Tag Archives: IP CCTV

CCTV and Emizon

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Dual path broadband monitoring for CCTV.

CCTV monitoring using a DVR as the main recording device and transmitting medium is becoming ever more popular. It seems like the ideal solution and it is in many ways but one thing is often omitted from the spec and installers neglect the most important security feature . This is the broadband connection to the central station.

Emizon , the broadband monitoring solution.

Emizon have found a niche that caters for this weakness. Monitoring a CCTV communication path is part of BS8148 but many installers steer away from these regs and leave the line unmonitored. Often the customer will only find out about the weakness if his broadband line fails and they suffer a break in. That is why an IP CCTV communicator for monitoring the line is so crucial.

Other features.

In addition Emizon can also talk back to the unit to carry out resets on the DVR remotely, a great facility to help installers reduce site visits. Broadband lines are now pretty much standard across the UK  and we will not be moving onto any other technology any time soon. Most other companies who provide monitoring solutions are modifying their products to suit broadband unlike Emizon which has been specifically designed FOR broadband and so has an obvious edge.

Software.

Because the Emizon has been designed around a software platform rather than hardware it is easily adaptable to any subtle changes in communications of the future. Firmware upgrades are easily uploaded to the TCD at the touch of a button.

Dual path broadband monitoring investment.

Emizon expect as their customer base grows to be able to increase investment  in order to remain at no 1 in the IP monitoring market place. This means improvements get passed back to the end user. Keeping more competitive enables Emizon to invest in the latest technology and keeps the product totally in line with the latest changes that effect an ever expanding broadband market.

Legacy equipment.

One thing that we all take for granted but have failed to mention is that Broadband is a very fast transmission medium it means pictures reach the central station faster. There is a great deal of equipment out there that currently uses old ISDN technology the upgrades to broadband will be thick and fast but these lines must be monitored . With this in mind there is a large marketplace for Emizon to fill and based on the professionalism of the staff and the feature rich product they have. The future is looking very bright

Emerging Video Surveillance Technologies – PIXC revolution! Pt1

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An interesting guide has just been issued from http://ipvideomarket.info/ entitled ‘Emerging Video Surveillance Guide 2010’

it details ‘What to Look for and what to Look Out for’ so over the next few days we will detail some of their opinions – for the full guide, head over to their website and simply sign up to receive the free PDF!

Emerging Technologies

  • IP Cameras
  • Megapixel Cameras
  • IP Based Storage (NAS / SAN)
  • Storage on-Board IP Cameras
  • Mesh Wireless IP Networks
  • Panoramic Cameras
  • Video Analytics
  • Business Intelligence
  • Remote Video Monitoring
  • Managed Video / Hosted Video Surveillance
  • Physical Security Information Management

they are keen to point out that the directory is purely meant as a survey of key risks for the ‘non-expert’

we think it is a great discussion document in this emerging Security arena…………………more to follow…………….

CCTV sales squeezed by government cuts.

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CCTV Sales take a hit.

Government spending across all areas of its budgets are soon to be cut. This will be like no other cuts we have ever seen before. Some say it is an inevitable consequence of over spending by the previous regime, some say it is not necessary. Whatever you think it is going to happen and this will filter through to effect new CCTV sales.

State spending cuts.

Speaking to many in the industry, one of the biggest concerns is the cut in spending on state funded new builds, especially schools and government buildings. The previous government had many spending plans and this was seen by many in the security industry as the catalyst that was going to kick start the IP camera revolution. New builds are of course the IP CCTV natural market place. Although more expensive than analogue, the big selling point has always been that they are cheaper to install so cost savings would have meant more sales amounting to millions of pounds. This now has all gone, at least in the foreseeable future. So is the new network IP camera revolution about to grind to a rather painful halt?

Hope.

Well looking at the facts it would seem that way but there is some hope on the horizon. Megapixel and HD cameras have undoubtedly brought better quality images to the market and this on its own will encourage people to buy. Remember however always to demonstrate this quality to the end user, talking alone can never sell anything. In addition to this is a rather contentious subject. Historically in times of recession crime rises. It is inevitable, so more crime will be seen across the country industry will have to invest in security. Will it be IP CCTV though?

CCTV, Making do? A bad decision!.

The last two years have been a barren period for new sales of both IP and analogue security equipment especially in the UK. Customers are quite simply just making do, or worse they are letting their systems deteriorate as they either wont or cant afford to keep the systems properly maintained. We know however that once the criminal fraternity are aware that there is limited or faulty security equipment on a site ,that site will get hit time and time again. This leaves the customer with little choice but to take action and often the best action is to spend money on new security.

Olympics 2012.

So what positives can take out of this? Well IP CCTV will become cheaper  and this will help sales. The Olympics is round the corner and this will be a big boost to our industry, and finally and most importantly this recession cannot go on forever, can it??

IPCCTV over WIFI

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The scenario.

Picture the scene (pardon the CCTV pun!)

Building A is 500 metres from building B

There are 4 cameras on building A, one on each corner (don’t you just love perfect worlds!) and they need to be viewed, recorded and controlled (did I mention they were PTZ?) all from building B

THE PROBLEM

The two buildings are separated by a river – a very nice river, big boats coming up and down, delivering stuff to dockside delivery points.

No chance of cabling then….. Until recently, the answer was to use free range wireless transmission solutions, such as RF, Microwave, Laser etc……… but, history shows that each has it’s positives and negatives but they all share one common negative….. expense.

ANOTHER WAY?

With the upsurge in IP, there is another way………..Wifi…………ok, professional wireless is what all the proper ‘wifi’ consultants will call it, but wifi nonetheless.

You see, Wifi does not have to be a one to one transmission solution…………. with typical bandwidth of 54Mbps, even if we halve it (because clever network guys will tell you that there is always a drop over distance etc), we can expect a 27Mbps bandwidth allowance……

So, take our building A and B scenario…. cable all the 4 cameras to a central point (it is a perfect world after all !) and either convert to IP from analogue using encoders (or, if we are to get this industry into the 21st century let’s push the boat out and go true IP cameras!) and connect to a regular 4 port network switch…

Take the output of that switch and insert into something like the Silvernet product range….. 1Km line of sight, pre-configured to create a point to point connection…..go to building B, position the receiving unit line of sight to building A and either decode back to analogue or bring one, neat, simple CAT5/6 cable out and introduce to the network for full control and view of the system ! simples !

THE THEORY AND THE PRACTICE

Ok, we don’t always have a perfect world, clearly, however, using the above solution, we have sent 4 cameras over the one link….saving a LOT of money:-

RF/Microwave/Laser = at least £2000+ for EACH camera

WIFI = under £1000 for a 1Km link with the ability to run a good few cameras – typically a PTZ IP camera would be around 5Mbs and a static at around 2Mbs

But, just like RF/Microwave/Laser, if the Wifi states ‘Line of Sight’ or LoS, then it REALLY means that…..so much as a leaf on a overhanging tree, or, in the case of our River separating the two buildings, boats that might momentarily ‘interrupt’ the signal, it is imperative to ensure that the TX and RX units are positioned so as to enjoy clear and uninterrupted transmission!

The cost savings are impressive and just might give this industry the excuse to use IP !!

CCTV security systems. Great expectations?

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Expectations from CCTV systems.

CCTV installers can experience a number of problems after an installation has been finished and the first and most important of these is customers expectations. If the customer has not had a demonstration, then how are they to know what the picture quality will be when the engineer first switches the system on? The multitude of reactions we have experienced range from,…. .”wow that is fantastic” …to “but I cant even see their face”…or “thought the picture would be clearer than that”!  Bear in mind that to the supplier all those reactions are to a CCTV system that is exactly the same specification as they always install and the systems are the same and are of equal quality. The thing that must be established with the customer from the start is, what do they expect from the system?

Sales staff.

Many sales staff desperate for a sale will over sell. Then to maximise profits as they have been forced to discount and sell well below list price, they will then be forced to install the very cheapest kit to maximise profits. The reason for this ? Many sales have frustratingly been lost on price alone. The problem is end users tend to buy from” people who give them the right price that they want to hear, rather than pay a little more for the right product”. Instead they should take considered advice that ultimately could save them both disappointment and money.

Megapixel IP solutions.

So what about new IP and Megapixel solutions.? Well it is even more important to ensure that the product is exactly right for the application. Do megapixel cameras see well in the dark? Well some do but most don’t. When looking from inside out towards sunlight can a megapixel camera cope under those conditions? Again some better than others. A customer could spend thousands of pounds only to be disappointed in the end.

The future.

However Megapixel cameras are the future and end users should be keen to migrate existing analogue CCTV and embrace IP CCTV solutions whenever they decide to upgrade. Remember however don’t always opt for the cheapest option after all doesn’t the saying go ” buy cheap, buy twice”.