HD analogue — usually sold as HD-TVI — sends video over coaxial cable rather than network cable. Its main advantage is reusing wiring already in the walls: if a property has old analogue CCTV coax from a previous system, a HD-TVI camera and DVR upgrade the picture to 2MP, 5MP or even 8MP without pulling new cable.
When to choose HD-TVI over IP
- Existing coax in place. This is the main reason to choose it — reusing wiring saves the cost and disruption of a rewire.
- Simple, single-site installs. HD-TVI systems are point-to-point and generally simpler to set up than a networked IP system.
- Choose IP instead if you are wiring a new building from scratch, want camera-level analytics, or need higher resolutions than 8MP — see IP cameras.
What you will need
A matching DVR with enough channels for your camera count, RG59 shotgun coax cable (available in internal and external-rated versions from cabling), a power supply or distribution box since HD-TVI cameras take power separately from the video signal, and a surveillance hard drive sized to your resolution and retention needs.
Matching the camera to the recorder
The recorder tier decides what resolution actually gets recorded, and the model letters are not obvious. Our Hikvision DVR buying guide decodes HQHI, HUHI and HTHI and explains why an 8MP camera on the wrong recorder will be downscaled. It also covers PoC, which carries power over the same coax as the video and removes the separate power run entirely — but only where the camera and recorder both support it, so check both before ordering.
Choosing a camera
Resolution, night vision and body shape (turret, dome or bullet) matter here in exactly the same way as for IP cameras — see turret vs bullet vs dome and our ColorVu explained guide for HD-TVI colour night vision options.
HD Analogue Cameras
HD analogue — usually sold as HD-TVI — sends video over coaxial cable rather than network cable. Its main advantage is reusing wiring already in the walls: if a property has old analogue CCTV coax from a previous system, a HD-TVI camera and DVR upgrade the picture to 2MP, 5MP or even 8MP without pulling new cable.
When to choose HD-TVI over IP
- Existing coax in place. This is the main reason to choose it — reusing wiring saves the cost and disruption of a rewire.
- Simple, single-site installs. HD-TVI systems are point-to-point and generally simpler to set up than a networked IP system.
- Choose IP instead if you are wiring a new building from scratch, want camera-level analytics, or need higher resolutions than 8MP — see IP cameras.
What you will need
A matching DVR with enough channels for your camera count, RG59 shotgun coax cable (available in internal and external-rated versions from cabling), a power supply or distribution box since HD-TVI cameras take power separately from the video signal, and a surveillance hard drive sized to your resolution and retention needs.
Matching the camera to the recorder
The recorder tier decides what resolution actually gets recorded, and the model letters are not obvious. Our Hikvision DVR buying guide decodes HQHI, HUHI and HTHI and explains why an 8MP camera on the wrong recorder will be downscaled. It also covers PoC, which carries power over the same coax as the video and removes the separate power run entirely — but only where the camera and recorder both support it, so check both before ordering.
Choosing a camera
Resolution, night vision and body shape (turret, dome or bullet) matter here in exactly the same way as for IP cameras — see turret vs bullet vs dome and our ColorVu explained guide for HD-TVI colour night vision options.
