Tag Archives: IP cameras

IP camera 200 series from Bosch

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Bosch 200 series.

Bosch have recently brought onto the market the new IP 200 series IP camera range. The camera is an IP unit that comes in two versions, the IP camera 225 and the IP camera 255. Essentially the 225 is a fixed lens and the 255 is varifocal . The beauty of the 200 series is that you need no DVR. The camera is a networked solution and has recording ability on board within the camera using a 16 GB  SD card.

Clear crisp images.

The camera produces clear crisp images and all video can also be reviewed over the network using CCTV software that is supplied with the camera. The images are compressed using H.264 and this allows an additional 30% storage capacity over MPEG-4 . Both IP cameras are colour units and are ideally suited to reception areas or tills where they could be used in multi- site applications and accessed by 1 individual responsible for all sites such as car hire franchises or late night stores.

More benefits.

The IP camera 200 series has even more benefits, it is a single box solution and easy to set up. Simply remove the unit from the box, fix in the required position and connect to the network via an IP point. It has built in motion detection and also audio detection. As mentioned before with both on-site or remote viewing via PC and power over Ethernet this is a fantastic solution for those who have a problem on a single area of their site and need a quick easy security answer.

Conclusion.

Very competitively priced and simple, the IP 200 range can fit into many situations and will find many takers, especially for monitoring and recording sensitive areas where a full scale CCTV camera system quite simply is not required.

CCTV software v DVRs

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Why use CCTV software instead of a DVR?

CCTV software has been around for a while but as a recording medium has long been easily outsold by the good old reliable DVR. The DVR has changed the face of the CCTV industry over the last 10 years and comes in many different forms. From high end spec that costs onwards and upwards of £5000, to budget units that can be bought for as little as £300. Explaining to an end user the vast difference in cost can be tricky but as we all know you will generally pay for what you get. Recently though the DVR has started to change.

How have DVRs changed?

They have evolved into hybrid units so they can incorporate the latest technology such as analytics and IP cameras. Many benefits here, but manufacturers are starting to think differently about how the market will develop in the future. Until recently IP cameras have struggled to take a hold in the security industry . The main reason has been the substantial difference in price between an IP camera and its analogue equivilent. In addition IT managers have been reluctant to stream large amounts of data across their network. The cost of an IP DVR has also meant that an upgrade is expensive and difficult to sell . So whats changing? Basically the cost of IP cameras is plummeting , they are also cheaper to install. IT managers have become far more accepting of  the technology and like the idea that they can record through CCTV software such as March network’s Videosphere VMS rather than a DVR solution. In addition manufactures are starting to put recording into the camera itself this means that critical data can boast full redundancy and no information will be lost.

More flexible.

Perhaps though the greatest benefit of IP Cameras integrated into a CCTV software solution is flexibility. No longer is the end user restricted to a 16 way box and the need to buy another costly DVR box if he needs extra cameras on his site. Another huge benefit is the introduction of codecs.This is a device that turns an analogue camera into an IP device that can easily be introduced into the CCTV software solution. So a customer can convert to CCTV software recording without the need to replace all his existing analogue cameras.

Conclusion.

Not many people in the security industry expect that analogue will be around for long. So we ask,will CCTV software do the same to digital video recorders, that DVRs did to their predecessor, the humble VCR?

FLIR PT-series thermal IP cameras

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FLIR release new range.

The popularity of thermal imaging cameras has increased steadily in recent times as the CCTV security industry find more and more applications for them.With the advent of IP and analytics, together with a reduction in cost, means that suddenly solutions exist that were not there before.

The new FLIR PT-Series.

 The new FLIR PT-Series has been specifically aimed at this market place. Programmable scan patterns and slew to alarms  gives this range of cameras some interesting extra features. The ability to see in total darkness and in any weather, along with easy integration to either analogue or TCP/networks are all valuable selling points.

More Pixels.

By incorporating a high resolution 640 x 480 pixel detector the camera can give up to 4 times the image clarity of previous cameras. It also gives better performance over longer ranges. More pixels mean more detail and the ability to detect smaller objects that would previously have been missed. This all comes with the savings that can be made when expensive lighting systems can be shelved.

On site repairs and upgrades.

Flir have also introduced the interchangeable camera cassette that allows you to upgrade existing FLIR cameras. This can be done in the field and takes only a few minutes, keeping installers and end users happy and no break in camera coverage while the unit is returned to the factory.

Conclusion.

It would appear FLIR are now developing their cameras to fit more and more into security applications in the commercial market place. This has been achieved with more competitively priced cameras that come with more choice of lens size and more built in features.

Outreach Max/Lite

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Going beyond the 100 meter mark.

With IP CCTV becoming ever more popular, some camera installers are finding a need to extend Ethernet networks beyond the standard 100 metre or 328ft range.

Bigger IP camera installations.

As installations become bigger and external compound security requires longer cable runs, Outreach have come up with a solution. If you install the Outreach Max every 100meters then full capacity 100base tx or 10 base-t can be maintained across the entire network the device can give 70 watts POE forwarding depending on the standard with a maximum of 0.7 amps on data pairs and 1.5 amps on spare pairs.

Makes things easier.

A big help when specifying installations knowing that it is now very easy to extend the distances we can put the cameras away from the POE source.

Alhua security cameras

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Alhua.

 

Alhua Technology Co LTD.manufactures cameras and digital recorders for the CCTV industry. For 15 years they have concentrated on innovative design and research. Their equipment is future proofed and well designed to fit into the market place as it starts to move towards IP technology

Where did it start?

Alhua first launched an 8 channel real time embedded DVR in 2002 since then they have expanded their product base with the aim to becoming the No 1 security brand in china. They have produced ground breaking products in the past and with the introduction of IP cameras into their range, they continue grow rapidly.

ONVIF.

By embracing ONVIF, Alhua have made their products easier to integrate with other manufactures cameras and CCTV software, a clever move to help encourage world wide sales. In addition they have ISO 9001 accreditation that helps give them credibility in the international CCTV marketplace.

Markets.

Alhua have targeted European, American and Japanese markets especially the banking, public security and energy resources sectors.

Investment.

As with all good companies Alhua re-invest a large proportion of their turnover back into research and development, they claim as much as 10%. With this level of investment innovation and quality will thrive.

Overseas.

Clever marketing and overseas partnerships have helped Alhua develop a good reputation this can only continue and expansion of their market share is inevitable.

Product range.

An insight into some of their product range

stand alone DVRs LE -S series

4/8/16 way

LE-A series new entry level 4/8/16 standalone

DVR 1604 HE-u

a 20 channel 720p and full d1 recording hybrid standalone dvr

NVR DS-L series

4/8/16

network video recording solutions

IP and megapixel camera range

IPC-F725 series 1.3 megapixel Ip camera

IPC F725 series 2.0 megapixel

Conclusion.

Alhua is a name we are beginning to hear about more and more, proof that good quality products at a realistic price is the way to take your products to the world wide market.