What is an IP camera?

May 18 2021, by Rob Pilkes
2 min reading time

An IP camera uses the Internet Protocol and is connected via a UTP cable. Because a UTP cable can handle more data than an analog COAX cable, an IP camera can achieve higher resolution and therefore better image quality.

Using a UTP cable, the IP camera can be connected to the internet, either directly to the router or indirectly via an NVR recorder. The IP camera's internet connection allows you to view live footage from anywhere in the world.

IP camera options

The IP camera's UTP connection offers even more advantages. It allows both power and data to be routed through the same cable, meaning only one cable needs to be run from the recorder to the IP camera. This feature is commonly called PoE (Power over Ethernet). PoE functionality isn't standard on every IP camera. If you want to use this feature, make sure both the camera and the recorder are equipped with PoE when purchasing.

In addition to the PoE function, an IP camera can also be equipped with a PTZ (Pan Tilt Zoom) function. Pan = rotate, Tilt = tilt, Zoom = zoom. An IP camera equipped with PTZ functionality is equipped with a motor that can pan, tilt, and zoom the camera. To control the PTZ function on the IP camera, you can choose to control the camera digitally with an app on your computer, tablet, or smartphone, or connect the camera to a joystick for remote control.

Save IP camera images

Both the video and audio data from the IP camera can be stored in several ways. The most common storage method is an NVR recorder. This recorder has a built-in hard drive that stores the data. You can easily connect the recorder to a monitor so you can watch the footage live or review it later.

Some IP cameras also come with an SD card slot. Footage is stored on the SD card, and when you want to review it, you can remove the SD card and read it using a laptop or PC.

A relatively new method is cloud storage. Footage can be stored in "the cloud" or a data center, either with or without a recorder. You can access and review the footage anytime, anywhere with internet access.

IP camera applications

IP cameras are available in a wide variety of colors, sizes, and models. This means there's an IP camera for almost any application. For example, we have customers who use our IP cameras for securing:

Houses, holiday homes
Businesses, shops and warehouses
Carport, boathouse or caravan site
Livestock stables
Baby monitor
Construction site
Playgrounds, schools and daycare centers
Wellness centers