Analogue HD Cameras — TVI, CVI and AHD over Coax

Analogue HD — the family that includes HD-TVI, HD-CVI and AHD — remains the cheapest fast route from an existing coax-cabled site to 1080p, 4 MP, or now 8 MP recording without re-pulling cable. This section unpicks how the three formats actually differ and where each is the correct call.

What this section covers

You will work through the signal differences between TVI, CVI and AHD, the bandwidth and cable-length implications of moving from 1080p to 4 MP and 4K analogue, the role of UTP / video baluns when extending runs over Cat 5e, and the compatibility matrix between camera makes and DVR makes (it is not as flexible as the marketing suggests). Hybrid DVRs that auto-detect the format on each input are covered alongside dual-mode cameras that can switch between analogue HD and standard CVBS.

Picking the right format on a real site

Most installers in Ireland end up specifying one format per project for service-call simplicity. The deciding factors — cable distance, existing recorder brand, camera availability, customer budget — are walked through with examples. This analogue-HD section is part of BH’s complete CCTV pathway, which covers IP cameras and hybrid systems alongside the analogue-only path. The same material is taught alongside live-camera demonstrations in the Analogue HD module on bhcourses.com.

Troubleshooting cross-references

If your problem is rolling lines, no picture, or a black-and-white image when colour was expected, jump to the troubleshooting section — most analogue HD field faults trace back to format mismatch, ground loops, or coax termination.