WIFI monitoring kit - WiFi recorders or kit with additional router?
WiFi monitoring set - WiFi recorder or set with a WiFi router?
CONTENTS:
1. What is a WiFi monitoring kit?
2. Where will the WiFi set work best?
3. Arguments for choosing a WiFi recorder.
4. Arguments for choosing an IP recorder and a WiFi router.
5. What to choose? Summary.
1. What is a wifi monitoring kit?
The WiFi monitoring kit is a group of cameras used to monitor a specific area, operating wirelessly and cooperating with a device that enables image recording. The most commonly used sets are: WiFi recorder + WiFi cameras or IP recorder + WiFi router + WiFi cameras.
2. Where will the WiFi set work best?
3. Arguments for choosing a WiFi recorder.
- The WiFi recorder functions as an image recording device and a WiFi router at the same time.
- An additional advantage of this solution is the ability to use the internal WiFi network of the recorder, in which the cameras work, which will ensure fast and collision-free operation of the entire monitoring system and will not interfere with the operation of other devices using our home WiFi network (phone, laptop, tablet, TV, etc. ).
- The recorder has two screw-on WiFi antennas, thanks to which the WiFi range reaches up to 50 meters in open space. It is also possible to use other external antennas
if you need to extend the WiFi range.
- The WiFi recorder is mainly used in smaller monitoring networks (up to 4 cameras).




4. Arguments for choosing an IP recorder and a WiFi router.
- This set consists of two separate devices: a recorder recording the image from the cameras and a router connecting the cameras and the recorder.
- This allows us a lot of freedom in configuring all monitoring devices in the home network. In other words, a set constructed in this way provides us with the ability to configure the parameters of each of the cameras as well as the recorder and router, and we will need it if, for example, we want to enable the character tracking function in the camera.
- The advantage of this solution is an independent WiFi network from the router from the set, operating on its own, separated from our home WiFi.


- IP recorder and WiFi router are mainly used in larger monitoring networks (more than 4 cameras).


5. What to choose? Summary.
If we need a separate network for our monitoring, both sets will work in this matter, however, the clear difference between these two solutions is the ease of access for individual devices in the network - for a WiFi router, access to each one separately, for a WiFi recorder - access to cameras, is available only from the recorder level.
The WiFi recorder is an ideal solution if we want it not to take up much space in the target location. It does not require any additional device to operate, because it simultaneously functions as an image recording device and a WiFi router. The WiFi router and the IP recorder operate as two independent devices and must be connected by cable.
Based on the possibilities of using other WiFi antennas available on the market, we will gain more freedom in their use by using WiFi recorders, because its antennas are unscrewed, and therefore we can easily replace them with those with a larger WiFi range. Unfortunately, most WiFi routers do not have such an option and it is not possible to replace them (manufacturer, unscrewed).
If all devices of the monitoring set are located at a greater distance from each other, and we need flexibility and universal support for these devices, then such functionality will be provided by a recorder connected by cable to a WiFi router and cameras operating wirelessly in the network of a WiFi router. The optimal place for the WiFi router is to locate it
in the center of the wireless network, while the recorder may be located at a greater distance from this network, in a convenient place for us.
The solutions most often used in practice with the use of a WiFi recorder are smaller sets (up to 4 cameras), but two important features of the recorders should also be taken into account: the maximum number of channels (cameras) and the maximum resolution; These functions affect the throughput, which for WiFi recorders is approx. 80MB on average.
If you use sets dedicated to support larger monitoring networks (more than 4 cameras), we recommend an IP recorder with a WiFi router. In such a set, the stability and speed of operation of all devices is less dependent on the bandwidth of the recorder. This means that the IP recorder in combination with a good-class router with the same bandwidth as the WiFi recorder will work faster and more stable. This is one of the reasons why such sets are used for larger monitoring networks.
