IP Video System Design Tool
Last year we have made a test of CCTV design software . Our choice was a nice software called IP Video System Design Tool from JVSG
We even asked JVSG to make a special lite version of this tool for our website. So far about 10 000 of our visitors and visitors of download.com have downloaded and started to use this software in their work.
Using IP Video System Design Tool you can:
- Calculate precise CCTV camera viewing angles and lens focal length in seconds and get the drawing of FOV.
- Get estimations of required disk storage space and network bandwidth for IP video systems. You can see how changing a few values can really impact the whole system design.
- Using Save/Load functions you have access to all last calculations.
- Support of multiple cameras – you can calculate systems with unlimited number of network cameras or IP video servers.
Screenshots:


Download [1.14MB, ZIP]
Description of IP Camera Calculator 3.0
If you need to calculate a required network traffic and storage space or lens focal length for your video surveillance system and you get tired of ugly online calculators, than this software tool is for you.
IP Camera Bandwidth & Disk Space Calculator lets you to calculate required network traffic and storage space for your network camera based video surveillance system.
Just select a resolution and compression level of your network IP camera (or your CCTV camera connected to DVR) , enter required FPS and number of cameras and the calculator will calculate required bandwidth.
If you specify for how long your video records have to be stored (1 day= 24 hours of recording) the tool will give you required HDD storage space.
This software tool is a great companion tool for video monitoring software.
Why this software is better in compare with online calculators? Our offline calculator is faster, has more convenient user interface and doesn’t need a internet connection.
Important! Frame size, calculated for specified resolution and compression is an estimated value. Real frame size value highly depends on image complexity, lens and CCD/CMOS quality.
For detailed explanation, please visit: http://www.video-home-surveillance.com/ipcameracalc/
New feature of the calculator is calculation of lens focal length. Just enter viewing angle and CCD/CMOS sensor size and get focal length.
How to calculate network bandwidth and required disk size properly
There are few important factors you should consider during “IP Video System Desing Tool” usage.
- Frame size value calculated by this software is an estimated value.
- In real life IP camrea needs more bandwidth in compare with theoretic value.
FrameSize
When you specify camera resolution and compression level you get just an estimated value of the Frame Size. In real life your camera’s frame size can be twice bigger or smaller.
The frame size depends on
- Image complexity – Frame size can vary from 40% to 230%
- Lens quality – Higher quality – bigger frame size
- Illumination – With low light – smaller frame size
- Noise – more noise – bigger size
To make a more precise calculations you have to make an experiment with your camera in its typical conditions and then put average result in the FrameSize column.
Practical Bandwidth
When you use 100 Mbps(Megabits per second) network it doesn’t mean the network allows 10 streams of 10 Mbps.
Real practical bandwidth value is always smaller.
| Network Type | Practical Bandwidth Value |
| Ethernet 10 Mbps | ~ 7 Mbps |
| Ethernet 100 Mbps | ~ 60 Mbps |
| Ethernet 1000 Mbps | < 500 Mbps |
| WIFI 802.11b 6 Mpbs | ~ 4-5 Mbps |
| WIFI 802.11g 54 Mbps | ~ 13-24 Mbps |
Also some manufacturers of IP cameras , like AXIS recomend to reserve 30% additional bandwidth for future expansion of your video surveillance system.
Free IP Camera Bandwidth and Disk Space Calculator
Need to analyze bandwidth or disk space of your IP based video surveillance system? How to calculate lens focal length?
Get tired of ugly online camera calculators?
We have a good news!
It is now an easy job with IP Camera Calculator.
Actually it makes more! You can calculate bandwidth for many IP cameras simultaneously.
We have asked developers of the calculator to make a special free lite versions for our website. This version is called IP Camera Calculator v. 3. And it is free for non-commercial usage.
Download ipCameraCalc 3.0 for FREE [ZIP, 680kb]
Bandwidth and Disk Size calculation:

Lens Focal Length calculation:

How it works?
- To calculate a network traffic select your camera’s resolution, desired FPS and number of cameras and get required bandwidth
- Specify for how long your video records have to be stored (1 day – 24 hours of recording) and get required disk space
- Do you have different cameras? No problem – just click “Add another camera type” and enter parameters of them.
Why is it better in compare with online calculators?
- Way more convenient and fast user interface in compare with online ones!
- Download our offline calculator just once and don’t spend you internet traffic anymore
- And even your privacy is protected, nobody can spy via Internet what the CCTV system are you going to build! :)
Download ipCameraCalc v.3 for FREE [ZIP, 680kb]
Do you have any comments, ideas or wishes?
Discuss this CCTV calculator in Forum
WARNING: Actual frame size in real life can vary from 40% (low image complexity & poor camera optics) to 220% (high image complexity and good lens) of estimated value.


