IP cameras
When do I need an IP camera?
IP cameras are connected directly to a network. IP cameras are especially useful to film for example at a remote location and receive the video files through an Ethernet network on your computer.
Network requirements
To use MediaRecorder with IP cameras, the following network requirements apply:
- An Intel Pro/1000 CT or Intel Pro/1000 PT (1 Gb) network adapter is installed in the computer with MediaRecorder.
- The cables are suitable for Gigabit Ethernet. The minimum cable quality is CAT5e.
See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category_5_cable
- We recommend to use a dedicated network.
Install and setup
If you bought a complete solution from Noldus IT, the network adapter is present in the computer, the IP cameras are set up and the MediaRecorder settings are made. If you bought your cameras and MediaRecorder separately, you must do the installation and setup yourself.
Supported IP cameras
- Axis M5525
- Axis M5054
- Axis M1054
- Axis M1065-L
- Axis P1375
- Hikvision IP DS-2PT7D401W-DE
- Axis M5525 - requires a regular PoE switch.
- Axis M5054 - requires a regular PoE Switch.
- Axis M1065-L – requires a regular PoE switch.
- Hikvision IP DS-2PT7D401W-DE - requires a PoE+ switch.
- Axis P1375 - requires a regular PoE switch.
Tested setups with EthoVision XT
The table below shows the maximum supported (1) resolution, (2) frame rate (fps), (3) number of devices and (4) recording time (hours). Tests were done on a Dell T3640 PC)
|
|
Device |
Resolution |
Frame rate |
No of devices |
Recording time |
|
|
Axis M1054 |
1440 x 900 1024 x 768 800 x 600
|
30 |
1 |
0.5 |
|
|
Axis M1054 |
1920 x 1080 |
25 |
1 |
16 |
Tested set-ups with The Observer XT - stationary set-up
The table below shows the maximum supported (1) resolution, (2) frame rate (fps), (3) number of devices and (4) recording time (hours). Tests were done on a Dell T3640 PC
|
|
Device |
Resolution |
Frame rate |
No of devices |
Recording time |
|
|
Axis M5525 (separate videos, line-in audio and camera audio*) |
1920 x 1080 |
25 30 |
4 |
3 |
|
|
Axis M5525 (Picture-by-picture & Picture-in-picture, line-in audio) |
1920 x 1080 |
30 |
4 |
3 |
|
|
Axis M5054 |
1280 x 720 |
30 |
1 |
3 |
|
|
Axis M1065-L (separate videos, line-in audio and camera audio) |
1920 x 1080 |
25 |
4 |
2 |
|
|
Axis M5525 + M1065-L (separate videos, line-in audio and camera audio) |
1920 x 1080 |
30 |
2+2 |
3 |
|
|
Axis M5525 + Epiphan Broadcaster (separate videos, line-in audio and camera audio (broadcaster no audio)) |
1920 x 1080 |
25 |
3+1 |
3 |
|
|
Axis M1065-L + Epiphan Broadcaster (do NOT use Picture-in-picture or picture-by-picture) |
1920 x 1080 |
30 |
3+1 |
2 |
|
Axis M5525 + M1065-L + Epiphan Broadcaster (separate videos, line-in audio and camera audio (no audio broadcaster)) |
1920 x 1080 |
30 |
1+2+1 |
3 |
|
|
Hikvision IP DS-2PT7D401W-DE (separate videos, picture-by-picture & picture-in-picture, only camera audio) |
1920 x 1080 |
25 |
2 |
3 |
Tested set-ups with The Observer XT - portable set-up
The table below shows the maximum supported (1) resolution, (2) frame rate (fps), (3) number of devices and (4) recording time (hours). Tests were done on a Dell 3551 notebook.
|
|
Device |
Resolution |
Frame rate |
No of devices |
Recording time |
 |
Axis M1065-L (separate videos, line-in audio and camera audio*) |
1920 x 1080 |
25 30 |
2 |
1 |
|
|
Axis M1065-L (Picture-by-picture and Picture-in-picture, line-in audio and camera audio) |
1920 x 540 |
25 30 |
2 |
1 |
 |
Axis M1065-L + Broadcaster (separate videos, line-in audio and camera audio (no audio broadcaster)) (do NOT use picture-by-picture or picture-in-picture) |
1920 x 1080 |
25 |
1+1 |
16 |
|
|
Axis P1375 + Nikon ME-W1 microphone (separate videos, picture-by-picture & picture-in-picture, camera audio only) |
1920 x 1080 |
30 |
2 |
1 |
|
|
Axis P1375 + Epiphan Broadcaster + Nikon ME-W1 microphone (separate videos, picture-by-picture & picture-in-picture (broadcaster view in camera view), camera audio only) |
1920 x 1080 |
30 |
1+1 |
1 |
* Camera audio = audio over RTSP
Cable length
In theory, for IP devices, a cable length 150 m should be possible. However we did not test that. We know that a setup with a cable of 1 m and an extension cable of 50 m with a switch between the cables works well with MediaRecorder.
Notes
ONVIF Profile S
ONVIF is a communication standard for network devices. ONVIF Profile S applies video and audio streaming and PTZ control. Most IP cameras nowadays support ONVIF Profile S. For cameras that do so, pan, tilt, and zoom control can be done with MediaRecorder and audio from the camera can be recorded. For cameras that do not support ONVIF, pan, tilt, and zoom control must be done with a browser and audio must be recorded with a microphone connected to the sound card of the computer.
Power over Ethernet
IP cameras can be connected to a PoE (Power over Ethernet) or PoE+ switch to supply them with power. This way no extra power cables are needed. Each device is connected to one channel on the switch. A PoE switch can deliver up to 15 Watt per channel. A PoE+ switch has a higher capacity per channel (up to 30 Watt per channel). Make sure that the maximum total capacity of the switch is high enough for all cameras together.
Example - you connect four cameras that need 30 Watt each to a POE+ switch. This POE+ switch must deliver at least 4 x 30 = 120 Watt.
The PoE or PoE+ switch must allow a speed of at least 1 Gb per second.