Engineered by Xeon Security - Browser-Native Engineering Suite

XEON Security CCTV Design Calculators

Seven real-time engineering calculators - bandwidth, DORI optics, IR illumination, low-light spec, and more - computing instantly in your browser. No install, no account, no backend. Free and open: no registration, no payment, no email required.

Camera Configuration
1080p
4K
12MP
Panorama / fisheye sensors typically fall in the 12MP class.
H.264
H.265
H.265+
Smart codecs cut bandwidth further on static scenes.
24/7 Continuous
Motion (~50%)
What This Calculates

Estimates the network bandwidth and NVR/NAS storage capacity your camera deployment will need, based on resolution, compression, frame rate, and retention policy.

More details
Per-camera bitrate = base bitrate × (FPS ÷ 30) × compression factor. Total bandwidth sums that across every camera. Storage converts bandwidth into terabytes over your retention window and duty cycle, then adds a 20% margin for RAID formatting and motion spikes.
  • Use this first to size your switch and storage array before ordering hardware.
  • Motion recording halves the effective recording hours used for storage - bandwidth stays the same since cameras still stream live.
Live Estimate © Xeon Security · All Rights Reserved
REC 16 CAM · 4K · 15FPS · H.265 · 24/7 00:00:00
Total Bandwidth
-Mbps
Required Storage
-TB
Includes 20% RAID / motion-spike overhead
Recommended Network Hardware
-
Optical Configuration
Standard EN 62676-4 thresholds: Detection 25 PPM · Observation 62 PPM · Recognition 125 PPM · Identification 250 PPM.
What This Calculates

Calculates how far a camera can reliably detect, observe, recognize, or identify a subject per the EN 62676-4 (DORI) standard, based on sensor size, lens focal length, and resolution.

More details
Horizontal field of view is derived from sensor width and focal length. Each DORI distance is the range at which pixel density drops to that level's minimum pixels-per-meter threshold.
  • Use this to confirm a lens choice actually achieves identification-grade detail at your required distance - not just that it "sees" that far.
  • A shorter focal length (wider lens) covers more area but shrinks every DORI distance; a longer lens does the opposite.
DORI Range Map © Xeon Security · All Rights Reserved
HFOV -° Max detection range -
Identification
-
250 PPM
Recognition
-
125 PPM
Observation
-
62 PPM
Detection
-
25 PPM
Capture Geometry
What This Calculates

Checks whether a camera's mounting height, distance, and angle will produce enough pixel density across a license plate for reliable OCR/ANPR reads.

More details
Pixel density is calculated at the slant distance to the plate, accounting for both mounting height and distance. 150–200 pixels across a standard 0.36m plate width is the industry benchmark for reliable recognition.
  • Vertical tilt and horizontal pan beyond 30° distort plate geometry enough to degrade OCR, even with sufficient pixel density.
  • A longer lens (higher focal length) is usually the fix for low pixel density - not just moving the camera closer.
Plate Legibility © Xeon Security · All Rights Reserved
Slant distance - FOV width at plate -
Pixel Density Across Plate
-px/0.36m
Minimum 150–200 px recommended for OCR
Legibility Status
-
Angle Check
-
Mounting Geometry
α is measured from horizontal. Wall-mount cameras typically run 20–40°.
What This Calculates

Calculates the dead zone directly beneath a wall- or pole-mounted camera, created by its mounting height, tilt angle, and vertical field of view.

More details
Near blind spot is the ground distance the camera's lowest view angle reaches - nothing between the wall and that point is visible. Far boundary is where the highest view angle hits the ground, or the horizon if it points above it.
  • Useful for confirming a camera won't miss activity right at the entryway or fence line it's meant to protect.
  • A steeper down-tilt shrinks the blind spot but also shortens the far boundary.
Coverage Cross-Section © Xeon Security · All Rights Reserved
Near Blind Spot (D min)
-m
Dead zone from the wall out to this distance
Far Boundary (D max)
-m
Point where the view reaches the horizon
Scene Configuration
Corridor mode rotates the sensor 90° so the narrower FOV axis maps to the narrow dimension of the scene.
What This Calculates

Compares standard landscape framing against 90°-rotated "corridor mode" to show how much of a wide sensor is wasted on a narrow hallway or aisle.

More details
Vertical field of view is derived from the lens's horizontal FOV and the sensor's aspect ratio. Rotating the sensor 90° maps the narrower FOV axis to the narrow scene dimension, concentrating more pixels on the actual area of interest.
  • Best fit for hallways, warehouse aisles, and other tall/narrow coverage areas.
  • The "% outside corridor" figure is pixels spent on walls, ceiling, or floor instead of the subject.
Landscape vs. Corridor Mode © Xeon Security · All Rights Reserved
Landscape 16:9
-px/m
Corridor Mode 9:16
-px/m
Illuminator Configuration
Dark
Medium
Bright
Asphalt/dark clothing vs. concrete vs. light walls or snow.
What This Calculates

Estimates a camera's effective night-vision range and flags mismatches between the IR beam angle and lens field of view that cause overexposed centers or dark edges.

More details
Effective range is modeled from total IR output power, beam angle, and scene reflectivity. A beam much narrower than the lens FOV over-illuminates the frame center ("hot spot") while starving the edges; a beam much wider wastes output and shortens usable range.
  • Figures are engineering estimates calibrated to typical spec-sheet ranges, not a certified radiometric model.
  • Aim for a beam-to-lens ratio close to 100% for even illumination.
IR Coverage Map © Xeon Security · All Rights Reserved
Lens FOV -° IR Beam -°
Effective IR Range
-m
Total IR Power
-W
Beam / Lens Match - -
-
Spec Sheet Inputs
Color
B/W · IR
Monochrome/IR mode typically gathers several times more usable light than color mode.
What This Calculates

Normalizes manufacturer lux ratings so you can compare cameras on equal footing, since ratings are often quoted at flattering apertures.

More details
Adjusts the rated minimum illumination for your actual installed aperture and color vs. B/W·IR mode, then plots that normalized threshold against common ambient light levels (moonlight, twilight, etc.) so you can see exactly what conditions the camera will handle.
  • Pixel pitch is shown for context - larger pixels generally gather more light per pixel.
  • A camera quoting a lower lux number at a narrower aperture may actually underperform one with a higher quoted number at a wider aperture.
Light-Level Ladder © Xeon Security · All Rights Reserved
Normalized Min. Usable Light
-lux
Pixel Pitch
-μm
Usable Down To
-