Keeping cameras connected

Network (IP-based) cameras are now in widespread use for video surveillance, teleconferencing, remote monitoring, Web attraction and property showcase applications. However, in the case of installations beyond the edge of the wired LAN, the cost of running new Ethernet cables to these network cameras can be prohibitive.

To address this deployment barrier, AvaLAN Wireless has created a long range non-line-of-sight (NLOS) wireless Ethernet bridge operating in the 902 - 928 MHz frequency band.

Taking advantage of the penetration capabilities of 900 MHz frequencies, the AW900 Ethernet bridge can transmit through 10 internal building walls or a small grove of trees. AvaLAN says field tests show an increase in range and sustained throughput for NLOS applications versus 802.11 systems at 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz.

With 12 non-overlapping 1.54 Mbps channels, AvaLAN radio technology has the capacity to provide a total of 18.5 Mbps of data rate, which can support up to 24 MPEG-4 network cameras.

To simplify setup and configuration, AW900 radios have no IP addresses, no MAC addresses and no browser interface. Upon startup, each radio finds its partner (keyed to its mate), selects the quietest of 12 available channels, and begins transmitting 128-bit encrypted Ethernet packets. The radios continuously monitor the link quality and automatically change channel to optimise performance. For multiple camera installations, a setting can be made to manually select a channel for each bridge.

The AW900 solution is more affordable, with complete bridge kits available through distribution for half the cost of competing commercial-grade outdoor 802.11 products. To assist prospective customers in evaluating this new technology, AvaLAN is offering a no-risk 30-day try-and-buy program through its network of distributors.