HD Analog video technology comparison - HD-SDI, AHD, HD-CVI and HD-TVI

HD Analog technology offers a compelling alternative to traditional analog and IP surveillance options. HD Analog video security solutions deliver megapixel resolution video over coaxial cabling (HD over coax), and are far less complex to install and operate compared to IP.

Since its introduction, several HD Analog formats have emerged, including: HD-SDI, AHD, HD-CVI and HD-TVI. While all HD Analog options offer the same basic benefits compared to analog or IP, each format features a unique set of capabilities and compatibilities.

At this time, there is no “standard” format – or established “winner” – in the HD Analog space. But, it is clear that certain formats are better positioned to succeed – offering clear competitive advantages that translate to significant and measurable benefits for the end user.


How HD Analog Formats Compare

Technology		HD-CVI	AHD	HD-SDI	HD-TVI
Max Resolution (Pixels)		1080p 1920 x 1080 px	1080p 1920 x 1080 px	1080p 1920 x 1080 px	1080p 1920 x 1080 px
Video Output Quality (What you see)		Very good in daylight Images not as crisp in low light conditions	Good Images not as crisp Colors not as accurate	Very Good Sharp images up to 1080p True colors	Very Good Sharp images up to 1080p True colors
Transmission Distance	Coaxial Cable (RG59)	1600’ (720p) 1300’ (1080p)	1600’	492’	1600’
	Twisted Pair (CAT5)	650’	492’	350’ (digital converter required)	700’
DVR Input Compatibility	Analog	All analog cameras, limited channels, limited configurations	All analog cameras, limited channels, limited configurations	Limited models, limited channels, limited configurations	All analog cameras, on any channel, in any configuration
	HD Analog	Like-branded HD-CVI cameras, on any channel, in any configuration	Like-branded AHD cameras, on any channel, in any configuration	Like-branded HD-SDI cameras, on any channel, in any configuration	Any HD-TVI camera, on any channel, in any configuration
	IP	Supported IP cameras, on select channels, in select configurations	N/A	N/A	Supported IP cameras, on 2 channels, in any configuration
DVR Hybrid Capabilities		Limited configurability	Limited configurability	Limited configurability	Yes, unlimited configurability
Format Compatibility		Proprietary technology, only produced by 1 manufacturer, Dahua - out of China	Open standard, limited manufacturers	Open standard, multiple manufacturers - are currently exiting the market as alternative HD formats outpace SDI	Open standard, over 100 manufacturer's have launched or are developing solutions using TVI technology

HD-SDI

HD-SDI is a digital format over coax usually. It's used in professional Television studios and tends to be very expensive.

HD-TVI

HD-TVI stands for High Definition Transport Video Interface.

The TVI standard was developed by a company named Techpoint and released in 2014 and adopted by many manufacturers, most notably Hikvision – Dahua’s primary competitor. Hikvision is the largest manufacturer of HD-TVI in the world. LTS Security is the biggest reseller of their products.

HD-CVI

High Definition Composite Video Interface (HDCVI) was developed by Dahua in 2012 and began to saw wide-release in 2014.

The PTZ cameras of the HDCVI type are capable of achieving that RS485 data connection without the use of an extra cable. It's all done right through the same coax cable that's transmitting video.

HD-CVI technology can at times be found masked by behind other names like HD-AVS or HD-MPX.

HD-AHD

AHD (Analog High Definition) developed by NextChip, a Korean manufacturer. AHD is interesting because most of its distribution has come in the form of no name brands. However, it was recently adopted by Samsung, making the technology considerably more legitimate as far as mainstream markets and long-term sustainability go. HD-AHD cameras are very cheap and are intended to occupy the low-end market.