IP Cameras — Network Cameras for Modern CCTV

IP cameras have replaced analogue as the default choice on every new build and most refurbishments. They produce higher resolution, support analytics on board, accept Power-over-Ethernet, and integrate cleanly with VMS platforms. They also bring the full IT-stack of problems with them: IP-address conflicts, firmware mismatches, ONVIF compatibility issues, and cybersecurity exposure that did not exist on a closed coax system.

What this module covers

The lessons cover the main IP camera types (bullet, dome, turret, fisheye, PTZ, ANPR), the protocols that matter (RTSP, ONVIF Profile S/T, proprietary SDKs), how video quality is set inside an IP camera (main stream vs sub stream, GOP length, H.264 vs H.265), how to add a camera to an NVR using plug-and-play vs manual entry, and a step-by-step live configuration of an IC RealTime camera so you can see the actual menus rather than hear them described.

Who it is for

Installers moving from analogue to IP, IT engineers picking up CCTV work, and anyone who can ping a camera but cannot get it to display in their VMS.

Why it matters

The two most common IP-camera commission failures are address conflicts (a camera shipped at 192.168.1.64, the same as four other cameras already on the LAN) and password mismatches (a camera initialised with a strong admin password, then re-pulled in via ONVIF using default credentials that no longer work). Both are trivial to avoid once you know the workflow. Knowing how PoE budgets are calculated also stops you specifying a 16-port switch with a 65W budget for sixteen cameras that each draw 12W.

Lessons in this module

Lessons:

Network Camera Types
Protocols in IP (Network ) Cameras
Video Quality in Network Cameras
Introduction to ANPR Cameras
How to Program IP Cameras
Live Configuration of IC RealTime Network Camera
Live Examples of PoE Devices

This module is also available as a part of a comprehensive CCTV Installation Course for £149.