security cameras using coax?
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One of my clients received a quote for a security camera system. I noticed they wanted to reuse the coax that is in place and replace the cameras and NVR. For this type of system, are 2.1 Megapixel cameras that run over coax current tech, or should a totally IP system be the only thing considered? I'm starting to consider getting in to camera systems because it looks like many of our clients use them and I have not been impressed with what I have seen installed lately.
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I think loads of places like to keep using coax because they wired long ago. It's crappy to deal with, but they like to save money, which makes sense. But I wonder if they really crunched the numbers and looked at the five or eight year picture if the savings are worth it.
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I had to deal with this almost 8 years ago, reusing coax and the 2.1 Megapixels here are going to provide the worst possible picture of whatever your customer is trying to capture.
In my case, we were watching our scrap metal bins (lots of money here) and the business opt'd to go cheap, use the original camera and cables.
Well a bin went missing, almost $2000 in scrap and all they could tell was the color of the persons shirt. .
Which the company provided protective shirts so they couldn't figure out who stole the scrap.
If that isn't evidence enough to upgrade, I'm not sure what is.
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@dustinb3403 said in security cameras using coax?:
I had to deal with this almost 8 years ago, reusing coax and the 2.1 Megapixels here are going to provide the worst possible picture of whatever your customer is trying to capture.
In my case, we were watching our scrap metal bins (lots of money here) and the business opt'd to go cheap, use the original camera and cables.
Well a bin went missing, almost $2000 in scrap and all they could tell was the color of the persons shirt. .
Which the company provided protective shirts so they couldn't figure out who stole the scrap.
If that isn't evidence enough to upgrade, I'm not sure what is.
Although I have used Ubiquiti Cameras and have better quality on video, it is still pixelated.
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@dbeato said in security cameras using coax?:
@dustinb3403 said in security cameras using coax?:
I had to deal with this almost 8 years ago, reusing coax and the 2.1 Megapixels here are going to provide the worst possible picture of whatever your customer is trying to capture.
In my case, we were watching our scrap metal bins (lots of money here) and the business opt'd to go cheap, use the original camera and cables.
Well a bin went missing, almost $2000 in scrap and all they could tell was the color of the persons shirt. .
Which the company provided protective shirts so they couldn't figure out who stole the scrap.
If that isn't evidence enough to upgrade, I'm not sure what is.
Although I have used Ubiquiti Cameras and have better quality on video, it is still pixelated.
This was so pixelated that all we could see was a human form in a red welding jacket pulling a bin away. Nothing distinguishable could be seen.
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I would think that the better option would be to rip it, and replace it. Likely it's Coax with a remote power feed - so going with CAT5 POE will help,.. and allow for a smaller, better camera. Even a better PTZ model.
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I think I'm going to try to line up a side by side of a Ubiquiti and one of the 2.1 Mp cameras that runs over coax. Hopefully the Ubiquiti will make it clear it's better to go IP.
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@mike-davis said in security cameras using coax?:
I think I'm going to try to line up a side by side of a Ubiquiti and one of the 2.1 Mp cameras that runs over coax. Hopefully the Ubiquiti will make it clear it's better to go IP.
IP isn't really the issue that is critical. It's the quality of the camera that is the biggest issue. 2.1 Mp is nothing when compared to any modern security camera.
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@dustinb3403 And that is their complaint about the old system - you can't see to the level of detail that they need. Just like in your example.
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@mike-davis said in security cameras using coax?:
@dustinb3403 And that is their complaint about the old system - you can't see to the level of detail that they need. Just like in your example.
So what might be a better approach is to get a demo unit that uses Coax and one that is IP based.
Money could be saved if they went with modern coax cables. . . but likely not a lot.
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@dustinb3403 said in security cameras using coax?:
@mike-davis said in security cameras using coax?:
I think I'm going to try to line up a side by side of a Ubiquiti and one of the 2.1 Mp cameras that runs over coax. Hopefully the Ubiquiti will make it clear it's better to go IP.
IP isn't really the issue that is critical. It's the quality of the camera that is the biggest issue. 2.1 Mp is nothing when compared to any modern security camera.
Isnt 2.1 MP a 1920x1080 image?
What is wrong with that? -
@momurda said in security cameras using coax?:
@dustinb3403 said in security cameras using coax?:
@mike-davis said in security cameras using coax?:
I think I'm going to try to line up a side by side of a Ubiquiti and one of the 2.1 Mp cameras that runs over coax. Hopefully the Ubiquiti will make it clear it's better to go IP.
IP isn't really the issue that is critical. It's the quality of the camera that is the biggest issue. 2.1 Mp is nothing when compared to any modern security camera.
Isnt 2.1 MP a 1920x1080 image?
What is wrong with that?You can only zoom on an image so much before you lose details. A lot of times, security cameras are too far away from the target to get good a good look, even with zoom.
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Coax cable means lots of things. What kind of cable? How high quality is the cable?
You could covert it over to ethernet, depending on the quality/length. But most coax should be sufficient for enough high res video, just depends on the camera.
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@momurda said in security cameras using coax?:
Isnt 2.1 MP a 1920x1080 image?
What is wrong with that?From what I understand, 2.1MP is as high as you can go over coax, and in some cases it's not high enough to see the level of detail that you need.
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@psx_defector said in security cameras using coax?:
Coax cable means lots of things. What kind of cable? How high quality is the cable?
You could covert it over to ethernet, depending on the quality/length. But most coax should be sufficient for enough high res video, just depends on the camera.
I'll have to check the cable. In this case I know it has been installed 9 years. Is there a type of coax that can handle more than 2.1 MP?
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@mike-davis said in security cameras using coax?:
@psx_defector said in security cameras using coax?:
Coax cable means lots of things. What kind of cable? How high quality is the cable?
You could covert it over to ethernet, depending on the quality/length. But most coax should be sufficient for enough high res video, just depends on the camera.
I'll have to check the cable. In this case I know it has been installed 9 years. Is there a type of coax that can handle more than 2.1 MP?
It might be all that BNC connected analog video can do, but it is not the max for coax.
RG59 (most analog video systems in the 90's and 00's) has a small core and more loss on the higher frequencies.
RG6 (what all cable companies require today for TV) has a larger core and less loss on the higher frequencies.
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I wouldn't use coax anymore, even if the wiring is in place.
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@bbigford said in security cameras using coax?:
I wouldn't use coax anymore, even if the wiring is in place.
Replacing wire is expensive (in labor hours).
I would use something like this first.
https://www.amazon.com/Dualcomm-Ethernet-over-Adapters-DECA-100/dp/B009AGCLVG -
Here is one that does PoE and has standard BNC connector ends.
https://www.amazon.com/Ethernet-Extender-Security-Transmitting-Distance/dp/B00CKY6KEO -
@jaredbusch said in security cameras using coax?:
@bbigford said in security cameras using coax?:
I wouldn't use coax anymore, even if the wiring is in place.
Replacing wire is expensive (in labor hours).
I would use something like this first.
https://www.amazon.com/Dualcomm-Ethernet-over-Adapters-DECA-100/dp/B009AGCLVGDepends on how much wire needs to be run since 'expensive' is subjective. But I get what you're saying; it's more expensive than reusing the existing wire and just using an adapter.
