What is IP camera vs CCTV?

The difference comes down to old-school analog distribution versus modern digital networking.

Traditional analog CCTV works exactly like an old-fashioned VCR plugged directly into a television set. The video signal travels down a heavy, dedicated coaxial cable to a localized recording box (a DVR). If you unplug that cable, the video feed disappears instantly, and no one else can see it.

An IP camera system works like streaming content on Netflix. The camera is essentially a standalone device on your home network that digitizes the video right at the lens. It broadcasts this data stream securely across your local network or the internet. This allows multiple authorized users, like a business owner on a laptop, a manager on a phone, and an on-site security monitor, to log in and watch the exact same live stream simultaneously from different locations.

To understand how these systems handle wireless setups, learn if IP cameras are always wifi eneabled.