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For those of you who are new to researching different camera technologies, all of these new terms can seem confusing since they are all very much alike and different at the same time. You’ve gotta ask yourself, which one is really better for me? The answer is, well it depends on your application. Here’s a simple/technical breakdown of each.

• CVBS – Composite Baseband Video Signal (Analog)
  • Old school interlacing technology utilizing interlaced video, usually measured in TV Lines (i.e. 700TVL). Interlaced video shows only odd or even TVL at any given point. So 30 frames per second on an Analog camera with 700TVL will only show 350 even lines on frame 2, 4, 6 and 350 odd lines on frames 1, 3 and 5, etc…
  • 960H
    • A transitional technology which is basically analog with more horizontal lines added to the analog TVL cameras to introduce a wide-screen picture.
• SDI – Serial Digital Interface
  • SDI is the first standardized High Definition video which is used for broadcast-grade video. Its benefits are Progressive digital frames (full lines per frame, every frame) and the data is uncompressed, unencrypted from the signal to the recording device. This results in the best quality reaching the destination. Runs about 600FT on RG6 or 300FT on RG59 before signal loss.
    • SD-SDI
      • 143-270Mbit/s Standard Definition, low bandwidth 480i or 576i interlaced video @ 30fps.
    • HD-SDI
      • ~1.485Gbit/s bitrate up to 720p progressive or 1080i interlaced video @ 60fps.
    • 3G-SDI
      • ~2.970Gbit/s bitrate up to 1080p progressive @ 60fps.
    • 6G UHD-SDI (propositional phase)
      • 6.0Gbit/s bitrate up to 4Kp @ 30fps
    • 12G UHD-SDI (propositional phase)
      • 12.0Gbit/s bitrate up to 4kp@ 60fps
• HD-CVI (High Definition Composite Video Interface)
  • High Resolution analog video capable of 720p & 1080p @ 30fps (currently). HD-CVI is a proprietary HD capable analog signal developed by Dahua Technology (China) to provide a cheaper alternative to the higher production costs of HD/3G-SDI standard cameras and recorders. All HD-CVI cameras or recorders are made by Dahua. Signal runs on RG59 or RG6 up to 1500FT.
• HD-TVI (High Definition Transport Video Interface)
  • Very similar to HD-CVI, HD-TVI is another High Resolution analog video capable of 720P & 1080P @ 30fps over long distances using coax. HD-TVI is Open Source and developed by Hikvsion and Techpoint to compete with HD-CVI. Quality between them both is nearly identical. Signal runs on RG59 or RG6 up to 1500FT.
• AHD (Analog High Definition)
  • Basically the same technology idea as CVI and TVI but created by NextChip of Korea. AHD has the same features by chipset was slightly cheaper (at first) compared to CVI/TVI. There was no big name single company that backed AHD like TVI/CVI.
• ONVIF (An IP Standard for IP Cameras)
  • Before 2008, IP cameras had no compatibility standard, so IP cameras of different brands did not talk to each other or NVRs unless they were specifically built for compatibility. ONVIF is now the leading Open standard for IP cameras and NVRs. The ONVIF Core Specification includes IP Configuration, Device Discovery, Device Management, Media Configuration, Real-time viewing, Event handling, PTZ Camera Control, Video Analytics and Security. Most video formats include RTP, MJPEG, MPEG4 and H.264.
• GigE Vision
  • Due to the lower bandwidth, it is used mainly for low to medium speed machine vision applications. Benefits from longer 300ft cable runs.
• 10 GigE Vision
  • An upgraded bandwidth standard to GigE vision. Allows more bandwidth for faster speeds but usually requires server grade hardware upgrades. Same benefit for long distance runs.
• Camera Link
  • Classic standard for high speed, large cables and short runs. A bit clunky.
• CoaxPress
  • A new standard for longer runs, higher speeds which you can run multiple cables to single cameras with 6.25Gb/s per cable.
• USB3 Vision
  • An easy to use plug n play interface allows USB 3 Vision based machine vision cameras to be used without a dedicated frame grabber which lowers overall cost of the system.

So what does this all mean? Analog is your classic security camera technology you might see on the evenning news from a robbery. HD-SDI and 3G-SDI is the higher end digital signal used for video production and filming, basically the cameras filming your evening news. TVI/CVI/AHD are new technology signals developed by different security CCTV companies to produce a high resolution image that is more cost effective than the production quality of SDI cameras by use of ‘high resolution analog’ technology. Machine vision protocols are best for exactly that, machine vision applications that require higher frame rates, analytics and high bandwidth.

Which works best for me?

• Digital HD Technologies: 
  • HD/3G-SDI – Used for high quality production and machine vision where your source video is important. Also used for higher speed applications. Very easy to convert signal to HDMI which can be used for broadcasting and displays. The only true digital HD coax solution available.
  • IP Cameras -Great for higher resolution at lower frame rates. Shorter distance runs before needing a repeater which adds more possible fail points between the camera and recorder.

• Analog HD Technologies: 
  • HD-TVI/CVI/AHD – Basically all are very similar type of technologies to send HD Video based on analog transmission technologies. This allows greater distance using older RG-59 coax and provide HD resolutions. Not quite as clear as digital SDI technologies, or high frame rates, but good for low cost surveillance applications.
• Machine Vision Technologies:
  • GigE – Good for low to mid based vision systems that require longer distance runs and medium speed.
  • 10 GigE – Newer faster transmission for longer runs, requires server grade equipment.
  • USB 3 Vision – Good for low cost short run systems that need high speed.
  • Coaxpress – High cost long run systems that need high speed.
  • Camera Link – Classic older standard for short run systems that needed higher speeds.