Home Watch

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Domestic IP cameras.

Being able to watch over your home using CCTV has long been a priority for most of us, but the high cost of a security system has always meant that financially it is beyond most of us.

Watch your house from work.

Times however are changing with advent of  integrated CCTV into our own home network, we will soon be able to view our property via the Internet. This has of course been possible for many years now but at a premium price. IP CCTV cameras mean that we do not have the intense labour and cabling needed to install such a system. In addition the IP cameras are becoming cheaper by the day, soon they will be affordable to many rather than the few.

How does it work?

IP cameras are essentially an extension to your normal network. They just plug into a network point and can even be powered from this network point using power over Ethernet so there is no need to supply a mains socket adjacent to the camera position.

Remote viewing.

Once the cameras are set up and correctly positioned they can be recorded through an FTP server and accessed remotely via the Internet using a simple web browser. So at any point in time you will be able to view your home from anywhere in the world.

Does it work?

There have been several recorded cases where people have viewed  intruders breaking into their houses and been able to call the authorities to get them arrested. But more importantly you are able to give a deterrent factor to the property so making an intrusion less likely and more importantly it will give the home owner peace of mind.

Who will install it?

Lots of debate about this point. Many think that current CCTV installers will step up to the mark and modify their current working practices to move them into the IP market place. Some think IP integrators will take over this sort of business , however who is to say that CCTV could actually become quite a large DIY market in the future as people with an understanding of networks and computers decide to start protecting there own homes.

Would you do it?

Given the above information we would be very interested to know here at integrated cctv.co.uk if anyone out there feels that they would attempt to have a go at installing there own domestic IP camera system?


New fixed HD IP camera from Sony

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Sony

Sony has launched a brand new IP camera to its HD range – the SNC-CH240  the unit is a Full HD Fixed camera. Germany was the country of choice for this spectacular launch.

Sony has already worked very hard this year and remarkably has been able to bring 4  new HD cameras into the market place  in 2009, the new camera completes Sony’s HD camera range.

Choice

The choice now includes a full line up of HD cameras ranging from fixed, mini dome and PTZ cameras, suitable for both internal and external use.

With the advent of more demand for IP cameras HD has been a natural progression and now with 5 Sony cameras to choose from the customer has plenty of options.

Customers like the idea of HD and once they can actually see the benefits and fantastic image quality this technology will be taking off in a big way.

Integrated CCTV

CCTV integrators are queuing up to introduce the new Sony HD cameras into their VMS software and it is a natural progression for integrators such as Milestone. It makes sense then that Milestone have used their Xprotect platform for the Sony HD range

Hybrid

Sony is aware that it must also produce Hybrid models because full IP systems are still a way down the line but models include the NSR-1000 series the SNT encoder both products capable of converting analogue video to IP

Image quality

Image quality is what the end result is all about .The Sony HD range has been designed and marketed with this end goal in mind. HD will sell itself once end users see what recording quality the IP camera is capable of. The future is here now.

Pet Watch

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HOW TO WATCH OVER YOUR PETS USING DOMESTIC IP CAMERAS

Domestic IP cameras.

CCTV cameras for your home have for a long time been a little too expensive for most domestic users. However within the next two years this will all be changing.

IP CCTV

So why now and not before? It is simple really, the general public have now got unprecedented access to domestic IP networks, wireless routers and most important,THE INTERNET. This means that expensive analogue camera systems, installed by professional companies, will become a thing of the past.

Why you ask? Well we have all set up a router, plugged our laptops into network point and think nothing of it. Imagine a camera so simple that this is all you do to set it up , simply plug it in! It can even be powered over the network!

Pet watch

So lots of us have to go to work and leave our precious pets at home unattended, even the most hardened individuals worry if they are away for a long period of time and the poor animals are left alone. Imagine if we could simply sign onto the Internet and view our pets to ensure they are comfortable and happy.

You can hear them.

Better still you can listen to your pet on line because voice/howls over IP is very easy to achieve these days.  If you thought your dog /cat whatever else you may keep at home is uncomfortable, all you would have to do is call a neighbour to to go and attend to them without the inconvenience of a long trip home .

Over the coming years this technology will mean that to be thought of as a considerate pet owner having IP CCTV cameras will be the only acceptable solution to leaving pets home alone.

Metal Mickey vs Predator

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Metal Mickey vs Predator

Sounds like some kind of  film title. Today we look at the new Predator dome recently released by 360 vision and see how it compares with the market leader , the Metal Mickey.

Metal Mickey

We have all seen the Metal Mickey camera on Big Brother. It watches imperiously over the contestants and definitely lets them know that they are under surveillance. This is the beauty of the Metal Mickey,  it has a “presence” and this is undoubtedly behind its  success over the last few years. It now however has a competitor. It ‘s called the PREDATOR.

Predator.

This fantastic new camera developed by the innovative team at 360 Vision has covered every aspect of what customers are looking for in this high profile type of camera. The name Predator is brilliant because the camera seems to mimic its famous namesake from the film. It is intimidating, rugged but strangely graceful in the way it moves, somewhat different from the more robotic Metal Mickey.

What sets the Predator apart from the rest?

So what benefits does it claim to have over competitor products?  Well certainly its aesthetic mechanical design. It also boasts a 3 phase motor for quiet smooth and totally accurate control. It has back to back bearings on the pan motion to ensure wobble free operation. Predator comes as both an analogue camera and an IP camera to ensure it is suitable to integrate into any security solution. The Predator is also very simple to use . It is set up via a PC or laptop and features extensive on-screen menus. It also comes with multiple protocols to fit into any existing CCTV system.

Quality.

360 vision really have come up with a gem here. It will fit in to any environment and is essentially “rugged but with style”. As this type of  security solution becomes ever more popular this well priced camera can only go from strength to strength in the Integrated CCTV market place.

Insurance claim against security providers. Should you pay up?

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You provide the security, there has been a loss . Who is to blame?

So the scenario is as follows. You are a CCTV installer and you provide images and alarms to a central station. The security system and CCTV camera have worked very well as part of an integrated system over the last few years but then there is a massive loss on site and all of a sudden the customer is screaming at you and wanting you, the CCTV supplier to pay up for his losses. A situation that could cause a lot of friction and bad feeling, but worse of all, the loss of a major contract and a very important customer.

A familiar story

It happens frequently and the blame more than often lies somewhere in the middle between the suppliers of the CCTV monitoring, the customer and the installer.

As installers the main protection when we have integrated systems against the accusations thrown at us are; the specification, the evidence held at the monitoring station and the CCTV camera footage.

Was the CCTV system set?

This may sound obvious but it is always the first question that must be asked. So many times during a post robbery investigation it turns out that the system is left unset, if this is established then the security providers need worry no further.

Was the coverage compromised by the customer?

This may again sound obvious but so often the customer may block coverage of the sensors  or CCTV cameras and so the system cannot possibly work properly. Generally reviewing the CCTV camera footage on the DVR will soon clear the installer if the customer is at fault.

Third party issues

What happens then if everything is on site but the receiving centre has not got the pictures?. Well is it the remote connection I.E telephone or broadband that has let the system down? The logs in the DVR should be able to prove if this is the case and will tell the installer again if any blame can be placed on him.

The central station

Finally of course we have central station operator error, This to needs to be eliminated because generally remote monitoring is sub-contracted to the central station by the installers. Ultimately the installer is still responsible for the central station’s actions. Once again proof will come from the recorded images held by the Central station, any voice recording they may keep and the central station log that will record all activity received.

Insurance

But really the whole thing is an insurance issue. CCTV companies cannot possibly factor in losses to the price they are able to charge for an installation. Surely this is why insurance companies are in business. Of course if the CCTV company is proven to have been negligent then this is something for the insurance companies to sort out through the loss adjusters at a later date.

In summary

So for customers and installers alike hopefully this bit of advice will raise enough questions at the point of sale and through out the company /customer relationship to realize that all parties have a part to play in ensuring that a CCTV system works effectively, every time.