Wi-Fi vs. PoE Cameras

If you are looking for a great IP camera or other camera, you need to look no further than Amcrest. This article will help you in comparing Wi-Fi and PoE cameras, so you will get the perfect camera that you are looking for.

Which Way to Go

Another area that you should look into when considering security (not just IP cameras either) is whether you should go with wireless or take advantage of Power over Ethernet (PoE) cameras. Both cameras are great but there is a definitely a difference between the two of them.

Power over Internet (PoE) Cameras

 

A Power over Internet (PoE) camera is when you have a wired Ethernet network that courses electrical current through data cables.  With this type of camera, there is not going to be a need for power cords and you will definitely be working with not as many wires.  When you go with PoE cameras, you are going to have lower costs, lower complexity, quick and easy maintenance, and more flexibility with your installation when compared to traditional wiring.  PoE is also going to give you more flexibility with the placement of your cameras because you are no longer going to have to place the camera near an available socket or install an outlet near the camera.  With the use of PoE cameras, you can also remotely manage the power supply to your cameras, so you can still maintain those cameras that you have placed out of your reach.  These cameras are also going to lower the total cost of ownership.  PoE cameras are only going to be able to produce power of up to 15.4 W and this might not be enough if you have a PTZ IP camera, or those that allow you to pan, zoom and track movements.  You may want to consider having separate power source for your IP camera because if there is a problem at the PoE switch, then all your cameras are going to go down.

Wi-Fi IP Cameras

 

Wi-Fi IP cameras are going to eliminate the need for cables altogether.  With the use of Wi-Fi, you can put up your IP cameras in places where it is difficult to lay cables.  But Wi-Fi networks are going to be prone to interference as well as overcrowding.  It is possible that your IP camera may fail to transmit when too many Wi-Fi devices are in use or if somebody operates a Bluetooth device or microwave oven and other appliance that may interfere with the signal.  With Wi-Fi IP cameras, you are also limited by the signal strength and availability, and sometimes the packets that you get may not be in order.

Conclusion

 

The above article is just some of the basic information you are going to need when considering IP cameras used to view camera footage remotely via internet connectivity. No matter what, always look into both varieties of IP cameras and see which one is going to fit your needs.


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Portable IP Cameras

If you are searching for an IP camera, you need to look no further than Amcrest. You will find a variety of security cameras that give you the capability to be able to move them around from place to place.

Portable Does Not Mean Poor Quality

Just because you are looking for an IP camera that is going to be portable it does not mean that you have going to have to go with a camera that is going to be of poor quality. One of the good things about IP cameras is that they are very portable. Yes, there may be times when you want to have a one of these cameras put in a place and keep it there but you need to realize that if you do ever want to move the camera around to another part of your home or business, it is going to be very easy to move the camera around to its new place. That being said, these cameras are not made of poor quality in any means. The portability of the cameras just makes the cameras better for you.

Easy Enough to Place in Your Bag

These cameras are even small enough that you can easily take them with you and place them in your bag. Yes, if you are going to be taking the camera with you, you need to make sure you are packing it so it is not going to be damaged but the camera is going to easily fit into you bag and it is very light in weight. This may be something that you are going to have to do if you are not wanting to purchase many different cameras and do want to use the cameras in different places, such as your home and/or business.

Watching the Recordings

One of the biggest perks that people love about IP cameras is that they are able to view the recordings immediately as they are happening. Just think, you may be at work in a meeting that is going longer than expected and not able to be at home when your child is getting off of the bus. You can simply get on your computer, phone or tablet, and be able to know when your child gets home. You can then also keep track of them just to make sure they are doing the things they should be doing and also making sure that they are safe when you cannot with there with them.

Conclusion

You are going to be able to find many different IP cameras from Amcrest. You are going to be pleasantly surprised at the price you are going to be paying for these portable IP cameras. Just because you will be paying a small price for the cameras this does not mean that you are sacrificing the quality that you will be getting. If you are serious about security in your home and business and do not want to spend an arm and leg, definitely look into Amcrest for their IP cameras.

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Safety in Warehouse Facilities

If you are looking for a wireless IP camera to place in and around your warehouse facility, you need to look no further than Amcrest. Besides of the obvious use of security cameras, the following article will give you tips on keeping your warehouse facility as safe and secure as possible.

Dumpsters 

Dumpsters should not be placed near an accessible door as they can become ideal places for thieves to steal inventory for later pickup and removal to cars. You should position your dumpster in a way that discourages thieves. You can also place wireless IP cameras around these areas.

Doors

Warehouses should not have too many doors. There should only be one door that is open and there should be a guard in charge of watching this door. If fire regulations do require more than one door, you should use bars that set off an alarm if the doors are opened. IP cameras can also be placed around the doors.

Staging Area

Staging areas should not be located too close to the loading docks. If no one is around to keep an eye out, it would be easy to take something and put it in a truck. This is also a great place to put wireless IP cameras.

Shipping and Receiving Doors

Receiving and shipping docks should not be too close together. A barrier should be placed between each of the doors. 

Parking Lot

Parking lots should not be too accessible to employees who might steal inventory. The warehouse doors should not be too close to the parking lot. It is best to have parking lots separated by a comfortable distance from the warehouse doors. Wireless IP cameras should be placed in parking lots to keep employees from stealing items. They also should be placed around the area to keep employees safe coming to and from the warehouse facility.

Break Rooms

Break rooms should be placed in the area of the warehouse where visitors or guest area can get there without any access to inventory. It may not be best to place security cameras in this area, so employees can feel free to take a break that they deserve. If you do feel a need to place cameras in the area because of legal reasons, make sure to alert employees about the cameras being in their break room.

Restrooms

Restrooms should be placed in area close to the entrance of the warehouse facility. You do not want truckers to have to walk through the entire facility just to use the restroom. It is always best to keep unauthorized people out of the warehouse or within a limited path if they must be inside the warehouse. You can place IP camera outside the restroom but do not place them inside the restroom because major privacy issues will be altered.

Bushes 

Bushes are a good hiding spot for things stolen out of the warehouse. You should remove bushes or lock the doors to curtail this avenue for thieves.

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IP Cameras: 5 Types to Compare

IP cameras are fancy names for different types of webcams that are commonly used for surveillance. These cameras are digital video cameras that transmit videos over a local network or the Internet. With the use of IP cameras, it is possible to remotely monitor a security system. Each different type camera is used for a specific purpose. 

It is important to know what camera will do what for you. There are 5 different types of IP cameras, all of which can be found at Amcrest.com, which include:

• Decentralized and centralized IP cameras
• Wired and wireless IP cameras
• Fixed and PTZ IP cameras
• Day and night IP cameras
• Megapixel IP cameras

Decentralized and Centralized IP Cameras

Centralized IP cameras are security cameras that are linked together in a network. This type of storage will make sure that the footage stays safe even if the actual IP camera is lost or damaged. A decentralized IP camera is camera that is not linked together with other cameras, where videos will go to a local storage medium. There is a very small chance of losing all videos at once with these cameras.

Wired and Wireless IP Cameras

A wired IP camera is linked to a network or the Internet in which the camera uses the maximum network bandwidth to make sure it keeps a good connection. A wireless IP camera is connected to the network with the use of WiFi. A wireless IP camera is easier to install than a wired camera but the connection is not always as reliable.

Fixed and PTZ IP Cameras

A fixed IP cameras is a network camera that is placed in fixed positions. They are used to take videos of the same area. A PTZ IP camera can use the tilt and zoom feature, which allows videos to be taken from different directions and angles. Fixed and PTZ IP cameras come in the box form or a dome form. A fixed dome IP camera will point only in one direction but a dome camera can swivel 360 degrees. Dome cameras can also be wired, wireless, centralized, decentralized, megapixel or day and night cameras.

Day and Night IP Cameras

A day and night IP camera is used to provide surveillance and video the entire day. During the day time hours, your IP camera is going to work just like a regular IP camera in which it will take full-color videos and images. During night time hours, the IP camera is going to use infrared light so it will be able to take quality black and white videos and images.

Megapixel IP Cameras

Megapixel IP cameras have a high resolution lens where detailed images are going to be taken. If you want quality images that you can really see, this is the type of IP camera to go with. When using this type of IP camera, you must have a high bandwidth and storage capacity if you want to be able to transfer and store high definition images and videos. If details are important to you, go with a megapixel IP camera.

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IP Camera Technology 101: What is it, what are the benefits, Wi-Fi vs PoE

Fierce Telecom has recently reported that more than 24% of American households with broadband Internet connectivity will also have an IP camera by 2020.

That’s how prevalent IP cameras are.  But what is IP camera technology and what are its benefits? 

 

What is an IP camera?

An Internet protocol (IP) camera is like a closed-circuit television camera in that it is also used for security and surveillance.  The difference lies in the fact that the IP camera can transmit data over the Internet or computer networks.  While the CCTV involves looking at the signals or footage using a monitor, the IP camera is networked and digitized.

An IP camera has a number of advantages over comparable analog technology.  These include:

• ·         Remote viewing. Remote viewing without having to buy additional hardware/software. Instead of being physically in the same room as the monitors you set up for CCTV cameras, an IP camera can send footage and feeds to any location. That means that whether you are in your bedroom at home or dining at a restaurant in a different state, you’ll still be able to check video clips of the areas covered by your IP cameras. Of course, there are analog cameras that can be paired with a network enabled digital video recorder (DVR) to allow it to be viewed remotely. The DVR is connected to the analog camera and it records the video footage in digitized format, allowing for remote viewing over networks.

• ·         Enhanced Video Resolution. While traditional analog systems max out at 2-Megapixel resolution, modern IP camera systems are capable of up to 24-Megapixels. This helps with digital zoom allowing for a more detailed image especially useful in applications requiring facial & license plate recognition.

• ·         Communication device. IP cameras can also work like a two-way intercom, where you can have a conversation over the said platform.  This is perfect for the home, wherein you do not have to open the door to talk to the person knocking outside.

• ·         Send or store the footage anywhere. Footage can be sent virtually anywhere as long as you have Internet connectivity. IP cameras can record direct to a cloud, on board memory card or a network video recorder (NVR).

• ·         Adjustable resolution and frame rates.  IP cameras allow you to adjust the camera resolution and frame rate to account for network and bandwidth limitations as well as hard drive and storage limitations.

• ·         Alerts.  IP cameras can be set up to send you e-mail, SMS or push notifications to alert you of motion and sound activity that it detects.

• ·         Minimal Cables. Some IP cameras only need a few cables to set up.  You can even go wireless.

Some IP cameras also provide intelligent video.  Intelligent video is a digital technology that comes with an analytical program or software.  This enables you to track a moving person, search for an object, count the number of people entering your office or home, and trigger alerts or alarms.

All of these benefits do come at the cost of consuming higher bandwidths.  According to IP Video Market Info Inc., IP cameras used in 2012 used up 1 to 2 Mb/s of bandwidth, giving you high-definition video with around six to ten frames per second with a H.264 codec.  If you need higher resolution footage and greater frame rates, then be prepared to provide your IP cameras with more bandwidth. However, you can determine how much available bandwidth you have available and then easily adjust the frame per second and resolution of your IP camera to work within this available bandwidth.  

The benefits of having an IP camera far outweigh the potential disadvantages, which easily plugged anyways.

Wi-Fi vs. PoE

Another area that you should look into when considering security (not just IP cameras) is whether to go wireless or take advantage of Power over Ethernet (PoE).

PoE is when you have a wired Ethernet network that courses electrical current through data cables.  There is no need for power cords and you will be working with lesser wires.  That gives way for lower costs, lower complexity, quick and easy maintenance, and more flexibility with your installation when compared to traditional wiring.  PoE can give you more flexibility with the placement of your cameras because you no longer have to place it near an available socket or install an outlet near the camera. 

You can also remotely manage power supply to your cameras, so you can still maintain those cameras that you have placed out of reach.  It also lowers total cost of ownership.  However, PoE can only produce power of up to 15.4 W and this might not be enough if you have a PTZ IP camera, or those that allow you to pan, zoom and track movements.  Plus, you might want to consider having separate power sources for your IP camera because if there is a problem at the PoE switch, then all your cameras will go down.

 

Meanwhile, WiFi IP camera eliminate the need for cables altogether.  You can put up your Amcrest IP Camera in places where it is difficult to lay cables.  But these Wi-Fi networks are prone to interference as well as overcrowding.  That means that your camera may fail to transmit when too many Wi-Fi devices are in used or if somebody operates a Bluetooth device or microwave ovens and other appliance that may interfere with the signal.  You are also limited by the signal strength and availability, and sometimes the packets that you get may not be in order.

This is just the basic information you need when considering IP cameras used to view camera footage remotely via internet connectivity.

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