I have written about this before although as time goes on WIFI cameras are getting better and better but I still think it may be a few years before I would trust them as much as I trust hardwired cameras.

1. WIFI cameras need about 1 mbps upload speed or if you have a recorder NVR or DVR at least 2.5mbps upload speed and when the WIFI goes out you don’t have your cameras.

2. Hardwired cameras do not go out as often as WIFI cameras, when you have hardwired cameras you should still have a 2.5mbps upload speed internet connection to the recorder.

3. You get what you pay for so if you decide on WIFI cameras make sure you have good WIFI at each camera location.

4. We can trench if we need to in order to put in hardwired lines and we can also put in cables that are high up depending on your application. When we trench we install special direct burial cable because if we install conduit or PVC water will get into the tube and underground cable will last longer. Many companies will install normal wire and after a few years your camera system will have issues all because the proper cable was not installed.

5. The cheap $30 dollar cameras are just that cheap so spend a bit more money and get a decent camera that will last longer.

6. Depending on the distance that you need we can put in POE extenders/injectors or put in special headend equipment but most IP cameras are limited to about 328 feet although some of our recorders can push the signal up to 700 feet per camera. We have High Definition cameras that can go over 1000 feet on coax although there is a voltage line drop so we will figure that out for you as well.

7. Pick a recorder that will have enough storage to give you as many days as you need. Often the contractor will tell you that you can record up to a month but when you do the numbers you really only may get 7 days at the higher settings and to get a month you have to lower the resolution settings and the frames per second settings and you end up getting poor quality video, it is best to get a recorder that will give you the storage you need upfront. If you have 16 cameras and they are high definition cameras and they try to sell you a 2 or 4TB recorder I would beware because it would be best to at least go with a 12TB unit or higher with that many cameras. The compression format H.264 or H.265 or + will also determine the storage along with if you are going to record on motion and how many hours a day and the MP of each camera and the frames per second settings and several other settings.

8. Call Larry and he will come out to your facility to help with a camera configuration of either entry level, medium or high end cameras.

Larry.Love@JCI.com Johnson Controls 801 898 6003