Size Matters: IP vs Analog
Do you want to see more with less cameras? If so, than IP is the way to go. IP cameras with megapixels will cover more viewing area than a high-resolution analog camera.
A standard high-resolution Analog camera has a 640×480 field of view so it needs to be moved around to see more, which means more cameras. The diagram below gives you a good idea of how many analog cameras you will need to cover this area.
So a good solution is to get one or two IP cameras that has enough resolution or sees a big enough picture to monitor all of this area. This is precisely what IP megapixel cameras allow you to do.
A quick comparison: You would need 16 analog cameras to cover this area at an estimated cost of $2,400 plus installation. One multi lens IP camera would cost approximately $2,100 plus much less for installation.
What is Egress for Access Control?
Egress is defined as the mean for a person to come and go from a given point or an enclosure. When we put this term into world of access control it becomes a very important key function to keep in mind on any install. When installing the access control components on an existing door the goal is to secure the door from the outside coming inward without restricting the flow of movement to exit the area. When a person comes up to an exit door they expect to be able to walk up turn a knob or push the door open either directly or by the means of a device like a crash bar. When a Mag lock is placed on a door to secure the door from being opened from the outside the only way to disengage the lock is for the access system to read a authorized card. When you exit the same door there is no card reader, but yet the door is still locked and there must be a way to exit, this is where a Request to Exit button or REX button would come into play. When you push this button you are telling the access system that you are needing to exit the system, this is called forced egress. But in some applications you may need a different type of locking devise such as a electric strike or electric deadbolt. When you have the items installed on the door the process to open the door is still standard as if the equipment was never installed. When you approach the door you may either turn a knob or push a crash bar on the door to achieve exit, this would be considered free egress. Egress whether it be in the form of free or forced egress must be achieved at all access control points to ensure a proper and safe exit from a building during normal exits as well as emergencies.
DO EMI & Video Signals Mix? No they do not.
EMI (Electromagnetic Interference) is a disturbance in an electrical circuit. The source of EMI can be any object that contains rapidly changing electrical currents. Almost anything that uses electricity to operate is a source of EMI. The problem with EMI, concerning surveillance, is that it distorts video signal. When installing a CCTV system, it’s important to run cables away from sources of EMI. Otherwise, the video feed on the DVR will be extremely fuzzy. This should definitely be taken into consideration when installing a surveillance system in an industrial environment. One common source of EMI is fluorescent lighting. Fluorescent lights are common in industrial areas. Running cable close to these lights should be avoided at all costs. If cabling absolutely has to be run close to fluorescent lights, then it should be ran in some type of conduit that is properly insulated and will create a barrier between the video cable and the light.
What is a Privacy Mask?
A privacy mask is a setting that is on certain cameras that will allow you distorted or completely block out a certain portion of the picture. This becomes especially handy in areas that needs surveillance but provides privacy as well. By selecting certain areas of the picture frame you can add complete privacy to sensitive items in peoples lives.
This function becomes very cool in PTZ cameras. When the camera is panned, tilted or zoomed, the mask is repositioned and re-sized so that it continues to cover the original masked area. This ensures the same object is always hidden from view regardless of PTZ position.
White Balance….What is that supposed to mean huh?
White balance means the camera is capable of removing unrealistic colors, so that objects which appear white in person are made white in your photo. Proper camera white balance takes into account the “color temperature” of a light source, which refers to the shades of white the picture has in it. Our eyes are very good at seeing white under different light sources, but security cameras sometimes have a hard time with understanding what shade of white the object in the picture actually is and can sometimes turn the white into: blue, orange, or green.
White Balance…Huh?
Keep Up With Us
