There are two distinctly different CCTV systems on the market, wired and wireless, and each is best suited to different commercial CCTV installations. In this blog, we will help explain the two different CCTV systems, their functions and where each system is best used.
wireless CCTV
Wireless CCTV has come a long way in the past few years and is now a viable option if you are thinking about installing commercial CCTV. Wireless CCTV is a great option for larger commercial premises where there can be large areas to monitor with a number of units such as caravan and holiday parks and large industrial estates for factories and warehouses. Wireless CCTV systems are best suited for this as you do not have to lay miles of cable to be able to transfer the camera images to the NVR ( Network Video Recorder) which allows the CCTV cameras to be placed further apart for increased coverage and security.
Wireless CCTV cameras are paired with a transmitter and a receiver which allows them to send signals between the cameras and the NVR. For these cameras to work properly though there has to be a clear line of sight between the transmitter and the receiver, anything blocking it, such as a building will make the signal weaker and affect the footage being transferred. Wireless CCTV systems and their cameras must be located near a power source as there are mains powered for greater reliability.
CCTV TIP – It is important to make sure the Ghz band the cameras are set to do not interfere with any other signals on site. We have had instances before where sites have had CCTV installed that was put on to the same Ghz band as other wireless devices on site which stopped the system from working properly.
What is the difference between wireless and wire-free?
There are two types of wireless CCTV systems, a wire-free CCTV system and a wireless CCTV system. A wireless CCTV camera is powered by a PoE switch, with the video signals being sent wirelessly. Wire-free cameras are battery-powered but because of the limited battery power, they only have the option to film footage onto a micro-SD card when motion is detected. However, with a wireless CCTV camera system, multiple images can be recorded onto a Hard Drive allowing a far greater amount of accessible footage. We only recommend wireless cameras using separate transmitters and receivers as battery-operated wire-free CCTV cameras can be very unreliable and the picture quality is substandard.
Wired CCTV
A wired CCTV system is a combination of CCTV cameras and storage devices connected to a power source and connected via Cat5 cable. It can easily be linked to the internal Lan network allowing multiple users to access the camera images across the network or to the internet router for remote monitoring purposes. Wired CCTV systems are best used for single-unit commercial buildings such as retail shops, small warehouses and petrol stations, this is because it is easier to connect all the Cat5 cable in one unit rather than over a large multiple unit commercial premises.
On a large sprawling site, individual recording systems can be located in close proximity to the cameras reducing the amount of cable required, each of the recording systems is then connected to the Lan network and by using the Hikvision IVMS software the client is able to choose multiple cameras from multiple recorders and display them in the one viewing grid.
Which CCTV system should I use?
This depends on the size of your commercial premises, the number of units and the specific use of the CCTV cameras. Generally, if you are a business with a one-unit commercial premise installing a wired CCTV system would usually be the best option. If you need to cover larger commercial premises with multiple units and large areas of land a wireless CCTV system would be the best option as it allows for easier installation.
Do you need help installing a wired or wireless commercial CCTV system?
If you need help and advice on installing a commercial CCTV system call our team directly on 01492 547997 or send us an email to info@active-cctv.co.uk and we will be happy to offer free commercial CCTV advice.
