras, making it easier to see details such as license plates and identify physical features of intruders.
Reduces wiring in CCTV system
The hassle of wiring is minimised when it comes to using digital camera surveillance. IP cameras only need to be wired to a network switch or wireless network which will transfer the signals to the NVR. This way you can install more cameras without being limited by the number of ports available on your digital video recorder (DVR).
IP cameras powered through a Power Over Ethernet (PoE) capable network switch removes the need for a separate power source. Installation of digital CCTV systems can be much more straight forward for these reasons.
Reliable & secure CCTV transmission
Digital transmissions are not disrupted by other analogue wireless devices. The majority of digital CCTV systems have in-built encryption, ensuring unauthorised access to your video recordings is prevented. The data is also usually backed up on a redundant array of independent disks (RAID) system which provides back up hard drives in case one fails.
Greater CCTV coverage
Typically, digital cameras cover areas up to three times more than analogue cameras. They are also more likely to have a zoom function without becoming too grainy. This means the higher unit price of installing digital cameras may be balanced out by not needing as many cameras to cover your entire business.
Remote accessibility to surveillance system
The remote access IP cameras gives people peace of mind while on holiday or working abroad. Not only is it possible to view the footage, but you can control the camera’s position from a remote location.
Detailed CCTV footage analytics
Digital cameras provide more video analytics than analogue cameras, including the ability to flag unusual motion and send alerts to the owner. Its ability to read data also makes it possible to search for activity in a specific area on the image.
Analogue CCTV systems are widely considered an outdated form of security systems, with digital CCTV cameras becoming increasingly competitive on all fronts - including cost.
Contact a licensed CCTV professional in Perth to upgrade your security system from analogue to digital today.