The Components of a full IP Camera System

If you're not already aware, IP camera systems are an integrated surveillance system suited for both homes and businesses. IP systems differ from other security systems in how they communicate with each other and provide surveillance.

IP systems are able to record and transmit surveillance footage in real time from cameras to control monitors. They communicate via WiFi signals or Bluetooth technology to transmit information on-demand. This is why IP systems are so effective and are a preferred choice for commercial premises.

The following components make up a full IP camera system.

1. Video recording devices

Also referred to as network video recorders, these recording devices are responsible for recording and storing surveillance footage. They can capture full HD resolution images and even detect motion in motion detection cameras.

Due to their IP capabilities, they can be controlled from remote locations, where they are triggered to record footage, send it to different devices and to trigger alarms when certain conditions are met.

2. Security Cameras

Security cameras are the actual components that capture images and video in real time. The quality of the camera itself will determine the quality of the captured images and video footage.

IP cameras can send and receive signals from multiple devices, allowing them to be controlled from remote locations. These cameras can capture images from different lenses, and they can also trigger alarms when they detect motion.

3. Patching cables

For IP camera systems to work, they require stable Ethernet connections. These connections are provided by Power over Ethernet (PoE) cables that are durable and compatible with multiple devices. It is the cables that provide the connectivity required for these systems to work.

PoE cables connect cameras to video recorders and control systems, and they can also provide a useful backup when wireless transmission fails.

4. Network switches

The network switch works hand in hand with PoE cables, providing a hub where different components of the IP system can be plugged in for connectivity. You can think of the network switch as an internet router/modem that acts as the main access point for security device connectivity.

The size of the network switch will vary according to the number of cameras that need to be connected.

5. Central control monitors

To finalise the IP system set up, a control monitor is used to access and control footage from all individual IP cameras in the system. It provides a real-time full view of the entire security system on the premises, along with many different control settings that you can modify as necessary.