Analog CCTV vs IP/POE

[felixrosbergen]

Hi All,

Not to start a war of opinions here...but i'd like to get a feel for what i need to put in my budget for CCTV equipment. Also i need to decide on my wiring and i don't want to run Cat5e AND Coax AND power to the camera location.

For now the needs are:
- 1 outdoor camera at front door (is under covered porch). IR capability would be nice but not a must.
- 1 outdoor camera at garage
- 1 outdoor camera at backdoor
- 1 indoor camera in garage

I would like to be able to digitally record the feeds for maybe a few days and want them to integrate into a CQC screen.

I'm seeing panasonic POE cameras at $1000 which is way beyound the budget...

My budget woudl probably be under $1000 for the total thing (3 to 4 cameras, recording can be done on existing server)

Any suggestions?

 

[123]

...Any suggestions?

Here's an example of a complete system for under $1K (and that's in Canadian currency).

Traditional CCTV cameras and a DVR provide excellent value. The DVR in the package is similar to this one; lots of interesting features in low-power dedicated box.

Personally, I'd run a siamese coax/power cable to each camera location and CAT5. The added cost of doing this now, while the walls are open, is trivial compared to what it will cost later. If, in the distant future, you want to replace the CCTV cameras with IP cameras, the CAT5 will be there.

Alternately, you could skip the siamese cable altogether and use CAT5 with CCTV cameras if you include baluns at each end. However, signal quality is slightly degraded and the exterior baluns should be protected from the elements. Plus there's the added expense of the baluns (cheaper to simply run siamese coax/power plus CAT5).

BTW, there are baluns that handle video-signal and power via CAT5.

 

[felixrosbergen]

If i were running the wiring myself it would be a no brainer and i'd run RG6/18-2/Cat5, but an LV installer is putting all my cabling in and i don't know if i can convince him that such a bundle is a single 'run'.

The baluns look like they're only $40 though...the key location is covered (extended porch) so i may chance it with putitng only cat5 in and if i end up not buying an IP camera then i'll get the baluns and leave them out in the open and see what happens.....

The other location i think i can get to from the attic so i can postpone my wire choice untill i've made my camera choice...

Any familiar with this camera: http://www.smartvisiondirect.com/index.php...&query=item ??

It looks perfect for mounting to the bottom of my covered porch. Interestingly enough it's IP version is $200 more expensive but doesnt appear to support POE. For the $200 difference it seems you can buy a capture card. Maybe for single camera installation IP vs Analog makes sense, but for multiples it seems analog wins based on cost.

 

[CollinR]

Cat5 + 18/2 is all you need and all I suggest you run.