Hikvision Launches 5MP Analog Turbo HD 3.0

Btw, Hiks recorder may not be 4K input but TVI 3.0 is:

Techpoint brings the next generation of HD-TVI technology to you with HD-TVI 3.0! Now HD-TVI 3.0 supports up to 8 Megapixel or 4K resolution video while maintaining reliable distance performances of over 500 Meter on a copper core 3C-2V coaxial cable. Now HD-TVI 3.0 DVRs are now even compatible with other popular HD analog standards!

I find this whole HD-over-coax trend interesting.

Personally, my main beef is that I hate coax cables.

If I'm designing or recommending a system, I *really* prefer twisted-pair/Cat5e/6 cabling. Note that I'm just talking about building a cable-plant with future flexibility, not specifically related to just video.

Benefits of Twisted Pair (to me):

• Consistent jacks and plugs. No debate over BNC or F-Connector
• Jacks are flush with wall plates, no protrusions
• No debate on cable type (50 ohm/75 ohm, solid center conductor or plated, quad shield? etc.)
• More versatility - a CatX cable can be "hacked" to carry power more easily, multiple signals, etc. Not that I recommend this, but it's a nice benefit in a pinch
• Balanced-signal of twisted pair tends to be more noise-immune
• Typically smaller cable diameter adds up in large bundles

The one major benefit of coax that I see is that it tends to get longer distances than twisted-pair Ethernet.

IP is clearly the winner in terms of carrying data from the server to the client device, especially for tablets and mobile phones. Customers routinely expect ready access to video, they don't want to have to walk over to a DVR with a monitor attached all the time.

I also think IP is the winner in terms of the signal input to the NVR for most systems. It's easier in most cases, and eliminates the need for funky capture cards.

So, I think the real part of the system up for debate is basically the link between the image sensor and the H.264 (or H.265)/IP encoder. IP cameras do the encoding in the camera, and everything comes out IP. HD-coax cameras convert to IP through an NVR mostly, and that NVR also acts as a budget recorder/interface.

Part of me wonders if this is what Hik and Dahua might be trying to figure out. Should they make some kind of "encoder" that has an almost disposable user interface with ability to support an HDD for low-end systems, and then that same device would be the IP encoder for higher-end systems. Or should they make "DVRs" and then also a high-density rackable encoder? Something that does 32 channels of HD-coax into IP in a single box? 1 MAC address, 1 IP... How would Milestone license that?

I don't know that the coax cable reuse strategy is really a big long-term driver for these systems. I do think that they could make a strong play for a non-IP twisted pair camera network with an intelligent NVR/encoder at the other end to convert to IP. There are interesting possibilities here because I think camera resolutions will start to taper off, but things like video analytics may become more common. If you have good cameras, it's easier/cheaper to upgrade your encoder device with something that has more features/processing power in the future.

IP cameras currently have much higher top resolutions than the HD-coax stuff. I think consumers like the feeling that IP is less limiting, but if you agree that IP has won in terms of the server/client piece, then if you had a twisted-pair cable plant you could easily swap individual cameras to higher resolution IP cameras when/if needed.

I don't know what a twisted-pair PHY does to the cost of these cameras vs coax. But I do think that if Hikvision or someone embraced a cheap twisted-pair version of the same concept they could set themselves up for a very flexible and scalable architecture that better supported new cable plants.

I have numerous live view only applications in the healthcare vertical where we need live view only and maximum reliability. Currently we still manage hundreds of analog cameras and monitors just to monitor who is on the secure side of the door to let people in. TVI 1080P monitors and TVI Encoders would be very useful.

I could not agree more if I said it myself!

Mr. Alvey, your questions are not without merit. The signal certainly is not encrypted from the camera. Analog never has been. If someone were to "tap" the coax, and it can be done, yes you can see what the customer sees. But it is a hard tap, not a soft one. You must be on premise to do that and almost always penetrate the other physical security measures as well as the conduit (higher level of security). If the security consultant does their job correctly using the many technologies available, that is very hard to do; not impossible to be certain, but harder to be sure.

I would ask how many customers or vendors actually encrypt their signals from the camera to the NVR? My guess is not many. Survey says??

Your points are not far fetched at all. Those in the business for years have been dealing with this issue and more like it for years. There are proven preventative measures that can be taken to mitigate the problem.

As for being a deal breaker; I closed a sale yesterday on a total IP system. The customers largest concerns are (1) seeing who is on their property and creating havoc in the form of vandalism, (2) their own employees not following procedures and acting in an unsafe manner, and (3) theft.

When the topic turned to Analog HD, most dismissed the opportunity because the particular technology they wanted is too far off into the future. One person at the table was very interested in the cost difference. He was willing to wait (months) to save the money. The others were not. They were afraid funding would go away.

If you are waiting for HD analog to be encrypted, you might have a long wait.

Update: Hikvision has released 3MP TVI cameras (up from 1080p) and Dahua has released 4MP CVI cameras but Hikvision now says 5MP models are not expected until later in 2017.