In the world of IPVS, there are basically three ways to establish connectivity from IP or digitally-encoded cameras to the recording server(s):

  1. Ethernet 10/100/1000, using Cat-5e / Cat-6 cabling (most standard and inexpensive for short distances)
  2. Fiber (for longer distances, great to use if established, otherwise can get expensive)
  3. Wireless (from DSL speeds to 100mbps speeds)
  4. Microwave (rarely employed, but sometimes needed — very expensive)

We like to joke that Wireless is the “Path of Most Resistance”. This is because even though you can construct a perfectly fine and operational wireless system, circumstances beyond your control can render that communication worthless withing six months. Typical bugaboos include:

  • Foliage
  • Weather
  • Vandalism
  • Increased demand (turning up the frame rate, for example)

But even getting started with Enterprise-grade wireless security systems typically requires thousands of dollars of training!

So what’s new and why this blog post? Because Fluidmesh (a longtime provider of wireless and wireless mesh systems suitable for IPVS), has introduced a new line of radios that even a caveman can install. Online training is made available at a modest price ($99 after rebate for your first system), with optional onsite training if you are eager to upgrade your partnership status by getting involved with larger and more complex systems.

And now the best part! Pricing for these radios starts at only $560 (list price) for your FIRST megabit/second of bandwidth. That’s enough for a D1-quality camera. Then you can upgrade the bandwidth at any time, to 5, 10, 30, 60, and unlimited bandwidth (about 100mbps/sec).

OK, that’s long enough — for more info, I urge you to go to http://www.fluidmesh.com/en/solutions/video-surveillance.html