Options for building IP networks over long distances, powering video cameras via PoE. Video surveillance at a distance

And accessories. Do not forget about the wires through which the signal is transmitted. Usually in cheap sets they are. This type of wire is ideal for working with video materials. This is explained by the fact that the signal does not scatter during its operation due to the specific cross section in the form of a shielded winding. As a result, there is no loss in the quality of the transmitted picture at all.

For small objects, such systems are fully suitable, because they are relatively cheap and provide good functionality. But when the scale of the object is increased, serious problems arise. First of all, we are talking about the signal transmission process, because at a distance of more than 200 meters, standard equipment ceases to be effective. Specific devices such as transmitters, receivers, amplifiers and video transmitters come to the rescue.

Long distance data transmission

When the distance exceeds 120 meters, a conventional coaxial cable is no longer suitable, so it is replaced by . Through this type of wire, you can freely transfer information, including video files. Twisted pair is also suitable for online broadcasting of what is happening, which means that with its help you can create a full-fledged security system.

A striking advantage of this type of cable is also the low cost of its laying. As practice shows, installing a coaxial wire over long distances is very expensive, and there are no problems of this kind with a twisted pair cable. Some people are convinced that the ideal option is to debug communications via a radio channel. This method is really good, because it does not require any communication networks at all, but people forget that the maximum range of information transmission in such systems does not exceed 100 meters. And then the figure is indicated taking into account the installation of high-power antennas.

Fig.2 F690Bx0.75 power coaxial cable

Types of signal transceivers

As we have already understood, performance at a great distance directly depends on the signal transceivers. Their main classification is reduced to the activity or passivity of functioning. Power, transmission range and other characteristics fade into the background.

Passive transceivers are considered simple and cheap equipment. They are installed in the chain as a cut between the camera and the monitor on which the picture is displayed. If the cable length exceeds 200-250 meters, the efficiency of using passive devices begins to drop sharply. This is explained by the decrease in the amplitude of the signal as it passes through the wire. Accordingly, there is a need for amplifiers, which are called active. By the way, equipment of this type is strictly divided into receiving and transmitting.

Active devices make it possible to transmit video materials over a distance of 2000 meters or more. There are also systems in which passive equipment receives a signal, and transmits active equipment. The range of their operation does not exceed 1000 meters, but for the majority of the task this is enough. The meaning of such a tandem is to reduce the cost of equipment and wiring.

Active equipment has a number of advantages over passive ones. Among them, it is worth highlighting excellent noise immunity, the ability to use fiber optic cable, high-quality analog video cameras, protection against power surges, quick setup, the ability to eventually switch to a progressive IP system.

Fig.3 UTP 5e twisted pair cable

Transmitter Specifications

Transmitters have a number of characteristics that determine the possibilities of their application. First of all, this number of supported channels. Standard devices pass only one video and one audio signal. At the same time, there are models that support up to four or more channels. If there are many cameras around the perimeter of the object, then such equipment becomes really useful.

For many, the determining factor in the choice of technology will be transmission distance. Most modern devices will be able to ensure the normal functioning of the system at a distance of up to 2500 meters, but subject to the absence of interference. By the way, you should always pay attention to the dependence of signal quality on the distance of its transmission. Some manufacturers ambitiously indicate exorbitant figures in the documentation for the device, forgetting to say that it will be impossible to make out anything on the monitor screen.

Other characteristics are no longer so important, although, of course, the ability to connect to a quad or DVR will not be superfluous. Adjusting the transmit level is also useful. If the equipment is to be used outdoors, special attention must be paid to the allowable temperatures and humidity at which the transmitter will operate normally. It will not be superfluous to be able to adjust the brightness and sharpness. Overall dimensions do not play a special role.

conclusions

Video signal transmission over long distances is quite real. To do this, you will need to change the coaxial cable to a twisted pair cable, as well as introduce transceivers into the system. These small and relatively inexpensive devices will allow you to broadcast a signal at a distance of up to 2500 meters. It can be difficult to lay such chains yourself, so it is better to seek help from specialists. After that, perimeter control of even very large objects will not be a problem.

There are situations when you need to connect a surveillance camera over a long distance. The transmission of a digital signal for ip-cameras, as a rule, occurs over unshielded twisted pair. It consists of one or more pairs of colored copper conductors. If we talk about the wire, then it is a standard, network of the fifth category of UTP, popularly called "twisted pair".

The twisted pair is connected to the network interface with an rj45 connector. One end connects to the camera, the other to the equipment, router or switch.

How to connect an ip-camera over a long distance?

The fact is that unshielded twisted pair has a limitation - a distance of one hundred meters, according to the IEEE 802.3u standard, that is, the cable length should not exceed 100 m.

This is primarily due to the fact that half duplex (collision detection) used for twisted-pair Ethernet networks works correctly in this piece of wire. Here you need to dive into the theory a bit, namely the OSI interaction models. Frames move at the speed of light. If the length is more than 100 m, then they will not have time to reach the end of the wire. Packets will be lost.

Ways to overcome a distance of 100 meters

Let's highlight ways to overcome a distance of 100 meters:

• • When connecting an ip-camera, use a higher quality twisted-pair cable, namely UTP without copper, this will increase the length up to 150 m;
  • Use a special switch with extended communication range. Up to 250 m. Typically, such devices are used for ip-video surveillance.

1. bandwidth drop to 10 Mbps;
2. does not conform to the IEEE standard;
3. dependent on the hardware vendor. IP cameras and switch must be from the same manufacturer.

1. the easiest way to increase the distance;
2. does not require breaking the line;
3. data transmission and power.

1. each device requires power supply:
2. required to break the line.

1. simple and understandable scheme;
2. maintaining bandwidth;
3. data and power transmission.

A media converter is a device that transfers information from one medium to another. Allows you to connect fiber optic connections.

Media converters, they are also called media converters, can be divided into two types:

We watch video connection of an ip-camera at a distance of more than a hundred meters.

30.07.2018, 22:05

Maltsev Vladimir Vladimirovich, Lead Engineer for Design Support at Videomax

The issue to which the article is devoted regularly arises when designing communication lines for IP video surveillance systems. It is especially relevant when connecting outdoor IP cameras.

Let us immediately clarify that we are talking not just about some distances between the equipment, but about the specific task of connecting an IP camera to a switch port when it is more than 100 m away.

The question of the maximum distance of such a connection arises when designing outdoor video surveillance, when it is required to place cameras on the facades of buildings, along the perimeter, etc. The sizes of objects and, accordingly, the distances from the server equipment to the cameras can reach several km - the maximum length of the "copper" communication line cannot be more than 100 m. Naturally, the question arises - how to design a connection to a camera that is more than 100 meters away from the switch m?

There are many ways to solve this problem. Next, we will consider them in order, we will try to identify the "pros" and "cons" and try to outline the boundaries of applicability. Once again, we will clarify that we are not talking about building some fragment of a local network, but specifically about connecting IP cameras to a switch.

Excursion into history

Where did these notorious "100 meters" come from? The matter is that all IP-cameras existing today can work only in networks of the Ethernet standard. In particular, the ports for connecting IP cameras support the IEEE 802.3i (10Base-T) and IEEE 802.3u (100Base-T/100Base-TX) standards at the OSI model link level. And, according to the specifications of these standards, the maximum length of one line - the cable between two active devices - should not exceed 100 m (including patch cords). This is primarily due to all sorts of inevitable signal degradations that increase as the cable length increases: signal attenuation in the cable, crosstalk, external interference, phase jitter, etc. Well, now let's imagine ourselves in the place of a designer drawing another line from a switch to an IP camera and discovering that the distance along the good old "copper" Ethernet cable exceeds 100 m. And now what to do with it?

Connection in violation of the standard

Why not? There are many installers who will tell you about connecting the camera with a cable for 100, 120, 150, etc. meters, after which "everything was fine." And, in general, there is nothing surprising in this - the characteristics of any mass-produced equipment fluctuate in some tolerances allowed by the standards and specifications of the manufacturer and, under a happy coincidence, can “raise” the electrical parameters of the resulting communication line. The 100 m limit is actually quite artificial - from the point of view of theory, nothing prevents perfectly manufactured equipment (camera, switch, cables) from working on a cable length of several hundred meters. But here you need to understand that examples of such “normal” work are nothing more than an accident. And if any problems arise, the first thing that vendors or auditors will point to is non-compliance with standards.

So this option is suitable for discussion in the "smoking rooms", for home experiments, but nothing more.

"Long-Range" Switches

The option is both simple and not very. The simplicity lies in the fact that the manufacturer of IP cameras may have switches in their assortment, which claim to connect cameras via cables longer than 100 m (Fig. 1).

Rice. 1. Extended range switch

And it turns out that it is enough to put the appropriate switches and cameras into the project, after which the issue with the distance is considered resolved. The advantage is obvious:

• increase in range up to 250 m.

The disadvantages are that:

• the range of such products is small;
• It is not recommended to use equipment from different manufacturers, i.e. binding to a specific brand;
• the bandwidth of the communication line will be reduced to 10 Mbps.

Please note: increasing the line length over 100 m is not some kind of new standard or new technology! Often this is just the result of experience in connecting equipment with a high-quality cable with a speed limit of 10 Mbps (recall that 10BASE-T was originally developed for a cable of the so-called category 3 - Cat.3).

As a result, we have a very narrow scope of such products: with cameras of either a low resolution (about 1 Mpix) or a low video transmission rate (1–2 fps). Well, maybe that's enough for some. And if the supplier guarantees the performance of this option and is ready to help with setup and operation, then it can be used for surveillance tasks with “modest” image requirements.

"Transfer stations" (intermediate switches)

The idea is simple: if one long cable cannot be used, then we use several short ones connected through intermediate switches. In such cases, the term "chain" is sometimes used.

Let's list the advantages and disadvantages. Let's start with the benefits:

• throughput is independent of distance;
• a large number of intermediate switches is acceptable.

And the disadvantages of this approach:

• it is required to organize the power supply of each of the intermediate switches;
• space is required to install each intermediate switch (which is not always possible);
• the cost of the solution increases in proportion to the number of additional switches required to form a communication line;
• the reliability of the system deteriorates - any active equipment tends to fail from time to time.

Yes, in this way it is really possible to ensure reliable data transmission, but you will have to spend money on additional switches, their installation, supplying power to each of them, etc. This can be clearly seen from Figure 2. This option can be applied in small video surveillance systems with little traffic , provided that there are already places where you can place the switches and apply power to them without much effort. And if indoors most often there are no difficulties with power supply, then outdoors this can become a big problem. We will not specifically recommend the option with intermediate switches, because there is a more convenient, simpler, and more beautiful solution, which is discussed further.

Rice. 2. Connecting an IP camera through intermediate switches

"Extensors" (extenders)

We can say that this is the previous version, optimized and designed to connect one fairly far away device. An extender (from the English "extender"), in fact, is a kind of highly simplified switch - with only one input and one output (Fig. 3). Power may be required from an external power source (i.e., a power line must be connected to the place where the extender is installed), but most extenders work over PoE. In fact, the use of externally powered extenders is no different from the option with intermediate switches - and further we are talking only about extenders powered by PoE.

Note that extenders can be connected one after another (Fig. 4). Like the switches.

As can be seen from figures 4 and 5, the extender is placed at least every 100 m of "copper" Ethernet (the reasons for this are at the beginning of the article): the designer only needs to choose the installation location and a sealed box to place the extender inside (in case of outdoor installation).

Rice. 3. Connecting an IP camera through an extender

Rice. 4. Connecting an IP camera through multiple extenders

Rice. 5. Increasing the length of the line on specialized equipment (right column)

As a result, we have undeniable "pluses":

• increasing the distance without loss of bandwidth;
• transfer not only data, but also power;
• ease of connection and use.

There are also "cons" of this solution:

• using part of the energy transmitted over PoE to power the extender itself. Does the camera require 15 watts? This means that the switch must give all 30, because part will take the extender;
• the number of extenders in the "chain" is limited by the power delivered to the port via PoE, the power consumption of the extenders, and the power requirements of the camera.

The correlation between the power consumption of the camera and extenders in this connection option is a key issue for designers.

Please note that some IP cameras (mostly PTZ cameras) consume up to 60 watts of power, i.е. the maximum that modern PoE switches and PoE injectors can give. It is impossible to use extenders with such cameras.

A number of IP camera manufacturers have in their lineup not only extenders, but also PoE injectors specially designed to deliver PoE to the line with a “reserve” for a possible extender connection (Fig. 5). This can help in cases where the power of a standard PoE switch or injector is not enough to power both the camera and the extender.

In general, a good option for not the most "gluttonous" cameras in the case when the line range slightly exceeds the border of 100 m - and it can be safely recommended for use.

Receivers-transmitters, converters, modulators, …

This kind of equipment began to be used in the era of the dominance of analog video surveillance. Experts remember reliable and inexpensive coax-to-twisted-pair converters. Nowadays, manufacturers have reoriented to IP technologies, Ethernet and PoE, but the general approach has remained the same ... So, a couple of devices are taken - a transmitter and a receiver. The transmitter is placed next to the camera, the receiver - next to the switch. The communication line between the transmitter and the receiver can be either a "twisted pair" or a coaxial cable (Fig. 6).

Rice. 6. Connecting an IP camera through a PoE-enabled receiver and transmitter

Selected receiver/transmitter models support PoE and power to the camera. It is these devices that we are interested in for video surveillance systems.

There is a lot of equipment of this kind: with different maximum range, for different types of cable, etc. The most widely declared application is the use of the existing cable infrastructure in the case of replacing an analog video surveillance system with IP, because. can use already laid analog cables. But in practice, the condition of existing cables does not allow the use of this type of receiver-transmitter: over the years of operation, internal kinks may appear in the cables, insulation may be broken, and the cable itself may initially not meet both the requirements (from the receiver-transmitter side), and and the declared electrical characteristics (to be defective, in other words). So we believe that the line still needs to be laid again and move on to the "pluses" and "minuses".

The advantages of this method:

• the possibility of using the existing cable structure;
• lower (compared to extenders) consumption of power transmitted over PoE;
• it is realistic to use a cable several hundred meters long;
• transmission of both signal and power.

Unfortunately, there are also disadvantages:

• incompatibility between devices of different brands in a pair of "receiver - transmitter" (there are no common standards);
• throughput depends on distance;
• The maximum transmitted power supply depends on the distance.

And one more thing, which is a consequence of the long cable length - the influence of interference, interference, static electricity is much more noticeable than when dividing the line into 100-meter segments. At a minimum, it is worth thinking about the security of the communication line.

Please note: most manufacturers of "receiver and transmitter" kits strongly recommend installing additional lightning protection devices specially designed to work with such kits (more about lightning protection in the article "Ethernet lightning protection for IP video surveillance" on our website).

As a result, we have an option that really allows us to overcome the 100-meter limitation and can be recommended in cases where equipment can only be installed directly next to the switch and IP camera (and cannot be installed somewhere “on the line”). However, the designer will definitely need to specify the throughput and power-to-camera (PoE) transmitted transceivers for each specific application - for a specific cable length.

In principle, the “copper” part of the article can be completed on this. Yes! We did not talk about transmission via RS-422 / RS-485, about the use of SHDSL and VDSL equipment, about data transmission over power lines and other exotic things, since we believe that in principle such types of communication differ little from the use of “receiver” sets -transmitter". Well, except perhaps the use of standardized protocols, which allows you not to be tied to a specific brand of equipment, reduce the impact of interference and dependence on the quality of the cable infrastructure.

It would seem - since there are problems with "copper", so go to other media! The most obvious solutions would be "optics" and "radio".

Optical communication lines

This method is becoming more and more popular. Equipment operating with optical communication lines can provide a communication line length of several tens of kilometers! The method of constructing a communication line is shown in Figure 7.

Rice. 7. Connecting the IP Camera via Fiber Optic

Surely the option with receivers / transmitters via "copper" is immediately remembered. Yes, a media converter can be considered a type of such devices. Instead of a media converter, you can use a switch with an SFP module, and even find a camera with the ability to install an SFP module and connect the "optics" directly.

The benefits are obvious:

• high transmission capacity, independent of distance;
• insensitive to interference and interference from electromagnetic effects;
• a huge range of equipment, cable products and accessories.

There are also disadvantages, but their criticality decreases over time due to the widespread use of fiber optic technologies:

• requires specialized equipment for installation and testing;
• a higher level of qualification of the designer and installer is required;
• unable to transfer power.

On the price side of the issue, we think, you can not pay much attention. Yes, the cables themselves are more expensive than "copper", but the total cost of an "optical" system may even be lower than the cost of a system built entirely on "copper" (taking into account the cost of extenders, transmitters, intermediate switches and accessories for them), especially when compared lines of the same capacity.

radio channel

In addition to a range comparable to "optics", this option has another advantage - no cables are needed at all for signal transmission (Fig. 8). Often, by the way, the radio channel option is the only, non-alternative option. The throughput in this case ranges from 11 to 54 Mbps, which quite allows you to skip "live" megapixel video.

Rice. 8. Connecting an IP camera via radio

Let's move on to the advantages and disadvantages.

So the benefits:

• line length up to several tens of kilometers;
• equipment is standardized;
• no trunk cable required.

And, accordingly, the disadvantages:

• line of sight between antennas is required;
• throughput is lower than that of "copper" Ethernet;
• high sensitivity to interference and the presence of other radio networks (operating in the same range).

As you can see, the task of building a long communication line with a camera located at a great distance from the switch can be successfully solved in different ways. What is the way to choose? We think that the choice depends, first of all, on the required range (at the same time, do not forget about the camera's power supply and the stream size). Hence the advice:

1. If from the switch to the camera from 200 to 300 m, then first consider the option with PoE extenders.

2. If the distance from the switch to the camera is from 300 to 600 m, then you should start by searching for a suitable pair of receiver and transmitter over twisted pair or coaxial cable.

3. If the distance is more than 600 m, then first of all you should study the option with "optics".

4. If the cable cannot be laid at all, we look at the radio channel equipment.

And let's say it again: always! Anyway! In any case! Be sure to specify the bandwidth of the resulting line and (for PoE equipment) the receipt / consumption of power by the camera, switch and selected communication equipment.

Extinguishing combustible materials with an arbitrary initial temperature distribution with water spray / Improving regulatory legal acts for the rapid response of the forces and means of the Russian Emergencies Ministry to fires and emergencies / Assessment of the feasibility of using and problems of creating samples of autonomous unmanned aerial vehicles for monitoring and reconnaissance in emergency zones

With the introduction of new interstate standards for fire appliances, and then, as a result, new sets of rules, the entire design practice will change. ZKPS will be the starting point in the entire logic of the fire protection systems. And now these SPCS need to be somehow linked to fire protection zones, which include warning, fire extinguishing and / or smoke ventilation zones. It is necessary to provide in the set of rules for designing the obligation to reflect in the design documentation not only the algorithms of this interaction, but also the conditions for activating the actuators.

• All facilities to be equipped with fire protection systems (SPS) go through three stages: design, implementation (installation and commissioning), maintenance. There is a very bad option for the customer - these three stages are performed by different companies. This happens very often, since the customer himself chooses the designer in order to quickly obtain specifications and estimate the costs of the SDR, among other things. From the point of view of implementation, the customer chooses a general contractor, who, in turn, chooses a contractor for the SDR. Well, all this has to be serviced by a company that, for example, serves this business center. The author in the article showed the main disadvantages of this approach at all stages: design, installation and maintenance of SPZ systems. And he gave his recommendations.

However, if you want to transmit wifi for 500 meters, 1 or several kilometers - here with improvised means, you need a serious wireless network in a professional environment called "point-to-point".

Wifi transmission over long distances: wireless network topology and main points

There are two major type of wireless network topology:

• Point to Point (PtP)
• Point to Multipoint (PtMP)

• In the figure, the type of connection is point-to-point (PtP) in green.
• Point-to-multipoint (PtMP) connections are marked in blue.

We will analyze in more detail the configuration of the PtP option and the equipment that is used in this case.

Consider two options for setting up a wireless connection over a long distance.

Option 1 - setting up a wireless bridge for a distance of 1 - 3 km

Option 2 - setting up a wireless bridge for a distance of 10 km or more

Why divide, and not combine into a common theme? It's simple - the type, cost and interfaces of the equipment differ significantly. If the distance to which you need to transmit traffic is up to 1 km, it makes no sense to take equipment for 10 km and overpay for it.

Before setting up a Wi-Fi bridge, I would like to pay attention to the fact that between point "A" (where the transmitter antenna is located) and point "B" (where the receiver antenna is located) there must be a line of sight! In addition, certain requirements for the Fresnel zone must be observed. What is the Fresnel zone?

Imagine an imaginary straight cylindrical pipe (shaded in gray in the figure), in the centers of the holes of which antenna "A" and antenna "B" are installed on both sides. The inner space of the pipe is the Fresnel zone. For a good signal and a stable connection, this "pipe" should not contain any third-party objects, such as: houses, trees, power lines and other structures.

The radius of the Fresnel zone (parameter R in the picture) depends on the distance between the antennas (parameter S + D in the picture) and the radio frequency on which they operate (mainly used equipment is 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands). The greater the distance, the greater the radius. The Fresnel zone is calculated by the formula:

• R – Fresnel zone radius, m
• S and D - Distance from antennas to the highest point, obstacles, km
• f – Frequency, GHz

But don't be afraid. There are many Internet resources where these calculations are automated, it is worth entering a request in any search engine - an online Fresnel zone calculator and you will be taken to a page where you only need to enter the distance between points "A" and "B", as well as the frequency at which it works equipment, press the calculate button and the calculator will give you the finished result.

Lots of text? Let's move on to practice.

How to transmit wifi at a distance of 1 km?

Option 1: radio bridge for 1 - 7 km.

To build a bridge, we need two of the simplest wireless access points. A good option would be TP-Link TL-WA5110G. Why is she so remarkable? The transmitter power of this access point model (hereinafter referred to as AP) is 26 dBm, which is several times higher than the power of any other AP for home use. The equipment has been discontinued, but if you can find a working used copy, feel free to buy it.

For the radio bridge, we need 2 APs. We configure one as a regular access point, and the other as a client.

AP transmitter settings example

• SSID. We set the name of the network as desired, you can not change the standard
• region. The region does not play a special role
• Channel. It is advisable to choose a channel from 6 and above, so on “high” channels d 2.4 GHz, the air is less noisy
• power. To begin with, we set the transmitter power to the maximum, i.e. 26 dBm and check the Enable High Power Mode checkbox.
• mode. We set the mode to 54Mbps (802.11g), since the other one in the list has less bandwidth.

Receiver AP Settings Example

We translate the AP into client mode.

We write the SSID the same as on the first device (you can also click on the Survey button at the bottom of the page, there we will see a list of devices available for connection and click Connect).

Do not forget to set different IP addresses on both APs (Network section)!

With standard antennas, the devices are confidently connected at a distance of 1 km in line of sight.

If you replace the standard circular antenna with a directional one (see the figure below), you can significantly increase the communication range.

But in this case, you will have to use an adapter (pigtail) from the N-type connector to the RP-SMA, which is installed in the AP.

In this configuration on both sides, the points will show stable operation at a distance of 7 km.

There is only one minus of this option - if the air is very noisy, then the antenna will pick up and amplify all the interference in the area, which will negatively affect the quality of the channel, there may be packet loss, or even complete disconnections, but you can experiment with other antennas, in which the radiation pattern has a narrower beam and fewer "side lobes".

It is also possible to use the structure outdoors, but the AP itself must be placed in a hermetic box. The pigtail can be led out through the cable gland by sealing the hole with raw rubber or frost-resistant silicone.

Total for the set "Option 1"

The configuration is fully functional and has the right to life. The cheapness of the components (used version) allows you to give preference to it, if the wireless bridge does not have increased stability requirements and a throughput of 8-12 Mbps suits. A complete used set of equipment for both sides can be purchased for about $50. Especially justified is the use when some components are already in stock or got free. With external antennas, you can use not only TP-Link TL-WA5110G, but any access points with a removable external antenna and a suitable connector.

Of the minuses - the complexity of installation and layout for an unprepared user. Several detachable connections, the quality of which can significantly affect the signal level.

How to transfer WiFi for 5 km. and more?

Option 2. Let's move on to "heavy artillery"

If you need a more serious option, the next part of the article is for you.

Ubiquiti is well known for its products for building wireless connections. The brand also produces smart home equipment, CCTV cameras and much more, but the first thing that comes to mind when you hear Ubiquiti is undoubtedly Wi-Fi equipment.

We will not talk about the entire line of equipment, but we will choose only what we need.

Brief description of equipment

We will build the bridge using NanoBrige M5 or NanoBeam M5 equipment.

• The NanoBrige M5 has been discontinued, but can still be found at some dealers, and there are plenty of used versions.
• NanoBeam M5 is a new development, it is similar to the previous model, but it has a completely different stuffing. Faster Atheros MIPS 74KC processor, more RAM, now with 64MB of RAM on board. The gain of the external antenna has increased. The shape of the emitter has changed. The design itself has also changed for the better. Installation is even easier and faster.

Both devices are positioned by distributors as equipment for distances of 5 km, but in practice, links were launched for 20 km or more with very good stability indicators and bandwidth over 120 Mbps over Wi-Fi at such a distance.

Below are the antennas themselves for transmitting wifi over long distances.

Let's move on to setting

Having configured the network interface of your PC, laptop for the network 192.168.1.0/24 and connecting the equipment according to the following scheme, we can start setting up.

If your equipment is new, so to speak, “out of the box”, then after entering 192.168.1.20 in the address bar of the browser and clicking the transition, we should get to the authorization page, it looks like this:

Standard username / password for ubnt / ubnt login

If for some reason you do not get to the authorization page or the standard login / password does not work, most likely you have equipment that was previously configured by someone.

It can be reset to factory settings by pressing the Reset button, which is located on the emitter, near the RJ-45 connector

All basic information about the status of the device is displayed here.

All the settings we need are on the WIRELESS and NETWORK tabs.

Setting the antenna to AP mode

The picture shows important items that need to be configured.

Brief description of the highlighted items:

• Wireless Mode - Operating mode. Choose which mode the device is in
• Access point– access point (distributing Wi-Fi)
• station– the device that will connect to the Access Point
• SSID - The name of the wireless network. Will be displayed when searching for a network
• Channel Width - Channel width. The larger the value, the greater the bandwidth, but the lower the channel stability. If the distance is small and the Fresnel zone is clean, feel free to set 40 MHz
• Frequency, MHz - Operating frequency. We choose carefully, because when choosing a frequency that is occupied by another device that is in the field of radio visibility, we will observe a deterioration in signal quality.
• Output Power - Outgoing power. When the distance between the AP and the Client is 10 km or less - it is recommended to reduce the transmitter power to 19 - 20 dBm
• Security - Security. Just like in the settings of the router - password protection of the wireless connection. May slightly affect network performance, but it is recommended to enable, preferably WPA2-AES mode.

After changing all the necessary parameters, click the Change button at the bottom of the page, and then, in the line that appears at the top, the Apply button. Only in this case the settings will be changed!

Setting the antenna to Client mode

Almost everything is the same here, only the mode of operation is different.

Important point! If the Frequency Scan List, MHz field is checked and the frequency configured for the Access Point is set, the connection will be much faster, since the client will not go through all the channels in the range, but will scan only the frequency specified in the scan list.

How to catch wifi at a great distance: network setup

Go to the NETWORK tab. Everything is very clear here.

What you should pay attention to on this tab is the Network Mode item. If you select the Router mode from the drop-down list, you will be able to set up a DHCP server on both the wireless and wired interfaces. You can set up a PPPoE connection, forward ports, enable / disable NAT - that is, the standard functionality of the router.

Hooray! Wireless bridge configured

It remains to mount the antennas in their places. Antenna emitters should look clearly into each other. Then wait until the signal level scale appears on the MAIN tab. See the items AirMax Quality and AirMax Capacity, the larger their value, the better.

The Noise Floor and Transmit CCQ parameters are indicative.

Noise Floor - Shows how noisy the air is. The larger the numerical value with a minus sign, the less interference the antenna collects.

Transmit CCQ - Transmission quality. The value should approach 100%. The bigger, the better.

After aligning the antennas, when we have achieved the best performance, you can use the network.

Various auxiliary utilities can be found in the upper right corner of the interface - this is a drop-down menu called Tools.

Using the Speed ​​Test utility located there, you can test the speed of the wireless line

The result of the set "Option 2"

The option is undeniably the best. NanoBridge M5 antennas can be mounted on a pipe stand with only a 10 wrench. Compared to Option 1, it has a much higher bandwidth, stable communication and an anti-jamming protocol.
Of the minuses - also one - the price. Two NanoBeam M5 APs cost about $180 -190 today. The price of two used NanoBridge M5 is about $100 - $120

Think for yourself, decide for yourself…. To have or not to have….

Remote access to video surveillance cameras can be wireless or wired. In the first case, GSM, Wi-Fi networks are used. In the second - or similar.

Principle of operation

Wired communication is reliable, as it is resistant to external interference (thunderstorm), but it requires material costs for laying wires.

For video surveillance over long distances, the use of wireless communication is justified. It can be used in hard-to-reach places where there are no telephone lines and Internet access points, the only way out is to use cellular communications.

In this case, the cellular operator is connected via the Internet access protocol GPRS or EDGE and an IP address is allocated. The data transfer rate is 5 frames per second at an image resolution of 704 × 576 px.

Internet access via a dedicated channel or telephone line using ADSL technology is convenient in areas with a developed telecommunications system, which significantly reduces the cost of receiving a video signal.

To maintain confidentiality, receiving information from cameras via the Internet, access to the video signal is protected by a password. It can be multi-level in order to provide different persons with access to only a certain part of the surveillance cameras.

CCTV Cameras

There is a wide range of video cameras on the market for open, discreet and covert surveillance.

Open cameras are installed on the street, parking place and the entrance to the building. Inconspicuous cameras protected by a spherical dome are used in an office, apartment, and trading floor.

The Beward N1250 camera has a compact size, a built-in Wi-Fi module, a highly sensitive sensor that allows you to get a clear image even in low light conditions. It is equipped with built-in motion sensors and LED backlight used in the dark.

Connection to the wireless network is carried out using the WiFi IEEE 802.11 b/g protocol, the signal from all cameras goes to the router, the image is viewed through any Web-browser. You can view images from up to 32 IP cameras, software included.

It must be remembered that a camera with a built-in Wi-Fi module costs 1.5 times more than a regular model.

This camera is ideal for wireless, residential, public buildings.

Wired video cameras

This is the cheapest, high-speed remote access to video cameras.

The signal from the CCTV cameras on the wire gets on with Internet access. You can install a network router, it collects information from all cameras and broadcasts the image to the Internet.

The Polyvision PN20-M1-B3.6IR-IP video camera is a budget, small-sized outdoor camera, with IR illumination up to 20 meters, there is a motion detector and automatic white balance.

Hikvision's DS-2CD812PF-W universal camera works with wired and Wi-Fi connections, and the Sony Super HAD CCD model, in addition to working with wired connections, can record on an installed flash card. The operation of the camera is similar to the operation of the DVR.

Modular (unframed) cameras are used for covert surveillance. It consists of two parts, a lens and a separate video card. The lens is easy to disguise as the details of the environment, the wires from it go to.

The SPYMAX SCM-422 camera has a 60-degree field of view and auto iris, gives a clear picture and is used indoors.

First of all, the light sensitivity that the camera has with minimal lighting. It is measured in Lux (photosensitive cameras from 0.05 to 0.1).

If you are planning on making the cameras discreet, this factor matters, as the IR light detects itself.

The size of the camera matrix, on which the clarity of the image depends. It can be 1/2”, 1/3”, 1/4”. The larger the physical size, the sharper the image.

The use of video surveillance over long distances allows you to effectively control your business, receive real-time information about what is happening in your home, and ensure the safety of staff and loved ones.