Multiple Location IP Security Camera System with Central Recording

The following chat transcript was taken from a customer seeking assistance with an IP security camera system consisting of multiple locations and the customer wanted to record the surveillance video from all locations centrally.

New Surveillance Customer:

I'm working with a Solar company and we are doing several different locations in NJ and PA. I have to put security cameras in each location and we would like to have them broadcast back to a main security hub. So pretty much assuming each building needs 8 cameras,I need some type of system that can handle 40-60 cameras streaming into a remote location that is receiving all the video feeds from several different locations. Is this possible? If so,what do I need to accomplish this task? What specific products would I need for each site? I'm trying to get an idea so I can get a package for every site together. Is this something you can help me out with?

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CCTV Camera Pros Sales:

Hi Stephen my name is Mike. Let me read your text…

broadcast back to a main hub using IP?

New Surveillance Customer:

Yes I'm assuming it would have to be IP considering there's several different location so many miles apart transmitting to a single location. So I need to find a way to network them back to a main networking hub.

I already plan on getting a dedicated service provider out for each building

CCTV Camera Pros Sales:

What are you going to do with all of the video feeds at the central location? Just live viewing locally at the central hub? recording?

New Surveillance Customer:

We want to record all the feeds at the central location. Yes,we will have 24/7 security watching the feeds.

CCTV Camera Pros Sales:

OK. Remote recording is kind of a tricky thing. 1) each location will need a very high upload speed on the Internet connection 2) It needs to be extremely reliable – if Internet goes down, recording goes down. Have you considered recording locally at each location but managing and viewing remotely all systems?

New Surveillance Customer:

I know the old way would be to setup the cameras to a DVR and then attach internet to it and then access it from a remote location. I'm hazy on all the details of that but now I'm seeing something about an NVR which I'm told is easier for remote viewing all at one location.Is that true,and will it work?

CCTV Camera Pros Sales:

Yes, we have NVRs that will do what you are asking. However, the Internet connection is the part that usually presents the biggest challenge for people. One sec, let me calculate required bandwidth for you…

In order to record 8 cameras using 704×480 resolution @ 5 frames per second, you will need 1258 KBPS upload speed at each remote location.

So for 5 locations with 8 cameras each, the central hub needs 1258 x 5 download speed on the Internet connection.

So DSL is not really an option for the remote locations unless you lower the FPS or the resolution.

New Surveillance Customer:

It would be boardband or wideband depending on which is available and which carrier is in the city

CCTV Camera Pros Sales:

OK, the type does not really matter as long as the speed requirement is met. You should build in some buffer also because speeds fluctuate from providers from time to time. So if you can get all of the Internet connections in place, you can use any IP camera: https://www.cctvcamerapros.com/IP-Security-Cameras-s/83.htm

You can then use a NUUO PC Based NVR for up to 32 cameras on a single recorder: https://www.cctvcamerapros.com/Network-Video-Recorder-NVR-p/nuuo-pc32ip.htm

New Surveillance Customer:

Usually they rate their speeds based on MBPS,what is 1258 KBPS in relation to MB? I can figure it out later,just off the top of your head if you know?

CCTV Camera Pros Sales:

1.258 MBPS

New Surveillance Customer:

So the NVR acts like a pc tower almost then from what I just saw. I would probably need 2 of the NVR's at my central hub,unless you have one that can do up to 60.

CCTV Camera Pros Sales:

You are correct. Actually the NUUO PCs can support up to 64, however, NUUO no longer recommends putting more than 32 on one server for performance reasons. The good news is that even though there will be two physical PCs used for recording. All of the cameras can be viewed and managed from pne of the PCs using the central monitoring software that is included.

New Surveillance Customer:

Okay so I think I understand the central hub part…..you put the NVR's down there with monitors and you can adjust the settings and all that good stuff all from there. The part I'm a little hazy on is where do the IP cameras hook up in the actual location? I'm used to wired connections,I know its still wired but just using ethernet. Do all the IP cameras go to some sort of switch or router that connects to the cable modem? I'm assuming that puts it online for anyone to view,and we can password protect. But how do we actually get the picture back to our main hub? I'm assuming its some sort of setting or information we have to put into the NVR to access the cameras and make them apart of our main system?

CCTV Camera Pros Sales:

Yes, the cameras at each location are connected to a router which in turn is connected to the high speed modem. You need to setup port forwarding for each of the cameras so they are accessible by the DVR over the Internet. Yes, each camera will be password protected. You can also setup IP filtering so only the IP address of the Hub can connect. At the hub location, you will configure the NVR to connect to each camera using the IP address of the remote location + the port of the camera. Each camera needs to be configured on a unique port.

New Surveillance Customer:

Okay I understand the connection part. How do I setup port forwarding,and IP filtering? Do I need to do this at each remote location,or can I do all the ports and filtering from the NVR?

CCTV Camera Pros Sales:

You really do not need the IP filtering, because the cameras are password protected. So forget that for now. Port forwarding info can be found here: https://www.cctvcamerapros.com/Internet-Surveillance-Setup-s/156.htm

We also offer a service where we can configure the port forwarding of all of the cameras for you. The cost is $25 per camera.

New Surveillance Customer:

That's good to know,we have an IT who might be able to help us out with the port forwarding but if he can't atleast I know that.

CCTV Camera Pros Sales:

Yes, it is a little technical which is why some people prefer to let us do it, but if you have an IT guy, he should be fine.

and we can always do one for him and he do the rest. We can help with this remotely while he watches online.

New Surveillance Customer:

Just for my information,you can setup the port forwarding from a remote computer,I'm I correct on that? Based on what your saying,I'm assuming you can.

CCTV Camera Pros Sales:

Yes, we use remote management software called team viewer to do this

https://www.teamviewer.com

New Surveillance Customer:

That's pretty neat. So I think I got everything straight on what I need to do. Do you recommend a specific IP camera? Does it make it easier on the NVR if they are all the same type and brand?

CCTV Camera Pros Sales:

yes, it is easier on the NVR if they are all the same brand. Are these for outdoor?

New Surveillance Customer:

Yes, all outdoor cameras.

CCTV Camera Pros Sales:

These are all good IP camera choices for outdoor applications:

https://www.cctvcamerapros.com/WDR-Network-Camera-p/ip-v97142.htm

https://www.cctvcamerapros.com/Outdoor-Infrared-IP-Camera-p/zavio-f521e.htm

https://www.cctvcamerapros.com/Network-Bullet-IP-Camera-p/ip-v97330.htm

There is no need for you to get anything megapixel resolution as the remote recording will be totally unrealistic.

New Surveillance Customer:

Right,I understand. Okay one last question. We also have a building close by that were not doing solar on,and theres an existing wire run throughout the building. With those I can put your old classic cameras on and hook them up to a dvr and then add internet into the mix and I can then somehow view that like the other IP cameras on the NVR?

CCTV Camera Pros Sales:

you are correct.

New Surveillance Customer:

Sweet. This was alot easier then I thought

CCTV Camera Pros Sales:

if you think of anything else, you can email me at mike@cctvcamerapros.net.

New Surveillance Customer:

I'm going to come up with a system layout and a report for my boss for this setup. I will probably come back to you guys for all the equipment.

CCTV Camera Pros Sales:

Any other questions for now?

New Surveillance Customer:

As of right now I think I'm good. If i think of anything else I'll email you. Thank you for your time and help,I really appreciate it.

CCTV Camera Pros Sales:

Your welcome. Have a good day. Let me know if you need anything else.

New Surveillance Customer:

You do the same