IP or analog closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras? For most new medium and large facilities in Saudi Arabia, IP (network) cameras are the stronger choice: they deliver more detail, run on the building network and integrate with access control, analytics and central monitoring. Modern HD-over-coax analog cameras still suit small sites and budget upgrades of existing systems.
Key takeaways
- IP cameras stream to a network video recorder (NVR); modern analog cameras send HD video over coax to a digital video recorder (DVR); hybrid recorders accept both during a phased upgrade.
- Choose by detail per position: the 2014 edition of IEC 62676-4 links detection, observation, recognition and identification to 25, 63, 125 and 250 pixels per meter.
- Power over Ethernet (PoE) carries power and data on one cable, but a copper channel is limited to 100 m.
- The Saudi surveillance cameras law requires round-the-clock operation and retention for the periods set in the Requirements Document.
In this article
- How IP and analog CCTV systems work
- IP vs analog CCTV: side-by-side comparison
- Choosing by image detail: pixel density
- Cabling, PoE and network design
- Saudi requirements: the surveillance cameras law
- Upgrading an existing analog system
- Step-by-step: selecting a CCTV system
- Common mistakes, maintenance and what drives cost
- How AZEIDK helps
- FAQ
How IP and analog CCTV systems work
In an analog system, each camera sends video over its own coaxial cable to a DVR, which compresses and records it. Legacy CVBS cameras gave standard definition, but HD-TVI, HD-CVI and AHD now carry HD video on the same cable type. Dahua states that its HDCVI technology supports up to 4K and can carry video, audio, data and power over one coaxial cable.
An IP camera is a network device: it compresses video, can run analytics and record to a memory card, and streams to an NVR or video management software (VMS), usually powered through PoE. Multi-brand systems rely on ONVIF profiles such as S and T, so check the profile listed for the exact model. See also our guide to surveillance and access control systems.
IP vs analog CCTV: side-by-side comparison
| Aspect | Analog (HD over coax) | IP (network) |
|---|---|---|
| Image detail | Up to 4K on current product lines | Wide range, including panoramic and multi-sensor models |
| Cabling | One coax per camera; power on a separate cable or over the coax on supported models | Structured cabling to switches; PoE on the same cable |
| Distance | Long coaxial runs, per datasheet for each resolution and cable | Up to 100 m per copper run; fiber or an extra switch beyond |
| Recording and growth | DVR with a fixed channel count | NVR or VMS that scales with licenses and storage |
| Integration | Limited, mostly through the recorder | Access control, alarms and building management |
| Cybersecurity | Cameras off the network; the recorder is on it | Every camera is a network device to harden |
Choosing by image detail: pixel density
Megapixels alone do not show whether a camera can identify a face at a gate; pixel density at the target does. The 2014 edition of IEC 62676-4, the video surveillance application guideline, links four purposes to densities quoted in datasheets as DORI values:
| Level | Pixel density | What the viewer can do |
|---|---|---|
| Detection | 25 px/m | Tell whether a person is present |
| Observation | 63 px/m | Count people and see details such as clothing |
| Recognition | 125 px/m | Tell whether a person is someone seen before |
| Identification | 250 px/m | Establish who the person is |
Density equals horizontal resolution divided by scene width. A 1,920-pixel camera covering a scene about 7.7 m wide gives roughly 250 px/m, while a 3,840-pixel camera covers about twice that width at the same density. Our CCTV coverage guide covers placement. IEC 62676-4 Edition 2.0, published 9 October 2025, introduces a new pixel density classification with different operational levels, according to Axis, so check the edition your specification cites.
Cabling, PoE and network design
Match switch ports and PoE budget to the cameras. The Ethernet Alliance summarizes the IEEE classes:
- Type 1 (IEEE 802.3af): up to 15.4 W at the port and 13 W at the camera.
- Type 2 (IEEE 802.3at): up to 30 W at the port and 25.5 W at the camera.
- Types 3 and 4 (IEEE 802.3bt): up to 60 W and 90 W at the port, with 51 W and 71.3 W at the device.
Pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) cameras, heaters and long-range illuminators draw more power, so add up the datasheet loads per switch. A copper channel is limited to 100 m, of which up to 90 m is the permanent link; longer runs need fiber or a closer switch. Good practice is a separate virtual LAN (VLAN), switches and recorders on an uninterruptible power supply (UPS), and spare capacity, as our structured cabling guide explains. On analog systems, cable quality and ground-loop protection decide image stability.
Saudi requirements: the surveillance cameras law
The Law on the Use of Security Surveillance Cameras was issued by Royal Decree M/34 dated 7/3/1444H and published in the Umm Al-Qura gazette in October 2022. Article 2 lists 23 categories, including public agencies, oil and petrochemical facilities, tourist accommodation, shopping centers, banks, residential buildings, mosques, hospitals and schools, and the Ministry of Interior may add others.
| Item | What the law requires |
|---|---|
| Operation | Install, maintain and operate cameras around the clock (Article 4) |
| Keeping recordings | For the periods set in the Requirements Document; footage of a reported incident kept unaltered until the investigation is complete (Article 4) |
| Security classification | Entities classed high, medium or low security; low-security entities need not connect to operation rooms (Article 4) |
| Approvals | Manufacture, import, sale, installation, operation or maintenance only with Ministry approval (Article 5) |
| Prohibited places | Including medical examination and inpatient rooms, changing rooms, toilets and operating rooms (Article 6) |
| Signage and sharing | Conspicuous signs; recordings not transferred or disseminated except as the law allows (Article 6) |
| Violations | Per Saudipedia, including SAR 500 per camera not meeting technical specifications, SAR 1,000 per camera not installed as required, up to SAR 5,000 for not keeping recordings, and up to SAR 20,000 for unlawfully transferring or publishing recordings or damaging equipment or recordings |
The law text does not prescribe a technology; technical specifications are in the Requirements Document, so confirm the requirements and security classification that apply to your facility before freezing the design. Where an operation room connection is required, networked recording and secure remote access become part of the design. See also our news item on surveillance market growth and the law.
Sizing storage for the retention period
Storage per camera per day in gigabytes is roughly the bitrate in Mbps x 86,400 / 8 / 1,000, so a constant 4 Mbps stream needs about 43.2 GB a day; multiply by camera count and the retention days in the Requirements Document, then add a margin. H.265 lowers bitrate but affects quality, so test it on the real scene. Before relying on motion-only recording, confirm it is acceptable for your facility, since the law requires round-the-clock operation.
Upgrading an existing analog system
Hybrid recorders accept HD-over-coax cameras and add IP channels, so working cameras stay in service; Dahua lists HDCVI, AHD, TVI, CVBS and IP compatibility for HDCVI. Many coaxial cameras have switchable outputs: the Hikvision DS-2CE78D0T-LFS turret offers switchable TVI, AHD, CVI and CVBS output with audio over coax at 1920 x 1080, which helps when the recorder is replaced first. Test every coaxial run, move identification positions to IP cameras, and run network cable to new areas instead of extending coax.
Step-by-step: selecting a CCTV system
- Confirm whether the law covers the facility and get the requirements that apply to it.
- Define each position’s purpose and required pixel density.
- Mark positions and fields of view on the drawings, avoiding prohibited places.
- Choose IP, analog or hybrid on cabling, distance, integration and budget.
- Calculate bitrates, storage and PoE budget per switch.
- Design VLANs, uplinks, UPS and secure remote access.
- Check datasheets and camera compatibility with the NVR or VMS.
- Commission with day and night coverage tests, document settings and footage access rights, and train operators.
Common mistakes, maintenance and what drives cost
Common site mistakes
- Choosing by megapixels without checking pixel density.
- Cameras facing sunlight or entrance glare.
- Exceeding the 100 m copper limit or the PoE budget.
- Default passwords and open remote ports.
- Storage sized too short, or no signage in covered areas.
Inspection and maintenance
Check image quality, lenses, night performance, disk health, time sync and the retention actually achieved, apply tested firmware updates and review user accounts. Annual maintenance contracts make these checks routine.
What drives cost
- Camera count and the share of identification or PTZ positions.
- New cabling versus reuse of coax.
- Storage for the retention period and redundancy.
- VMS licenses, analytics, poles, outdoor housings, lightning protection and control room equipment.
How AZEIDK helps
Through our security and surveillance systems solutions, AZEIDK supplies, installs and configures CCTV cameras and NVR or DVR recording systems, verifies coverage during testing, and provides maintenance, technical support and control room integration. Our low current systems solutions run from site assessment and system selection to supply, installation, configuration and testing, and also cover the access control systems explained in our access control technologies guide.
The AZEIDK products page lists Hikvision network (DS-2CD) and coaxial (DS-2CE) cameras, NVRs and PoE switches, introduced on our Hikvision page, plus Dahua network and PTZ cameras and its Power over Coax (PoC) series, and EZVIZ Wi-Fi cameras for homes. AZEIDK also provides the network and communication systems behind them, through more than 17 branches and service regions.
FAQ
Is analog CCTV obsolete?
No. HD-over-coax cameras remain cost-effective for small sites and for upgrading existing coaxial systems. IP cameras offer more flexibility, in-camera analytics and easier integration, so they are the usual choice for new medium and large facilities. A hybrid recorder lets you combine both during a phased migration.
Can I reuse existing coaxial cables for HD cameras?
Often yes, if the cable and connectors are sound and the run length is within the camera and recorder datasheet limits for the chosen resolution. Test each run, replace damaged connectors and use a compatible or hybrid recorder. Where identification is needed, a new IP position may still be better.
How far can a PoE camera be from the switch?
A copper Ethernet channel is limited to 100 m, including a permanent link of up to 90 m plus patch cords. For longer distances, use a fiber uplink to a switch near the cameras or an additional outdoor switch, and check that the port class and the switch PoE budget cover the camera power draw.
How long must CCTV recordings be kept in Saudi Arabia?
The surveillance cameras law requires recordings to be kept for the periods set in the Requirements Document, and footage of a reported incident to be kept unaltered until the investigation is complete. Neither the law nor its Executive Regulation states a number of days, so obtain the Requirements Document that applies to your facility first and size storage on that basis, with a margin.
Do IP cameras need a separate network?
It is strongly recommended. A dedicated VLAN or separate network protects video bandwidth, restricts access to the cameras and keeps them away from office systems. Add changed default passwords, current firmware and secure remote access, because the law prohibits transferring or publishing recordings without a lawful basis.
Planning a new CCTV system or upgrading an analog one? Send your drawings and camera schedule, and our team will help you compare IP, analog and hybrid options. Contact the AZEIDK team
