Posted by Mike Ward on 3/14/2014 to
Surveillance Equipment
There always seem to be places where having a security camera would be great but getting the video cable back to your monitor or video recording device is difficult or prohibited. This is where wireless video transmitters and receivers can make the job easy. They can send video and even audio signals from a camera in the remote location to the video receiver without the need for a video cable, and while clear line of sight allows for the greatest distance shorter non line of sight transmission is possible.
One factor that must be considered is the camera and video transmitter will require power, most equipment operates on 12 volts DC. The best scenario is having a standard power outlet available in the area but if not short term operation can be done using batteries. For longer or continuous use solar power is probably the best alternative. As long as power can be provided the distance you can send the signal will depend mainly on transmitter power and the type of obstructions needed to penetrate if you don't have line of sight. The receiver also requires 12 volts DC but is usually located at your monitor or digital video recorder where power is present.
A general rule is the lower the frequency of the transmitter the better the penetration. However with some of the newer digital transmitters available even the standard 2.4 GHz frequency can penetrate quite well. It's difficult to predict how far a signal can go through obstacles but one typical wall in a home (drywall and no metal studs) will cut the distance about 15 to 20%, again depending on the frequency of the transmitter. Metal and concrete are the most difficult for wireless signals to handle and can significantly diminish the effective distance.
Another advantage of wireless video transmitters over a standard wireless security camera is they generally have more greater transmitting distances and you can plug any security camera into the wireless transmitter allowing for more flexibility. Lets say you find you now need greater night vision range or need more detail at greater distances you can just change the camera.
Wireless video transmitters have definitely improved over the years and now with the new wireless digital transmitters more stable and interference free transmission can be realized over greater distances. So whether you need to send a video signal from a remote location or just don't want to be bothered running and hiding video cables a wireless video transmitter and receiver are a great alternative.
One factor that must be considered is the camera and video transmitter will require power, most equipment operates on 12 volts DC. The best scenario is having a standard power outlet available in the area but if not short term operation can be done using batteries. For longer or continuous use solar power is probably the best alternative. As long as power can be provided the distance you can send the signal will depend mainly on transmitter power and the type of obstructions needed to penetrate if you don't have line of sight. The receiver also requires 12 volts DC but is usually located at your monitor or digital video recorder where power is present.
A general rule is the lower the frequency of the transmitter the better the penetration. However with some of the newer digital transmitters available even the standard 2.4 GHz frequency can penetrate quite well. It's difficult to predict how far a signal can go through obstacles but one typical wall in a home (drywall and no metal studs) will cut the distance about 15 to 20%, again depending on the frequency of the transmitter. Metal and concrete are the most difficult for wireless signals to handle and can significantly diminish the effective distance.
Another advantage of wireless video transmitters over a standard wireless security camera is they generally have more greater transmitting distances and you can plug any security camera into the wireless transmitter allowing for more flexibility. Lets say you find you now need greater night vision range or need more detail at greater distances you can just change the camera.
Wireless video transmitters have definitely improved over the years and now with the new wireless digital transmitters more stable and interference free transmission can be realized over greater distances. So whether you need to send a video signal from a remote location or just don't want to be bothered running and hiding video cables a wireless video transmitter and receiver are a great alternative.