Is Wireless a Feasible Option for Surveillance Camera Systems?

The short answer is yes. But before you start putting your surveillance cameras on a wireless network, consider the reasons that a point to point wireless system is superior. Let’s start by looking a few of the issues with having a video surveillance system on a standard wireless network.

Why Most Wireless Networks Are Insufficient for Surveillance Needs

A wireless network may be a great way to let all of your employees get online or share a printer, but that doesn’t mean it is the right choice for your security. Whether you are recording the video or just have someone watching all of the feeds in a centralized office (or both), you want those images to be in HD resolution. Poor quality at the wrong moment might result in your security team missing something or a recording that is not clear enough to help authorities if a problem arises. What could affect quality?

• Bandwidth – The cameras may operate just fine when the building is empty, but when all of your employees are using the network at once, there may not be sufficient bandwidth for HD streaming.
• Router Strength – Your cameras will not all be an equal distance from the router. That means certain cameras will have a better signal than others. In fact, there may be critical security points in the building where the wireless network is not available at all.

Using a wireless network is also a poor choice when you have multiple offices, warehouses, or other buildings that need to be on the same security system.

How Does a Point to Pont Wireless System Make Surveillance Feasible?

Point to point wireless uses a radio link to connect two locations. Short range systems can easily link buildings that are within a few hundred yards of each other making this a great setup for complexes like a University or a corporation that is housed in several buildings. Long-range links can connect buildings from miles apart. This is a great setup for companies that may have multiple buildings in the same city.

This type of system is commonly used for security purposes (as well as telecom applications). For security systems, the video streams can all be collected using a multipoint wireless network. All you need is one high point to connect all of your buildings such as one taller building or another location with higher elevation. This receiver can transmit all of the security feeds from multiple offices to a link in the main control room via a point to point wireless link.

So yes, wireless video surveillance is possible. The key is to have the right wireless setup to ensure everything works as needed.