IP Camera Bandwidth Calculator for CCTV Networks

Engineering Tools | FortSenseIP Camera Bandwidth Calculator for CCTV Networks

Calculate IP camera bandwidth for CCTV networks by camera count, bitrate, codec, frame rate, stream profile, uplink capacity, and NVR/VMS design.

This camera bandwidth calculator helps estimate upstream and downstream load for CCTV and IP video networks before equipment is ordered. The strongest demand and intent signals for this page are camera bandwidth calculator, CCTV bandwidth calculator, and bandwidth calculator queries tied to surveillance.

Use it to model how stream count, bitrate, codec, resolution, and frame rate affect LAN traffic, WAN links, viewing sessions, and recorder uplinks so the network design matches the surveillance workload.

Configuration

Number of Cameras

Recording Bitrate (Mbps)

Main stream (to NVR/VMS)

Viewing Bitrate (Mbps)

Sub-stream (for clients)

Concurrent Viewers

Local (LAN)

Remote (WAN)

Peak Factor

VBR variance (1.2-1.5x)

Protocol Overhead %

RTP/RTSP/TCP overhead

Uplink Speed (Mbps) - Optional

How to Use

1
Enter camera count and realistic average bitrate for each stream profile.
2
Separate recording streams from live-view or remote-monitoring streams.
3
Add headroom for bursts, scene motion, multicast/unicast behavior, and future expansion.
4
Compare the result against switch uplinks, WAN capacity, VPN throughput, and NVR ingest limits.

When to use this tool

Planning camera bandwidth before adding CCTV or perimeter cameras to a network.
Checking whether a wireless, fiber, private APN, VPN, or WAN link can carry video streams.
Comparing H.264, H.265, MJPEG, main stream, and substream network impact.
Designing NVR, VMS, switch, and uplink capacity for multi-camera sites.

Bandwidth Requirements

LAN Bandwidth

55.44 Mbps

Recording: 52.8 Mbps + Local Viewing: 2.64 Mbps

→ 100 Mbps (Fast Ethernet)

WAN Bandwidth

1.32 Mbps

Remote Viewing: 1.32 Mbps

→ 10-20 Mbps

Total Combined: 56.76 Mbps

Engineering Estimate Only.

Validate final specs with manufacturer ferramentas.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I calculate bandwidth for IP cameras?

Multiply each camera stream bitrate by the number of streams that must cross the network path, then add headroom for burst traffic, live viewing, remote monitoring, and future cameras.

What bitrate should I use for CCTV bandwidth planning?

Use the configured stream bitrate from the camera or VMS profile. If that is unknown, estimate by codec, resolution, frame rate, compression quality, and real scene complexity.

Do H.264 and H.265 change bandwidth requirements?

Yes. H.265 often lowers bandwidth at similar quality, while MJPEG usually uses more bandwidth. The actual result depends on camera settings and scene motion.

Should I count substreams in the bandwidth estimate?

Yes. Count any stream that crosses the network path, including recording streams, substreams, mobile viewing, remote SOC viewing, and analytic streams.

How much network headroom should a CCTV design include?

For security video, leave enough headroom for bitrate spikes, night noise, rain, multiple viewers, failover, and future camera additions instead of running links near saturation.

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