with my DVR surveillance system
At CCTV Camera Pros, we are often asked if our HD security cameras are compatible with an existing DVR surveillance system from another manufacturer. With so many HD video standards and resolutions available, it can be confusing. This article will discuss compatibility of cameras, DVRs, cables and accessories for HD over Coax (HD CCTV) type surveillance systems. This article will not cover traditional analog or network IP cameras
surveillance camera
(not HD).
Here are some typical questions I get asked regarding compatibility.
If you have any questions relating specifically to Swann, you can consult our
Swann DVR Camera Compatibility Guide
.
I hope this guide will help you determine what kind of gear you need. If you still have questions or would like help determining the best gear, please
contact me at mike@cctvcamerapros.net
.
HD security cameras
All major security equipment manufacturers (including Swann, Samsung, Night Owl, Lorex, QSee, Defender) sell
HD over coax security camera systems
.The problem is that these manufacturers often don't disclose the HD technology used in their cameras and DVRs.I suspect this is because they don't want their customers to have the choice of buying replacement cameras and other equipment. compatible. These are the 4 main HD video formats used today.
AHD cameras
– Analogue High Definition. Available in 720p, 1080p, 3 megapixels,
5 megapixel security camera
resolutions.
HD-TVI cameras
– High definition transport video interface. Available in 720p, 1080p, 3 megapixel, 5 megapixel and 8 megapixel / 4K resolutions.
HDCVI cameras
– High definition composite video interface. Available in 720p, 1080p, 3 megapixel, 5 megapixel and 8 megapixel / 4K resolutions.
HD-SDI cameras
– High Definition Serial Digital Interface. Available in 720p and 1080p resolutions. Has been replaced over time by AHD, HD-TVI and HDCVI.
You can use the links above to the cameras provided by CCTV Camera Pros for each type.
contact me here for help
.My team can usually figure it out.
Please note that usually if a DVR supports higher resolution it will also support lower resolution but this is not guaranteed. For example a Hybrid AHD DVR that supports 1080p cameras most likely supports also support 720p cameras.
DVR compatibility
Just because you have a DVR that works with the 1080p cameras that come with it doesn't mean you can buy any kind of 1080p security camera and it will work. It's common for a DVR to not support supports only one of the video formats mentioned above. There are also hybrid DVRs available that support more than one video format. For example, these
iDVR-PRO DVRs support traditional analog, AHD 1080p and HD-TVI 1080p CCTV cameras
.If you are not sure what video format your DVR supports, please
write me the name and model of the manufacturer
.I will help you.
Premade Security Camera Cable
Most pre-packaged surveillance systems sold at big-box retailers like Best Buy, Walmart, and Costco include pre-made camera cables. Typically, these cables are about 50 feet long each. Many installations will require longer cables than these.
pre-made hd security camera cables
in lengths of 25, 50, 65, 75, 100, 132 and 165 feet. These work with AHD, HD-TVI, HDCVI and HD-SDI cameras. You can also use a dual female BNC connector to daisy chain two cables or longer, however, I don't recommend trying to use pre-made cables for cables over 250 feet. For runs over 250 feet, you should use an RG59 siamese cable.
RG59 Siamese Cable Spools
If you want to cut the cable to the exact length you need, or if you need to run a cable longer than 250 feet, you can use an RG59 Siamese cable reel instead. The 75 Ohm RG59 coaxial cable is compatible with all HD over coax security camera standards.Make sure you get a
High quality RG59 designed for CCTV camera installations
.RG59 reels require you to cut the cable and attach BNC connectors for video and power plugs for 18/2 power cable.This page has
RG59 coils and kits including tools and connectors
.There are also videos on this page that show how to cut and crimp a cable.
HD video amplifiers
The maximum distance that RG59 cable can travel for HD security cameras varies depending on the type of camera and resolution you are using. For example, RG59 cable can go up to approximately 1000 feet for AHD and HDCVI cameras of 1080p resolution.RG59 can be run for 1080p HD-TVI video up to approximately 1600 feet.You can find a more complete
maximum distance cable guide for HD security cameras
here.
Video amplifiers allow the video signal to be amplified to 5000 feet and more in some cases.
HD video splitters
Video splitters allow you to send the video signal from a security camera to multiple devices. For example, if you want to connect a single camera to both a DVR and a monitor, you can use a splitter.
You can find
video amplifiers and splitters for all major types of HD cameras
here.
HDMI converters
Want to display the live video from your security camera on a TV? To do this, you need to convert the video signal to HDMI. You can learn more about
BNC to HDMI converters
here.This page contains
HDMI converters for AHD, HD-TVI, HDCVI and HD-SDI security cameras
.
Questions?
I hope this article helps customers looking for surveillance equipment that is compatible with their HD camera system. Most of my company's competitors don't try to make it easy and I realize that there are has a lot of technical information to analyze. If you have any questions, I'm here to help. Please contact me at
mike@cctvcamerapros.net
.