A member asked about using wireless with HD analog cameras:
If I have an HD Analog camera on a pole in a parking lot and no other way to get it back to the analog DVR other than wireless (trenching is not an option)- what do I use? Everything I search pulls me back to IP over Coax and that's not what I'm trying to do. The WiFi we use, Comnet has an encoder that would work but I need a pair for each camera at a cost of about $2k so that's just not going to be feasible budget wise. If we can send IP over Coax I would think someone had figured out how to send analog over WiFi without a small fortune investment no? I realize switching to IP cameras is an option and we did give them an IP option but this is a cost sensitive project for a non-profit and I wanted to give them a lower end option. If I change everything to AHD I save about $10k but then have the problem of transmitting the 8 outdoor cameras (2 per pole) via WiFi.
Good question.
General answer:
Analog has always been a pain to use with wireless. There used to be a number of SD analog video wireless transmitter / receiver kits (e.g., Trango) but they were expensive, video loss was common, etc.
I do not know of any purpose built HD analog wireless links / kits.
Specific answer:
If your HD analog DVR supports IP inputs (many do), just use 1 IP cameras and something like Ubiquiti (~$200 for the wireless link). You can stream the IP camera directly into the HD analog DVR.
However, assuming your DVR does not support any IP feeds, consider this:
- Still use an IP camera (any low cost $100 / $200 outdoor one if trying to save money).
- Still use a Ubiquiti or other low cost IP link.
- Add in a IP decoder at the DVR side, converting the IP stream to NTSC and then connect into your DVR. I am not sure who makes the cheapest decoder these days but worse case, it is sub $500, which will still be much cheaper than the $2k you are looking at right now.