Comparison Tenda CP6 vs Tenda CP3

-LAN. The LAN (Ethernet) interface was originally intended for building wired computer networks. Cameras with this connector, usually, also work as network devices. The advantage of this option over the Wi-Fi described below can be called a higher actual bandwidth, over BNC — the ability to connect without additional equipment, directly to a standard network router used for a regular computer network. Of the shortcomings, one can only note the need to pull the wire, but this point is common to all wired connection options. For the rest of the features, LAN is the most convenient, thanks to which it has become widely used in modern security cameras.

— Wi-Fi. The Wi-Fi connection was originally a wireless analogue of the LAN described above and was used to connect to computer networks. When working in such networks, this connection is similar to LAN in the sense that it allows the camera to work through a regular router (of course, supporting Wi-Fi). At the same time, Wi-Fi is more convenient due to the lack of wires, however, with an abundance of other wireless devices connected to the router, the channel bandwidth and image quality can noticeably deteriorate. Note that recently it is also possible to use this connection in the Direct mode — for direct connection of the camera with another device, for example, connecting the camera to a smartphone (see "Design and...capabilities — P2P"). However, this option is less common.

— BNC. Abbreviation for Bayonet Neill Concelman. A bayonet type connector commonly used for analogue video signal transmission. Refers to professional video interfaces, special equipment is required to work with such a camera. However, by themselves cameras with connectors of this type, usually, belong to the lower price range. This is due to limited connectivity via BNC — only a video signal can be transmitted through it, which limits the functionality of such cameras compared to models that work via LAN or Wi-Fi (see above).

— 3G / 4G. Internet connection via 3G / 4G mobile networks; usually, for this you need to install a SIM card from a mobile operator in the camera. The speed of such networks allows, among other things, to broadcast video in a fairly high resolution. So such a connection (of course, with coverage) is well suited not only as a fallback in case of interruptions to the Internet, but also as the main communication channel if there is no fixed Internet connection at all. A typical example of the second situation is the observation of a country house located "far from civilization", but in the zone of reliable mobile communication reception. Moreover, in both cases, you can contact the camera via the Internet from anywhere in the world.

Smart home systems that the camera is compatible with.

The general principle of all such systems is to combine various home electronics and household electrical appliances into a single complex so that all these devices can interact with each other and jointly respond to various events. As for surveillance cameras specifically, their functions in a “smart home” are mainly related to reacting to movement in the frame and broadcasting video. For example, a compatible camera can send a notification to the user’s smartphone when a motion sensor is triggered, or transmit video to a TV integrated into the home network.

Nowadays you can find different smart home platforms, the most popular are Apple HomeKit, Google Home, Amazon Alexa. However, there are other options for branded systems - as a rule, they are sold by manufacturers for their smart home and video surveillance devices. To fully work in a particular system, it is worth using cameras that have expressly stated appropriate compatibility. Also, when purchasing a compatible model, it would not hurt to clarify its specific functionality related to the “smart home”.

The maximum video resolution that the camera can capture.

The higher the resolution of the video, the more details you can see on it, the less details will be blurry. On the other hand, high resolution means large volumes of video materials, which, accordingly, requires capacious media for their storage and fast communication channels for broadcasting video in real time. Yes, and this indicator significantly affects the cost of the camera.

The video compression format used by the camera.

Compression is used to reduce the file sizes of captured video; different technologies can be used for this — the so-called codecs, their list is given in this paragraph. From a practical point of view, compatibility with external recording and playback devices primarily depends on the supported codecs. If you plan to use a computer as a recorder / player, you can ignore this list: modern PCs and laptops usually support a very extensive list of formats, and in extreme cases, the missing codecs can be installed separately. But if we are talking about specialized registrars, individual players (like home media centers), etc. — codec compatibility should be clarified further. So, if the advanced modern H.265 standard is very widely supported nowadays, then the more specific H.265+, originally created for surveillance systems, is much less common even in specialized equipment.

The ambient temperature range in which the camera can be used normally.

All modern surveillance cameras normally tolerate temperatures typical for houses / apartments, offices and other premises with similar mild conditions. Therefore, it is worth paying attention to this parameter, first of all, if the device is planned to be used outdoors — or in a room where the temperature does not differ much from the street temperature or, for technical reasons, should be low (freezer warehouse, refrigerated car, etc. ). In such cases, the lower temperature threshold is especially important: for example, almost all outdoor cameras have the ability to work in cold temperatures below 0 °, but among indoor models such features are much less common. However, frost-resistant devices(with an allowable temperature of -40 °C and below) can also be found not only among outdoor cameras, but also among “internal” cameras.

As for the upper temperature limit, it is usually not lower than +40 °C, which is quite enough for using the camera in a temperate climate. In some models, this limit reaches +50 °C and even +60 °C, making them suitable even for hot countries. However, note that we are talking exclusively about use in the shade; the possibility of working under direct sunlight should be clarified separately.