HRDP DVR from Honeywell

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The HRDP (DVR) is the new offering from Honeywell video that  uses H.264 video compression. The unit is being marketed boasting plenty of high end features that Honeywell hope will set it apart from other DVRs currently out there and they have pitched the unit at a very economical price in order to attract as much interest as possible.

With remote viewing from the comfort of your PC it is easy to record and save video evidence as well as download video onto CD or DVD and if you require, a portable memory stick. In order to save disk space the HRDP can be configured to to record motion detection at high quality at a rate of 200 IPS.

Remote viewing is achieved either using a PC or a web browser and privileges can be set up to ensure information can only be accessed by those with the correct authority.

Honeywell are aiming the HRDP DVR at a wide variety of clients mainly small to medium sized businesses such as retail, educational facilities and warehouse applications. With management able to view the images and recording from any remote location this helps to sell the concept to hard pressed mangers and directors who need to keep a close eye on their business operations. The search feature helps track down events that need reviewing.

The HRDP DVR is available in 4,8,or 16 way and has 4 audio inputs as well. A triplex operation means that no recording is lost even when the customer is retrieving video through the built in DVD burner and 2 USB ports. Mouse operation makes it easy to navigate the menu and PTZ control over the cameras is done through a number of default protocols that are contained within the unit.

Working on an embedded linux platform ensures stability and security and with the S.M.A.R.T self diagnoses the HRDP is continuously monitoring and reporting any discrepancies or faults that may occur meaning peace of mind for the end user.

Honeywell and SureView unite

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SureView and Honeywell unite.

Honeywell are actively encouraging collaboration within the security industry as part of its drive to promote the Honeywell open technology alliance. The latest company to come on board is SureView the company behind Immix the central station management software.

The alliance suits both parties and the integration between Immix and WIN-PAK CS 4.1 means integrated access control now has an added level of security and allows other manufacturers equipment to be displayed to the operator through a single graphical interface. This means a response and full management of a an access control system is handled in just one location thus eliminating the need for an on-site guard with all the saving that this can bring.

The whole concept gives companies like SureView the opportunity  to offer their customers more choice when designing there security systems and to ensure integration between different products is made simple. In essence the software captures alerts and alarms from the on-site access control and seamlessly matches this to CCTV images from the cameras on site.

Any integration between access control and CCTV is welcomed and is certainly the way forward for the industry.

Access Control. Is it just an expensive waste of time?

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I recently carried out a security risk assessment on a very large site in Yorkshire. The primary purpose was to satisfy the customers need to know why his access control was so unreliable and why there were people on site that clearly had not fobbed through their designated access points, more importantly why was he suffering internal losses?.

Administered from head office.

The access control software is administered off site at their head office. The building in question is big place, the size of 3 football pitches with many entry points. At first it all went well, getting through the main gate was difficult. The guard wanted to know who I was what I was doing there etc. It was from there though that things started to unravel. The first door I tried opened without a problem. The reader indicated that it should be locked. I checked out the door furniture and found that the maglock was “missing”….not good! I carried on through two more unprotected doors and up to the main warehouse entry door. Not once was I challenged. I pushed open the door again this should have been locked, but the door itself was warped and would not close even if it was forced…another fail.

At the heart of the operation.

At this point I found myself in amongst goods of quite some value with not one sole seeming to care as I passed through the goods in area. At any point I could have picked up valuable items and carried them back out the way I came in. I continued on around the site and found that this trend of open doors and broken locks continued. It seemed wherever the staff did not have access they simply removed (by force) the maglock and there seemed no management structure in place to pick this up. Of course the locks and doors should have been monitored but apparently although this was originally designed into the system it was too annoying for the administrator who had other work to do as well so the alarms had been disabled. I was fairly shocked that a company willing to pay many thousands of pounds for a sophisticated access control system with top end software that could really do just about anything they needed,  just had no idea how to use it! Having completed my site visit I returned to my car and headed out of the site. I was stopped by the barrier from leaving, at last some kind of security? No…The guard seeing my car simply opened the gate without even raising his head and waved me through. Surely he would at least search my car?

Conclusion.

So in conclusion. My findings are winging their way to the company M.D as we speak. I am waiting to hear what the repercussions will be. Access control is a brilliant solution when used properly and a proactive security measure but I have seen exactly this scenario many times before. It seems to me that there are many factors that need to be addressed by end users who buy expensive access control packages consisting of biometric fingerprint readers, and very expensive software. Of all these factors it seems that the training and on going risk assessments carried out by their access control installers is poor to non existent. This article should serve to remind all access control users that a system is only as good as the people who look after it!

IP CCTV installer

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IP CCTV

IP CCTV installer. An interesting statement. Just who is best suited to install IP CCTV systems? The plot thickens the more you investigate. Search on google and there seems to be no traditional CCTV installer that pops up in the results. Why is this? Well have the likes of Chubb and ADT given up and handed the market place to Cisco, Mayflex and the likes?  CCTV manufacturers have definitely grasped the metal and continue to push IP cameras and Megapixel solutions onto their historical customer base , but are they starting to realize that they are flogging a dead horse.

Panasonic

Recently Panasonic held a series of seminars introducing the benefits of their Ipro series. Heavy advertising meant that traditional security installers were well informed about the way Panasonic saw the future and were trying to drag its traditional customer base into the new world of IP CCTV but the seminars were dominated by networking companies that were truly amazed and more importantly delighted by the opportunities that clearly lay ahead of them.

Big players

Security has always been dominated by some big players who seemed to have the market sewn up but clearly they are extremely slow on the uptake , preferring to bury their heads in the sand thinking analogue is here forever.Well wake up and smell the coffee ..its not…. and unless the security industry as whole moves quickly the CCTV market as we know it and those who have made a living from it will find that they will be left very much high and dry!

CCTV installations in Winter!

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The recent cold snap just once again highlighted how much we struggle in the UK to cope with a bit of snow! (Ok, quite a lot of snow if you are based up North!)

But how far reaching is the problem?

Well, we spoke recently to a UK CCTV manufacturer that had extended it’s usually short supply lead times….when asked why there were several reasons:-

  • orders had increased and head count needed to be added (good to hear that companies are starting to see the other side of the recession)
  • weather

weather??!!! this is not British Rail ‘leaves on the line’ is it?!

Basically, this UK CCTV manufacturer uses good quality, UK sourced components………… unfortunately, the component supplier was either struggling to get staff in to manufacture the components, or struggling to get them out of their factory and onto the courier companies ready to transport to the manufacturer due to the snow laden and impassable roads!

Coming out of a recession is hard enough, but having to delay installations is difficult – but spare a thought for the suppliers/manufacturers as they cope with an upsurge in orders but also unexpected weather hurdles!