Planning Ahead
Filed under: CCTV Articles, Networking, Security Camera System
If you are planning to install a CCTV system and think that down the road you might want to upgrade your system to include IP cameras, why not go ahead and do things up front, that are very reasonable, but put you in a great position to upgrade in the future. One way to accomplish this is to go with a Hybrid DVR card installed in your computer. Why a hybrid card? Because it allows you to use analog cameras and IP cameras on the same system. And if you really want to plan ahead, go ahead and use your Cat5 cable to all your analog cameras and use Video Baluns. The video baluns come in two types, passive and active. If your distance is 1,200’ or less, use the passive, if it is greater than 1,200’, use the active baluns, but remember the active baluns do require power. If you go ahead and use the Cat5 cable now, when you do upgrade to IP cameras, you already have the required cabling in place. Just another way to plan for the future that will not raise the cost of your start up system much, if at all.
One word of caution if you do decide to go in this direction. Be sure you consult a professional because there are limitations to the brand and number of IP cameras that you can use on the Hybrid DVR system.
Which Type of Camera Should I Use? Part 1: Box Cameras
Filed under: CCTV Articles, CCTV Camera, CCTV Training Videos, GeoVision, Security Camera, Uncategorized
When designing a security system, one of the most common questions that comes up is “which type of camera should I use?” There are dome cameras, bullet cameras, box cameras, IR cameras, IP cameras, and a whole lot more!
With so many options, it’s nearly impossible to give a direct answer. As you might expect, the answer to that question is “it depends.”
Use Box Security Cameras for Special Needs
Perhaps the oldest style of camera is the box camera. While at one point, the box camera was the only choice; its role has changed into a specialty camera.
There are two things that make a box camera an excellent choice for specialty applications:
1) The Lens – The lens on a box camera can be changed swapped out depending on the application. Apex CCTV offers lenses ranging from 1mm to 100mm, and all of them are varifocal. This allows the end user cover to very specifically adjust the field of view from a very wide range at a close distance, to a very narrow range at a great distance.
2) The software – Many box cameras has additional built in software that allow them to get better images than other camera styles like dome or bullet. For example, the AP-WDSHQ offers Wide Dynamic Range, the ability to correct bight back-lighting that might cause other cameras to only record silhouettes and not functional videos. Another example is the Samsung SCC-B2331 which features eXtended Dynamic Range, the ability to differentiate light and dark areas at a greater range than other cameras.
While the rise of dome cameras and bullet cameras has reduced the market share for traditional box cameras in everyday applications, box cameras still remain the best choice for specialty applications.
How to See in the Dark
Filed under: CCTV Camera, General Technology, Security Camera, Security Camera Packages, Security Camera System, Uncategorized
When choosing the correct camera to see in the dark you need to look at a few options not just at an IR (infrared) camera. You may have an application that requires a low LUX or low light camera and not every dark location needs IR. For instance, if you have a restaurant or night club that has low light but is not completely dark in the area where you need detailed video an IR camera will only give you a black and white image. Another location where a low light camera will be a best fit is if you have lighting outside as you might not need an IR camera to capture quality images in this space. The best time to use IR is when you are trying to provide a light source where there is none and you wish to have a visible image at night. IR can also be used to make your cameras harder for others to see, while still enabling you to see what you want.
Something else to remember when using a camera with IR lighting is that these cameras will require more power, so be sure that you plan for this when designing your system. Although, the camera may work great during the day time, at night there will be a greater chance that your camera will shut down due to insufficient power. Additionally, if you already have a system in place and your DVR is set to record on motion and your footage looks dark or black, then you need to check your camera lens. IR lighting will attract bugs just like your porch light causing spiders and other insects to drape in front of your camera. This can result in confusing the camera into thinking there is motion and cause it to record the bug rather than the area you intended to view. Cleaning your equipment on a fairly regular basis will help you prevent contaminated recordings.
Security Cameras Everywhere
Filed under: CCTV Articles, CCTV Camera, General Technology, GeoVision, Security Camera, Security Camera Packages, Security Camera System, Security DVR
Many people have asked the question, “Can you have too much surveillance?” The answer to this question depends on the application of the system. For example, a convenient store may only have one camera watching the register, but a department store like Dillard’s has dozens of security cameras covering registers, clothing racks, entrances, and exits. In a store like that, you may even feel like you’re being watched when you go into the restroom. The simple reason for so many cameras is placement and visibility. When you’re in the middle of a small convenient store with two isles having two cameras for coverage makes sense. However, in a large department store there are so many areas where merchandise, employees, or customers can be that a few cameras just won’t do the job.
Now back to the question at hand “Can you have too much surveillance?” The answer is yes. If your security system is not designed correctly, you may be using more cameras than necessary. You should have a seamless flow of video footage, allowing you to follow a subject from one camera to the next throughout the coverage area. Another way to make your cameras work together is by using a GeoVision DVR to capture the footage. These DVRs offer a panoramic feature that will allow you to tie multiple images together to create one image of a large area.
The amount of surveillance you need will always depend on the area you want to cover. Usually, the only patrons threatened by high security are those who have ill intentions to begin with.
What can HD do for you?
Filed under: CCTV Articles, CCTV Camera, General Technology, Security Camera, Security Camera Packages, Security Camera System, Security DVR
With the recent conversion on broadcast television from Standard Definition to High Definition, HD has changed everyone’s life. With HD becoming the standard for television, the security industry has begun to integrate HD into new video platforms. As an installer, I have received several requests for megapixel cameras on recent jobs. Some of the most popular products I have installed have been GeoVision, Arecont, and VIVOTEK megapixel cameras, which all have wonderful image quality. One thing customers need to remember is that when upgrading to newer technologies it may be necessary to convert current systems to NVR security systems unless a hybrid solution is available. If you’re looking for high resolution images without having to replace your current system, I recommend investing in HDCCTV cameras.
HDCCTV cameras can give you the HD quality you desire without having to compress the footage or operate over a TCP/IP network. Feeds from HD cameras can be sent through coax cables and record on a standard analog DVR system. Although this is a great option, megapixel IP cameras still have many pros and should not be ignored. For example, if you have several locations and want to record footage on one or a few NVRs, IP cameras would be best suited for the job.
Although HD cameras are able to capture high resolution videos up to 1080p, this quality is still only equal to a 2.1 megapixel image. Megapixel cameras offer much higher resolutions with some security cameras now reaching up to 10 megapixels, which is a resolution of 3648×2736 as opposed to HD which is 1920×1080 pixels. When looking at these two images side by side, the difference in quality is hard to miss. Both HD and megapixel CCTV cameras have their advantages and making the right choice can be very difficult.
If you’re interested in purchasing an HDCCTV camera or a megapixel IP camera, please contact our friendly security experts at 1-800-997-8460 or visit us online.
Don’t Get Stuck When You Can Move On
Have you been working the same job for years, watching employees pass you as they move up the corporate ladder, but feeling like you have nowhere to go? Do new employees seem to get the positions you were hoping to step into? It might seem like your boss hates you or is playing favorites with certain employees, but the fact is better training results in promotions. Many new employees are recent graduates or have taken additional training courses to keep current with new disciplines and technologies in their work field. This puts them one step ahead of the employee who has been working in the same position for the last five to ten years.
So you’ve chosen a career in a growing industry where projects and technology change every day, but how are you going to keep up? One way to increase your knowledge base is by taking continuing education courses at a local college. Many campuses offer classes at night or online, which can help you avoid conflict with your current work schedule. Magazines, books, and the internet are also great resources for learning, so if you don’t have time for college you may consider using these resources to study on your own.
Learning about your industry should be a fun experience, especially if you’re working in a field that you enjoy. Find the part of your job that you like the most and focus on expanding your knowledge in that area. If you want to move up in your company you’ll have to become an expert in something or many things. Remember to continue learning all that you can from any source you have available to you. Most importantly, apply your new knowledge to your career. Doing these simple things can make the difference as you go head to head with other employees for those prime spots in your industry.
In the security industry and looking to learn more about cameras, DVRs, and software? Watch these: CCTV Video Tutorials
Opening Doors to Further Expansion
Filed under: CCTV Articles, CCTV Camera, Security Camera, Security Camera Packages, Security Camera System, Security DVR
Is your current system running out of space to add more cameras or are you stuck with one manufacturer of cameras? Wouldn’t it be nice to have the ability to expand your current system without the limitations of server and camera compatibility? With an open solution you can turn that dream into reality.
Companies like Milestone are making it possible to work with multiple camera manufacturers as they have adopted one standard format. That format is called Onvif and it is being used industry-wide. As Onvif becomes the industry standard for different IP camera manufacturers, you will find that setup and configuration of cameras from multiple manufacturers will become easier to integrate into one system. If you have NVR solutions that utilize the Onvif platform your configuration choices are virtually limitless.
One major advantage of using software that is capable of accommodating so many different manufactures is the ability to support a customer who already has several IP cameras made by different manufactures. You will enable your customer to use all of their cameras on the same system. If all the customer’s cameras had the same generic platform, system integration would be made simple.
With a solution like Samsung’s Auto IP you can plug a camera into the network and within 30-90 seconds the camera will be found by Samsung’s Auto IP system. At that point the system will auto configure the new camera and start recording. Solutions like these can make your life as a salesman, integrator, or customer easier. So don’t hesitate, open the doors and begin expanding your security horizons.
How to Avoid Getting Hacked
Filed under: CCTV Articles, CCTV Camera, Security Camera, Security Camera Packages, Security Camera System, Security DVR
In 1995, a movie called Hackers debuted showing the life of a group of hackers and what kind of trouble they can cause. Hacking is still an ongoing problem today and as a result has crept into the security market through integrated information systems. In this article I’ll share some tips that can help you keep this cyber intrusion away from your home or business.
Generally, most technologically savvy people get excited about the idea of being able to turn on lights, view security cameras, and control other gadgets at home with a Smart Phone. Unfortunately, there are criminals learning how to break into your systems despite increased security and better technology. So as you log in and review footage on your DVR or control feature of your Smart Home, a cyber thief could be following your every move. The best way to keep these so called cyber criminals from hacking into your system is to use encryption. If you leave any part of your system unencrypted, you’ve already created a huge vulnerability.
Many people in the residential market or in small businesses do not need to go to such extremes as encrypting video feeds. It may be necessary though if you’re trying to protect priceless property or have had issues in the past with people trying to steal certain items.
Some DVRs have a watermark feature to aid in preventing theft. This feature can help a viewer tell the difference between a genuine feed and a fake. I also recommend changing user names and passwords on a regular basis. You don’t want to leave your system with the factory defaults of admin/admin or 12345. Login information like this is what hackers are going to try first. Many customers have asked me to log into their systems and when I ask them what their user name and password is, they often respond saying, “I don’t know who set it up, I just have it saved to auto log in”. This is not a good practice and won’t keep your system secure. Remember if you want to keep your security system safe from hackers, you must, first, keep it safe from a 5 year old.
Shrinking Shrinkage
Filed under: Access Control, CCTV Articles, CCTV Camera, Security Camera, Security Camera Packages, Security Camera System, Security DVR
As a provider of surveillance and access control products I have to ask myself, how can my knowledge and products help our retail providers? Every year, shrinkage hits the retail market hard and it is something most people know little about. Often we only see the products that stores use to try and stop it. Everyone has seen the mirror domes in the ceiling of a grocery store or the cameras above the registers and most people think that this will stop any sort of theft from occurring. This is not always true, in fact, there is close to a 35 billion dollar loss on average every year between most national retailers. That equals $66,590 every second, which is more than the average annual income for an American citizen.
This is where my knowledge comes in to play as an expert in video surveillance and access control. I can help retailers not only with the placement of their cameras, but I can also provide them with specific software that can help them track their products, their customers and their employees. No store manager likes to see how much shrinkage they have had over the month, instead, they want to see numbers that reflect profit. With a proper surveillance system in place they can do this by not only tracking customers, but their products as well. Imagine you’re a retail manager or a LP manager and you want to know what my products can do for you. First, I can offer you a ROI (return on investment). Any good surveillance system will not only help you slow down shrinkage but it will always pay for itself when constructed properly. As a consumer, you should also be concerned about shrinkage at local retail stores. I am not suggesting that you tackle somebody if you see them stealing, but I do think it’s important that you let notify an employee or manager immediately. Remember, the less money that your favorite retail store loses due to shrinkage, the better their prices will be for consumers.
What a Mesh
Filed under: CCTV Articles, CCTV Camera, General Technology, Networking, Security Camera, Security Camera System
Whether you’re a large enterprise, local or state municipality or even a small business you’re going to want to stay connected without any issues. Most cities have what they call a Mesh Network, which is a combined system of wireless technology dispersed city-wide. These Mesh Networks are used to give police officers access to a wide range of databases. Officers can then access instant information on a subject to see if a warrant has been issued or to find out if the car they are driving is stolen. Mesh Networks can also be used to transmit video feeds from network cameras within a city and to provide internet access to other emergency personnel to be able to pull up a patient’s medical records on the fly. Mesh Networks can also be used in a construction site to transmit important data from various types of equipment back to an engineer’s office.
What is a Mesh Network? A Mesh Network is a type of networking where each node in the network may act as an independent router, regardless of whether it is connected to another network or not. It allows for continuous connections and reconfiguration around broken or blocked paths by jumping from node to node until the information you are looking for is found. Mesh Networks were originally developed for military use.
I know some of you are wondering, so I will elaborate. The definition of a node depends on the network and protocol layer. A physical network node is an active electronic device that is attached to a network, and is capable of sending, receiving, or forwarding information over a communications channel. A Mesh Network node can be a modem, hub, bridge or switch.
With increased data speeds and networks like the Mesh Network model, information is more accessible than ever. The security industry is always fast to keep up with related technologies in the market and we’ve seen integration of CCTV systems with Mesh Networks already in large metropolitan areas. These two technologies will be sure to continue a long and healthy partnership to make jobs easier, cities safer, and information accessible at anytime from virtually anywhere.
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