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What Are IP Cameras & How Do They Work?

Posted on October 13, 2025October 13, 2025 by Saad Javaid

If you’ve been thinking about upgrading your security system, chances are you’ve heard of IP cameras. But what exactly are they and how do they work? Well, great question!

Whether you’re a business owner in Phoenix, a store manager in Tucson, a restaurant owner in Scottsdale, or just looking to better protect your property anywhere in Arizona, understanding IP cameras can help you make smarter security decisions. At Titan Alarm & Fire, we install and service hundreds of IP-based camera systems every year, and we’re here to break it down for you.

What Is an IP Camera?

IP Camera stands for Internet Protocol camera. Unlike traditional analog CCTV cameras that transmit video over coaxial cable to a DVR (Digital Video Recorder), IP cameras transmit video data over a computer network, either wired (Ethernet) or wireless (Wi-Fi).

In other words, IP cameras are digital cameras that use your local network or the internet to send and receive data. They can record in high definition (HD) or even ultra HD (4K), and they offer many more features compared to analog systems.

Think of them like a mini-computer with a camera lens. They process video data on their own and offer intelligent features, remote viewing, and easier integration with other systems. Pretty cool, right?

How Do IP Cameras Work?

Let’s walk through how an IP camera works in a typical security setup:

Video Capture – Like any camera, an IP camera starts by capturing video through its lens and sensor. What sets it apart is what happens next.

Digital Processing Onboard – The camera processes the footage inside the device, converting analog video into digital data right at the source. Most IP cameras have built-in processors, encoders, and compression software (usually H.264, H.265, or MJPEG) that reduce the file size without crazy quality loss.

Data Transmission – The digital video data is transmitted via your local area network (LAN) using Ethernet cables or wirelessly over Wi-Fi. It travels to one of the following:

A Network Video Recorder (NVR), where footage is stored and managed.
A cloud storage system for remote access.
A mobile app or browser dashboard where you can view live feeds or recordings.

Remote Access and Alerts – Because the system is network based, users can access live or recorded video from anywhere via smartphones, tablets, or computers. Many systems include motion alerts, push notifications, and video analytics to notify you of suspicious activity, or any other things you want to be notified about.

Key Features of IP Cameras

Here’s what sets IP cameras apart from older analog systems:

Higher Resolution – IP Cameras can capture video in 1080p, 4MP, 5MP, or even 4K. This means you can zoom in and still see clear details, like faces, license plates, or customer transactions.

Remote Access – Live feeds and recorded footage can be viewed remotely from apps or browsers. Perfect for business owners who want to keep an eye on things after hours.

Smart Video Analytics – Many IP systems offer built-in intelligence systems such as the following:

Motion detection
People counting
Line crossing alerts
Facial recognition
Object left/removed detection

These features help reduce false alarms and automate surveillance.

Scalability – You can add more IP cameras to your system without requiring everything. This make it easy to expand as your needs grow down the line.

PoE (Power over Ethernet) – With PoE technology, a single Ethernet cable can deliver both power and data to the camera, simplifying installation and reducing clutter.

Cloud Storage & NVR Options – You can choose where to store footage, like on a network video recorder, in the cloud, or both for extra redundancy.

Types of IP Cameras

Not all IP cameras are built the same. There are many types, all built for different reasons. Here are some common types and their typical uses:

1. Dome Cameras

Compact and discreet
Often used indoors
Tamper-resistant
Great for restaurants, officer, or lobbies

2. Bullet Cameras

Long-range and weatherproof
Ideal for outdoor use (parking lots, alleyways, perimeters)
Easily visible, often used as a deterrent

3. Turret (Eyeball) Cameras

Similar for dome cameras but easier to install and reposition
Less glare or reflection issues
Good for both indoor and outdoor use

4. PTZ Cameras (Pan-Tilt-Zoom)

Remote control over camera movement
Can cover large areas like warehouses or school campuses
Some models auto-track moving subjects

5. Fisheye or 360° Cameras

Provide wide panoramic views
Ideal for retail stores, banks, or large open areas
Can be de warped digitally for clarity

How to Choose the Right IP Camera System

Before choosing your setup, ask yourself the following questions:

What areas do I need to monitor? (Indoors, outdoors, specific rooms, etc.)
Do I need high resolution? (For facial recognition or license plates)
How will I store footage? (Cloud vs Local)
What level of smart features do I want?
How many cameras do I need now and in the future?

At Titan Alarm & Fire, we offer on site consultations to help design the best system for your layout, budget, and long term needs.

Professional Installation vs DIY

While it’s tempting to order a camera off of Amazon and try to mount it yourself, here’s why professional installation is often the smarter route in the long run:

Code Compliance – We ensure that your security setup complies with local fire and building codes.
Clean Wiring – Our techs conceal wires and install PoE switches for a professional finish.
System Integration – We’ll tie your cameras into your alarm, fire system, access control, and/or monitoring service.
Ongoing Support – Need help adding more cameras? Troubleshooting? We’re just a call away. Just FYI, our service team is the best in Arizona.

Some Final Thoughts

IP cameras are more than just a high tech trend. They’re a powerful tool for securing your business, protecting your people, and giving you peace of mind.

Whether you’re protecting a restaurant, an office, some warehouses, or retail shops, a well-designed IP camera system gives you eyes on what matters most, anytime, anywhere.

If you’re ready to upgrade your surveillance system, Titan Alarm & Fire can help. We offer professional installation, system design, and 24/7 support right here in Arizona.

Creating New Year’s Resolution

Posted on December 27, 2019June 13, 2025 by Taylor

A brand new year is coming and many of us are gathering up our willpower to make a new set of New Year’s resolutions. But have we learned from past experience? A large number, if not the majority, of previous resolutions were probably broken in weeks, days, or even hours.

So, how to make this time round more successful? Well it’s not as hard as you might think — there are some really easy ways to set yourself on the path to success, and the first is:

1. Be realistic

Don’t aim too high and ignore reality – consider your previous experience with resolutions. What led to failure then? It may be that you resolved to lose too much weight or save an unrealistic amount of money. Remember, there will always be more opportunities to start on the next phase, so set realistic goals. Or if you don’t want to hold back, set clear short-term goals on your way to a big achievement. Which leads to tip number four.

2. Plan Ahead

Many people make New Year’s resolutions on a whim, caught up in the excitement of New Year’s Eve. Don’t make your resolution on New Year’s Eve. If you wait until the last minute, it will be based on your mindset that particular day. If you really want to change something for the upcoming year, plan early.

3. Create a Time-Frame

Time-frame is vital for motivation. It is your barometer for success, the way you assess your short-term progress towards the ultimate long-term goal. Buy a calendar or diary so you can plan your actions for the coming weeks or months, and decide when and how often to evaluate.

4. Create bite-sized Portions

Break goals down to manageable chunks. This is perhaps the most essential ingredient for success, as the more planning you do now, the more likely you are to get there in the end. The planning process is when you build up that all-important willpower which you will undoubtedly need to fall back on along the way. Set clear, realistic goals such as losing 5 pounds, saving $30 a month, or going for a run once a week. Decide exactly how you will make this happen.

5. Get Support

It is at such times, when you’ve temporarily fallen off the wagon, that your support network is crucial. Carefully choose those people around you who have shown themselves to be trustworthy, supportive friends and explain your plans. Let them know of ways they can help when the going gets tough, and if they’re truly caring they’ll know the right things to say during the hard times.

6. Reward yourself

Reward yourself when you make progress. One effective reward is to take a day off. If you’re trying to eat healthier, perhaps you could eat whatever you want just one day per week. But remember, only take a reward day if you stick to your rules the other six days of the week.

7. Track your Progress

When making your plan, a vital feature should be the rewards and treats you will give yourself at those all-important milestones. But be warned, don’t fall into the trap of putting your goal in danger – it’s too easy for a dieter to say “I’ve been so good, I deserve a few candy bars”, or a saver to throw caution to the wind with a new purchase. One slip, and it could all be over.

8. Don’t Beat yourself up

Obsessing over the occasional slip won’t help you achieve your goal. Do the best you can each day, and take one day at a time.

9. Set Consequences

Conversely, knowing there are consequences when you don’t stick to your resolution can be a powerful motivator. For example, every time you fail to keep your resolution, you put a dollar in a “penalty jar.” As an added bonus, you’ll be saving money you can put toward other goals.

10. Keep Trying

Do bear in mind that a slip-up is almost inevitable at some point, and you must not let this become an excuse to give up. When it happens, you will need to draw on your reserves of self-belief and strength, so build these qualities as often as you can. Really feel proud of your past achievements and don’t become critical of yourself. People with higher self-esteem and confidence are in a much better position to succeed, so immediately forgive yourself and say “I’m starting again now!”

Now you’ve read these tips, you are in a great position to consider the best ways to improve your life this New Year. Your happiness is worth the time and effort, so get started, and good luck!

Get my Freedom

Posted on July 19, 2019June 13, 2025 by Taylor

FREEDOM

I didn’t feel free at all. I felt like a prisoner to my own business

I was going to fail… until I found this

I was at a basketball game a few years ago, rooting on a professional team from the next town over. The playoffs were just around the corner and this was a pivotal game, a must-win as they call it, and it was close… too close. As the halftime buzzer loudly rang, I let out a big sigh of air… apparently, I had been holding my breath down the stretch. As I contemplated taking the arduous journey up the arena’s steps, through the throngs of people, eventually overpaying for a subpar hotdog – a diminutive figure made its way out to center court. As I squinted my eyes to better focus on what was taking place, I noticed a little woman in a brightly-colored, silk costume. I took notice as she began to spin plates on top of thin poles that were a few feet taller than she was. Before I could blink, she had 10 plates spinning all at once.

As she finished with the tenth plate, the first one she had put up started to wobble a bit as it lost speed. She quickly moved to it, and with a flick of her wrist and the deft touch of her fingers, got the plate spinning optimally once again. But… just as she got the first plate back where it needed to be, the second and third plates started to waiver. I thought for sure one of them was going to fall and shatter on the court’s wood floor below. Minutes past, and not one plate fell. The lady frantically ran from plate to plate preventing a crash through the gyroscopic motion of the spin. I don’t know what her anxiety was like… but mine was through the roof just watching. Eventually it ended, but not before I had this thought, “how long could she honestly keep this up for… at some point, she had to fail.”

Years later, I started my first company… and I became the plate spinner. I proudly named myself CEO, and quickly learned that it stood for Chief Everything Officer. There were so many things that had to be handled every day, and I was the only one there to do it. Frantically running around keeping everything moving; marketing, sales, business development, programming, customer service, HR, packing and shipping, etc. And then the startling flashback to the basketball game… “how long could I honestly keep this up for… at some point, I had to fail! And my anxiety… through the roof.

The solution was to quickly surround myself with help. As I brought people on to take over different tasks/departments, it was hard to let go. I was so used to touching all the facets of the company, that I worried about how things were being handled… especially when I wasn’t there. I assumed that there would be a sense of freedom as a business owner… isn’t that why I started it in the first place? But I didn’t feel free at all.

I felt like a prisoner to my own business. Like an anxious, over-the-top, first-time parent who wakes up for every little sound they hear throughout the night… checking the monitor ad nauseam to make sure everything is ok; knowing that they can never leave the house because of the guilt of leaving their child with someone else.

And then things changed… for the better. I finally started to settle down as I surrounded myself with amazing… very capable… employees, who I trusted to do a good job. I knew they loved the company as much as I did, and worked their guts out to break through limits and hit ever growing goals.

That wasn’t all though. There was one more piece to the puzzle. One more solution that had eluded me over the years that I finally was able to adopt and run with. A new brand of technology.

I installed a new commercial security system… and it’s the greatest choice I ever made. It’s my Zen.

PEACE OF MIND

Did someone access the inventory room after hours? Was that a false alarm or a real one? Was the alarm turned on tonight? With real-time notifications, remote control and auto-arming, I now know what’s happening at my business, and know it’s secure, no matter where I am or what time it is.

KEEP AN EYE ON THINGS

I can see all the important activity at my business, even when I’m on the road. With single and multi-site viewing, live-streaming, recorded video and real-time notifications, it’s easy to see what’s happening when I can’t be there.

NO WORRYING THAT OTHERS WILL FORGET

I set up your system to arm automatically at a certain time each day or on a schedule that works with your business hours… and it was easy to do.

ENERGY SAVINGS

I even save energy. Using on-site thermostat lock-out, employees can’t crank up the air conditioning or blast the heat outside of a temperature range that I define. I connected all my lights, locks and thermostats to the security system to ensure that my business is at a comfortable temperature when it’s open and energy efficient when it’s closed.

SECURITY

Whether you have a small team or hundreds of employees like I now do, you can easily manage multiple access plans, remotely lock or unlock doors and monitor activity at your business.

Did I stop worrying about my business? No!

Is it constantly on my mind? Yes.

But… knowing that I can check in when I want to, or get alerts when things aren’t right… I can actually step away and enjoy a vacation from time to time. Or enjoy my son’s baseball game or my daughter’s dance recital. I mean, that’s why I got into this in the first place right? Freedom.