CCTV: You Are Being Watched, No Matter Where You Are

Closed circuit TV, CCTV, doesn?t require an introduction at all. The purpose of installing wired or wireless CCTV is fundamentally the one of surveillance and vigilance. These are bigger in size than the wearable spy cameras or hidden cameras and so leave that for the detectives for the moment. (Also what we are not considering now is the Chinese TV channel: CCTV.)

It is thanks to IRA, the Irish Republican Army, for having paved the way for developing the concept of CCTV, albeit in a tragic way. The Royal British Army, in response to the IRA bombings has experimented using CCTV for years, including outdoors, since 1970s through to 1990s. Although exact numbers can not known, an estimate tells us that there are much more than 400,000 surveillance cameras on London streets alone.

Is It Just Military Surveillance With CCTV?

CCTV is extensively being used in security system of industries, banks, super markets homes and all such places which are perceived as strategically and financially important. Commercial establishments using CCTV have increased manifolds in UK although it is not so common in US as it is perceived as a privacy threat. New York City has about 4000 CCTV installations and most of which are in shopping malls and other public places such as Liberty Statue, Lincoln Express, British Parliament, and places of strategic importance. Traffic monitoring and prosecution & crime detection have leapfrogged with the advent of CCTV.

After All, Just What Is This CCTV

Well, CCTV is a closed network of small surveillance TV cameras which telecast and/or record anything in their field of view. CCTV networks are usually wired together and finally connected to one or more monitors. There will be more monitors depending on the importance of surveillance the cost factors. If you have lesser monitors than the number of cameras, they can be switched in a sequence onto monitor/s. CCTV cameras have capabilities to either record hours of footage they filmed or telecast in a short range at a particularly dedicated frequency which can?t be intercepted by normal TVs.

After the tragic bombings in London Metro tubes last July, there has been an increased public demand for using DVR (digital video recording) cameras rather than traditional cameras with tapes. If you wonder how this would have helped the cause, take it here. Tapes were removed in the fortnight following the bombings for study, and follow-up attacks could not be recorded as a result.

Thinking of CCTV installation at your office? Take professional help and consult police if necessary. Some cameras can be hampered with or can be intercepted with cheap receivers. A complete installation won?t cost more than $4000, which is nothing when security is uppermost.

NamSing Then is a regular article contributor on many topics. Be sure to visit his other websites CCTV Camera, CCTV Resources and Burglar Alarm

CCTV Cameras - Reduce the Risk of Crime

CCTV Cameras are among the most effective ways to reduce crime in your business or home, and there are a number of places to purchase CCTV equipment, even if you?re on a budget. Here are some things to look for when you?re shopping for CCTV cameras that will help you save time and money, as well as help you to better to protect your property. First of all, you need to choose a CCTV camera that has both a wide range and a quality lens, so that you can see what?s going on no matter which part of the property you?re on, and you?ll be able to spot any suspicious people or activity right away.

Next, make sure that your CCTV camera is compact and is easily rotated. This way, the camera is not easily seen by intruders or customers, and the ability for the camera to rotate quickly and effectively will give you a total view of who comes in and out of your business or home. The Voltek Wireless CCTV camera is a great choice for this reason, and we also offer a number of great new product to compliment this camera. It?s also a good idea to make sure that the CCTV equipment you purchase works well with the way that your property is set up in terms of how many enclosed walkways there are, whether or not there are open spaces throughout the office space or home, and how many rooms are usually occupied on the property. This will help you to determine how large of a camera you should purchase, and you may also want to purchase wireless CCTV equipment to eliminate the look of cables and plugs across the walls of your property.

Other equipment you?ll want to purchase in addition to the actual CCTV camera include a sign that you can post in front of your door or window on your property, which will let both potential criminals and customers know that the property is under surveillance. You?ll also want to make sure that you have a CCTV monitor that is hooked up to the camera, so that you can make sure that your property is safe, no matter where you are in your home or office. The monitors are available in both color and black and white, so you have the option of purchasing the monitors that are most affordable for you. If you?re just starting your business, or are switching alarm systems or moving into a new home or business building, you may also want to look into purchasing a dummy camera for a short period of time. The dummy cameras look very realistic, and you can use it to give the illusion of security on your property until you install a new CCTV camera. You may also want to look into the audio cameras we have to offer, such as the new Wireless Microcam Audio CCTV camera, so that you can hear what?s going on in your property as well as see it.

The shape of your camera will also play a big part in how well hidden the camera is, and how secure you can keep your home or business. Many times, if a surveillance camera is very obvious or large, criminals will immediately try to destroy the camera before stealing merchandise or money, or otherwise damaging the property. If a CCTV camera is well hidden, it will be difficult for burglars to find the camera, and it is much more likely that you will catch the trespassing on tape accurately. A discreet camera will also make customers or others in your home feel safer. So, small cameras, dome-shaped cameras, and even submergible cameras are a good idea if you want to add a little extra security to your home or business.

Must Have Security is one of the UK?s leading specialist online retailer of personal and home security products. For more information go to http://www.musthavesecurity.com/cctv-kits.asp

CCTV Cameras - Reduce the Risk of Crime

CCTV Cameras are among the most effective ways to reduce crime in your business or home, and there are a number of places to purchase CCTV equipment, even if you?re on a budget. Here are some things to look for when you?re shopping for CCTV cameras that will help you save time and money, as well as help you to better to protect your property. First of all, you need to choose a CCTV camera that has both a wide range and a quality lens, so that you can see what?s going on no matter which part of the property you?re on, and you?ll be able to spot any suspicious people or activity right away.

Next, make sure that your CCTV camera is compact and is easily rotated. This way, the camera is not easily seen by intruders or customers, and the ability for the camera to rotate quickly and effectively will give you a total view of who comes in and out of your business or home. The Voltek Wireless CCTV camera is a great choice for this reason, and we also offer a number of great new product to compliment this camera. It?s also a good idea to make sure that the CCTV equipment you purchase works well with the way that your property is set up in terms of how many enclosed walkways there are, whether or not there are open spaces throughout the office space or home, and how many rooms are usually occupied on the property. This will help you to determine how large of a camera you should purchase, and you may also want to purchase wireless CCTV equipment to eliminate the look of cables and plugs across the walls of your property.

Other equipment you?ll want to purchase in addition to the actual CCTV camera include a sign that you can post in front of your door or window on your property, which will let both potential criminals and customers know that the property is under surveillance. You?ll also want to make sure that you have a CCTV monitor that is hooked up to the camera, so that you can make sure that your property is safe, no matter where you are in your home or office. The monitors are available in both color and black and white, so you have the option of purchasing the monitors that are most affordable for you. If you?re just starting your business, or are switching alarm systems or moving into a new home or business building, you may also want to look into purchasing a dummy camera for a short period of time. The dummy cameras look very realistic, and you can use it to give the illusion of security on your property until you install a new CCTV camera. You may also want to look into the audio cameras we have to offer, such as the new Wireless Microcam Audio CCTV camera, so that you can hear what?s going on in your property as well as see it.

The shape of your camera will also play a big part in how well hidden the camera is, and how secure you can keep your home or business. Many times, if a surveillance camera is very obvious or large, criminals will immediately try to destroy the camera before stealing merchandise or money, or otherwise damaging the property. If a CCTV camera is well hidden, it will be difficult for burglars to find the camera, and it is much more likely that you will catch the trespassing on tape accurately. A discreet camera will also make customers or others in your home feel safer. So, small cameras, dome-shaped cameras, and even submergible cameras are a good idea if you want to add a little extra security to your home or business.

Must Have Security is one of the UK?s leading specialist online retailer of personal and home security products. For more information go to http://www.musthavesecurity.com/cctv-kits.asp

Common CCTV DVR DIY Mistakes

This article will attempt to reveal some of the more common mistakes to avoid when creating your own CCTV DVR.

1. Budget:
   

   Many DIY'ers simply do not budget enough money for projects like this. When looking at cameras, look at the specs. A $200 security camera and a $50 security camera are going to be very different in terms of image quality and light response. Also look at CCTV DVR features. Places like Costco offer surveillance systems for under $500 but those surveillance systems don't have anywhere near the features of professional grade systems like Video Insight. Those systems can even be missing basic features like video motion detection. You may want to look for surveillance packages that combine everything you need to put a system together, including the CCTV DVR, security cameras, security camera lens's, mounts, power supplies, and cable. Packages like that can start at about $2000 and go up to $10,000 depending on the number of security cameras needed.

2. Surveillance Camera Placement:
   

   Surveillance camera placement is one of the most important factors in an effective surveillance camera system. Ask yourself the questions professionals do: How is the light coming in? How will this change at night? What am I trying to see? How do people move through the area? What kind of blind spots will there be? What kind of surveillance camera lens do I need to use? Do I need to use multiple surveillance cameras to cover this area? Would a side view be better for this then a straight on view?

3. Selecting the right security cameras:
   

   When looking at security cameras, understand what you are trying to do. Are you looking for license plate recognition? If so, then you need to select a camera lens that will allow the plate to be at least 1/3 of the image. This means that a surveillance camera with a wider field of view can not do license plate recognition. The same goes for facial recognition. If you are trying to cover a parking lot with a narrow entrance, you will have to use two surveillance cameras. Very wide entrances can make this very, very hard.

4. Selecting the right camera lens:
   

   Selecting the right camera lens is pretty easy. Note where you are going to place the camera and select the point where you want the best picture. Measure the distance from there to the camera. That is your focal distance. Then measure the width of the picture you want to see. Once you have these numbers you can feed them into a CCTV lens calculator. Looking at the F-stop will give an idea of how well that lens will work at night.

5. Infrared or No?:
   

   Infrared cameras are wonderful for covering areas of complete darkness. But many of the all-in-one camera/emitter units are fairly limited in range. This chart can help with deciding if you need to go the infrared route or not.

   • Direct sunlight: 100,000 - 130,000 lux
   • Full daylight, indirect sunlight: 10,000 - 20,000 lux
   • Overcast day: 1,000 lux
   • Indoor office: 200 - 400 lux
   • Very dark day: 100 lux
   • Twilight: 10 lux
   • Deep twilight: 1 lux
   • Full moon: 0.1 lux
   • Quarter moon: 0.01 lux
   • Moonless clear night sky: 0.001 lux
   • Moonless overcast night sky: 0.0001 lux

6. Focusing the video camera:
   

   This is a simple and easy trick to help with focusing the video cameras. Use a BNC to RCA plug and a small television set to focus the video camera. The ideal time to focus the video cameras is in twilight because it will give the best compromise between the light and dark settings of the auto-iris lens.

7. Cable types:
   

   There are a few types of cable called RG-59. Copper vs. Aluminum sheet and 75% braid vs. 95% braid. For CCTV system work, you should always use copper shielding. Aluminum shielding is meant for modulated signals like cable and allows too much interference for CCTV systems. 75% braid and 95% braid measure how tightly and how much copper is used in the copper sheathing. 95% copper braided cable is more expensive but worth the extra expense. It is much more effective at preventing interference, and much more forgiving of mistakes. We only sell 95% braid copper shielded RG-59

8. Cable runs and Ground loops:
   

   Coax cable should be kept at least 12" away from any power lines and power conduits. The AC power creates a field of interference that will appear like snow on the screen. This can create havoc with motion detection. Ground loops can be caused by securing cameras to metal structures that have a different electrical ground then the power supply. This will cause bands to move through the screen. Solving this is a matter of eliminating contact between the cameras and the source of the ground.

9. Sony Cameras:
   

   Sony has a line of CCTV surveillance cameras, but all of them are clearly marked Sony. You will see a lot of sites offer "Sony" cameras when they don't say Sony on them. The reason for this is that Sony makes about 75% of the worlds CCD chips, which are used in everything from Camcorders to digital cameras to CCTV security cameras. The CCD is an important part of the security camera and has an impact on the resolution, but the electronics behind the CCD also have a big role in how good your image is.

10. What determines how good my image is?:
    

    How good your image is depends on quite a few things. It depends on how good your lens is, how well it is focused, what the resolution is, and how good the S/N (Signal to noise) ratio is. When looking at a camera, you generally want both the highest resolution and the highest S/N ratio you can find. The Signal to noise ratio is a Logarithmic scale so the difference between 46 dB and 48 dB is a rather large difference. If forced to select between a camera with a slightly lower resolution and a high S/N ratio or a camera with a higher resolution and lower S/N ratio, try to select the one with the better S/N ratio if you are doing longer (500 ft+) cable runs. For shorter runs going with the higher resolution is okay.

11. How many FPS do I need?:
    

    Many manufacturers and distributors will try to push their highest frame rate DVR's and Cards on you because those items have the best profit margins. But high frame rates may not be in your best interests from both a storage and budgetary perspective. For most applications 3 to 7 fps is fine. If your goal is to identify theft or vandals then 3 fps is almost always enough. The only time one should consider more then 15 fps is if you have to watch for sleight-of-hand like watching a register. The reason to avoid higher frame rates is that they take up more drive space, reducing the total storage time of the system. It can also divert budget away from selecting the right cameras which is far more important and more likely to generate usable evidence then a higher frame rate.

12. Audio Recording:
    

    Don't do it! In many states it is illegal, period. It does not matter if it is your home or other private property. The law only cares about if the people being recorded are aware that they are being recorded. A number of people tend to think "Well, I'll put it in anyway, it's not like someone is going to report me." The problem with that line of logic is that if you ever submit video as evidence to a court and you are in violation of your state's laws or federal laws, then you have just given proof to the courts that you also committed a crime. The best possible outcome is that the court throws out the recording and you don't go to jail. But if you can't use your recordings to help convict a person that has wronged you then what good was the money you spent?

13. CSI:
    

    As a general rule of thumb, anything you've seen done on television or in the Movies with video enhancement is simply not possible in the real world. You can't make data appear where there is none. There is no magic trick to make that work.

    For more information on Security Cameras and Video Surveillance, please visit www.liquidcctv.com

Selecting The CCTV DVR Features You Need

Every type of CCTV user has different needs and requirements for their install. This can make selecting the right system difficult for many people who aren't familiar with security camera installs. Generally these needs can be broken up by the type of user you are. The needs of a home user are different then the needs of a retail store. Some needs people think they have to have, they really don't need. The basic requirements that should be a bare minimum for all users of all systems are Triplex, the ability to back it up, strong technical support, and ease of playback.

Triplex DVR's are DVR's that can record, backup/archive, and view live video all at the same time. Anytime you have to stop recording to view playback, you run the risk of something happening while the system is down. You also run the risk of a user leaving the system in a non-recording mode when they finish with it. Given how it's almost standard on all DVR's (PC based or standalone) there is no reason to settle for anything less. This is a strong reason to upgrade a VCR system, since very, very few of them have the ability to be triplex.

Backing up the video in case of an incident allows you to give it to Police or others who may need the video. Giving the video to Police can help them quickly identify thieves and increases the chance of getting stolen property recovered. But giving it to the police isn't the only reason to have a way to backup the video. CCTV systems can be useful in other legal matters such as slip and fall or personal injury lawsuits. Being able to make a CD of an event and keep it for the future can stop costly lawsuits before they begin.

Strong technical support is very important. If the system isn't working then it offers you no protection. And Murphy's Law of CCTV is that something will always happen when the system is off line. This system is one that you are trusting to protect something valuable to you. You need a company that will stand behind its products and support you. Ideally you want to work with a company that is either local to you, or has excellent national support. Buying a cheap DVR from China may save a few dollars now but may cost you a lot more in the long run.

Ease of playback is something that should be strongly considered. One of the reasons that tape systems are fading out is that trying to wade through days worth of video tapes can take hours to find an incident. This prevents people from using it to check for simple irregularities. One of the major points of using systems like this is the ability to apply some degree of intelligence to the system. With any DVR you want to look at the motion detection. Motion detection should reduce the amount of total time recorded. Combine this with a good search feature and it starts becoming a useful tool.

These are the very basics that all users should be looking for. Anything less then those features is just an expensive paperweight. The goal of this technology is to protect you as well as make the information useful. If your system doesn't meet these needs then it isn't going to help you very much. Here is a list of more advanced features that different users should look for:

Small Companies:

Advanced Motion Detection: Given that most small business have cameras that may view busy streets, the ability to block out certain areas should be something you look for. This reduces the amount of false motion detection you're looking for.

Support for Dynamic IP's: Most small companies do not have a static IP address, and the cost with some ISP's can be extremely expensive. Having software support for Dynamic IP's can make your life much easier.

Support for DIO modules: These allow you to add an external door contact or window contact to a system. If you have a wired alarm system, this allows the DVR to force recording if any of contacts are tripped.

Remote Playback without a plug-in/, application, or Active-X: This gives you the ability to check on your company from home or any offsite location without needing to install any additional software that may not be compatible with the remote computer.

Synchronized Playback: This allows you to see multiple cameras at the same time in playback. This is great for seeing the sequence of events. Something like vandalism or slip and fall; if it happens in the view of multiple cameras then you can see that child picked up that rock and threw it, even if they moved around the house.

Pre/ Post Motion Recording: This acts as a buffer on either side of the video. This lets you see how things were before an event happened and can help smooth out issues with motion detection.

Large Companies/ Institutions:

Smart Search: Sometimes people leave things where they shouldn't or take things they shouldn't. The ability to draw a box and hunt for motion changes in an area can take a three hour task of hunting for something and reduce it to just a few moments.

Watermarks: Watermarks allow you to show that video hasn't been tampered with. This allows police to use the video without having to take the whole DVR for evidence.

Motion Logs: Motion logs make it easy to start playback when you have a rough idea of when something happened. It's also useful to looking at traffic patterns.

E-mail Alerts: If someone breaks into the location, you will want to know when it happens. E-mail alerts let you do that.

Scheduled Recording: On some cameras you just don't care about certain times of the day. Recording on a scheduled basis allows to conserve disk space by recording only when needed.

For more information on CCTV DVR features and products, please visit www.liquidcctv.com