Monthly Archives: December 2010

WV-SC385 Megapixel PTZ dome from Panasonic

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Panasonic PTZ megapixel IP dome

We recently highlighted the New WJ-NV200 network video recorder from Panasonic. The NVR is one way Panasonic hope to bring IP video to the masses. Facial recognition is a key feature of the WJ-NV200 but any recording solution can only be as good as good as the streamed images that are being input into the NVR. That is why Panasonic have released two new cameras to help compliment their recording solution. They are the WV-SP102 and the WV-SP105. In a bid to target small retail, workshop and office environments both the cameras come in both VGA or HD formats both giving 720p definition.

Megapixel PTZ dome camera.


The I-PRO series though also needed a megapixel IP dome camera with fully functional PTZ . This is about to be released by Panasonic and is the WV-SC385. Features include H.264 /MPEG-4JPEG dual streaming up to 30 images per second (IPS). Also megapixel images up to 4VGA . The new WV-SC385 also boasts true day/night and most importantly POE . It is IP 66 rated and ONVIF compliant. The most important point is the Panasonic name that tends to suggest that this fully functional PTZ dome will be both innovative and reliable.

Upgrading from Redcare or downgrading your insurance? that is the question?

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The BSIA has recently become involved in the row regarding the swapping out of Redcare units for other products such as Emizon and Dual-com. So why is there a problem? Well some installers have taken it upon themselves to swap out the communicator used to send signals through to the central station without the knowledge of their own customers. The reason for this is simple , the margins are greater for the installer and both Emizon and Dual-com do exactly the same job so why not. Well essentially its a technicality. Its all down to the grading. Redcare is a grade 4 product and the monitoring price reflects this. Emizon and Dualcom can be either grade 2,3 or 4. The problem does not lie with the manufacturers but with the alarm installers . Some have tried to maximise profits during hard times by putting in grade 2 communicators where previously they were grade 4 and this has given the insurance companies the opportunity to wriggle out of claims if they so chose. Of course the buck will stop with the installer in the end as the loss adjusters come after them and a large claim could put him out of business , but in many cases they were going to the wall anyway and by adding monitoring income to the balance sheets they have been able to keep their heads above water.

So what is the answer. Well both Emizon and Dual-com are as good as Redcare, the simple fact is that the installer must keep their customer informed and the customer must inform their insurance company and in truth the installer should pass some of the savings back to the customer, but in this day and age will they?.

VCL dome replacement price

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The VCL dome camera was unquestionably the number 1 fully functional PTZ dome camera sold during the late 90’s and throughout the early part of this decade.VCL built an unenviable record for innovation and reliability. The orb 5, orb 6 and orb gold were sold extensively in the UK however world wide sales were impressive. At the height of the of VCL’s dome domination they were shipping over 1200 per month. This attracted some big players and the company was finally sold to Honeywell in 2004. Honeywell continued production of the Orb gold under the Honeywell camera brand name before finally phasing it out around 4 years ago. Honeywell continued with repairs of the VCL dome until finally ending this 3 years ago. Since this there has been limited options for installers and end-users when their VCL/Honeywell dome camera goes faulty.

Purchase a new dome inner for a cost effective solution to your VCL/Honeywell dome camera problems.

Common faults include.

1) Camera out of focus: this is caused by the lens motor inside the camera module failing.

2 No control over camera: this can be caused by several things but top of the list is a snapped/broken bayonet or the main PCB inside dome head is not communicating with the matrix.

3) Camera resting on the dome acrylic: This is defiantly caused by the bayonet snapping/breaking.

4) Intermittent picture/control: The slip rings have worn out.

5) Can’t tilt camera up or down: The tilt motor has gone faulty.

6) Can’t move the camera from side to side: The pan motor has gone faulty.

7) Picture has gone white or black: The camera module lens is faulty.

Of course there are other reasons that it may seem the camera is faulty i.e. the coax is down or there is no power to the camera, the maxcom matrix may be faulty or of course the keyboard may have issues. These problems are however rare and in the majority of cases the dome camera inner is at fault.

The most cost effective solution with all the above cameras is to replace the inner, these are hard to come by and will be old and subject to the same issues highlighted above. If access to the camera is via cherry picker then as an installer you will know what costly business it is to mess about with an old dome inner trying to get a repair that is often costly and ineffective. So, is there an alternative?

THE SOLUTION.

Well yes, we are now able to provide a dome inner that has been specifically modified to fit into a VCL/Honeywell housing. The inner is designed and manufactured by a highly reputable dome manufacturer and incorporates all the features of the VCL dome and more. The best part for all involved is that it has been designed to work with the maxcom matrix and handset meaning all controls can remain in situ. We provide a 12 month guarantee and the inner can be purchased for often less than a full repair and service on an old unit. We offer discount for bulk purchases from abroad.

If you would like to purchase the 360/24v dome inner then buy here.

Dedicated Micros Closed IPTV

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Dedicated Micros IP CCTV solution.

Dedicated Micros are currently launching their new IPTV concept to the CCTV community with a series of roadshows across the UK. Their ground breaking solution called Closed IPTV is designed to make an IP video system safe and secure as well as simplistic to configure.

Individual port configuration.

In essence, each individual network port has its own IP connection and firewall thus making the possibility of of interference from an outside source impossible. It also means that IP networking knowledge need only be very limited in order to set a system up as zero config technology means all IP addresses are consigned automatically.This will eliminate worries from end users of outsiders hacking into sensitive company networks and will make IT departments warm to the idea of IPTV on their ICT systems.

IPTV seminars.

The courses are to be run throughout December and it is move by Dedicated Micros to find a way into the IP CCTV market place through the use of patent pending technology that has so far not been used by others.