A conversation in the local Co-Op between the vicar and a local resident led to IP cameras supplied by use-IP being used for a very different application than security.

As some elderly parishioners of St Peter and St Paul Church in Deddington began to find it difficult to attend the Sunday Service, the idea of a live audio stream was proposed. However, long pauses in the service (during communion, for example) revealed that both audio and video would be ideal. The brains behind the scheme, local resident David Rogers, used the church’s existing telephone line to establish a broadband connection, to which he connected a PC and IP cameras sourced from use-IP. He began with the Axis M1011 but found that the Axis M1054 was much more effective in producing the desired picture quality when viewed in full-screen. Recently, Mr Rogers has installed a second Axis M1054 facing the font at the rear of the Church to enable a second view, which is particularly useful during baptisms. A third IP camera (the Axis M1011-W) is used by the bell ringers of the church to alert them to the arrival of the bride during wedding services.

Using an application controlling Adobe Flash Live Media Encoder, the stream automatically switches on each morning and an operator can remotely adjust the volume to suit each service, whether it is solemn vows or a full choir and organ.

The project looks set to extend further into the UK, with interest from Christ Church Cathedral in Oxford, St John’s in Carterton and Buckingham Parish Church. The use of IP cameras in churches has also been noted on a more worldwide scale, following a visit from the Curate of Deddington (armed with nothing more than a laptop, an Axis M1011 and some cables) to Sweden to stream the consecration of Bishop Elect Jan-Olof Johannson from Uppsala Cathedral.

Back in Deddington, the success of the project is undeniable. Services are streamed frequently in the local nursing home and hospital, much to the delight of loyal church-goers, with one broadcast reaching an audience of 160. The technology has even enabled new Godparents from as far as Kuala Lumpur and New Zealand to take their vows and actively partake in baptism services from thousands of miles away.

The possibilities seem endless. Future projects planned in the Parish include a communal reading of the St James’ Bible in honour of its 400^th anniversary conducted over Skype and a ‘Christianity in 15 Objects’ series planned for 2011-12.

This may be a far cry from the ‘normal’ applications of IP CCTV Cameras but the work in Deddington goes a long way to prove how dynamic the products at use-IP can be.

For more information, please visit www.deddingtonchurch.org and watch a service yourself!

Axis have recently added four new models to their P55 series of PTZ Network Dome Cameras which are now available at use-IP. The Axis P5512 and P5522 models are affordable indoor PTZ Dome Cameras each of which also has an outdoor-ready model the Axis P5512-E and P5522-E.

Axis P5512 Indoor PTZ Network Dome Camera 0408-001:

The P5512 is the most inexpensive model of the new introductions to the P55 series. The key features include:

- H.264 Compression: This provides optimal bandwidth without sacrificing image quality at full frame rate (25fps)

- Both MJPEG and H.264 compression at image resolutions up to 704×576 and frame rates up to 25fps

- Day/Night functionality: Automatically switching from colour to mono with mono coverage down to a minimum illumination of 0.3 lux

-  Axis’s Advanced Gatekeeper functionality: The camera will automatically move to a pre-defined position when motion is detected in a pre-defined area and return to home position after a set amount of time; an ideal feature for number-plate recognition.

- 360° pan, 180° tilt and up to 48x auto-focused zoom (12x Optical, 4x Digital)

- Power over Ethernet capabilities: Power, video and PTZ control can be taken to and from the camera on one cable.

- Two-way audio, audio detection and inputs/outputs for external devices

- SD/SDHC card slot for local storage (card not included)

Axis P5522 Indoor PTZ Network Dome Camera 0419-002:

The P5522 provides many of the same features as the P5512 with a few improvements, most notably:

- Increased image resolution of 720×576

- Up to 216x auto-focused zoom (18x Optical, 14x Digital)

- This model is also powered by PoE but comes with a PoE midspan included in the price

- Axis’s Wide Dynamic Range functionality balances out overly bright/dark sections of a scene to provide better images in tough lighting conditions.

- This model also operates the Day/Night functionality of the P5512 but can operate down to a minimum illumination of 0.01 lux.

Both the P5512 and the P5522 come with:

- 3 year Axis guarantee

-IP51 rated housing: ensures protection against dust and dripping water.

- Both come with a Drop/hard ceiling mounting kit and a choice of clear or smoked dome cover.

- Both are compatible with Axis T91A mounting accessories for a variety of applications.

The Outdoor-ready versions P5512-E and P5522-E have exactly the same specifications as their indoor counterparts with the only differences being that they come in IP66 rated housings which ensure protection from dust, rain and snow and also come with an IP66 rated RJ-45 connector kit.

For full specifications and datasheets for all four models, visit our product pages:

• Axis P5512 Indoor PTZ Network Dome Camera 0408-001
• Axis P5522 Indoor PTZ Network Dome Camera 0419-002
• Axis P5512-E Outdoor PTZ Network Dome Camera 0410-001
• Axis P5522-E Outdoor PTZ Network Dome Camera 0421-002

For our full range of Axis Products:

• Axis Products

Axis have just announced the introduction of their most light sensitive IP camera ever – the Axis Q1602 with Lightfinder Technology.

Available Q3 2011 in an indoor and a ready-to-go outdoor (-E) version.

Axis Q1602 … the best light sensitive camera, analogue or IP, available on the market today.

Check the full range of Axis IP cameras

Axis IP cameras have been leading the market for the past 15 years!

I can remember the Axis 2100 well.

Great to see that even after 15 years Axis aren’t slowing down at all, with recently announced new models that will have their competitors working hard to keep up! More on those new models to follow in the coming days and weeks, checkout the video below for a brief overview of their product history.

Visit our webshop for the full range of Axis IP Cameras.

The new Axis M1054 HDTV Network Camera is a compact, inexpensive and high quality option for indoor surveillance in a variety of commercial, industrial and personal applications.

Key Features Include:

• HDTV quality at 1280×800 (720p)
• Multiple H.264 streaming capabilities
• Support for Power over Ethernet (Class 2)
• Built-in PIR sensor and white LED illuminator
• Built-in microphone and speaker
• Support for I/O ports

The AXIS M1054 HDTV Network Camera uses progressive scan technology from its 1/4″ RGB CMOS image sensor to provide full frame rate video (up to 30fps) in resolutions up to 1 Megapixel including HDTV 720p (1280×800), whilst multiple H.264 and Motion JPEG streams can be provided simultaneously, each individually optimized for different quality needs and to comply with bandwidth constraints.

Also, the M1054 features an integrated PIR sensor for detecting movement even in the dark, and a white LED for illuminating the scene at an event. As well as its own PIR sensor, the camera supports I/O ports for connecting external devices to the camera.

The M1054 is designed for easy and flexible installation. The camera can be easily installed on a wall or ceiling with the same bracket (included in price), whilst with its Power over Ethernet capabilities, the M1054 can be quickly and efficiently installed with power and data running through one cable.

To compare the M1054 with the three other models in the M10 series and with other AXIS cameras in general:

• AXIS M1054 HDTV Network Camera
• AXIS M1011 Network Camera
• AXIS M1011-W Wireless Network Camera
• AXIS M1031-W Wireless Network Camera
• Our Whole Range of AXIS IP Cameras

Please feel free to leave a comment below, ask specific product related questions right on the product page, or general queries at our IP CCTV Forum