45 Camera
UniFi Protect Upgrade
A commercial client in a 38-story office tower in Downtown Los Angeles needed to replace their outdated analog security camera system.
The building was equipped with decades-old RG-59 coaxial cabling feeding low-resolution analog cameras.
Pulling new wiring through a fully occupied high-rise would have been prohibitively expensive and disruptive.
Gbit Tech successfully migrated the entire system to modern UniFi Protect IP cameras while reusing the existing coax infrastructure delivering 4K resolution, AI-powered analytics, and subscription-free local storage.
Challenges
Legacy Analog CCTV System
Legacy Analog CCTV System
Analong to IP
Legacy Analog CCTV System
Legacy analog system running on RG-59 coax with unknown routing, hidden junction boxes, and poor terminations throughout the building.
Extensive time required to trace, tone, and test dozens of cable runs in an unfamiliar high-rise environment.
Six elevator cameras presented extreme distance and power limitations standard coax-to-Ethernet converters couldn't reliably deliver PoE over the long vertical runs.
Strict requirements for minimal downtime and no visible new cabling in public areas.
Solutions
Analog to IP Surveillance Upgrade
IP Cameras over Analog Cabling
IP Over Coax CCTV
Analog to IP Surveillance Upgrade
Gbit Tech leveraged proven coax-to-Ethernet conversion technology to preserve the existing RG-59 infrastructure.
We deployed Dahua LR1002-1ET/1EC transmitters and receivers at each camera and head-end location (chosen before Ubiquiti released their own converters - these units have since proven exceptionally reliable in demanding environments).
Meticulous cable diagnostics revealed multiple hidden junction boxes with corroded or faulty splices, which were repaired or bypassed to restore signal integrity.
For the six elevator cameras, initial attempts with standard converters failed due to distance-induced voltage drop.
The solution: strategically install compact PoE switches at midpoint shaft locations to boost power and regenerate the signal successfully bringing all elevator cameras online with stable 4K feeds.
The system includes 45 UniFi Protect G4/G5 series cameras managed through a centralized ENVR, providing AI Smart Detections (person/vehicle tracking, line crossing, etc.) and extended local retention.
Results
Stacked Converters
Rack Lights up withthe Dahua Converters
UniFi Protect Showing Off
Stacked Converters
The client now benefits from crystal-clear 4K surveillance across all floors, lobbies, parking, and elevators with advanced AI reducing false alerts and enabling proactive monitoring.
The reuse of existing cabling saved tens of thousands in construction costs and eliminated disruptive wall/ceiling work.
The system has operated flawlessly since installation, with the Dahua converters and midpoint PoE switches proving 100% reliable.
Security staff praise the intuitive UniFi Protect interface and remote access capabilities.
​
