Upgrading Coax Security Camera Systems
How to upgrade existing coax security camera systems to 4K Digital without rewiring everything!
There are millions of analog coax based CCTV security cameras and systems still in use today. You can find them in homes and businesses everywhere. As the cameras fail, owners are looking for cost effective ways to upgrade to HD digital.
You may have heard "You need to go IP based or get a Cat6 system,” which means rewiring the entire system. None of that is true or guarantees you get a top performing system. In fact, using the term “IP” as a way to gauge quality is incorrect. IP actually stands for “Internet Protocol”. It has nothing to do with quality or performance. The same is true with Cat5 or Cat6. That is just a reference to a cable. It has nothing to do with clarity or performance.
So how do you upgrade your existing coax wired CCTV security system to top performing 4K and still use the old cables? Simple, you use our Armor Pro Series the system offers 4K digital video over coax and supports IP cameras using a PoE unit. Our Armor Pro DVRs can support any combination of coax and IP cameras.
Our Armor Pro Series DVRs use the exact same BNC fittings as the old analog systems, so you don’t have to change your cables or fittings to upgrade an existing CCTV analog system - just replace the cameras and the video recorder.
What to watch out for: When you upgrade to Armor Pro, it's best to replace the power supply with the cameras. Power supplies age poorly. Total power output can decline over time and noise can be induced into the power feed as the electronics age. Resulting in your new cameras possibly working, but not at their best level. The night vision may work, but not at the maximum distance. You may also see digital lines in the video or various strange intermittent pixilation. Always upgrade the power supply with the cameras.
Verify the Power: Most (98%) of analog cameras operate on 12v DC power. Only PTZ cameras use 24v AC power. However, you should always check to make sure your cameras are 12v DC and the power supply is 12v DC. Always verify and match the power requirements of the cameras to the power supply.
Steps:
1. Verify your cable is Rg6 or Rg59. Do not use a substitute with other cables, such as aluminum shielded cable. It will not work. By definition, Rg59 and Rg6 cable is copper shielded. It should have a 95% copper shield and a solid copper core.
2. When replacing a camera, also replace the power supply.
3. Inspect your fittings. If you are up-grading an older system, make sure the fittings are clean and that there is no dirt or moisture damage in the fitting.
Other than that, it’s just a matter of selecting your new Armor Pro cameras and video recorder - which, by the way, we would be very glad to help with.