IP Camera with accurate time code

[ibis 0]

Hi,

 

I'm looking for a camera that would be able to get its time via NTP

and store the accurate time code to the H.264 stream.

 

There would be used to monitor an area where we also have machines with

limit switches and security fences. We need to be able to match the input

from the sensors with the video with an accuracy of better than 0.5 seconds.

 

I've tested some cheap Kingdisplay/K&D Security KDW-series camera, but

I was only able to get the stream start timestamp with 1s resolution and

even that seems to be off by 0-1s. The frame number can then be

used to get relative time from the starting point.

 

FTP or RTSP streaming are both ok.

 

Any suggestions or experience from this kind of usage ?

[acmaster 0]

I have no suggestions for you but while we are at it, whoever answers can you recommend a reliable NTP IP Address.

[ibis 0]

I'm usually finding some NTP server that is relatively close. In Finland I'm using the NTP server provided by our local NIST-like organization.

 

In this case we'll setup an NTP server on the DVR server. This way we can keep the cameras and the DVR time in sync without being dependent on any external network. We don't care about being absolutely right in this application, just the relative timing.

 

pool.ntp.org is used by many linux distros, check out http://www.pool.ntp.org/en/

[ssnapier 0]

Yup, I use the following NTP addresses and I have not seen a new IP camera or DVR that would not accept these addresses:

 

0.pool.ntp.org

1.pool.ntp.org

2.pool.ntp.org

3.pool.ntp.org

[dexterash 0]

Hi,

 

I'm looking for a camera that would be able to get its time via NTP

and store the accurate time code to the H.264 stream.

 

There would be used to monitor an area where we also have machines with

limit switches and security fences. We need to be able to match the input

from the sensors with the video with an accuracy of better than 0.5 seconds.

 

I've tested some cheap Kingdisplay/K&D Security KDW-series camera, but

I was only able to get the stream start timestamp with 1s resolution and

even that seems to be off by 0-1s. The frame number can then be

used to get relative time from the starting point.

 

FTP or RTSP streaming are both ok.

 

Any suggestions or experience from this kind of usage ?

 

First of all, I would test a low-latency/close to real-time soluton, like a PAL Camera + DVR or an HDCVI Camera + DVR.

Secondly, I suppose that you should tune the H.264 codec parameters and 3rd you should use a dedicated client software (something especially written for this kind of solution), probably using a SDK.

But I don't think you'll get a 100% at .5 second accuracy.

 

Another approach would be to find another way to sync them, not through time (maybe frame counting or something like that) or a fast device that will snapshot at a (very) precise time.

 

FTP and RTSP don't think will help you too much.