What is an IP Camera?

What is an IP Camera?  First, lets answer the question what is IP?  IP stands for Internet Protocol, and is basically the language used by computers and electronics to speak over a network.  Much like humans use a verbal lanuage to speak over the telephone, computers use "IP" to speak over network cables.  Traditionally, video cameras used an analog signal (similar to the signal a VCR sends to your TV) that traveled down a wire and was interpreted through a recorder or monitor.  Cameras of this type are still widely used today and work fine.

However, with the wider use of home computer networks, many people have found it easier to incorporate a video camera that works with and can plug into this already existing computer network.  The main difference of an IP camera is the use of Cat5 network cable for connectivity.  This cable can be plugged into an existing router, which then assigns the camera an IP address when turned on.  The IP address can be thought of as a name so that other computers can talk with it.  Once an IP address is assigned to the video camera, the possibilites are endless.  Video can be accessed from any remote computer, given a connection exists.  If the router has an Internet connection, it's even possible to view the video camera live from any computer on the Internet.  Thus, one could be sitting at work or home, login to their IP camera that's sitting in their vacation house hundreds of miles away, and view live video.

Some IP Cameras have the abilit to e-mail or even text message you when motion is sensed, thus creating a visual security system far superior to most systems.  The drawbacks to an IP Camera are that they only operate over an IP network, thus you will always need some type of computer or data capable smartphone to access the camera.  Some prefer to keep it "old school" and stick with analog, but there's certainly strong merit to IP cameras!