Q:
What makes the Network Cameras different than a CCTV video camera?
A: They are directly network connected cameras with their own IP address.
That means the camera has intelligence and can be connected without
the need of a PC. In all real-world applications there is a need for
this stand-alone functionality. The PC-less solution generates a lot
lower total solution cost compared to the PC + Software + Frame-grabber
card + Camera solution.
Q: How large are
the images in Kbytes?
A: The size of the image depends on the resolution and the compression
scheme used. An image of (352 x 288 or 352x240) that is compressed
using MJPEG is only about 4-10 Kbytes. Higher resolution cameras
such as the IQ301, with resolution of 1200 x 1024, create file sizes
as large as 80K bytes per frame. Since MPEG4 improves compression
by transferring only the difference between frames, we don't use
frame size with MPEG4 compression. Instead we estimate an average
data rate based on the resolution, frame rate and expected activity
the camera will see. In general you can expect about 4 times improvement
in compression using MPEG4. To learn more about this take a look
at our newsletter article
on this subject.
Q: How much bandwidth
is used by an IP camera system?
A: The bandwidth depends on the number of cameras, the resolution
of the cameras, the compression scheme used, and the frame rate
of the cameras. To learn more about this take a look at our newsletter
article
on this subject.
Q: Does the device
have its own IP address?
A: Yes, it acts as a standalone web-server, with some limited memory
space reserved for your own web pages.
Q: What is the
difference between MPEG4 and MJPEG compression?
A: MPEG4 provides better compression, but MJPEG provides higher
resolution. MPEG4 improves the compression by transferring only
the difference between frames. MJPEG supports very high resolution.
For example the IQ303 has
a resolution of 2048 x 1536. For more information about the difference
between MPEG4 and MJPEG take a look at our newsletter article
on this subject..
Q: Can I use an
IP Network Camera for videoconference?
A: Yes, if the cameras use MPEG4 compression and support audio.
For example
you can use the IP3111
which has a built-in microphone and provides simultaneous transmission
of both audio and video
Q: How much bandwidth
does it require?
A: This depends on the number of users, the frames per second and
the image quality you have decided to use. The IP Cameras have a
configurable bandwidth usage limit which gives you complete control
of how much bandwidth the unit is allowed to use.
Q:
Which camera is best for my application?
A: It depends on your application. To determine the best cameras
you need to answer some questions.
Q: Where can I
get accessories such as replacement lens, zoom lenses or other devices.
A: Kintronics provides a choice of lenses, enclosures, brackets
and video cameras.
Q: I don't understand
the principle for how the images are sent. Single-cast or can they
be multicasts and/or do I have to request each image from a browser?
A: The IP cameras send a stream of JPEG images (called motion JPEG)
over the network. This has native support in Netscape and Internet
Explorer for MAC, Windows Internet Explorer requires an ActiveX
component or a Java applet (both downloaded automatically by IE
from the IP Network Camera). The transmission method is single-cast,
but the cameras support 10 or more simultaneous clients.
Q: Do the cameras
come with a PC application for storing and managing the video?
A: Some cameras (like the Vivotek and IQinvision cameras) come with
very basic software. For applications that require 4 or more cameras
we recommend additional software. We provide a number of optional
software and hardware products for controlling cameras, viewing
and storing the video on standard hard drives. Take a look at our
IP Software
guide for examples of the software available.
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