Category Archives: HDCCTV

Benefits of an HD SDI camera

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HD SDI cameras are starting to fulfill their potential but what are the benefits over IP technology (if any) and how easy are they to install?

The first and most obvious benefit has to be the fact that we can view and record the images from an HD SDI camera in HD. The HD revolution is under way and HDcctv over coax is leading this surge in HD security camera sales. The second benefit of HD SDI cameras are that they can be run over existing coax. This gives a particular advantage to companies looking to upgrade existing analogue systems but trying to keep the cost down. The third advantage is the speed that these HD SDI cameras and recorders have dropped in price due to new chip technology. Just two years ago a camera that would have cost over £600 can now purchased for around the £250 mark. As always there is varying quality between different manufacturers products but none the less as a technology improves and more product is made prices have seen dramatic falls. Chips manufacturers continue to invest heavily to ensure involvement in this rapidly expanding market place.

Further advantages include ease of installation and the limited training required to actually understand the technology . Its no different to installing analogue. Finally there is the playback quality. We now have cameras that can capture quality images that can be used to achieve their goal ie recognising individuals committing crimes , identifying health and safety breaches, picking up number plates on forecourts or in gate entrances and giving the end user real value for money.

So as HD SDI cameras develop further with added features at better prices we can only imagine how far this HD revolution will go. As for the initial comment regarding IP cameras and whether HD SDI cameras are better, we think they fit into totally different market places and that HD SDI cameras will be sold to upgrade analogue security systems where as HD IP cameras will fit into manufacturing and larger industry that run much of their network using IP. Its horses for courses !

Time to focus on security again

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Its been a long recession and it may not be over yet but there are signs that we may just be seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. For almost 6 years inside the security industry we have been been faced with the same recurring problem , namely customers asking us as installers not to replace or upgrade equipment but simply to keep it going, repair it, recycle it.

This has led to a legacy of security systems, particularly CCTV systems that are more dated than at any period since the inception of CCTV as an industry. Installers ,distributors and manufacturers have tried, unsuccessfully, to persuade end users to migrate to IP solutions, citing more flexibility and of course HD as a way to move forward. Customers have stubbornly resisted. Of course this is not because they do not want to embrace new technology nor do they have an objection to IP but the fact that any spending has been extremely restricted to all but the most fortunate companies.

So how long will it be before its time to focus on security again? As we have said the signs are there already. Years of putting up with poor, almost unusable analogue images and sluggish DVR’s has driven those who do now have a few pennies to spend to seek out what they can now purchase in the form of an HD CCTV solution.

With the advent of  HD SDI CCTV, end users now have a great choice. They can re-use their existing coax infrastructure and with HD SDI the camera images are refreshingly good. Crisp clear pictures mean that when an incident does occur it can recorded properly and can then be acted upon. Years of putting up with frustratingly poor analogue images are coming to an end.

If you have had enough of grainy rubbish then take a look at HD CCTV solutions and see how you can seriously improve your CCTV system and upgrade to HD.

The time is here to invest in the future and stop looking to patch up equipment that serves little or no purpose whatsoever………… we say #binanalogue

HD SDI compatability

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It has long been known that the HDcctv standard has been developed in order to ensure interoperability between compatible HD SDI equipment but what happens if you test non compliant equipment together? We set out to prove if it mattered or not. The devices we tested were as follows.

The edge bullet camera (C)

The concept pro internal dome

The Qihan bullet camera

The Qihan vandal proof dome

The edge body camera.(C)

These were tested with the following HD SDI DVR’s

The Edge 4 way lite

The FD02 2way Trium

Everfocus 4way EDRHD4 (C)

(C) = HDcctv compliant.

Firstly it was interesting to note that all cameras initially seemed to work with all the recorders. We got pictures and it seemed that all was fine. It has to be said though the although the pictures were massively better than any analogue picture we have ever seen there were some notable variations in image quality. The Edge bullet and the Edge body cameras were clearly better images on all 3 HD SDI DVR’s. The concept Pro came a close second for picture quality but with both the first two camera makes the colour left a little to be desired. The two Qihan cameras had picture quality that seemed slightly less crisp but the colour was undoubtedly better and the pictures with the built in IR was superb both inside and externally.

We then however discovered our first compatibility issue. With the cameras connected to the Edge lite we removed power from all the cameras but when power was restored the Qihan bullet camera refused to boot up unless the coax was disconnected the reconnected. All other cameras including the Qihan dome restored without issue.

We tried different cable lengths and different coaxial connectors. It was clear that we must stay within the 90 meter cable length and no compromise should be made on connectors. Ensure you use HDcctv compliant BNC’s. Don’t compromise on the quality of the power supply!

We continued to test and all the pictures remained of the highest quality but to be fair no other incompatibility issues arose. It did however bring home the one issue we are all aware of. If you sell non HDcctv compliant equipment or mix and match then you will come across potential problems that could cause you issues going forward. The industry must not take this risk and all HD SDi manufacturers should get on board with the Alliance in order to ensure HD SDI continues its epic rise in the CCTV market place.

HD cameras help schools with security needs

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It was fairly obvious but a recent event in a school in the north of England highlighted the need for educational facilities to think about upgrading their CCTV systems to much higher quality HDcctv. The event was a common one but when a fight broke out between two year 11 boys the consequences were very serious. One of the boys was left seriously hurt and this is where CCTV could and should have been able to provide evidence to ensure those responsible were punished properly.

The problem was that as the two boys exchanged blows several others tried to intervene. When the boy was hit with the blow that caused him to fall and strike his head on the playground tarmac there were several individuals in the footage. On review the images were poor. The recorded frame rate was only 3 images per second and this led to in-conclusive evidence as to who out of the individuals who were involved in the fracas actually landed the blow.

On interrogation all the boys denied they had landed a punch. The images were reviewed by the staff who concluded they were fairly useless as evidence. What therefore is the point of CCTV that simply will not do the job required? When the school reviewed why they had chosen the CCTV system they had, it was discovered that it had been decided on cost. They were able to review the specifications that had been offered and found that the system chosen had been 49% cheaper than the most expensive system on offer. This system had included HD cameras that were properly specified to record at a higher frame rate and give much higher quality images.

CCTV is a deterrent  but it must also work when it is needed. If you are a school or college, insist that your CCTV system is of an acceptable standard. Either that or don’t install one at all. People are learning the hard way that buying cheap is quite simply a complete waste of money, whereas those who spend wisely and insist on high quality HD cameras and recorders will reap the benefits over time.

A simple lesson but one that should be heeded.

HD SDI cameras for the future

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Much has been said about HD SDI and how it is going to compete with IP HD CCTV solutions. This is a bit  of a red herring really as the two technologies really are not competing for the same market place at all. IP tends to be installed in new buildings and larger installations where there is a requirement to expand in the future. HD SDI CCTV is much more suited to upgrade smaller analogue systems where there are no plans for expansion but picture quality is an important factor.

Each situation needs to be judged on its merits and things of course may change in time as each technology develops further especially if  HDcctv is able to work at some point over CAT5. HD SDI cameras are now slowly beginning to reduce in price as well. This has opened many doors over the last year as HD slowly but surely is becoming the choice of end users keen to try to improve their CCTV. systems.

What is the best way to decide which route to take for your upgrade? There are many choices out there. We have mentioned above how every site is different and each company will have their own specific requirements. Start with a simple question.

Is the site a single building and unlikely to change or is the system going to be deployed in several sites across multiple locations?

If the answer is just one site then look to HD SDI also see if you can use any existing coax on site. If you wish to view the CCTV from anywhere and across several different sites you must consider designing the CCTV system with IP as your first consideration.

If we have have a site that has good existing analogue cameras in place the route to explore could well be a Hybrid HD SDI DVR.  This means we can put HD SDI cameras on existing coax and leave any existing analogue cameras that we wish to maintain in place. Our other alternative is to put  IP encoders in place that will convert existing analogue cameras to IP. Fit some VMS software and then add HD IP cameras in any new positions.

There are many different ways to achieve the same goal. ie an HD upgrade. It takes lots of consideration and plenty of questions to the end user to decide exactly the best way to go.