Need external security?

Your business is one that predominantly has to store your stock outside and you are starting to suffer some big losses. What can you do to ensure your property is protected and safe from the criminal fraternity who seem to have no fear about stealing from your yard? There are many businesses that will  fall into this category . Hauliers, garden centres , car sales, scrap dealers to name a few.

CCTV.

Your first thoughts may be to turn to CCTV, a good start but some view CCTV as a reactive solution , one that is good for deterring daytime losses but one that can leave the customer frustrated when they are only able to view the images the next day of stock disappearing from their premises. Guarding is also a good solution but one that could find you reaching deep into your pockets,  50k a year is not an unrealistic figure for a manned guard on your site. Fencing is the best physical deterrent but many companies return to work after a weekend to find a gaping hole in it and no stock. Nothing seems to keep people out it seems. The one thing a burglar does not like though is having attention drawn to themselves while perpetrating a crime. It seems from feedback we get that verbal deterrent can keep people out. Monitored CCTV is a way of using this facility.

What is monitored CCTV?

A number of cameras and external sensors are placed strategically around the site. When the sensor picks up movement a DVR will transmit the pictures to a central station. Here an operator is able to view the images and take action while the crime is in progress and will be able to stop or limit losses. He is able to do this by talking back to the site giving a verbal warning or using his discretion call the authorities and key-holders to get a presence onto the site as quickly as possible. This is not new technology and has been around for some time but what is happening is that with broadband and IP communicators, picture quality at the central station is so much better and the update of the images is almost real time meaning no lag for the operator to deal with. This means he can do his job far better.

Be realistic.

Remember though the operator is there to handle alarms, he not able to always take control of the camera and zoom in on the events although this service is now becoming more widespread as central stations look to offer more and more benefits to the end user.

DVR transmitters.

DVR’s are the most popular way of transmitting these images, remote connectability is a function that most manufacturer’s will  look to include into their products. 360 Vision Technology and Dedicated Micros are at the forefront of integrating their products into central station software. A key factor because the central stations will only except certain products to be integrated into their front end CCTV software, so advice on which central station can handle which product should be sort before you buy a remotely monitored system.

For more information on protecting your property.

For more information  or advice contact us and we can help you make the right choices.

360 Vision Technology to release IR dome camera.

360 Vision Technology are about to release their new External IR Dome. Built around the technology that has been so instrumental in the success of the Predator camera, the outer housing is of  a robust metallic design. It has the IR lamps that are such an integral part of this camera, moulded into the finished shape. It is a different animal from the current 360 vision dome currently on the market and is not designed to be serviceable on site but is stronger and virtually maintenance free.

Better night vision.

The new 360 IR dome is designed to fit into a market place that recognises that IR is now invaluable in dome design this is to ensure clear, crisp images at night. Duel chip cameras have worked well but they have always had their limitations in poor lighting conditions. Now, with IR domes we finally have a solution.

360 Vision and March Networks.

The technology partnership between 360 Vision and March Networks has paid dividends with the March codec being incorporated into the head to allow the unit to be easily converted to IP .This allows it to be integrated into CCTV software solutions that are starting to become the preferred recording option in place of the less versatile Digital video recorder. With an IR range of up to 100 metres expected and all the features that 360 have developed over the years built in as standard, it is a formidable dome camera.

So who will buy the 360 vision IR dome.

The camera is surely going to be aimed at the increasing ageing dome cameras that are out there in the field at present. There is huge potential for upgrades for ambitious installers who can grasp this opportunity. Those with foresight will also use the IP dome camera and software recording route to allow customers the option of future expansion and flexibility to their CCTV systems.

Conclusion.

Once again we find that 360 vision have been thinking to the future. The market for this camera is huge and the price offers very good value. It will be good to track the progress of this dome camera but we believe that sales will prove it to be one of the top cameras in its class.

IP CCTV.

IP CCTV has suddenly come to the fore in the last couple of years . It was particularly noticeable at IFSEC this year where analogue cameras seemed to be no more than an after thought . However what are the reasons that a CCTV camera format that has served the industry for so long should now so suddenly become a technology that will soon be confined to museums or very short sighted end users?

Life in the old dog?

Well perhaps that last statement was a little unfair. It will still take a while before we see analogue cameras disappear completely off the scene, perhaps long as 10 years, but in the meantime megapixel IP cameras will start to produce results that many organisations will find hard to resist. What results you may ask? Well for so many years every CCTV administrator has just wanted to zoom in on captured images and blow them up to prove an event has occurred. Up to now there has rarely been enough definition to achieve this goal . Any blown up or artificially enhanced images have been blurred or pixelated to the point where they are useless.

Why HD CCTV or Megapixel cameras.

Mega pixel especially does not however suffer this problem. The images remain clear and crisp as they are zoomed into on the played back recordings . Add to this stunning live images and you will understand why analogue is effectively dead. Examples of camera manufactures who have taken this technology and produced some excellent camera solutions include Avigilon, Arecont, 360 vision technology, Bosch to name but a few.

What is the catch?

So as the camera technology improves are there any drawbacks? Well of course there are . Due to bandwidth and processing limitations some of the 10 mp cameras can only deliver images at 3 frames per second. Slow to say the least but with such crystal clear images it is still better than 12 fps on an analogue alternative. Of course the camera technology may be slighty ahead of the networks that they need to deliver them to their recording solution ie CCTV software. However as CCTV software gets better and the speed and flexibility of networks increase as well as the processing power of the camera chips, we will eventually see the utopia in terms of megapixel technology and this can bring to the end user the ultimate CCTV solution.

Conclusion.

Are you an end user who is considering an upgrade? Perhaps you have upgraded already and are either impressed or disappointed in what you have purchased? Let us know your thoughts and we will be happy to publish them in order to help other organisations to make that important decision, to upgrade or not to upgrade?

The Shield security camera.

At IFSEC this year we spent plenty of time looking at The Shield security camera. The camera is a testament to the technology partnership between March Networks and 360 Vision. It combines the best of what both companies are about  and we believe it is soon to hit the American market place. This unity of technology means we predict it will take it by storm.

External security solution.

The hardware side of The Shield security camera is manufactured by 360 vision technology and fits seamlessly together with the clever software solutions developed by March. The Shield has been designed to fit into the needs of customers who mainly have external security issues but need a camera that can operate in the harshest of environments.

March Networks,The CCTV software side.

IP, POE, and analytics have all been cleverly integrated into the camera design and and help to make it attractive to CCTV installers and IT integrators alike. March Networks have fitted all these features together and with their codec at the heart of things it means that videosphere CCTV software acts as the ideal recording solution to compliment this camera.

ONVIF.

The Shield security camera is ONVIF compatible  and this means that it will integrate with other manufactures CCTV software as well. However March Networks and 360 vision also have other ideas they wish to add to this already loaded security solution. An on board hard drive will soon compliment the software recording and this will make it attractive where recording continuity is essential.

Robust design.

The Shield PTZ camera moves beautifully, is fast and quiet and built to last, this makes it ideal for any external needs but don’t rule out using it internally . It will come to the fore when installed in docks , ports airports and sports stadiums to name just a few applications but hangers and warehouses could also suit. When installed outside it has a wiper to ensure weather does not become a factor and is extremely robust in design, resisting all the elements can throw at it.

Megapixel IP Camera.

Could there be any more developments round the corner? There are plans to integrate Megapixel  technology into the package and this will add just one more benefit to what is already a very loaded CCTV camera.

Conclusion.

Having seen how the Shield camera works, big sales are inevitable, upgrades of  PTZ cameras are the ideal target market for this product and viewing the Shield Security camera on the web is highly recommended.