Following on from the launch of its first Destiny™ IP camera at IFSEC 2002, Baxall has launched a full range of cameras all supporting Internet Protocol (IP) for video transmission.

As with the original Destiny™ IP camera, the new range is based on Baxall's existing high end cameras such as the CDH, CDX and CDRA. However, unlike these cameras, the Destiny™ IP models enable data to be addressed, transmitted and controlled over IP networks.

These protocols can be used over any physical network (such as Ethernet, PSTN, ISDN, etc.) that is IP compatible.

As a result, the new cameras can be directly connected to IP networks to send full-motion, real-time, digital quality video, together with audio and data to any number of PC or traditional CCTV monitors. This is achieved through the incorporation of an internal encoding board within the cameras; this encoder may operate as a videoserver taking up to four local video inputs, whilst only requiring one additional cable (as opposed to four).

There are now eight cameras in the Destiny™ IP range, consisting of 1/3" and 1/2" colour and monochrome models in PAL and NTSC, the latter of which is for the North American market. The monochrome cameras are particularly beneficial in low light conditions. The 1/2" cameras are also ideal for low light and provide further improvements on resolution.

All cameras in the range support UDP and TCP connections, with UDP multi-cast being set as the default transmission protocol to enable users to view the same image simultaneously from numerous locations.

The Destiny™ IP cameras feature on-board binary alarm capability, enabling them to be activated upon an external alarm input, such as a PIR detector being tripped.

Destiny™ IP cameras provide a constant picture quality regardless of the bit rate which can vary between 16Kbps to 2.0Mbps, unless the user decides to cap the bit-rate.

Selectable MJPEG or H261, choice of video quality, frame rate and bandwidth utilisation.

As with all products in the new Destiny™ IP range, the cameras can be used as part of a simple to assemble but sophisticated CCTV system, large or small, either in a stand alone capacity or as an extension to an existing system. Cameras are connected through an Ethernet network on a standard 10/100baseT interface.

Destiny™ IP products retain all the features and interfaces of a traditional CCTV system, with many added benefits. These include the ability to share a network ~ making it cost-effective for both the installer and end user ~ simple system expansion (the installer need only run a cable to the existing structured cabling) and fully integrated remote monitoring when a PSTN, ISDN or DSL IP router is installed.