Connection and distance: A new trend in security cameras - Wi-Fi HaLow brings longer transmission distance and lower power consumption

Security camera systems that provide 24-hour real-time video surveillance have proven to be one of the most effective ways to address a variety of security challenges in public and private enterprises. However, research shows that 75% of monitoring failures stem from network-related issues such as poor connections and signal loss. From a security perspective, this is unacceptable.

The main contents of this article include:

• Factors affecting home security camera usage and the limitations of traditional Wi-Fi in ensuring optimal performance

• Differences between wired and wireless security camera options and the impact on end users

• The emergence of Wi-Fi CERTIFIED HaLowTM as the ideal wireless technology to connect these devices, expand deployments and transform the home security market

  
  

Home Security Camera Market Drivers

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, 2.5 million burglaries occur in the United States each ^year1 . In fact, nationwide, a burglary occurs every 15 seconds ² and only 13% of burglaries are solved ³ . In addition to burglaries, "corridor thieves" are also on the rise. A "porch thief" is a thief who steals packages left outside a house. It is estimated that 260 million packages4 have ^been stolen across the United States.

Security cameras have proven to be an effective way to monitor and protect your home. In fact, homes with such systems are 300% safer than homes without them ⁵ . It is estimated that 20% of U.S. households have surveillance cameras6 ^and the surveillance camera market is expected to grow at an annual rate of 18% through ²⁰³⁰⁷ .

Security cameras also have other uses, such as recording natural disasters for insurance purposes, which often reduces homeowners' insurance premiums. In addition, some security cameras are fire-resistant and can issue early warnings for smoke, heat, and carbon monoxide. These devices are rapidly being integrated into automation systems, enabling smarter, more efficient, and more connected homes.

Home security camera options

According to forecasts from Global Market Insights, Inc., the wireless home security camera market will reach US$25 billion by ²⁰³⁰⁸ . Currently, three categories of home security cameras are driving this growth: wired cameras, wireless cameras, and wireless cameras.

wired camera

Video is transmitted to the main control center via wires. Wired cameras receive power through wires, electrical outlets, or Power over Ethernet (PoE). Typically installed by professionals, these cameras can store video locally or in the cloud, providing clear video and audio signals. However, these cameras require wiring, are expensive to install, and cumbersome to hide. This limits its installation location and makes it difficult to move. Often, retrofitting existing buildings with wired cameras can be difficult or nearly impossible.

wireless camera

Utilizes wireless data links to transmit video. The wireless link can be a Wi-Fi network or a cellular network. Because of the higher cost of connecting devices over cellular networks, Wi-Fi links are often used. While the data link is wireless, these cameras still require a power cord to be plugged into an outlet.

Wireless camera

Has the same features as a wireless camera, but uses no wires at all. The cordless camera uses removable or rechargeable batteries and uploads video to the cloud or a local storage drive. Wireless cameras are easy to install and remove, making them the perfect choice for rental owners.

Connectivity challenges

Research shows that 75% of surveillance failures, such as gaps and blurs in video, are caused by network reliability issues. From a security perspective, this is unacceptable.

But what exactly causes these failures?

Today, most wireless and wireless cameras typically use traditional Wi-Fi (such as Wi-Fi 4, Wi-Fi 5, or Wi-Fi 6). As mentioned before, these cameras are popular for their quick installation, ability to upload content to the cloud, and ease of use. However, these options can be affected by radio frequency interference and have limited signal range, making it difficult to provide a robust long-distance data connection.

Traditional Wi-Fi 4 and Wi-Fi 5 issues

Most American homes have Wi-Fi 4 and Wi-Fi 5, which have become an important part of IoT networks. However, these networks have limitations when it comes to supporting security cameras because security cameras are often far away from the home Wi-Fi gateway (such as outside the home). The limited range of traditional Wi-Fi severely limits placement options for these cameras. Additionally, traditional Wi-Fi was designed as a wireless replacement for short-distance Ethernet cables. Traditional Wi-Fi does the job just fine. However, it is not designed to cover the farthest corners of the house.

In addition, traditional Wi-Fi is also limited in dealing with the following issues:

Congestion: When the network is busy or the signal strength is weak, traditional Wi-Fi struggles to transfer files or support the connection speeds needed for real-time monitoring.

Interference: The radios that make Wi-Fi work are susceptible to interference; cell phones, microwaves, walls—just about everything around them can interfere with Wi-Fi signals, causing unreliable performance.

We believe in a product that guarantees a robust network connection even over long distances through obstacles such as walls and windows.

Wi-Fi CERTIFIED HaLow Advantages

Wi-Fi HaLow is based on the IEEE 802.11ah standard and is designed for long-range, battery-powered IoT applications. Its coverage range is much larger than traditional Wi-Fi due to several factors.

First, Wi-Fi 4 and Wi-Fi 5 use high radio frequencies (RF), namely the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands. The higher the radio frequency, the shorter the signal transmission distance. Wi-Fi HaLow operates on sub-GHz radio frequencies (902 MHz - 928 MHz in the United States). Because these frequencies are lower than those of traditional Wi-Fi, the signal travels farther. In a security camera setup, this means that Wi-Fi HaLow cameras can continue to send video if a Wi-Fi 4 and Wi-Fi 5 camera loses connection.

Second, the ability of sub-GHz signals to pass through objects such as walls, windows, and doors is much stronger than traditional Wi-Fi signals. This means that compared to traditional Wi-Fi signals, Wi-Fi HaLow signals are less affected by building structures and can even reach outdoor locations easily.

Third, the radio frequency frequencies that traditional Wi-Fi operates on are often very congested and subject to high levels of interference. 2.4GHz is used by Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and microwave ovens, which causes more interference for any camera trying to use a 2.4GHz Wi-Fi link. 5GHz Wi-Fi technology has lower congestion, but the connection range of 5GHz is smaller than that of 2.4GHz (due to its higher operating frequency).

Finally, Wi-Fi HaLow utilizes a narrower channel bandwidth than traditional Wi-Fi. The narrower the channel bandwidth, the farther the RF signal can travel. Wi-Fi HaLow can use 1MHz channels, while the lowest channel bandwidth traditional Wi-Fi can use is 20MHz.

Compared with traditional Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi HaLow has wider coverage. In addition, other advantages of Wi-Fi HaLow include:

• A single access point (AP) can support more than 8,000 devices, making it suitable for large-scale deployment of IoT devices.

• Supports the latest Wi-Fi security features, including WPA3 and AES.

• Compared to Wi-Fi 4 and Wi-Fi 5, Wi-Fi HaLow has energy-saving features that extend the battery life of cameras and other battery-operated IoT devices.

• Based on the open IEEE 802.11 standard, no proprietary gateways, controllers or hubs are required, simplifying installation and reducing operating costs.

in conclusion

Wireless cameras have become the core of home security systems. Wireless connectivity via Wi-Fi combined with battery power greatly simplifies the deployment and setup of security cameras in smart home applications. However, traditional Wi-Fi 4 and Wi-Fi 5 technologies may not be able to meet the demand for longer range, stronger penetration and longer battery life without increasing network cost and complexity. In some cases, when deploying security cameras in and around larger homes and yards, multiple access points may be needed to extend the wireless range and achieve the required coverage.

Wireless security camera vendors are currently considering Wi-Fi HaLow technology as a much-needed alternative to traditional Wi-Fi protocols. Wi-Fi HaLow operates in the sub-1 GHz frequency band and has longer range and greater ability to penetrate buildings than other types of Wi-Fi, making it ideal for surveillance cameras placed in hard-to-reach locations. Wi-Fi HaLow also consumes less power than traditional Wi-Fi 4 and Wi-Fi 5, making it suitable for battery-powered cameras that need to save energy. Finally, Wi-Fi HaLow can support more connected devices without sacrificing performance, making it ideal for environments with many security cameras, such as large buildings or vast outdoor areas.

Although traditional Wi-Fi is currently the most common wireless communication protocol, Wi-Fi HaLow has become an excellent choice for applications such as wireless security cameras that require wider range, stronger penetration, lower Power consumption and support for more devices. No other protocol meets the unique requirements of battery-powered wireless security cameras as efficiently as Wi-Fi HaLow. The next generation of Wi-Fi HaLow cameras will use sub-GHz signals to obtain longer connection distances, longer battery life, and more convenient deployment methods.