Setting up an outdoor wireless system can be easy as well…though it will require one extra piece of equipment:  a wireless transmitter/receiver package. This essentially allows you to choose any camera you’d prefer and attach it to the ‘wireless bridge.’

A few important reminders:

• You’ll need power available where you’re setting up the camera to provide power for both the camera and the transmitter
• Analog and IP cameras can operate through a wireless transmitter, although the analog cameras will need a video server to interface with the transmitter
• Several cameras can plug into one transmitter/receiver
• A wireless receiver is paired with each transmitter
• The wireless receiver(s) then plug into a switch and then into the DVR for recording/monitoring

Wireless systems can be a great solution for hard-to-wire applications.  A good transmitter/receiver combination will provide high-quality images at a range of up to 1.8 miles!

Wireless comparison chart - click to enlarge

It would certainly be nice to be able to purchase a system and cameras that are able to zoom in and identify faces from a reflection in someone’s glasses (just like on NCIS)!  Unfortunately, I have yet to see a system or a camera that can actually do that with recorded video. On most video, when you try to zoom in too far, you start getting a lot of block-shaped pixels instead of a lot of detail. There are some megapixel cameras that can be zoomed-in and still give a lot of detail, but even then there is a limit to the capabilities such as frame-rate losses (also, the cost of those cameras is usually in the hundreds).

3.6mm lens at 30'

Many security cameras commonly include a fixed 3.6mm lens. On a 3.6mm lens, you get an approximate 1:1 ratio of distance from the camera to width of the image. For example, if the person is 30’ from the camera, the image at that distance is 30’ wide and about 22’ tall. That means a 6’ person is only about 1/4 the height of the image, and the face is too small to identify.

The 3.6mm lens is a wide-angle lens and is good for seeing what the individual is doing in the room, but it cannot be used to identify the individual.  I recommend getting a camera with a telephoto lens aimed at a “choke point” that an individual has to walk past, and to use that camera for identification, while a wide-angle camera is used to see what they’re doing in the specific area.

Check out this lens comparison tool to help find a lens that will make identification easier.

If you get a camera with a 16mm lens, at 30’ the image is going to be about 7’ wide by 5’ tall. In this case, if you have this camera pointing at a door, you’ll get an image where a 6’ tall person would fill the image and make identification much easier. You can also get a stronger lens so that it fills only the top half of the doorway and get an even better image of the face.

When searching for a camera with a lens that fits your needs, try locating one with an adjustable lens, such as the one below. On this camera, the lens can be adjusted from a 2.8mm to a 12mm lens. This will allow you to mount the camera and then adjust the zoom & focus until the image covers the desired area.

Getting an adjustable lens can be a cost-effective way to get a camera that covers just what you need it to cover. You can also purchase a box camera that does not include a lens, and then customize it with the security camera lens of your choice. If you go this route, you can purchase a lens that is adjustable from 6mm-15mm all the way up to 5mm-100mm.  Remember to select cameras with lenses that can do the job you want, and make sure to place them correctly for the best coverage.

This product would be best suited for home users. They are easy to set up and very reliable. The reason for the home use is that you don’t have to buy a switch to connect the cameras to your network. The only equipment you’ll need to set up the cameras is a wireless router and the NVRlite (if you plan on recording) or a PC that has at least an i5 processor, 2 GB of ram, and plenty of HDD space. The built-in microphone on the camera can be used as a baby monitor if placed in a child’s room.

In typical GeoVision fashion, setup is a breeze. The first thing to do is make sure you have a router that supports wireless connectivity. Next, plug the camera directly into the router via an Ethernet cable. Once your camera is plugged in, open up IP device utilities from the GeoVision software, and your camera’s IP address should populate. Once you have the IP address, you can open up Internet Explorer and configure your camera. The items you need to configure is the SSID (wireless network identifier) on the camera and the security passcode under Network>Wireless. After that is done, go to Network>LAN and change the access method of the camera to “Wireless.” I highly recommend giving it a static IP address while you are in the LAN settings. The final step is to save the configurations to the camera and unplug the camera from the router. Wait until the green LAN light to turn blue. Once the light turns blue, it’s connecting over Wi-Fi.

The bandwidth for the 220 is greater than the 120. The average bandwidth consumption for the 120 with moderate motion and average color palette is 1.7Mbps, while the average for the 220 is 2.9Mbps in the same environment. If the environment is darker, it will consume more bandwidth than it would if the environment lighter.

Wide Dynamic Range (WDR) is a camera function that aims to provide a clear image under extreme backlighting conditions. For example, if you have a CCTV camera facing a door or window with intense light shining through, any object in front of that window or door will be black, while the background will be bright light.  To combat this problem, many CCTV cameras have two sensors which capture the same image just at different contrast ratios. The camera make a composite image with these multiple captures to give you a clear, balanced picture.  Some cameras use a similar method with one senor that captures alternative frames with different exposure times, then combines them to product one WDR frame.

There is another less-used method for WDR image capturing: the non-linear sensor. A non-linear sensor can do the WDR with just one sensor, but the process is much slower than with two CCD sensors creating a composite image. This has lead to a widespread adoption of the multiple sensors method as opposed to the non-linear sensor.

Wide Dynamic Rage is a great solution for when you need to capture video surveillance in areas with strong lighting in the background. Many WDR cameras have dropped in price, making them an affordable must-have in any CCTV camera solution.

2Video Baluns

• Longer cable runs – When you’re running cable, most of us in the industry know that after 500 feet, you start to run into issues with Siamese cable (RG59). Video baluns allow you to extend your cable runs up to 1000 feet, and are normally called passive video baluns.  You can extend you security cameras even further with active video baluns that allows distances up to 6000 feet.

• Use of Cat5e – Most video baluns provide a solid solution to extending your cable runs by using Cat5e/ Cat6 cable. By using this type of cable, you’ll be able to further upgrade your security system in the future with IP cameras, pending you have a hybrid DVR (supports both analog and IP cameras).  Also, the video signal is stronger when using Cat5e, and since the wire contains 4 pairs, you can use one for video transmission, and the extra pairs can be used for power or even PTZ control function for cameras using RS422 or RS485 protocol.

Active Video Baluns

• Easier installation and more cost-effective -  Using video baluns with Cat5e wire also makes installations easier by not having to use bulky coaxial cable (and at the same time saves you a little green as well). Installs are also made more manageable because you can run power to one central location, rather than having it in several different locations.  Cat5e is also about 10-20% cheaper than coax wire, with installs sometimes being over 50% more cost-effective as well.

The exact answer depends on the specifications of each camera.  This means that a standard camera placed in the corner of a 15 x 15 room will still capture the vast majority of the scene.  If placed outside, several cameras may be needed to capture the desired scene.

The following chart should help you determine the FOV of several popular lens sizes:

As you can see, the smaller the lens, the wider the FOV.  This may lead you to wonder why you would ever want a larger lens.  The answer is in the larger lens’ ability to capture images at a great distance.  Many of today’s cameras come with the ability to manually adjust the lens in order to meet the needs of the user.  This ‘varifocal’ ability is a great feature when unsure which lens size is needed.  For more details, check out this handy CCTV lens guide.

How many power over Ethernet ports are on each switch?

Most of the time, it should list in the switch specifications how many ports are available for PoE.  Make sure you pay attention to this, otherwise you won’t be able to power your cameras through the standard ports.

How do I figure out how much power is transmitted through each port?

You need to pay attention to a couple things when looking at a PoE switch.  First, how much power does the entire switch offer? Second, how much power does it offer per port?  Most people think it’s as simple as taking the power of the entire switch and dividing by how many PoE ports are on it.  This is not the case, and is typically the #1 mistake made by installers. In most cases, you will get about 15w of power per port.

If it says it has 8 PoE ports, can I hook up 8 cameras through it?

16-Port PoE Injector (8 ports In, 8 ports Out)

Sometimes, but not always. You’ll need to read the specs of each camera that you’ll be powering through the switch to find out exactly how much power that camera requires. Then you’ll need to check the max power supplied through the entire switch.  After you’ve done this, you can figure out how many cameras you can connect to the switch. Oftentimes IP cameras are power-hungry, and if you don’t pay attention to these details, you will end up not having enough power for your cameras to operate properly.

Understanding PoE switches is essential for successfully installing IP cameras. By knowing these basic guidelines it should make your shopping for a PoE switch that suites your needs a little bit easier.  Just remember that using PoE switches will ultimately save money, time, and space when installing a camera system.

• Protect the DVR
• Limit access to the DVR
• Protect the security cameras

With a properly secured setup, most potential vandals will be sure to head for the hills.

The first precaution is to protect the DVR.  You can simply purchase a DVR lock box, but that shouldn’t be the only thing you do.  Be sure to place your DVR in a location where only you or your security staff knows about it.  A third step would be to set up a dummy DVR to throw perpetrators off the scent of your real DVR.  Most assailants will notice the cameras and immediately look for the DVR.  If they spot the dummy DVR, they may think they’ve found the real one, but you’ll be able to keep your footage, ultimately making dummies out of them.

Many GeoVision cameras include software with tamper alarms.

Next, limit the access to the DVR.  If you give everyone in your company the Admin user name and password so they can look at footage, then you need to stop immediately.  If one of your employees gets disgruntled and leaves, they’ll still have full access of your DVR.  You should limit the access only to permitted security staff and managers.  If employees need access to the DVR, you can always create individual accounts and limit what they can see and do.  If that employee leaves, you can simply delete their account, and that employee will no longer be able to access the DVR.  Also, if you decide to put your cameras on the internet, don’t give the IP address out to just anybody.  Always have it password-protected, and keep your access lists up-to-date.

Finally, you’ll need to secure your security cameras.  When a perpetrator sees a camera, he will most likely immediately try to break it.  Try to find a DVR that will alert you or set off an alarm when someone tampers with the camera.  Also protect your cameras by buying vandal-proof cameras.  Remember: to get the most out of your security system, you’ll need to protect and maintain its integrity.

Standalone DVR

A standalone digital video recorder is a unit that is made specifically for one purpose, which is to capture, record, and store your surveillance footage. Standalone DVRs usually use a Linux-based operating system that is designed with whatever features the DVR needs to perform.

PROS

• Standalone DVRs can cost a bit more than it would to make or buy a PC-based DVR that runs with a windows operating system.

• With a standalone DVR, you will not be able to perform other functions that you may want, such as internet browsing and word processing.

 

 

PC-Based DVR

A PC-based DVR is a digital video recorder that uses a PC operating system (mainly Windows), and can record your surveillance footage, but it can also act as any normal PC would and operate in that fashion.

PROS

• Many standard computers can be turned into a PC-based DVR simply by buying the proper equipment. By getting a DVR card and the software to accompany it, you can make your home computer into a DVR capable of recording your security camera footage.

• These types of DVRs can be a bit more cost effective (especially if you’re just upgrading your pre-existing home PC with a DVR card).

CONS

• A big downfall of PC-based DVRs has to do with their higher chance of breaking down or having buggy issues. The reason for this is because instead of only having to worry about video recording, it now has to deal with all the other programs that are running, such as internet browsers, word processors, video games, etc. These additional programs create more strain and complications with the hardware, and can cause more problems.

• Another setback for PC-based DVRs has to do with storage. If you are running a PC DVR, and it’s your main personal computer as well, then you will be competing for hard drive space as it records and stores your video.

 

Let’s start off with something that could and should be utilized more in the industry: audio kits. Audio kits will provide you with clear streaming audio that can be synchronized with each of your camera channels, barring that your DVR has enough audio inputs. Security system audio devices nowadays are much less intrusive and often go unnoticed. Audio kits are very popular among both residential and business users looking for more than just video to suit their varying needs.

The next commonly underutilized accessory is proper CCTV signage.  Quite often people are wanting entry levels cameras that mainly work as a deterrent. What they don’t know is that putting a sign in their front yard stating that all visitors are on camera is often enough to scare many intruders away. Think about how many signs you’ve seen for alarm companies in somebody’s front yard.  CCTV is another form of security, so why not take small but effective steps to scare away the more cautious burglars?

Many people have existing systems with cameras that work great during the day, but at night not so much. Instead of getting another camera, purchase an IR (Infrared) illuminator and save yourself some money. There are many different ranges in distance when it comes to IR illuminators to suit your needs. Do you want to catch people who approach a door or window, or would you like to cover an entire yard or premises?  The sole purpose of an IR illuminator is to emit infrared beams for cameras that have trouble seeing during the night. It’s a win-win situation with these because you can save money by not upgrading your pre-existing cameras, while reaping the same rewards that a new IR camera could supply.

These are only a few suggestions to accessorizing your surveillance system.  Don’t just set up a camera and DVR and hit record – remember that just like a car, house, or fancy outfit, security systems can always be upgraded and enhanced with a few simple accessories.