A brief guide to help you choose and properly set IP cameras : as connect them to the network and what problems may arise.

When selecting the cameras you want to use, it is good to keep in mind some fundamental aspects :

• Video resolution, occupied bandwidth and cloud support

One of the fundamental aspects when choosing an IP camera is definitely the supported video resolution. You should now select only cameras raching at least 1080p (Full HD) or HD 720p limit engines but only if they allow you to upload video recordings on remote servers (perhaps relying on the cloud service manufacturer) or even only locally. A 720p IP camera that sends the video stream on the cloud needs at least 800 kbps (0.8 Mbps) upload bandwidth and can go up to 1.3 Mbps or even 4 Mbps for a 1080p depending on the quality set the image. A simple ADSL line, therefore, is not suitable to send the stream, real-time, to remote server so it is good to prefer fiber connections that provide at least 3 Mbps upstream. A high camera resolution (1080p Hd / 2mp 30 fps H.264) at least 4 mbps each, for a camera CIF / 0.07mp 5 fps H.264 least 125 Kbps each, for a camera Hd 1080p / 2mp 30 fps MJPEG at least 12 mbps each. consider a surveillance system composed of 16 high-resolution video cameras, each occupies 4Mps, 4 × 16 is 64Mbps, a 100 Mbps internal Lan could be sufficient, since which remain even 36 Mbps for computer data, downloads etc., connect instead remotely via the Internet and have a certain fluidity in the images is almost impossible. Also, if you were using multiple IP cameras that perform simultaneously stream to a remote server, the required bandwidth in upload goes multiplied by the number of cameras in use. Not to mention the fact that the activity upload of the video stream exerted by the various cameras will negatively affect the performance of the network connection. Indeed, if the upstream bandwidth was fully occupied, even download performances will be entirely unsatisfactory

• Local Video Recording

Especially if your network connection not offer much upload bandwidth (like happens in most cases) the ideal is to set aside the cloud and request approach storing video footage from cameras in a folder shared on the local network. A great idea consists in setting a NAS server and allow to network cameras, direct access to a folder in which store files. Since space on the NAS server is not unlimited, the camcorders or, preferably, the NAS will be configured in such a way that the files relative to older video recordings are automatically deleted so to make room for new ones. One of the most frequent problems is the integration and the use of multiple IP cameras from various manufacturers within the same network (see further on). We must say that the D-Link NAS servers allow you to solve the problem brilliantly.

• ONVIF compatibility and interoperability

ONVIF (Open Network Video Interface Forum) is an organization that deals with promote compatibility between the equipment used in video surveillance, based on the IP protocol.

The ONVIF compatible IP cameras are usable in a system of video surveillance that includes completely different brand products.

The ONVIF support presence is therefore synonymous with maximum compatibility and interoperability.

• Quality of Service (QoS), Gigabit Ethernet, and network segmentation

If it was planned to install several IP cameras by connecting them to your home network, office or company, advise you to segment the network using VLANs (Virtual LAN). In this way it will be possible to ensure a quantity of camcorders minimum bandwidth (QoS) and avoid that any of the local network congestion situations can cause malfunction or failure to store video streams. There
segmentation of the local network through the use of VLAN allows you to make the other devices connected to the router or switch are not directly visible and accessible from the IP cameras. If an outdated IP camera come used as a "bridgehead" to attack the network and steal data of others, the separation of the cameras from the rest of the LAN will avert the most serious accidents.
Not only the switch but also many routers and modem routers allow the use of VLANs. Finally, if you would install multiple IP cameras within the local network (Especially if each of them would record the video signal acquired in a folder shared on a local server or a NAS), suggest you check that the devices use (modem routers and switches, primarily) are Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) and that the cables network so as to reach the maximum data transfer rate possible. If were using network devices capable of moving up to 1 Gbps, cables can be used Ethernet Cat-5e, climbing category in case you possessed device 10 GbE (10 Gigabit Ethernet).

• IP Cameras PoE (Power over Ethernet)

To reduce the complexity of connections, we suggest you opt for IP cameras equipped with PoE (Power over Ethernet): they allow you to convey, through the same network cable, both the data and the power supply. Supported standards currently two: PoE and PoE +. The first (IEEE 802.3af) enables you to deliver up to 15.4 W in direct current (DC) on each Ethernet port while with PoE + (IEEE802.3at) you can go further. Our managed switches allow you to define the power required by the device connected downstream of each Ethernet port.

• Wireless IP Cameras: careful positioning

In situations where it is not possible to pass even an Ethernet cable the power of the IP camera via PoE, WiFi connection is a great alternative, as long as the signal is sufficiently strong and stable.
The WiFi IP cameras, after the first configuration, automatically connect to the modem wireless router, access point or the range extender.

Using an app Fing how you can control, from a single screen, the private IP address associated with each IP camera connected to the LAN. Fing from the app by tapping on the name of the IP camera then click the Ping you can send a series of connection requests (DHCP) to the WiFi camera.

The IP camera should respond with no lost packets and a time milliseconds reduced (preferably not more than 50 ms).

The presence of lost packets and a 100 ms latency upper are synonymous with a WiFi camera is not positioned in an optimal manner or not able to detect perfectly the wireless signal.