UTC in the surveillance world stands for Up The Coaxial.

Traditionally CCTV cameras which had internal memory such as PTZ cameras and other cameras that had remote controlled zoom or focus capabilities were controlled by other wires usually RS485 or RS232. 

More recently with the development of HD cameras with OSD capabilities, the UTC OSD controllers emerged which where programmed to control specific cameras by connecting the controller as a bridge between the camera and the DVR on the coaxial line.


While the UTC controller approach was very useful it still required messing with the cables on active systems for the purpose of maintenance or repairs and that’s why the UTC technology was integrated into the DVRs to make things easier. Up the coaxial technology on DVRs simplifies access to the cameras without the need of additional wiring. It is all done via the DVR’s menu, giving you full control of each camera and providing easy access to OSD (On screen display) menu and other features on newer generation of cameras such as the AHD, TVI and CVI technologies. While most newer released systems are UTC compatible, not all the cameras nor all the DVRs have UTC control capabilities. All our newest models including the AHD, FHD and SHD models are UTC compatible. NVR models do not need UTC because they use digital technology and cameras can be controlled directly with the Cat5 connection.


Advantages of an UTC compatible DVR:

• Access to the camera’s OSD menu from DVR without the need of additional wiring.
• Programming the cameras without the need of ladders or expensive camera testers.
• Easier way to make changes to camera for maintenance or repair purposes.
• Pan , tilt, zoom and focus your compatible cameras remotely.
• Universal protocol for different technologies including AHD, TVI, CVI and CVBS.