Starting with your basic Home CCTV setup…

A Great way to increase your home’s security without spending a fortune is to get an affordable Home Security system The new internet technology gives you the ability to remotely monitor your home while you are mobile at work or anywhere, and you also gain the ability to provide the police/court with clear images if your home ever be vandalized or broken in to. To install security cameras for the home you can use them to record and monitor the activities of your in-home child carer or your cleaner as well as any other contractor who might have access to your home while you are away. Of course, the cameras also provide an excellent way to see who is at the door or watch the swimming pool from anywhere in the house.

Choose from among a wide range of wireless cameras which send their images to your Monitor, DVR, VCR, PC or TV… You can combine this system with wired cameras which will connect directly to any recording devices. Standard affordable cameras are available in small scale models which enables you to hide them inside objects such as a clock, toy, even a light. Some cameras come with remote control tilt, pan, and zoom, technical term PTZ which can be utilized over the internet. For your night-time surveillance Infra red cut filter cameras are the top of the range applications can see in the darkness at absolute minimum light conditions comparable to star-light. With modern CCTV DVR (Digital Video Recording) technology and software you can programme your cameras to perform a whole platter of highly useful functions like only recording when motion is detected in the room to recording at any time or interval to compliment your personal setup. For even more advanced gizmo addicts, Infra red detectors are also purchasable which trigger cameras when they detect any change in even the room temperature which is brought about by a warm human body entering into the scene. Available are security cameras for the home which are coupled in motion detection with spot/flood lights automated activation. These cameras are designed to be triggered by movement or heat and come in handy as a basic deterrent to any unsuspecting oportunist.

Diligence in preplanning your setup with an installation can save you hours of painstaking re-arranging and re-wiring. By positioning the cameras scrupulously you can cover a considerably large field of view. Multiple lens attachments are on the market which can be used to reveal a wide angle viewing or pinpoint clarity for a small area. The best route to follow is to draw out your home’s floor plan and then pick the logical places to install each camera. Research the available cameras on the internet so you will know the range and field of view for each model. Of course, you can mix and match models to provide customised coverage. To combine a security alarm system for your home with your CCTV system you should ask your alarm service provider to come and wire the cameras and possible DVR or computer software into your intrusion detection system. By doing this the cameras can activate automatically when an alarm condition occurs which will greatly strengthen your entire setup you can even add audio and video monitoring so you can see and hear when they receive an alarm from your house.

Of course when setting up any CCTV system it is important to bear in mind that there are legal issues regarding where and what you can record. Make sure you do the necessary research online to confirm what is OK, the where’s the when’s and the what’s. And if you want to be absolutely safe just simply give your local police station a quick call and ask if you can do this and that etc. etc.

Modern security systems are far from the passive simple devices that people often believe them to be. Indeed, a well designed security system featuring latest generation CCTV equipment can almost be thought of as a proactive security guard, safeguarding your property and possessions from potential intruders around the clock. Let’s take a closer look at the core components of a security camera based system.

·        CCTV Cameras – These are the eye of the CCTV Systems, they come in both external and internal types, and are capable of capturing full motion video, often in extreme conditions such as bad weather or low lighting. They can either be conventionally cabled to CCTV Systems as a standard video source, or more increasingly they will be IP enabled, acting as a network device which can be access from other parts of the security system.

These are a digital video recording device, designed to capture and store the video recorded by CCTV Cameras. Unlike conventional analogue recording units, a CCTV DVR requires no costly consumables to operate. More advance models will include such functionality as timed recording, still frame capture and capture on motion detection.

<a onClick=”javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview(’/outgoing/article_exit_link’);” href=“http://cctvdirect.co.uk”>CCTV</a> technology has enabled both companies and individuals to vastly cut down their security overhead, whilst maintaining unparalleled levels of security. In the past, a large business premises may have been guarded and patrolled by a whole team of security guards, CCTV cameras and CCTV DVR are now used to replace many of the physical security guards, as they require nothing more than simple monitoring, this can even happen from a remote location, meaning modern day security systems can be completely outsourced to external security companies working off-site.

By intelligently combining key CCTV technologies such as CCTV cameras and CCTV DVR units, it is possible to construct a robust, secure system that will deliver high levels of security, even in the harshest of environments. By incorporating multi fail safes and levels of redundancy it is entirely possible to protect your premises from almost any form of security risk. Current CCTV cameras are small, discreet units that are easily hidden from site in the most obscure of location, meaning that even if intruders spot and possibly disable part of your CCTV security systems, it is unlikely that they will highlight every component and render it inoperable.

In the past, CCTV security systems were plagued by low levels of reliability combined with a high amount of visibility, leaving them entirely prone to exploitation, and requiring constant monitoring and maintenance. If you have considered CCTV security systems in the past and dismissed them due to these limitations, it is strongly advised that you revisit the entire concept again and discover just how far CCTV security systems, CCTV cameras and CCTV DVR have developed over recent years, they are now entirely usable as the backbone of a robust and reliable security system.

Having been in the security industry for over a decade, Peter Jumper is now a leading consultant in the use of CCTV technology to create fully secure systems. Visit <a onClick=”javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview(’/outgoing/article_exit_link’);” href=“http://cctvdirect.co.uk”>CCTV Direct</a> for more information.

The discussion among security and surveillance video manufacturers, systems integrators, and end-users about the relative advantages and indications for different kinds of video installations is easy to oversimplify. Simplification aids end-user decision-making and furthers the business interests of equipment manufacturers and systems integrators. Industry writers also have good incentive to simplify information. The many motives include making a larger point, supporting a specific-case argument, and getting and keeping readers’ attention.

Simplification most often leads to statements like “IP video is more expensive than analog video,” which are true with so many exceptions that they are not actually true at all – studies sponsored by interested parties have shown the opposite to be true, and editors and bloggers have covered the studies’ findings widely. In fact, oversimplification often leads to an assertion and its opposite both being true.

Another manifestation of oversimplification is the argument that each installation is so unique that no useful rules-of-thumb can be developed.

In this paper we provide as simple as possible an explanation of the factors which indicate analog, IP, and hybrid IP/analog video systems respectively. This paper seeks to provide a reference for editors, end-users, and integrators who may need to evaluate a specific case or understand the general principles.

Indications for choosing a pure IP camera system

Ability to use an existing IT network – In some cases, digital video video systems with IP cameras can be plugged into the existing IP infrastructure. And other times the cost for the upgrade to the network to make it viable for video is easily managed. A user with an existing Ethernet network which is able to handle large amounts of data, who just needs a few cameras or plans to record low frame rates or low resolution, is a good case for a pure IP system. Recording at the “edge” of the network with only occasional requests for video over the main network may also provide a way to implement IP video on existing infrastructure.

Quick and easy data protection – In many mission-critical recording environments, lost or missing data is not acceptable. IP systems can shorten response times and speed up DVR reassignments. In cases where a DVR goes offline, the user can use software to reassign the camera to a different DVR without making any wiring changes. Response times recording problems are also fast, since the recording systems are monitored at the IT network management level alongside all the other servers, routers, switches, and network applications.

Ability to move and add cameras easily – Users with fluctuating camera counts and locations can avoid the need to power down recording servers to add, move, or remove cameras. This means seamless, pain-free recording from existing cameras, rather than scheduled downtime with alternate-server recording or missed recording.

Ability to collect megapixel images – Users who need really high-resolution imagery want the ability to selectively deploy network cameras providing images with resolutions at least four times higher than analog images – which means much more detail than an analog camera (which is limited to standard image dimensions that do not exceed 704×576 pixels (PAL) or 720 x 480 pixels (NTSC) image after the signal has been digitized in a DVR or a video server). Megapixel cameras can collect so much information that you can zoom in to catch the smallest, subtlest detail of a video frame. Megapixel IP cameras can provide superior, unambiguous images of point-of-sales transactions and other events that can be used for business intelligence, loss prevention, and security.

Ability to use facial recognition analytics – Facial recognition software depends on high-resolution images to be effective. Any camera being filtered for facial recognition should have more than the 704×576 pixels (PAL) or 720 x 480 pixels (NTSC) provided by an analog camera.

Minimum disruption and installation expense – Even in cases where a new Ethernet network needs to be installed to handle video traffic, pure IP surveillance systems are less disruptive to install than their pure analog counterparts. Unlike IP systems, analog systems require the installation of a direct coaxial, Fiber, or UTP cable running from every camera to a DVR, as well as additional encoding hardware to be installed on the DVR itself. IP systems can also distribute the power and HVAC loads to help users avoid expensive and disruptive site modifications to HVAC and other site features.

Need for video transmission over wide geographical range – Putting video on the IT network makes it possible to use switches, hubs, and routers to expand the network to a broader range. Analog cameras have significant transmission limits over wide surveillance areas, and they are not appropriate for some wide-area installations due to their need to be physically cabled to a DVR.

Need for advanced features like digital zoom, which are not available in analog cameras – Many new IP cameras have on-board encoding and analytics as well as sought-after features that certain users need to successfully implement their surveillance plan.

Need for camera-level redundant recording – Some IP cameras can provide redundancy by recording onto built-in memory cards.

Indications for choosing a pure analog system

Analog can meet user’s recording needs for a lower cost – There are many lower-end, low resolution IP cameras that are low in cost. But high-end IP and megapixel cameras are very expensive, and the disk capacity required to store the higher volume of video data is a very significant increased expense. Across a network array of hundreds or thousands of cameras this cost can be prohibitive. A large network of IP cameras will usually require the installation of a separate network so traffic doesn’t exceed bandwidth. An installation of just 40 cameras of 1000 Kbps-1 Mbps each will overtax many existing corporate networks. Many high-end analog cameras, though limited in resolution to 704×576 pixels (PAL) or 720 x 480 pixels (NTSC), use image processing, automatic back focus and imager sensitivity to produce images that are superior in quality and clarity to a similarly or higher-priced IP camera.

The cost advantage of analog recording is especially true for users who already have a legacy coaxial or UTP wiring in place and do not need to install a large number of cameras (analog cameras require a lot of wiring, which can be expensive and disruptive in terms of site modifications).

Network traffic exceeds the user’s existing capacity – IP camera recording and viewing will increase network traffic, especially with lots of IP cameras or with or megapixel cameras. If recording will exceed the existing network capacity, a user will need to add the costs of installing an additional network for the video to the operational and equipment costs of pure IP when comparing it to analog and analog-IP hybrid options.

Ability to avoid hardware upgrade expenses – IP cameras tend to rely on the processing power of the CPU. Many analog systems use additional processors to share the video processing with the CPU. But an IP camera stream comes into the network port and requires the CPU to be recorded and viewed. This limits the number of IP cameras that can be added the load the server systems are able to process. These factors depend on bitrate and video encoding format (MJPG, H.264, MPEG). And most IP cameras send large files (MJPEG) to the server to process and store. These files provide a good image but are very large and consume large amounts of storage very quickly. Newer compression formats on the horizon for IP cameras will help address this issue.

Need for minimum latency – Latency is defined as the time it takes for an image captured at a camera source to be presented to a system user. Every camera has latency to a degree, because the data travels from one location to another. It is much greater for IP systems, however, because their signals need to be encoded at the source and then must travel through the network to the decoder in order to be presented to the user. Because analog signals are point-to-point (camera-to-monitor), they don’t have the additional latency caused by network routing and the encoding and the decoding process. Because of this they are typically preferred in industries such as gaming and corrections.

Need for system to suit staff abilities – Many businesses operate without complex or extensive computer systems and do not have a need for the dedicated IT professional(s) required to provide timely and effective response to network emergencies on a system of any size or complexity.

Wider camera variety and choice – There are a large variety of Analog cameras (for instance, mini covert cameras and pan-tilt-zoom cameras in various sizes and shapes) to choose from. With IP cameras, not every vendor has many varieties and not every vendor’s surveillance software supports others’ cameras. In many organizations, physical security staff takes care of the surveillance system administration as well as the overall security plan design and implementation, and there are no existing IT needs that require IT professionals.

Vendor relationships and support – Vendor relationships have the power to greatly enhance or greatly damage the user experience and dissolve the integrator’s margin. Integrators and users at installations that already have analog cameras have an existing relationship with the manufacturer, so support and trust in the product are already in place. If the camera or DVR manufacturer with whom a relationship exists doesn’t have/support IP cameras, a new relationship of trust and access to support must to be developed.

Indications for choosing a hybrid IP/analog system

(A hybrid system will provide many of the advantages of the pure systems on a per-camera basis. The following are true only of hybrid systems.)

Ability to add IP camera recording to existing investments in analog – Where there is existing analog infrastructure, the hybrid approach allows the user to avoid expensive replacement of their existing analog cameras and wiring. Instead, the user can add IP cameras to their surveillance resources and record from both analog and IP cameras in the same DVR.

The right camera for the each site – Hybrid recording allows the user to choose analog cameras or IP cameras according to the recording requirements and conditions of each camera site. A site requiring the lowest possible latency will call for an analog camera, whereas a site using facial recognition or other data-hungry analytics will need an P camera source.

Minimal retraining expenses – Surveillance operators familiar with an existing analog-system user interface will be able to manage new IP cameras without disruptive and expensive retraining. Using hybrid DVR/NVR recording allows integration of IP cameras with little change to the end user’s normal routine.

Next to choosing the right camera for your surveillance needs, the selection of an appropriate recording device is the second most important decision you will make. There are a lot of different options to choose from, each with their own pros and cons.

The easiest decision to make is that of the recording media. VCR type recorders that use VHS tapes to make time lapse videos are pretty much a thing of the past. They have all but been replaced with Digital Video Recorders (DVR) that store recorded video in a digital format onto a fixed storage device.

Digital Video Recorders are available as stand alone devices, or can be purchased as a card that is added to an existing PC.

Stand alone DVR devices are about the size of a DVD player and do not require additional hardware to function (other than a monitor). Be aware that some models do not include a hard drive – you must install one inside the unit yourself. If you do not want to be bothered with doing this, purchase a model with a hard drive already installed.

Stand alone DVR’s are very convenient and reliable. You simply plug your cameras into the device and configure your recording preferences and before you know it, your are done! No fuss, no mess. Some models even feature a network port that allows you to access and view your cameras from the Internet. Others have built-in USB ports and DVD burners to export video clips.

Video capture cards are used to add DVR capabilities to an existing PC. They tend to be less expensive than a dedicated DVR, but they require quite a bit of legwork to get up and running. The first issue to deal with is compatibility. Some cards only work with specific video card chipsets and operating systems – therefore it is important to be very diligent when looking over the system requirements before making your purchase. Video capture cards usually include the necessary software to monitor your cameras.

The second issue with video capture cards is the nature of their installations – your computer must stay powered on in order for the software to function, and the installation is highly dependent upon the reliability of the computer operating system. It is for these reasons that I prefer the ?install it and forget about it? nature of stand alone Digital Video Recorders.

Is is also important to take into account how many cameras you need to monitor and record. DVR prices start at about $100 for a basic video capture card and can reach up into the thousands of dollars. The more cameras you need to record, the more the unit will cost. For most residential and small business needs, a 4 or 8 camera DVR will do just fine. Expect to pay about $100 per camera port for a good stand alone DVR.

The next thing you want to verify is the recording resolution and frame rate. It is important that your DVR have the capability of recording at the same or higher resolution than your camera feeds. If you cameras transmit 480 lines of resolution, make sure your DVR can handle it. Digital video recorders now use several different video compression standards to store video. Try to get a unit that supports either H.264 or MPEG4 – they will allow you to store more video on your hard drive at higher resolutions and frame rates.

As far as storage is concerned, the bigger the hard drive, the more footage you can store. Combining motion activated recording with today’s larger hard drives should allow you to store months of footage on a 4 or 8 camera setup.

Finally, you will want to look into features such as the availability of motion based recording, scheduled recording and remote access to both real time feeds and stored video. These features are now pretty standard on newer models. Also make sure that the unit makes it easy to search and export video clips.

ULTIMAX is a series of 3rd generation digital video recorders (see –> DIPOL ULTIMAX offer), with implemented, so far the most efficient, H.264 compression. This type of deep compression is characterized by capability of providing good video quality at substantially lower bitrates than the previous standards. The standard was developed jointly in a partnership of VCEG and MPEG, and is marked as H.264/AVC, AVC/H.264, H.264/MPEG-4 AVC, or MPEG-4/H.264 AVC (AVC – Advanced Video Coding).

Network digital video recorders of ULTIMAX series are excellent digital surveillance products. Equipped with embedded MCU and dedicated real-time operating system (RTOS), they combine the most advanced electronic and computer technologies, such as efficient video and audio encoding/decoding, hard disk recording (support of virtually unlimited disc capacity), and TCP/IP protocols. The firmware is stored in flash memory, and can be easily updated.

Any device from the ULTIMAX series has both the features of a digital video recorder (DVR) and digital video server (DVS). It can work as stand-alone device, or be used to build powerful surveillance networks, widely used in banks, telecommunication companies, transportation, factories, warehouses etc.

The DVRs, being very versatile, support many special functions allowing cooperation with POS terminals, ATM/cash machines etc.

ULTIMAX-716

he basic criterion for actual quality of video monitoring system is ability of identifying people from the recorded video data and possibility of handing over the archives on original storage media for legal proceedings. ULTIMAX 7xx DVRs fulfill state requirements for video coverage of mass events in Poland and majority of other countries.

Due to efficient H.264/AVC compression it is possible to record D1 images (704 x 576) at 25 fps (PAL) from each channel (camera). It means that the ULTIMAX-716 (16 channels) is capable of recording up to 400 fps with D1 resolution.

ULTIMAX 7xx DVRs end the era of frame by frame analysis. The playback of D1 images at 25 fps is similar to watching quality TV transmission or a DVD film rather than the typical jumps from image to image in the previous CCTV systems.

ULTIMAX-716 has huge storage potential – after installing eight HDDs with 2000GB (2TB) capacity each, the total disc space amounts to 16 TB. It allows to create enormous archives. Even in the case of simultaneous and continuous recording of video data from all 16 channels, with D1 resolution and maximum bitrate (8000 Kbps, it is enough for 285 hours, i.e. nearly 12 days and nights. Such archives would deliver DVD quality.

It is possible to test the actual frame rate by analyzing the images frame by frame and using a frame counter. Comparing the displayed time and the counter indications it is easy to prove the 25 fps rate.

Because of network operation, the priority is adequate security level. To protect the system and data against unauthorized access, there is multi-level access control, with passwords and defined privileges for local and network management (e.g. viewing images from cameras, accesses to archives, system setup). There can be defined MAC addresses of the computers capable of getting access to the DVR resources.

Rear panel of the ULTIMAX-716

The DVR enables the administrator/operator to set resolution and frame rate independently for each camera. There is possibility of defining channels that are to be recorded after triggering alarm in a camera path, with long pre- and post-alarm periods.

Network software allows to manage several DVRs and other ULTIMAX and ULITCAM devices (video servers and IP cameras). Easy operation thanks to user-friendly graphic interface, including mouse pointer.

There is possibility of embedding maps (BMP files with deployment of cameras) which enable the operator of a bigger monitoring system to quickly localize the spots and manage the surveillance network.

Due to cooperation with external recorders/devices (CD/DVR, hard disc, USB flash drives) connected via USB port, it is easy to backup, review and playback the recordings.

DVR can get text/number strings through RS-232 or network port. The strings can be sent from devices such as ATM/cash machine, POS machine or others. DVR can paste the strings into the real time image and record. The same strings (entered from numeric keyboard) can be used as keys for searching the recorded files to play them back.

There are available the following ULTIMAX DVRs:

16-channel

* ULTIMAX-716

* ULTIMAX-516

* ULTIMAX-316

8-channel

* ULTIMAX-708

* ULTIMAX-508

* ULTIMAX-308

4-channel

* ULTIMAX-504

* ULTIMAX-304

Do you need more information? Go to DIPOL web site for full features’ list.