Compact and robust next generation wireless security cameras

Not only have wireless security cameras become more pocket friendly by doing away with the high costs of cabling but they are also faster to deploy and easy to install. The key transition witnessed by this market is the wide adoption of wireless video surveillance in small to medium sized enterprises

By Richa Chakravarty

Monday, November 24, 2014: Without the traditional expenses and hassles associated with video surveillance, particularly for cabling and infrastructure, the next generation wireless security cameras have opened up a world of possibilities for users. Today’s advanced solutions are fully self-contained wireless video cameras that can be placed anywhere. These next generation cameras complete the job faster and have overcome the unique challenges of transferring high bandwidth video over the air, efficiently. The cameras leverage the intelligence of a new type of wireless protocol to allow users to control data from a central networking hub.

However, the key transition witnessed in this market is the wide adoption of wireless video surveillance in homes, offices, stores as well as in small and medium sized enterprises. The technology today has become more pocket friendly, especially with the major players focusing on the needs of SMEs. No networking knowledge or experience is required, and the automatic Wi-Fi connectivity means users simply need to ‘turn on’ and ‘log in’ to begin recording. Hence, wireless cameras provide a complete solution to suit the users’ budgets.

The latest in the market

Sophisticated wireless kits: Offering versatile options, players today have come up with advanced wireless kits. The straightforward, wire free installations and high performance cameras can work under challenging light conditions. The complete solutions include an advanced Wi-Fi camera and video management software that enable users to monitor activity from anywhere, at any time. The Hikvision HD IP WiFi kit brings CCTV benefits to homes and SMEs. Featuring a simple two step start-up, each kit comes with advanced video management features as well as a wireless network video recorder (NVR). This kit offers users the choice of five high performance camera ranges, all equipped with motion sensors and 3D digital noise reduction (DNR), digital wide dynamic range (WDR) and ICR for clear images even under challenging lighting conditions. “The DS-2CD2Q10FD-IW Mini IR PT network camera and DS-2CD2C10F-IW alarm pro cube network camera are both one megapixel units ideal for homes and smaller business installations. Both cameras boast of up to 64GB on-board storage capability through the integrated micro SD/SDHC/SDHX card slot and are capable of being configured with up to four regions of interest (ROI),” informs Ashish P Dhakan, managing director and CEO, Prama Hikvision India Pvt Ltd.

Compact designs: Typically, users do tend to prefer stylish designs and good aesthetics, and these wireless cameras have now become very compact. Earlier, data storage was a constraint but with technological advances and reduced file sizes, valuable network bandwidth can be conserved. Vivotek’s IP8336W compact cube camera is designed for both indoor and outdoor surveillance. Equipped with a 1 megapixel sensor enabling a viewing resolution of 1280×800 at a smooth 30fps, the IP8336W is an all in one outdoor camera capable of capturing high quality and high resolution video. “The IP8336W is a good 24-hour surveillance solution. Along with a stylish design, the camera incorporates an IR cut filter that can be removed automatically at night. It has built-in IR illuminators with a range of up to 5 metres. Also, it supports the industry standard H.264 compression technology along with MPEG-4 and MJPEG options, allowing the user to drastically reduce file sizes,” shares Sanjeev Gulati, country manager, India and SAARC international sales department, Vivotek Inc.

Robust wireless surveillance systems: Wireless cameras can now detect when a video connection is lost and take immediate action to reconnect. With automatic recovery, the video management system (VMS) eliminates the numerous false alarms that get generated due to the many ‘video loss’ detections – a common failing of first generation wireless cameras. “Today’s advanced camera follows the ONVIF protocol; it can be configured to work with other IP cameras as well as any ONVIF compatible NVR. It can also be connected wirelessly to any laptop without a wireless router,” adds Prateek Verma, sales director, Vantage Integrated Security Solutions P Ltd. The FX-DC3051C-AW1F41RH from Vantage offers inbuilt passive infrared sensors to ensure that no movement in the camera’s area of vision goes undetected.

Secureye’s IP wireless megapixel camera, the S-PTD10, is designed with the latest technology to work smoothly 24×7. It delivers good video quality and comes with high end security features; it meets all industry standards and also complies with the major international quality certification standards. “This camera is a good choice for extremely dark environments. It comes with several features like PTZ and the rotation features to cover and monitor large indoor premises. It also has an

inbuilt SD card slot for local recording. It supports local and remote Web/mobile phone monitoring without a static/public IP,” informs Vinod Tyagi, product manager, Fortune Marketing Pvt Ltd.

Progressive scan technology: Wireless network cameras, with their functional and smart design, offer a high quality yet affordable video surveillance solution. The latest wireless cameras use scanning technology that provides VGA or HDTV images. Axis Communications’ M10 series offers small and smart cameras, ideal for securing locations such as small businesses, boutiques, restaurants, hotels or residences. These intuitive and dependable cameras offer best in class image quality and professional monitoring capabilities. According to Sudhindra Holla, country manager, Axis Communications, “The M1033-W, M1034-W and M1054 in the M10 series feature an integrated PIR sensor for detecting movement even in the dark, and a white LED for illuminating the scene in the event of any unusual occurrence. These three models feature the WiFi protected setup protocol, which simplifies the process of configuring logical security on wireless networks.” Most of the wireless cameras provide two-way audio and are supported with a built-in microphone and speaker, allowing remote listening in an area, as well as communication with individuals directly or by using uploaded or recorded audio clips.

Making a purchase decision

While security remains the prime concern for the user when opting for a wireless surveillance solution, other considerations include the budget, scalability and interoperability—all extremely important for today’s technologically savvy buyer. Here are some of the aspects that buyers should pay more attention to before purchasing a wireless security camera. Prime importance should be given to the image quality and camera configuration—to understand whether the camera can operate in the dark and in challenging light conditions. Storage capacity and ease of installation should be the next aspects to be looked into. Warranty, price points and being vandal proof or weather resistant are the other parameters that should be checked while selecting a wireless security camera.

“Price points are extremely important from a buyer’s stand point. We realise that and ensure that we have a whole range of products to suit a buyer’s lifestyle and budget. We understand that buyers of security equipment are conscious about their security, which is why they consider investing in our products. All our products pass through stringent quality checks and come with a two year warranty,” shares Prateek Verma.

“The wireless capabilities, i.e., whether the camera is compatible with the IEEE 802.11b/g/n wireless standards, along with the quality of the images, should be the main focus of any buyer. Also, the user should check whether the system has protected WiFi setup standards,” advises Sudhindra Holla.

Buyers must check the following requirements before they select a camera:

• The monitoring scope of the field (such as the width, the height, etc)

• The robustness of the wireless network infrastructure of the field

• The video quality required (1-megapixel, 2-megapixel or 5 megapixel)

• The environmental limitations (such as high shelves, special interior design features that might hinder the camera’s view, etc)

• Whether there is a need for day and night functions

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