Boney Maundu
- Aug 9, 2023
- 13 min read

ANALOG vs. IP CCTV SYSTEMS

Updated: Oct 11, 2023

Understanding the differences between Analog and IP CCTV Systems

With the proliferation of CCTV security systems and devices on the market, it’s crucial to have an understanding of the different types, specifications, and general capabilities of CCTV systems prior to making a purchasing decision, either as a professional installer or owner.

There are 3 major types of CCTV security camera systems;

Analog cameras, sometimes used interchangeably with Analogue.
IP cameras, also known as Network or Digital cameras.
Stand Alone Security cameras

The major difference is how they process and transmit data, in this case, footage.

Simply put, Analog cameras capture footage and transmit the data in the form of analog electrical signals via coaxial cables to the recorder known as a Digital Video Recorder, or DVR in short, for processing and storage.

IP cameras, on the other hand, capture footage that is usually processed by the camera and sent in the form of digital signals to the recorder, in this case, a Network Video Recorder, or NVR in short, for storage.

While analog cameras predominantly use coaxial cable for transmission, IP or Network cameras can use several media, including category 5 or 6 cables, popularly known as Ethernet, network or LAN cables. Wireless transmission can also be used for IP cameras, in addition to using fiber cables, provided that they support this feature.

In general, IP or digital cameras are superior to analog cameras, particularly in terms of image quality or resolution, but there are instances where it might be advantageous to acquire and deploy a particular type of system over the other when a number of other factors are also considered.

Throughout this document, IP will be used interchangeably with Network or Digital camera, all which refer to the same thing. Recording device will be used interchangeably with NVR or DVR.

ANALOG CAMERAS/ SYSTEMS

Analog cameras transmit video signals via coaxial cable to the Digital Video Recorder (DVR) which processes the signal by converting it into a digital signal, compressing and storing it on the pre-installed hard disk drive.

The most commonly used coaxial cables for analog CCTV are RG59 and RG6 cables, through the former is more commonly used, mainly because it’s cheaper and does the job adequately.

In some cases, Ethernet or network cable can be used for data transmission in analog systems by using video baluns at each end of the cable to connect the cable to the camera and DVR connectors. This concept can be used in instances where using LAN cable would be a more cost effective or practical solution.

The easiest way to identify an analog camera is by physical inspection. Analog cameras typically have two input connectors, one for power and one for incoming video signals. The power input is a standard male 12 volts DC (Direct Current) attached connector. The video signal is a female BNC connector that looks more or less like a TV antenna signal F connector that connects to a male BNC connector attached to a coaxial cable for transmission.

A DVR has a number of female BNC inputs that connect to male BNC connectors attached to incoming coaxial cables from cameras. The DVR inputs, also known as ports, can either be 4,8,16 or 32 depending on the size of the system acquired. Basically, a DVR with 8 ports can accept input form up to 8 cameras. If more cameras are needed, either a second DVR or a larger capacity DVR (one with more ports) needs to be acquired.

Advantages of an Analog Cameras / Security System

As much as analog cameras are legacy systems, they’re far from being obsolete and offer some significant advantages over their digital counterparts.

Cost

Analog cameras tend to be less costly than IP cameras in general, on a per camera basis. Furthermore, ease of installation and straightforward plug-and-play feature means a Do-It-Yourself installation can be carried out by anyone with basic electrical knowledge, eliminating the need for a professional installer.

Simplicity

A Digital Video Recorder (DVR) can be easier to set up than a Network Video Recorder (NVR). Most DVR’s are plug and play which means that as long as a camera is powered and attached to one end of the input signal cable, a live image will promptly be displayed on the connected monitoring screen without further settings or configurations.

This makes it easy for simple Do-It-Yourself installations since they don’t have a steep learning curve.

Low Bandwidth Requirements

Because analog cameras generally have lower resolution, their video files tend to be smaller and therefore less burdensome on the network, in cases where the security system is hooked onto the local network either for remote access or video backup. A large number of cameras would not introduce enough load onto the network to adversely affect other devices and systems that rely on the network.

Compatibility

Analog cameras from one brand tend to be able to work with analog systems from other brands in general so one is not tied to a particular unavailable or costly brand in case of a need for expansion or replacement as opposed to IP cameras which tend to be more brand or standard specific.

Disadvantages of an Analog Cameras / Security System

Cabling

Analog cameras need two cables connected to them, a video and a power cable. Even with the advent of Siamese cables (which contains coaxial cable for video transmission and power cable for power), the cable is still bulky which can be unwieldy with an increase in the number of cameras. Furthermore, coaxial cables are usually more expensive compared to the same lengths of LAN/network cable used for IP cameras.

Image Quality

Because their image quality is pretty low, it’s harder to get details of an image or video file especially at a distance. Even with the zoom functionality, the image becomes too grainy to serve any useful purpose and so the whole investment might turn out to have been a bad investment if retrieved data is unusable. However, analog cameras might perform better in low light conditions.

Coverage Area

Analog cameras typically have narrower field of view compared to IP cameras. This means that more analog cameras might be needed to cover the same area that fewer IP cameras would, negating the cost advantage.

Positional & Installation Limitations

Analog cameras require a cable to originate directly from the back of the recording device to the camera in each instance. Cameras that are a great distance, in addition to costing more in terms of labour and amount of cabling, are susceptible to signal degradation since a signal degrades the longer it travels down a medium, especially on coaxial cable.

IP cameras contrarily do not have to be wired directly to the recording device. They can piggyback on the existing network or connect to network switches installed strategically, with due planning of course.

Therefore, analog cameras would work fine with smaller installations such as a medium home or office building as they have to be within reasonable distance of the DVR but would be cumbersome and costly for vast areas and large buildings.

Port Limitations

Related to the preceding point, DVR’s have port limitations, i.e. they range from 4 input ports to a maximum of 32 ports. It’s increasingly rare to find a DVR that has more than 32 input ports. This therefore means there is always a limit to the number of cameras that can be connected to a single DVR without the need for an additional recording device when more cameras are needed. The same is not necessarily true for an IP system.

Data Security & Integrity

Analog cameras transmit analog signals which can’t be encrypted unlike digital signals. This exposes the transmission to interception.

IP /DIGITAL CAMERAS/ SYSTEMS

With IP cameras, the captured image is converted into a digital signal before transmission to the Network Video Recorder (NVR). Depending on the type of camera, the signal can be transmitted in a number of ways including optic fiber cables, Wi-Fi and predominantly LAN cables, also known as network or Ethernet cables or any other digital medium for that matter.

Digital cameras transmit data through the Internet Protocol, which is in simple terms a method that’s used to transmit digital signal between devices. Despite the name internet protocol, IP cameras do not need internet to work bar exceptional cases where internet is used to link geographically separated cameras to a recording device or server.

Just like analog cameras, IP cameras can be identified by physical inspection. A wired IP camera has two input receptacles, one for power, typically an incoming male 12v DC jack and a network jack input port for a network cable with an attached network jack, also known as the RJ45 jack. Some IP cameras that have POE capability, i.e. the ability to be powered via the Ethernet port might not have the 12V DC female receptacle.

Wireless cameras are also classified as IP/Network cameras since they also use the Internet

Protocol to transmit data and communicate with the internet/Wi-Fi router or NVR. These cameras are also known as Stand-alone cameras since they can function without being attached to an NVR or any external recording device.

A Network Video Recorder (NVR) accepts digital signals from the cameras for processing and storage. Like their analog counterparts, some NVR’s have Ethernet ports at the back to connect network cables from the cameras and they typically range from 4 ports to 64 ports.

While a 4 port NVR can accept a maximum of 4 cameras and 16 port NVR can accept a maximum of 16 cameras, an IP system can be more robust in terms of the number of cameras. A 32 channel NVR might typically have only 16 ports but it can accept input form up to 32 cameras by use of network switches.

Cameras closer to the NVR can be connected directly to the NVR while cameras further away can be connected to one or several strategically installed switches and linked via one cable to the NVR. Furthermore cameras can also piggyback on the existing local network as long as they can communicate to the NVR. This requires advance planning though.

Some NVR’s do not even have network ports at the back and rely solely on an existing network to display cameras.

As much as IP systems have almost limitless configurations, without prior planning and a deep understanding of the Internet Protocol, they might introduce more problems than they solve, particularly in large and complicated office or business settings.

Advantages of an IP/Digital Cameras / Security System

Image quality

One of the most salient features that gives IP cameras an advantage over analog cameras is image quality. Side by side, there’s a noticeable difference between a 2 megapixel analog camera and a 2mp IP camera. In addition to crisper more detailed images from the latter, they have a larger view and capture angle.

Coverage Area

Related to the preceding point, IP cameras have a larger coverage area. This means that for a vast area where more than one analog camera might be required for complete coverage, one IP camera might suffice thereby reducing the total number of cameras deployed and subsequently cutting costs.

Cabling

As opposed to analog cameras that need to be individually wired to the recording device, an IP system can incorporate the use of switches where cameras connect to a switch closer to the cameras and one link cable is wired to the NVR. This is especially advantageous in medium to large deployments as it saves on costs of cable and labour.

Furthermore, some IP cameras are POE capable, i.e. they can be powered via the Ethernet port eliminating the need for additional power cables and provisions. All other additional features like PTZ (Pan-Tilt-Zoom) and audio can also be controlled via the same cable unlike analog cameras that might need extra cables for a PTZ connector and audio jack connector. This can also contribute in driving down costs as far as cabling and power supply devices are concerned.

It gets even better with wireless cameras that might only require power or in some cases they can be completely if they have an onboard battery installed. In this case, even a Do-It-Yourself install can be carried out. This makes them easy to deploy even in remote areas, for the models that have provisions to work with existing cellular networks.

Storage

Some IP cameras come with the option of onboard storage which means that they can send video files to an NVR while subsequently storing video files on a storage card, typically a micro SD card installed on the camera. This ensures data redundancy in case the NVR or hard disk drive is compromised.

Apart from storing video files onboard or on the NVR, IP cameras can be configured to store files on a computer, a local server or a remote cloud facility which can be an option if costs are considered.

Port Limitations

As far as input ports are concerned, IP systems have greater flexibility. While a 16 port/ 16 channel NVR can accept a maximum of 16 cameras, IP cameras can be configured to store video files directly onboard, to a computer, a server or a cloud facility. In some cases, the NVR can be done away with completely and a software client used to manage the network cameras which eliminates any kind of limit as far as the number of cameras is concerned.

Data Security and Integrity

As opposed to analog cameras, IP cameras convert the captured images into digital signals which are encrypted and sent over the network medium to the NVR which decrypts and decodes the signals before storage. This make the files safe from interception and decryption.

Smart Integrations and Interactive ability

A lot of IP cameras, particularly Wi-Fi cameras can have smart interactive processes programmed into them where they can send notifications like emails, text messages or perform functions like light and voice or sound activation when predetermined events occur such as motion detection and scene change among others.

This means that digital cameras are an active security feature rather than passive recording devices.

In the age of automation, this feature cannot be understated.

Positioning and Installation Limitations

Since an IP system can be designed where not all cameras do not necessarily have to be wired to the NVR, there’s a lot of flexibility in where cameras can be installed compared to analog systems.

In places where cabling is impossible or inappropriate, wireless cameras can be used, network switches can be incorporated or the cameras can piggyback on the existing local area network to communicate to the NVR. For such configurations, an adequate understanding and knowledge of networking is required.

This also comes in handy during expansion. Additional IP cameras can be added by introducing a network switch and wiring the new cameras to the switch which is linked to the network by a single cable. Analog cameras on the other hand have to be wired straight to the DVR regardless of how far it is from the camera. This is especially advantageous in large buildings or vast spaces as scaling can be a breeze.

Disadvantages of an IP/Digital Cameras / Security System

As much as IP cameras and systems might be a superior option to analog systems in general, there are instances where going with analog cameras and systems would be the most logical choice.

Cost

For small deployments of 4 to 8 cameras and small homes, business or buildings, analog systems would suffice since the areas and distances to be covered are small enough. In this case, analog High Definition cameras some which have enhanced resolution just as good as some IP cameras. IP cameras and systems are invariably costlier than their analog counterparts form cameras to NVRs and accompanying peripherals.

Even though, they’re considerably more expensive, fewer IP cameras might be needed to cover a particular area due to their wider area of coverage thereby balancing out the cost effect as it cuts down on the amount of cabling and subsequent labour costs.

Setup Complications

IP cameras in general require configurations and a knowledge of network systems in order for them to work optimally, especially in more complex installations that require more than 8 cameras or large buildings and vast areas.

In a business with an existing network, utmost due diligence must be carried out to determine whether the network can support the load that the IP system would introduce on the system or if a parallel network needs to be setup. This therefore requires engaging a professional networking expert which can up drive costs. The downside of not conducting network assessment is that the IP system might overload and bring down the network, adversely affecting everything else connected onto the network.

For simple deployments like small homes and business, this might not be such a big problem.

High Bandwidth requirements

IP cameras due to their higher resolution and higher frame rate which are responsible for crisp images can adversely affect the network as they demand significantly higher bandwidth for data transmission than analog cameras. This can be burdensome on the existing local network and might necessitate a network upgrade which is definitely going to introduce additional costs.

With that said, IP cameras are increasingly becoming bandwidth efficient with compression technologies such as H265+ which makes their traffic lightweight thus going a long way in eliminating this problem.

Storage

Related to the preceding point, higher resolution images with higher frame rates makes files larger thereby requiring more space on the hard drive for storage. But with continuous improvement in compression technology, digital files are becoming smaller and occupying less space on the storage medium.

CONCLUSION

The choice of what technology to go with depends will depend on budget and context. As much as analog cameras and systems are in decline, useful analog technology still exists that would sufficiently meets the security needs of particular settings. Side by side IP cameras and system could be almost double the cost of alternative analog cameras and systems, even though the prices as they proliferate the market.

With the advent of Analog HD which are high definition analog cameras, clearer images can be obtained that can be just as good as some IP cameras. For simpler settings like shops, small homes and businesses, such cameras would still be able to provide value for money.

In fact, for small establishments with limited budgets, analog systems might be the most logical option due to ease of installation and low cost hardware.

Additionally, there are systems known as XVR’s. These are hybrid recorders that can be able to accept and process both analog and digital signals therefore offering the option of having analog and IP cameras installed side by side.

Beyond a certain threshold though, IP cameras would definitely be the most logical option despite the higher cost of individual components. Analog systems become very cost ineffective when large and vast areas need to be covered, particularly due to cumbersome cabling.

Most home and business systems are generally moving into the realm of automation and integrating IP cameras with other smart interactive systems like other security systems like alarms, door bells and access control, TVs and lighting is possible, which is not the case with analog cameras.

But for the sake of forward compatibility and technology obsolescence, IP systems are generally the way to go be it a simple project or a more complex one. In cases where coaxial cabling already exists for older analog cameras and budget is a concern, Analog HD cameras can be acquired and swapped with the older analog cameras for a slight improvement in image clarity. It can be a worthy upgrade.

Engaging with a knowledgeable and qualified professional is usually advisable when contemplating a technology and system to deploy as they can offer factual advice based on context, budget and future needs which would go a long way in eliminating buyer’s remorse.

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