Advances in general IT and communications infrastructure have enabled smart security systems to advance exponentially in recent years. While wireless connectivity offers many benefits to most security disciplines, video surveillance remains predominantly ‘hard wired’ due to the increasing bandwidth requirements. However, with developments in point-to-point capacity, the implementation of wide area surveillance is becoming simpler and more cost effective. One such option is InfiNet’s InfiLINK 2×2.
Wireless connectivity is something that most end users use on a regular basis. Because of this they trust the technology and understand its benefits. These considerations are based on experience, and as such represent a powerful acceptance of what is possible. For many end users, wireless connectivity is an expectation. While they may not have a full understanding of the issues surrounding the transmission of multiple high bitrate video streams, it is a hurdle if integrators and installers need to challenge those expectations.
Similarly, most integrators and installers like wireless connectivity. The ease of installation, flexibility with regard to device positioning and ease of expansion are three significant benefits.
While wireless technology has become a cornerstone of many critical solutions in security and safety, it remains a ‘domestic’ or DIY option for video surveillance, purely because of the required bandwidth for multi-camera solutions. However, high capacity links are available that can provide cost-effective transmission on campus-type sites or where ‘last mile’ connectivity might prove to be too costly. In such applications, a growing number of options are available, and most require little or no telecoms training to install. Indeed, in many cases, they are no more difficult to install that other devices requiring alignment such as long-range photoelectric sensors.
One such option is InfiLINK 2X2 from InfiNet Wireless. The company offers a wide range of transmission products including many that are ideal for the video surveillance sector.
What is it?
InfiLINK 2X2 is a point-to-point wireless transmission solution, combining high-speed capabilities of up to 280Mbps throughput, with a range of features and benefits such as leading-edge radio protocols providing spectral efficiency and wireless transmissions over distances claimed to be in excess of 90 kilometres.
While the InfiLINK 2X2 has an impressive range, that doesn’t mean it is limited to use in city centre applications. The wireless solution can be deployed by many organisations to provide Ethernet extensions, such as simple LAN-to-LAN connectivity, between two locations. These could be separate sites or buildings on a single site. The application becomes increasingly cost-effective is there is a need to cross an obstacle such as a road, railway or river.
In its most advanced configuration, the InfiLINK 2×2 provides complete communications and transmission infrastructure, enabling businesses and organisations of various sizes to connect remote or satellite sites to allow the simultaneous transmission of multi-protocol services such as video, alarm data, voice communications and other data.
The solution is available in two options: InfiLINK 2×2 Pro and InfiLINK 2×2 Lite. The latter has restrictions on throughput which are governed by the software license that has been purchased. It also has some performance limitations and does not support power via PoE.
The solution is available in 4.9–6GHz and 6–6.4 GHz frequency bands and uses MIMO 2×2 (Multiple Input; Multiple Output) technology. Software is upgradeable dependent upon licensing, which adds features and capacity. The solution offers 5, 10, 20 and 40MHz channel widths.
Other features include a gigabit Ethernet port, flexible uplink/downlink reallocations, line-of-sight and non-line-of-sight deployments and advanced Quality-of-Service (QoS) support. The manufacturer claims that the solution is an out-of-the-box plug and play option
A case in point
InfiNet Wireless has proven the credibility of its links with a town centre application in Bojáca, Colombia. Since the implementation of the wireless infrastructure, crime involving personal injury has been reduced by 45 per cent since the beginning of 2017.
The town was struggling with rising violent crime, burglaries and drug-related offences. In 2016, local government decided to implement a video surveillance solution to initially cover strategic locations in the town.
Crime records show that in the first eight months of 2016, there were 80 incidents involving personal injury reported. However, over the same period following the launch of the surveillance platform, the total fell to 44: a drop of 45 per cent. In early 2018, further reductions have been reported. A 23 per cent decrease in drug activity has also been reported.
The wireless network reliably transmits video streams from networked cameras. High capacity base stations from the InfiMan 2×2 Point-to-Multipoint (PMP) range link with InfiLINK 2×2 LITE point-to-point transceivers.
The platform enables the use of video analytics such as face recognition and ANPR, as well as provide high quality video which is used as for evidential purposes.
The first phase of the project has proven so successful that a new budget has been allocated by the local authorities to increase the number of video cameras, enabling them to monitor all access routes into the municipality.