Is H.264 Compression Becoming the Standard for Security Manufacturers?

Product managers and engineers constantly look for technologies that will shape the future security industry. We all agree that we need better image quality, faster transmission speeds, quicker emergency response times and improved storage efficiency. Most CCTV camera and DVR manufacturers now look to H.264 for the solution. Many of their data sheets now mention compression of H.264 as well as MPEG-4 and JPEG.

H.264 is simply an improved version of MPEG-4 with more efficient video compression technology. H.264 requires roughly half the storage space as MPEG-4. So what benefit does this provide for the end user? Since it is more efficient than MPEG-4, H.264 gives better image quality per bit of data. The system needs less bandwidth to transmit the video from IP camera to the network video recorder. That means it can be used on existing networks, cutting upgrade expenses. The end user can store more information on less hard drive capacity and lower installation costs.

As with any new technology, there may be some drawbacks. H.264 does require more processing power to decode the video. Manufacturers may utilize multiple processors to improve performance. Consider the cost versus the benefit.

When should you upgrade to H.264 technology? If a current system is only handling 6-7 cameras at 4-5 frames per second, 24 hours per day, H.264 may not be needed. If the existing system is not taking up much of its available storage space and the installed cameras are not streaming large amounts of data, H.264 is unnecessary. However, in systems with IP cameras, megapixel cameras or cameras requiring high framerates (like banking and casino applications), H.264 would definitely be a viable solution.