Tag Archives: megapixel IP camera

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.What do end users want?

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What do end users want/ expect from CCTV ?

Good live images.

Reliable DVRs.

Excellent service.

Robust products.

Future proofed solutions.

A quality installation.

Internet access to recordings.

Integration to access control /intruder alarms.

Megapixel and HD cameras.

Good compression over the network.

Recorded images that retain maximum quality.

Recorded images that can be zoomed into.

CCTV software thats easy to use.

Remote IT support.

Fast response to faults.

CCTV analytics

Remote CCTV monitoring.

Here at integrated CCTV we know this and we are able to give advice and help on how this can be achieved. With up to date news and reviews on all the latest IP PIXCs, HD solutions , Analytics and how to get the best out of your existing CCTV systems. If you have any questions on CCTV, Access control or security integration it is well worth viewing the site or asking us questions online. We will always be able to find you the answer you need.

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”.

HD security cameras – HiDef or Megapixel ?

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HD or not HD – that is the question

It’s 2010 and our industry is once again pondering the inevitable
question ‘when will IP catch on’!!??

For the past few years, experts have been predicting the demise of the
analogue camera and the true embrace of networked connected IP
cameras…….but with no-one really sticking their neck out and
stating when it will actually happen.

And this is, in part, because the industry is a wash with so many
fragmented technologies that installers and end users alike are
confused as to what is really available.

Take the latest greatest IP encoder and you are hooked on the quality
and ease of installation….then you ask what recording options are
available and you find yourself hooked into the same manufacturer to
ensure complete compatibility…….

What happened to using the Panasanyo camera with the Dedicated
Research DVR along with the Ademcobrain monitor?? Analogue, old
technology but at least compatible with each other!

Perhaps things are a changing……ONVIF is around the corner and
promises to ensure that any company that signs up has to ensure it
offers compatibility with other ONVIF contributors – we wait and
see……

Megapixel? Whats best? We are brought up to believe that the more the
number the better the specification…..a 5megapixel camera has got to
be better than a 2megapixel camera surely? Sure, but at what expense?
You need more HDD to store it (expense) and you need a good bandwidth
network to transmit it (expense) – of course, you can scale everything
back, throttle, dual stream, encode in CIF and all the other ways of
making the good quality image smaller and faster, but is that not like
buying a Ferrari and then only ever driving it at 30mph???

HD might change all this, at least in part to start with……High
Definition….. The very name smacks of expected quality…. If you
view a HD image, you are expecting a beautiful picture…..you want to
see the blade of grass on the ground and the badly shaven face of the
Serbian footballer on ITV 1 World Cup broadcasts (not wishing to spark
controversy but great result Serbs against the Germans!)……you want
to see the beads of sweat on the brows of ageing rockers on BBC
Glastonbury……..and HD delivers just that…….

And yet…..HD is merely 720p or at best, 1080p…… A mere 2
megapixels…… Pretty much at the maximum of what a really decent
monitor can display anyway…….but HD nonetheless

We saw a sneak preview of some of Sony’s IP opinions recently – HD is
their intended marketing vehicle……they think end users understand
HD…..they know that HD is embraced in the domestic sector…..and so
they are focussing their Security products as HD in order to gain a
quicker acceptance – and we think they are absolutely right

So why do we need more pixels? Maybe we don’t……just how many more
blades of grass do we need to see? Just how many more tufts of facial
hair on those footballers? And really, do we need to see more
perspiration on those rockers? If they are there, we just need to see
them and maybe even record them……for playback later……..just
like our security cameras

HD…..maybe that will kick us toward IP quicker!