Subscriber Discussion

All In One AHD, CVI, TVI Camera - Is This For Real?

KM
Karsten Matthies
Jul 06, 2015

Recently I've seen emails from manufacturers advertising "all In One" cameras. The text from one such email is below:

"This is [never heard of before] company, the top manufacturer of CCTV Camera and DVR in China for 9 years.

Now the new technology of CCTV Camera is launched, which is called 4 in 1 camera (720P, 960P, 1080P). This kind of camera can be changed into analog, AHD, CVI, TVI signal by OSD Cable and very popular on the market now, because it has four camera signals which can be changed into each other.

Operation Instruction:

1.Keep holding the OSD button any side to switch

2.Plug in the power supply

3.Release the OSD button when the video display"

I've also seen at least one DVR that accepts TVI, Analog and AHD on any BNC.

Any comments?

UPDATE: See Beware: The Magical HD Analog Converter

U
Undisclosed #1
Jul 06, 2015
IPVMU Certified

What Kind Of Camera Is This? IP, CVI, TVI, SDI, AHD?

These also come with user-friendly dip switches and power for other devices in the neighborhood. ;)

JH
John Honovich
Jul 06, 2015
IPVM

Karsten,

Thanks for sharing! Can you post a screenshot of that email here or forward it to me (john@ipvm.com)? I am curious to read and see the whole thing.

My main concern / question is how they are supporting TVI, CVI and AHD given that they are mutually incompatible and require different electrical / transmission components. It is not impossible but they would have to build all of that in, which would significant increase overall development and per unit cost, which would likely make it hard to compete against 'regular' HD analog cameras.

U
Undisclosed #1
Jul 06, 2015
IPVMU Certified

Here's the magic switch:

TVI, CVI and AHD... require different electrical / transmission components. 

No reason to believe that they must need different components, since they are using the same CVBS scheme with various minor implementation differences which lead to them being incompatible.

Ethan has found that

When AHD cameras are connected to an HDCVI DVR, [AHD cameras] produce [monochrome] images, but not consistently.

So AHD and CVI must be close for even that to work.  Once someone has figured out the differences in transmission, making a tribrid camera could be no more conceptually difficult than having 3-channels on a TV set.

Failing that, these modules are exceedingly cheap, so 2 or 3 of them might not break the bank.  More costly, IMHO, would be the integration and custom switching between them.

I know somebody who would know for sure... :)

(1)
JH
John Honovich
Jul 06, 2015
IPVM

A, good find.

I am betting someone gets a Dahuian 'solemn declaration' very soon for this device....

In all seriousness, I do wonder about the patent / IP issues in this approach.

Also, from the text, this dongle requires an AHD input? If so, I wonder, if they are offering one with a TVI or CVI input?

U
Undisclosed #1
Jul 06, 2015
IPVMU Certified

Also, from the text, this dongle requires an AHD input? If so, I wonder, if they are offering one with a TVI or CVI input?

I'm not reading it like that. I think that its not a dongle per se but a 5 position momentary rocker switch, inline with the power cable/coax cable. If you don't push and hold in any direction during power on it expects AHD, if you hold it left it's TVI 1.0 etc.

In addition to Techpoint, Dahua, Todd and Nextchip, they might also draw the legal attention of Techwin; notice the 1280h capability with the right switch position. Sounds like a class action. Better lawyer up!

Avatar
Ethan Ace
Jul 06, 2015

Quite a few of the HD analog cameras (pick a variant) we've tested have ways of switching between composite CVBS and HD. I remember TVI models which switched to CVBS if you shorted out a pair of wires. The FLIR TCX mini bullet we just tested had a terminator plug to switch between CVBS and HDCVI. So these things aren't totally out of the realm of possibility.

Presumably, if you license the chips, you could build them all in and switch between them, though that switching seems like it would cost as much as a camera itself, considering you can buy lots of them for $30-50.

TC
Tango Charlie
Jul 06, 2015

I'm not reading it like that. I think that its not a dongle per se but a 5 position momentary rocker switch, inline with the power cable/coax cable. If you don't push and hold in any direction during power on it expects AHD, if you hold it left it's TVI 1.0 etc.

So what happens if they momentarily lose power after setup and commission. Do they then revert to AHD?

U
Undisclosed #1
Jul 06, 2015
IPVMU Certified

So what happens if they momentarily lose power after setup and commission. Do they then revert to AHD?

No. Whatever setting it is last set to remains after power cycle. When they come from the factory they are set to AHD, therefore if you don't press any buttons during power up it will remain AHD.

JH
John Honovich
Jul 06, 2015
IPVM

Got feedback from an HD analog provider today.

Net/net is they claim it's illegal, the company behind is essentially in hiding, and that there have been quite a number of compatibility / quality problems with all 3 variants.

I can believe this. We are doing a post with more details tomorrow. Karsten, thanks for raising this!

JH
John Honovich
Jul 07, 2015
IPVM
CL
Chad Lincoln
Sep 15, 2015

I know we are coming out with an EX-SDI, HD-SDI, TVI and CVBS all in one dome. I think we will start to see with most manufactures making trio, or quatro solution cams. Since there is no standard compliancy for HD Analog, it would only make sense to just incorporate all techologies into one.

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