Many times digital video security or surveillance applications require remote video monitoring. There are several ways to monitor digital video cameras including the utilization of a professional monitoring service. In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the different methods currently available for remote video monitoring and how they may be used.
Before we talk about remote monitoring, let’s briefly review how a standard system is monitored. An average digital video security system is comprised of digital video cameras, a Digital Video Recorder or DVR and an optional monitor. The cameras are mounted in various locations and each one provides an input to the DVR unit. The DVR than provides the connection and output to a relatively close monitor or monitors. Some systems, such as baby monitors, only use cameras and monitors as recordings are inconsequential.
Although one might argue that many average digital video security systems employ remote monitoring because the monitor is not in the exact same location as the cameras or DVR, our reference to the term generally indicates that the monitor is in an entirely separate location from the cameras and/or DVR and not directly connected by a video transmission wire or cable to either. An example of this could be a wireless digital video entrance gate camera with a monitor located not at the entrance gate, but inside the home several hundred feet away.
To be more accurate, there are different levels of remote monitoring available as well. Both examples above can be examples of relatively close remote monitoring. (Many baby monitor’s cameras for example, transmit wirelessly to a wireless monitor that is located in the same building but a different room — the parents’ bedroom for example). On the other hand, extremely far remote monitoring can be accomplished when someone in Orlando is on vacation in China and monitors their residential digital video security system from their smartphone.
There are several different methods for remote video monitoring of digital video security cameras. The following paragraphs will examine the specific methods currently available.
Wireless Remote Video Monitor
This has been mentioned above however, with current technology, some camera’s boast wireless distance ranges of up to two miles. So not only can the wireless remote video monitor be in near proximity like the baby monitor, but it is possible to reach much farther distances using this method as well.
Some professional remote video monitor services send their signals via more powerful transmitters located at the site being protected and are amplified using various wireless repeaters until the signal reaches their monitoring location, how ever this method is becoming less popular due to the use of the following method.
Internet Protocol (IP) Ready Cameras and DVRs
IP ready cameras and DVRs have their own web server technology built right in to the device and connect to the Internet via a broadband Internet connection such as a modem, router, or WiFi. Although the IP cameras and IP DVRs function slightly differently, the both yield the same result; the ability to remotely monitor the digital video security cameras by way of the Internet.
IP ready cameras are connected directly to the Internet, not to the DVR. They have all the necessary electronic circuitry to do this on their own. Once the camera is installed and connected to the Internet, the user can begin remote video monitoring immediately using a computer or even a smartphone. Not only can IP cameras have a remote video monitor, but even their DVRs can be remotely located to store the digital video files they create.
IP ready DVRs, like the IP ready cameras, are connected directly to the Internet. However, IP ready DVRs manage the coordination of the cameras and recordings locally. That is, the individual cameras are all directly connected to the DVR either wirelessly or via cabling. The DVR then acts as the web server and provides the digital video image to the recipient using the Internet.
Under either Internet Protocol example, the only limiting factor to the remote video monitor is access to the Internet provided to the monitoring device. Even professional remote monitoring services are using IP systems because of the convenience, ease of use, and relatively low cost.
So if you’re looking for a remote video monitor, consider purchasing IP ready cameras or DVRs. If you have any additional questions about a remote video monitor, contact one of our security experts today.
