What an IP Camera System Is
An IP camera system uses network cameras connected over Cat6 cabling with Power over Ethernet, recording to an on-premise NVR or a hybrid cloud platform. Unlike older analog CCTV, every camera is individually addressable, individually configurable, and capable of resolutions from 2MP up through 4K and beyond. For New York City and Long Island businesses replacing aging analog systems, this is the standard upgrade path.
Resolution Is Not the Whole Story
The most common mistake we're called in to fix is a building that bought 4K cameras and still cannot identify anyone. Resolution only matters in combination with three other factors:
- Pixels on target. Identification requires roughly 80–100 pixels per foot across the subject's face. A 4K camera covering a 60-foot warehouse aisle delivers far fewer than a 2MP camera covering an 8-foot doorway.
- Lens selection. The focal length determines the field of view and therefore the pixel density at distance. This is chosen per camera, per location.
- Low-light performance. Sensor size and aperture matter more than megapixels after dark, which is when most incidents occur.
We design camera-by-camera with a stated purpose for each: identification, recognition, or situational awareness. Those three purposes require three different specifications.
Camera Types We Install
| Type | Best use |
|---|---|
| Turret / eyeball | Entrances and interiors — best IR performance, least glare |
| Dome (vandal-resistant) | Lobbies, corridors, schools, exposed public areas |
| Bullet | Exterior runs, parking lots, perimeter fence lines |
| PTZ with optical zoom | Large lots, yards and campuses — used for investigation, never as sole coverage |
| Multi-sensor / panoramic | Intersections of corridors, open floors, warehouse crossings |
| LPR (license plate) | Driveways and gates — dedicated camera, dedicated shutter settings |
Designed for New York Conditions
City installations bring specific constraints: prewar plaster and brick that complicate cable paths, landmark facades restricting exterior mounting, tenant spaces requiring after-hours work, and building management requiring certificates of insurance and alteration agreements. Long Island projects trade those for larger exterior footprints where night-time color performance, IR reach and lens choice across a parking lot are the deciding factors. We design for the building in front of us rather than a catalog package.
Storage and Retention
Retention is calculated, not guessed. We size storage from camera count, resolution, frame rate, codec and scene motion so your system genuinely holds the number of days you need — whether that's 30, 60 or 90 — and we verify it after commissioning rather than assuming the spec sheet.
What's Included in Our Installation
- Site walk and camera-by-camera design with lens selection and sight lines
- Cat6/6A cabling, PoE switching and clean, code-compliant low-voltage work
- Recorder sizing to your calculated retention requirement
- Secure remote viewing on iOS, Android and desktop — configured and tested on site
- Camera network segmentation and hardening, never open port forwarding
- Staff training on live view, playback, clip export and alerts
- Administrative credentials and as-built documentation handed to you in writing
