What is an NDI Camera?

NDI cameras are PTZ cameras that operate through the NDI standard – a standard that allows the transmission and storage of high-quality images and videos easier through a single Ethernet cable. These devices connect to the Local Area Network (LAN) and are capable of interacting with a variety of software through the NDI.

PTZ stands for “pan, tilt, and zoom” which refers to the capabilities of the camera. NDI abbreviates to Network Device Interface – it is a set of protocols that make the sending and receiving of metadata signals over a network easier.

Two Types of NDI Cameras

In general, there are two prominent types of NDI cameras – High Bandwidth?NDI cameras and NDI HX cameras. Although there aren’t many significant differences, they vary in their latency rates and bandwidth levels.

NDI Camera?- NDI cameras with high bandwidth can transmit high-quality videos and data over IP (Internet Protocol). The defining feature of a high bandwidth NDI camera is its ability to transmit high-quality videos with low latency levels through an IP. The minimal required bandwidth for transmission of data in this type of device is 125mbps, and a Standard 1-Gbps ethernet cable is perfect for this purpose.

NDI HX Camera?- NDI HX camera differs from a high bandwidth NDI camera in the aspect that the former can transmit high-quality videos very efficiently even in limited bandwidth conditions. An HX camera requires a dedicated bandwidth of 4- 24mbps for streaming. Same as the NDI camera, a Standard 1-Gbps ethernet cable will be enough to transmit metadata effectively.