New Low-Cost Wireless Video Link Enables Remote Video Surveillance

• By Dian Schaffhauser
• 04/28/09

HD Communications has introduced a series of low-cost wireless video links that allow for the placement of surveillance cameras in remote locations. The new wireless video links work with any IP outdoor Power over Ethernet (PoE) camera, according to the company.

"Installing surveillance cameras in remote locations previously required installing a fiber or wireless link to that location," said Don Davis, company president and CEO. "The cost to install those links often reached into the thousands of dollars, which prevented many people from installing cameras where they required them. We now have made those installations possible with our low-cost, high-quality wireless video links requiring only 120 VAC at the remote location."

The company has created two models of its gear. The HD27183 is a $299 2.4 GHz wireless link that works with a single camera to obtain a two to four mile wireless video link between locations. The HD27184 is a $569 dual band 2.4/5.8 GHz wireless link that can accommodate up to four cameras.

Both models require line-of-sight. Achievable distance is determined, according to Davis, based on how many cameras are attached to the link. "Three to four mile links are achievable with good quality video when a single camera is used and one to two mile links when a location has three to four cameras connected to the HD27184."