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Check which type of cable you have used:
Premade cables for security systems come in different types. You can match the cable information to your old monitoring system.
Thin premade cables designed for analog cameras have a slim profile and use aluminum strands instead of solid copper. They are suitable for low-resolution analog cameras but may have limited compatibility with higher resolutions.
On the other hand, HD premade cables for HD analog cameras are thicker and made of stranded aluminum wire. While they offer better compatibility with higher resolutions like 1080P or 2K, caution is necessary for long-distance installations to avoid potential issues such as ghosting.
For analog security systems, it is recommended to use RG59 coaxial cables, which provide better performance compared to premade cables. RG59 cables, with their thicker wire gauge, can even support 4K cameras until power supply limitations.
For IP network-based security cameras, Ethernet cables are commonly used. These cables connect the cameras to a network video recorder (NVR) in a Power-over-Ethernet system.
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Replacing security cameras
Once you’ve determined the type of cable you have and its compatibility with cameras, it’s crucial to decide on the desired power of your new security cameras.
As for the 4K security camera, if you have existing solid copper coaxial cable runs, switching to an Ethernet IP camera system is unnecessary. Solid copper coaxial cables can transmit 4K video up to 600 ft, although 4K coax DVRs typically record at a maximum of 7 frames per second. If you require smoother video, consider upgrading to an IP camera system.
For a full 4K camera setup, replacing existing coaxial cable with new Ethernet cable runs is recommended. Most Power over Ethernet (PoE) cameras are not sensitive to cable quality, but the maximum cable length is 328 ft before requiring signal extenders. Extenders can introduce issues with high-powered motorized zoom or PTZ cameras, such as voltage and amperage loss.
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Replacing the DVR
Pay attention to the DVR or NVR specifications to know its maximum resolution. Connecting a higher-resolution camera to a device with lower-resolution support will result in errors or glitchy video.
Ensure compatibility between coax cameras and DVRs or IP cameras and NVRs. Different signal types like HDCVI, HDTVI, AHD, and CVBS are used in coax cameras. Using an incompatible signal type of camera can lead to error codes or distorted video.
