A-Tec Subsystem, a manufacturer of cameras and DVRs supporting the ccHDtv technology, recently showcased its products as well as solutions for schools, which the company said can benefit from ccHDtv in many ways.
A-Tec Subsystem, a manufacturer of cameras and DVRs supporting the ccHDtv technology, recently showcased at Computex its products as well as solutions for schools, which the company said can benefit from ccHDtv in many ways.
The technology transmits digital signals over coaxial cable, allowing users with upgrade needs to keep their existing coaxial infrastructure. “We see lots of users seeking to upgrade their security from analog to digital. Due to the nature of ccHDtv, all they need to do is replace the cameras and DVRs in the front and back ends, and the transmission will become digital. It’s that simple,” said Jimmy Cheng, Sales Account Executive at A-Tec.
Another benefit is the transmission distance, which can be as long as 1 kilometer in a ccHDtv setting. IP, on the other hand, has a transmission distance of just 100 to 200 meters. “For IP, they need additional equipment to lengthen transmission,” Cheng said. “We can do a point-to-point long-distance transmission without any booster.”
Meanwhile, ccHDtv supports up to 16 cameras over a single coaxial cable, as opposed to one dedicated Ethernet cable for each camera in an IP infrastructure. Each ccHDtv camera has its own designated bandwidth in the coaxial cable. This is especially important in the age of ultrahigh definition.
“Right now, people are talking about 4K, which is typically associated with digital. Several digital transmission technologies exist, namely IP, HD-SDI, and ccHDtv. For us, each camera has its designated channel of up to 36 Mbps in the coaxial cable. This ensures smooth data flow no matter how large the data gets,” Cheng said. “For IP, once the data gets huge, it will jam the bandwidth, causing the video to freeze.”
These features make ccHDtv a popular choice among users, both in Taiwan and overseas. “ccHDtv has been there for nearly five years. At first, users were taking a wait-and-see attitude. But over time, they keep hearing about problems with HD analog solutions,” Cheng said. “So they try ccHDtv and have eventually grown to like it.”
Right now, A-Tec products are deployed in mid- to large projects including factories, enterprises, and schools, the latter of which has become one of A-Tec’s key target verticals. Already, the company is a designated supplier of products for Minhu Elementary School in Taipei and has also received inquiries from other elementary and junior high schools based in Greater Taipei.
According to Cheng, ccHDtv offers several advantages for schools, some of which are faced with budget constraints. “For schools, IP can be limiting due to the distance issue. Also, the cost of laying an IP network can be quite high, as you need to purchase expensive switches and other equipment,” he said. “For us, you don’t need these extra costs.”
Since safety is of utmost importance in schools, A-Tec cameras with intelligent video surveillance (IVS) are adopted. Once detecting something suspicious, the cameras will send an alarm and notify authorities instantly. “Most elementary and junior high schools today stress open space. So preventing intruders at bay and keeping students from sneaking in and out of school has become quite important,” he said.