OK, i admit to being an Apple fan boy……..anything white or silver with the apple logo is going to get bought.

Honeywell HRDP iPhone

Recently, my expectations of their service hit an all time high……… my iPhone 4 developed a weird fault where I could hear the caller, but i sounded like a dalek to the caller!

Armed with the box the phone came in, i returned to a local Apple store and had an ‘appointment’ with one of their Genius staff at the Genius Bar (how cool is that!)

He checked the serial number, saw it was in warranty, and duly replaced the phone with a BRAND NEW UNIT…….no questions, nothing, just a new phone which he even activated so that it would work right away…….i hadn’t even bought the unit from Apple direct, but from a mobile phone provider (but we know how useless they are for repairs/returns)……..the Apple database (presumably through my iTunes account) knew who i was and how long the phone had been mine

Coupled with the excellent way iTunes backs up the phone, i plugged into my MacBook, ran the restore option and in under 30 mins, my life was restored to the shiny new iPhone 4 – complete with all texts etc

When we consider how much we rely on phones and how we are lost if they break, this got me thinking about our industry and how we serve our customers.

Say a PTZ dome breaks……..whats the routine to fix?

WV-NW960 panasonic IP dome camera

Some suppliers will want the unit back for repair – similar to the Currys or Dixons method of ‘we’ll fix it but YOU need to arrange to bring it back’

Some suppliers will send an advanced replacement to swap over, and then the option to send the faulty unit back for repair.

Some suppliers even know when there is a likely fault due, and they inform customers not only of the fault, but even sometimes when the product was bought, what invoice number and also their original PO number!!! (that’s showing off, but it is a practice by some!)

In a world where we need to not only minimise downtime, but also minimise restore time………saving the end user downtime that can leave them vulnerable

Facing facts, anything that has moving parts WILL break at some point – even a Ferrari will break and fail if not serviced, maintained and looked after……

So, take a look today at your CCTV Supplier – sure, they may be £’s or % cheaper than their competition, but take a look at their support service AFTER they have taken your money…….will you be looked after or left out in the cold when a problem occurs……….

Arecont are exhibiting at the following events in the up and coming months 

Expo Seguridad México 2011, April 12-14, Mexico City, Mexico, Booth #31 

Security Canada East 2011, Laval, Quebec, April 20

MIPS “Protection, Security and Fire Safety,” Moscow, Russia, April 26-29

ADI Canada Appreciation Expo, Edmonton, AB, May 12

IFSEC UK, May 16-19, Hall 5, E70

 

Don’t miss your chance to see all the latest Arecont camera equipment listed below.

 

“Arecont Vision, the industry leader in IP-based megapixel camera technology, announces its participation in the upcoming ISC West show in Las Vegas, NV. The company will be featuring its latest product introductions, including the new low-cost H.264 Compact Series, H.264 Panoramic Series with Day/Night capabilities and All-In-One H.264 MegaView™ megapixel IP cameras.


April 6-8, Booth 10041

 


New Compact H.264 Camera Series 

Arecont Vision has expanded its low-cost compact line to now include H .264 compact megapixel cameras that are half the size and a third of the weight of previous models. The new AV3115, AV5115 and AV10015 3, 5 and 10 megapixel cameras are the latest additions joining the Arecont Vision AV1315 (1.3 megapixel) and AV2815 (1080p HD) cameras. The AV3115 provides 2048 x 1536-pixel (3 megapixel) images at 20fps, the AV5115 provides 2,592 x 1,944-pixel (5 megapixel) images at 14 fps and the AV10015 provides 3,648 x 2,752-pixel (10 megapixel) images at 7 fps and 1,920 x 1,080-pixel (1080p) at 30fps. All Arecont Vision compact megapixel cameras are easy to install and fit into smaller housings and domes atan attractive price point.
New MegaView™ All-In-One H.264 Day/Night Camera Series with IR

Focusing exclusively on megapixel IP camera technology, Arecont Vision strives to deliver the best in high resolution surveillance to industry professionals. The new MegaView™ All-In-One H.264 Camera Series of all-in-one Day/Night H.264 megapixel cameras now includes new 3 and 5 megapixel MegaView™ cameras enclosed in IP66 (environmentally rated) and vandal-resistant cylindrical housings with versions available incorporating built-in IR illuminators and IR-corrected lenses. The new 3 megapixel MegaVideo® all-in-one cameras include the AV3125DN H.264 day/night MegaView™ IP camera and the AV3125IR with IR illumination ring. New 5 megapixel MegaView™ all-in-one cameras include the AV5125DN H.264 day/night MegaView™ IP camera, and the AV5125IR includes an IR LED option. They join the MegaVideo® 1.3 megapixel AV1325DN H.264 day/night MegaView™ IP camera and AV1325IR version with IR illumination ring option, and the MegaView™ 1080p HD AV2825DN H.264 day/night IP camera, and the AV2825IR with IR illumination. These all-in-one cameras are simple to install using an easily adjustable 3-axis bracket, and external lens adjustment of zoom, focus and iris. The new additions join Arecont Vision’s 1.3 megapixel and 1080p resolution MegaView™ cameras. In addition to their performance and versatility, new Arecont Vision MegaView™ cameras provide added functionality. The privacy mask enables video to be blocked in multiple regions in any arbitrary shape. Extended motion detection provides a higher-granularity grid of 1,024 distinct motion detection zones. Flexible cropping provides even more adjustability in image sizes. The new MegaView™ models are immediately compatible with VMS platforms integrated with the compact H.264 series of cameras.

 

New Panoramic H.264 Series with Day/Night Capabilities
EXTRA! Industry’s First 20 Megapixel Cameras will be at ISC West

Arecont Vision is proud to introduce our new AV8185DN (180° field of view) and AV8365DN (360° field of view) H.264 Day/Night panoramic megapixel IP cameras. In addition to Day/Night capabilities, the new panoramic cameras simultaneously support both H.264 and MJPEG compression standards to accommodate a broad range of applications. Each model uses four 2MP sensors, providing the total resolution of 6400×1200 pixels, and incorporates surface and in-ceiling mounting options along with an IP66-rated environment chassis, eliminating the need for an external housing.

Arecont Vision is also proud to debut the world’s first 20 megapixel day/night panoramic cameras to the market. The new SurroundVideo®  20 megapixel H.264 cameras provide higher-resolution 180-degree or 360-degree panoramic views and can replace up to 65 conventional cameras. The new all-in-one models are cost-effective solutions for applications where mechanical pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) devices might otherwise be used or where multiple cameras would be needed to view expansive coverage areas. The first 20-megapixel panoramic cameras on the market provide a 180-degree or a 360-degree panoramic view using four high-sensitivity 5-megapixel sensors, each offering a 2592×1944-pixel view at 11.5fps, for a total image area of 10,368×1944 pixels at 2.8fps. The cameras use dual H.264 and MJPEG encoders. These panoramic cameras also can be binned to 1.25 megapixels per sensor, increasing light sensitivity.

 

Arecont Vision Adds New D4S and D4F Series of 4-Inch All-in-One Indoor MegaVideo® Domes

Arecont Vision is proud to introduce our new D4S and D4F Series of 4-inch indoor megapixeldome cameras at ISC West. The all-in-one indoor solutions include Arecont Vision 1.3 megapixel 1080p, 3 megapixel or 5 megapixel compact cameras in surface-mount or in-ceiling-mount dome housings with 3.3-12mm varifocal IR-corrected lenses. Available in color or day/night versions, each 4-inch dome also includes all the features of Arecont Vision’s compact megapixel box camera line. The new D4 indoor dome cameras further expand the industry’s largest line of megapixel camera solutions available from Arecont Vision. The D4S is the new surface-mount 4-inch dome solution, and the D4F is the same camera in an in-ceiling mount configuration. Each D4S and D4F indoor camera is easy to install and features an adjustable 2-axis gimbal to provide 360-degree pan and 70-degree tilt adjustment.

The 1.3-megapixel models in the D4 line provide 1,280 x 1,204-pixel images at 32 fps, while the 1080p models provide 1,920 x 1,080-pixel resolution at 30 fps. The 3-megapixel model 4-inch domes provide 2,048 x 1,536-pixel images at 20 fps, and the 5-megapixel models provide 2,592 x 1,944-pixel images at 14 fps. The new Arecont Vision 4-inch dome camera solutions also provide added functionality. The privacy mask enables video to be blocked in multiple regions in any arbitrary shape. Extended motion detection provides a higher-granularity grid of 1,024 distinct motion detection zones. Flexible cropping provides even more adjustability in image sizes. Forensic zooming allows close-up views of any region of interest, even on archived video. The day/night version includes a motorized infrared (IR) cut filter. All D4-Series camera solutions can be powered with either PoE or 12-48V DC/AC power supplies.”


 


for more detail make sure you contact 

www.arecontvision.com

 

 

Firstly i apologise this post is not about CCTV. This is a bit of a rant about the new merger between Orange and T-Mobile. Now i have used Orange for as long as I can remember and i have to say i have always been impressed with the coverage they have on their network. Apart from the odd spot (and you learn where these are over time)  the coverage was always good. This is very important when you do a lot of travelling and need to talk while on the move. I remember that i used to be able to talk to fellow orange users for ages as i drove along without the service dropping out. This meant business was easy to organise and no shouting “are you still there ? can you here me? you’re breaking up !!!!!!!!!!!!! it just did not seem to happen.

mobile phone service
Are we going backwards??

Now however something has changed, trying to make a call on the move is near impossible if you are lucky enough to connect then the service drops out within seconds, it is hopeless. Now I don’t know for sure whether this is because Orange have merged with T-mobile or what …but i never asked for this and i want my “service” back. This maybe a blip, it may be me getting paranoid! Not sure, but something has changed..hey if anyone else out there is experiencing the same thing let us know, we do understand CCTV here but we cant understand this sudden change in our Mobile phone service!!!

Predator dome with a spot light.

We have heard that 360 vision technology are releasing a new predator camera into their range. We have seen the Predator camera before and it is a robust quality piece of kit.The predator comes in several different formats including IP, night vision with IR and of course thermal. But now something not seen before as we as we know, a CCTV camera with a spot light. Its actually called the White Light predator. What a great idea when you think of the deterrent value something like this can bring to a CCTV system is surprising that no one thought about this idea years ago!

Thermal CCTV cameras
Predator Camera

So how does it work, well to be honest its so new we don’t know but we know it uses high powered led technology and this can either be manually switched on by a security guard or can be programmed to automatically to come on with alarm presets. So you will get a crystal clear night time image and deterrent that will deter criminals as they attempt to break in. No one in there right right mind will continue to perpetrate a crime while under the watch of a spot light especially as this spotlight will track there every move within the protected area.

So to any specifiers out there who need a camera that looks good, that performs brilliantly and offers unprecedented deterrent value. Keep your eyes open for the Predator complete with spotlight………… it certainly is an illuminating idea!

CCTV Canada review.

Integrated CCTV recently had the opportunity to interview Rick Ramsey the product manager for Avigilon. Avigilon’s appearance at IFSEC last year, the UK’s number 1 CCTV exhibition raised their profile dramatically. We asked Rick about Avigilon and their thoughts and ideas for the future. Rick was also able to give us some great insight into the CCTV products that Avigilon produce. The quality of the Megapixel and HD camera available is exceptional and the 16 megapixel camera is unique in the market place.

Avigilon Camera HD Pro
Avigilon CCTV

Check out the interview and see more for yourself on Avigilons comprehensive website. CLICK HERE

Avigilon ACC-4.6 Range