Surveillance Camera Systems - Bullet Cameras
January 24th, 2009
Good video explaining bullet cameras for surveillance camera systems.
Surveillance Camera Systems - Bullet Cameras - The best video clips are right here
Things To Know About Dome Cameras
January 7th, 2009
Here’s a good video pointing out some key features that you should know for selecting the right type of dome camera for your surveillance camera systems.
Surveillance Camera Systems - All About Dome Cameras - The most popular videos are here
Intro To Cameras Used In Surveillance Camera Systems
December 21st, 2008
Here’s a video giving a brief description of the most common cameras used in surveillance camera systems.
Advantages of Surveillance Camera Systems in a Recession
December 10th, 2008
With the United States economy being in the poor state it is currently in, business owners need to be careful when it comes to shrinkage. A bad economy tends to bring a rise in theft in all form of businesses… office or retail… it doesn’t matter.
Shrinkage causes enormous amounts of profit loss to businesses every year. Unfortunately it is physically impossible for business owners to watch their business 24/7. Most people think that most shrinkage is a result of customers stealing product, but the reality is that most shrinkage is caused by inside sources, such as employees.
Employees are the greatest culprits of profit loss in most business. Think about it… employees are very knowledgeable on how their employer’s business functions day in and day out. In other words, they know the loopholes in the system and they know how to use them to their advantage.
Most businesses go through great extents on protecting their property from outsiders, but they fall short when it comes to properly setting up surveillance camera systems that protect them from both outside and inside theft. The trick is to properly balance both ends and not be naïve about possible inside jobs.
Today’s technology offers a plethora of choices when it comes to choosing the right surveillance system for your business. There are cameras for exterior use, interior use, night vision use, and much more. Surveillance camera systems are like non-stop working employs that don’t miss nor forget anything. And you don’t even need to be present all the time. Today’s systems allow for remote monitoring which you are able to control from anywhere in the world via the internet.
In conclusion, surveillance camera systems are a necessity to any business that give you a great return on your investment.
How To Choose The Right DVR
December 1st, 2008
A DVR is basically a computer with the sole purpose of capturing images and electronically communicating with existing security devices. Having the right knowledge and understanding of Digital Video Recorders will help you make the best purchasing decision. In many cases, price does not always reflect performance.
One of the most, if not the most, important specification for you to consider is the record resolution. The record resolution is the amount of vertical and horizontal pixels captured for each channel during record. Most DVRs have record resolutions ranging from QCIF to 4CIF (also referred to as D1).
QCIF: 176 x 120 pixels
CIF: 360 x 240 pixels
2CIF: 704 x 240 pixels
4CIF/ D1: 704 x 480 pixels
Mostly all DVR systems playback in full D1 resolution. So if you are recording at anything lower than this resolution, it is impossible for you to truly playback at D1 resolution. In other words, if a DVR is recording each channel in CIF, it will not be as good quality as if it were recording in full D1. Casinos and airports are two common examples where D1 is required per channel. The important thing to remember here is that the RECORD specification is much more important than display specification. So for example a16 channel DVR advertised as 480/120FPS display/ record means that it is only capable of recording a maximum frame rate of 120FPS or 7.5 FPS per channel and simply “displays” at 480FPS.
The next important specification for you to pay attention to is the compression. H.264 is the latest technology and usually the most expensive, but worth every penny. Video quality is superior with H.264 and harddisk space usage is minimal compared to the competing technologies. H.264 has become today’s standard of video encoding and will continue to be in the future. Most advertised DVRs neglect to tell you the brands of processors used so make sure to inquire carefully and keep in mind that Motorola, Texas Instruments, and Philips are the current market leaders in H.264 hardware DSP processors.
It is also very highly recommended that you stick to DVRs that are DSP based because the ones that aren’t; aren’t PC compliant. In other words, something as simple as replacing or upgrading your harddrive can become a nightmare because you need to get new firmware from the manufacturer which can sometimes take months or sometimes simply impossible to get. ASIC or non DSP based DVR systems are less expensive, but long term, they are likely to become obsolete.
Is there a difference between FPS and fps? Yes, they are the same exact letters, but they actually represent two different things which are very important to take notice of. FPS stands for Frames Per Second and the standard for Real-Time is 30FPS… same as used in Hollywood films and H.264 DVRs. In the MJPEG and JPEG2000 environment, fps translates to FIELDS per second. An odd and an even field is required to make a frame in JPEG/JPEG2000 DVR so always remember to divide the JPEG20000 advertised FPS specification in two in order to get an accurate comparison of actual frame rates you are purchasing.
DVR systems vary greatly when it comes to features, performance, and flexibility. Most of the time these are things that are dependent on the processor used in your DVR. Let’s take for example the ability to do remote internet monitoring… this is a feature that is very handy because it allows you to always have access and control of your surveillance camera system even when you are away. So what makes one DVR better than the other when it comes to remote internet monitoring? Well let’s take MJPEG and JPEG2000 DVR systems… they are both capable of remote internet marketing, but because of their huge file sizes, the frame rates can be extremely slow. On the other hand, H.264 DVR systems display video online about 6 times faster than MJPEG/ JPEG2000 systems. H.264 DVR systems also feature control over bandwidth, VOIP, synced audio capability, and remote PC recording and monitoring.
Preventing Employee Theft with Surveillance Camera Systems
November 24th, 2008
Surveillance camera systems deter employee theft and increase business productivity.
Cool Spy Gadgets as Surveillance Spy Equipment
November 21st, 2008
Here’s a cool article about today’s use of covert surveillance equipment and the plethora of selection that exists. Very interesting… hope you enjoy…
Today in this age of increasing crimes and terrorist activities. security has become a prime concern. There is a variety of spy gadgets and surveillance equipment in the market today to help you out in this regard. Journalists also use these tools to enhance their investigations.
The Panther Handheld Night Vision Camera and Recorder
You can record audio and video when you wish, with the push of a button even in extremely low light conditions. It is recommended for security guards and covert surveillance. It has a lightweight color camera and audio/video recorder. It can be used for many hours because of rechargeable Lithium battery. It has a 2GB memory card on which one can record up to 8 hours of video. All the video and audio is in a versatile AVI format which can be transferred to any computer with a media player, allowing you to archive important recordings for later retrieval. It has a powerful night vision mode.
Video Peephole Door Camera
It looks like an ordinary peephole. Nobody will suspect they are being watched when they approach your door or pass by.
DVR Pen Camera Recorder with Audio and Video Recording
It looks and functions like an ordinary pen. It is the first DVR pen recorder in the world, which is both a camera and a recorder in the shape of a pen with which you can actually write. It can record up to 30 hours of audio and video. You can take it for your interview or business meeting.
It can be placed anywhere without drawing attention. It has a high quality miniature monochrome video camera hidden inside the front panel of a 20-inch color TV. The camera and transmitter are hidden inside the TV.
Sports Bag Camera
The camera is placed in the front. One can conceal a video recorder in the sports bag.
Hidden Briefcase Camera
The camera is placed in the front. One can conceal a video recorder in the briefcase.
Purse Camera
This is highly popular. Used in law enforcement and covert surveillance.
Wired Button Camera
It blends into your clothing and can be plugged into a body-worn recorder.
The Eye-Witness Security Camera and Recorder with Nightvision
One can use this if one is concerned about what happens in one’s office and home when one is not around. It can see in complete darkness.
High Fidelity Dedicated Voice Recorder Watch with Stealth Mode.The recorder watch is suitable for:
- business people to record important talk, conference or negotiations.
- Student’s to record important sections of lessons from college.
- Participant’s can record a part or the whole of any party, lecture or a concert if they wish.
- Police to secretly record relevant evidence.
- Private detectives and undercover investigation agents to record evidence.
High Resolution Spy Camera Sunglasses
This is a virtually undetectable and popular spy gadget.
The Micro Orb Professional Spy Camera and Recorder
It is extremely small at 1.5 inches. It can record up to 6 hours of continuous video. Its small size makes it convenient to hide.
Air Freshener Hidden Camera
Nobody will suspect that a camera is concealed within an air freshener. One can put it on a table or hang it on the wall.
Light Bulb Hidden Camera
It is cleverly hidden in a non-functioning light bulb that can be fitted into your indoor light fixtures and thus can be used as a hidden camera to your television or VCR. It works on the existing wiring.
Sprinkler Head Hidden Camera
It can be placed in your office or home. It is ideal for stealthy secret recordings.
Picture Frame Covert Camera
It complements the décor in your home or office. It is very popular and practically undetectable.
There is a plethora of cool spy gadgets available nowadays. And they are easy on the pocket too. Wish you happy spying.
ROI On Your Surveillance Camera System For Your Business
November 19th, 2008
We are currently experiencing an extremely difficult economy and for those of us who own a business, being frugal with our business expenses has become a necessity.
Every penny counts and we need to be careful with prioritizing where our hard earned money will give us the best return on our investment (ROI).
Surveillance camera systems are definitely an investment every business owner needs to consider. It is a smart business decision, and frankly, it is necessary in today’s vulnerable economy. Everyone is hurting financially, and unfortunately this brings the crime rate up… not only with your walk-in customers, but also possibly within your own employees. Times of hardship create a greater temptation for people to try and pocket some extra money on the side.
Surveillance camera systems are like having employees that work for you 24/7 and never forget a single thing. These electronic employess never get sick, never go on breaks, and you can always control them… even when you are not around.
There are many types of cameras and digital video recorders (DVRs) in today’s market. There is a setup to fit just about any application you may need. There are exterior cameras, entrance/ exit cameras, interior cameras, wireless cameras, hidden cameras, register cameras, etc, etc.
An important thing to consider when customizing your system is that it is better to use fewer cameras of higher resolution than many lower resolution cameras.
The pros definitely outweigh the cons and making an investment for the true benefit of your business will go a long way.
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