What are PoE Cameras?
Power Over Ethernet Cameras are a special breed of cameras that primarily features convenience. Many houses today in this era of internet communication are equipped with routers. The most common cable we use to connect our desktops and laptops are ethernet cables. These cables are low cost per foot, depending on the type of cable. The good news is that most PoE camera don’t require a very expensive cable to function. 100 Mbit transfer speed will suffice for general use. Just make sure that you have a PoE switch, if you don’t have it yet, this is an additional expense you need to consider.
The cables can also be made by hand to address the exact length you need using a crimping tool with ease. You just need the right tools. As long as you don’t exceed over 100 meters or 330 feet, your video quality shouldn’t suffer.
But we’ve talked a lot about cables, what about the camera itself? The camera can still be powered with a barrel jack. You just need a power supply that can provide 12 volts or depending on the model of the camera. But having to connect an extra peripheral can be tricky when installing the camera in parts of the house where you wouldn’t normally find a power outlet such as up in the gutter. So the easiest solution is to use ethernet cables. The cable can function for both power delivery and data transmission.
About Power delivery, we mentioned using PoE switches earlier, you need to take note of several things like how much power can your switch deliver and how many cameras are you going to install. You need to consider the power consumption of the camera you choose. Your safest bet is to consult a specialist who installs security systems.
Are They Better In Terms of Footage Quality?
Many decent models come with 4K (8MP) resolution. This quality should be more than enough to give you decent images.
Applications
PoE cameras are suitable for many situations, you can use these to record the on-going activities in your place of business and around it. These can also be used to monitor individual rooms inside your house such as your garage or kitchen.
Legality
Depending on your local laws, you need to ensure that people who are being recorded are informed to avoid legal ramifications, particularly breaching privacy or laws related to wire-tapping or espionage. Informing people is easy, simply place a sign next to the camera stating that there is a camera here and that they are being recorded. Other businesses place the sign at the entrance of their business so people are informed ahead of time that upon entering, they’re activities are being recorded. If you are still unsure, consult a lawyer about how to do proper recording in public locations around your home or place of business.
