HDcctv - Is It Worth It?
Posted on Wed, Aug 11, 2010
One of the more recent additions to the CCTV market has been HDcctv cameras and DVRs. The HDcctv cameras are capable of delivering 720p and 1080p video at a full 30 frames per second with no latency or use of compression.
Recently, this has caused some debate among integrators as to whether HDcctv will displace IP-based network megapixel cameras (mainly based their simplicity to install and use and the fact that 80% of the market still uses analog cameras), or whether they will be relegated to the back of the integrator’s tool box. So we decided to weigh in on the technology and make our recommendation: will HDcctv be a game changer or just another dud?
How HDcctv Works
First, let’s explain what HDcctv is and how it works. Unlike IP video cameras, HDcctv is a point-to-point system that uses coax cable rather than Category-5e or -6. This means that the video feed is sent directly from the camera to the recording device or DVR without the use of packets, compression, encoders or an existing network. The camera can be plugged into any compatible receiving device and will display video without latency or configuration.
HDcctv cameras deliver video via the SMTPE 292M format, which is based on the HD TV that broadcast stations adopted for the consumer market in 2009. Using this format, HDcctv is able to deliver resolutions of around 2.1 megapixels at 1,080p and 1.3 megapixels at 720p.
The Benefits of HDcctv
1. The number one benefit currently being marketed to integrators is ease of installation. Because HDcctv is point-to-point, no additional training or networking is required to make the system work. There’s no need to configure or program each device or deal with IP addresses; you just plug it in and it works. How does this benefit end users? Two words: lower cost. The easier something is to install, the less expensive it is to implement.
2. HDcctv’s ability to reuse the same cabling infrastructure as most traditional analog systems is a pretty big benefit, too. One of the largest costs in any analog system conversion is the changes to the cabling infrastructure. This technology allows organizations an easy, economical way to upgrade a legacy analog system to achieve some of the benefits of megapixel cameras.
3. Finally, because of the fact that the video feed travels on its own line with no compression, HDcctv delivers a megapixel quality video without requiring IT network bandwidth, dropping packets, or reduced resolution from compression. There’s no latency, meaning that the video runs smoothly without any jitteriness or skipping and there’s no delay between when commands are sent to a Point-Tilt-Zoom camera and when the camera responds.
The Challenges of HDcctv
1. The largest challenge currently faced by HDcctv is that there really aren’t enough manufacturers embracing the technology to create a robust product offering in the market. HDcctv is still a niche market and while that market is growing, there is a distinct lack of options for quality HDcctv products. This, of course, will eventually disappear if the demand for HDcctv increases and more products hit the market.
2. The resolution capabilities of HDcctv are far surpassed by IP-based cameras widely available on the market today. With a maximum resolution of 2.1 megapixels, and a growing demand for higher quality video in a single camera, HDcctv will continue to be outclassed by IP-based video in terms of quality. This limits the usability of HDcctv in many applications that require high-end HD products.
3. One of the major reasons we see HDcctv coming up short is its inability to integrate. Unlike IP-based video which communicates readily with other IP-based technologies, HDcctv solutions are very difficult to integrate with other systems. HDcctv tends to be incompatible with integration to access control or intrusion systems. They don’t communicate with or tie in to building management systems, either. And if you want any sort of analytics at the edge on your HDcctv solution, that technology doesn’t yet exist. With integration being the number one method for improving the value of a solution to the organization, this is a pretty significant challenge to overcome.
4. Finally, while reusing existing coax cabling is a very nice feature, when looking at new construction, it’s not the most efficient or effective cable to use. Because the coax cable must be run individually for each camera, this can create a larger cost for cabling over Cat-5e/-6 cable.
Our Recommendation
So do we think that HDcctv will bump out IP-based video in the market? Absolutely not. Security in organizations today is continuing to evolve to the point where it supports the organization in ways that go beyond traditional security. Organizations are demanding that security departments provide value to the organization and that value is hard to realize without flexibility, interoperability and integration.
Do we think that HDcctv is a useless product that will soon disappear from the market? No. HDcctv has its uses and will continue to evolve its capabilities and overcome some of the challenges it faces. Many organizations will find HDcctv useful when upgrading their legacy analog systems, but we feel that HDcctv doesn’t (yet) measure up to IP video outside of this particular application.
So in essence, HDcctv isn’t really worth all the hype. It’s very useful under a certain set of circumstances. You’ll see it more in certain industries than others, but most organizations won’t need or use it. But we’d like to hear your thoughts. What do you think about the place of HDcctv in the future?