cctv installation location
By Izhak General Information 0 Comments

Important CCTV Terminology

Here’s a list of CCTV terminology to get you started!

Analog Backlight Compensation (BLC): Automatically adjusts picture brightness depending on lighting conditions. This helps overcome strong backlighting which normally results in silhouettes or shadows.

Auto Tracing White Balance (ATW): Automatically adjusts the white balance in response to varying light conditions.

Automatic Gain Control (AGC): Amplifies existing video to help camera create an enhanced video signal at low light levels.

Automatic Iris: A device in the lens that self-adjusts to light level changes. The iris opens or closes to control the amount of light passing through the lens.

Backlight Compensation: A feature that compensates for bright backgrounds so foreground objects aren’t silhouetted.

Charge Coupled Device (CCD): A sensor that collects light and converts it into an electrical signal.

Covert Surveillance: Either using cameras that are hidden or disguised to observe a scene without being detected. Covert surveillance can also be physically undertaken by people, generally Private Investigators. See Investigation Services

Digital Recording: Technology that enables images from a camera to be stored on a hard drive. A digital recorder provides clearer images that video tape and faster access to them.

Digital Signal Processing (DSP): Conversion of the analog signal from a CCD image sensor into a digital signal through an analog to digital converter. This enables many digital features such as backlight compensation or sensitivity up.

Focal Length: The distance from the centre of a lens to a point where it focuses light. The combination of the focal length and the CCD format determines a camera’s field of view. The shorter the focal length, the wider the field of view.

IP Video Surveillance: A video surveillance system that allows analog and/or IP (Internet Protocol) cameras, operating over a standard IP network, to transmit real-time video feeds over the internet. The video footage is processed and recorded digitally onto an NVR (Network Video Recorder) where it can be accessed remotely by any PC connected to the network.

JPEG/MPEG: Both the Joint Photographic Experts Group and the Motion Picture Experts Group represent standards for the storage and retrieval of compressed still and video pictures.

Lux: A unit measuring the intensity of light. The light of a full moon is about 0.1 lux, while bright sunlight is about 100,000 lux.

NTSC: Standard of broadcasting color television in the US and Japan formulated by the National Television Standards Committee.

PAL: Short for Phase Alternating Line, is a colour-encoding system used in broadcast television systems in large parts of the world, including New Zealand.

Resolution: A measure of the ability of a camera, recorder or monitor to reproduce detail. The bandwidth of the video signal relating to the amount of detail that determines the overall quality of the picture.

Varifocal Lens: Contains several movable elements to permit manual adjustment of the effective focal length. This type of lens allows you to adjust the size of your field of view.

Video Motion Detection: A system that detects motion in the video signal and generates a corresponding alarm. This can be accomplished by some cameras, multiplexers and digital recorders. This feature maximises recording space by only recording while motion is detected.

White Balance: A process used in video cameras to retain true colours.

Top 5 Benefits of Installing CCTV In Your Office
By Izhak General Information 0 Comments

Top 5 Benefits of Installing CCTV In Your Office

CCTV can protect employees. In lots of jobs the employees are vulnerable to either physical or verbal attacks from the public. Moreover, it is able to protect the employees against false allegations that might be common in some areas of business.

CCTV helps prevent crime, of course. The hidden cameras are able to help investigators to identify how a crime happened and to spot it in action. However, they are more likely to prevent the crime from occurring simply by letting everyone know they are being watched.

CCTV can help employee satisfaction – Watching CCTV recordings may give you an idea of how to streamline your business and ensure your employees enjoy their work.

CCTV can help settle disputes. In some cases, when a customer has a complaint about your service, there are some doubts and you are not sure who’s in the wrong.

CCTV is convenient for keeping records, as it can act as an automated system able to allow you to prove to customers and check yourself that. A lot of the units on the market these days use CDR technology, which allows to store many hours of surveillance on a single disk.

cctv installation location
By Izhak Tips and Tricks 0 Comments

Five of the Best Locations for Home Security Cameras

You know your home best, so you are uniquely qualified to evaluate how to keep it safe from intrusion.

Once you’ve decided on the locations of your cameras, you have to determine whether you’ll install your cameras where thieves can see them, to serve as a deterrent but where they can be easily broken–or if you should put them out of reach where they may hide from burgling eyes but will always catch the thief on video.

Install your real cameras out of reach (and possibly out of sight), and then place dummy cameras – the kind that look completely authentic, of course – around your property. That way, if a burglar does break one of your cameras, it’ll be an inexpensive dummy – and you’ll have a video of the act too.

Here are five spots you should always install a home surveillance camera:

1. Front Door

An estimated 34% of all burglars enter your home through the front door, so you’ll definitely want to train one of your surveillance cameras here. You can consider enclosing your front door camera in mesh wiring to protect it from errant rocks, sticks, or other weapons.

2. Back Door

Another 22% of home burglars enter through the back door, so you need a camera here, as well. The bottom line is, arm each entry door with a camera. Again, make the effort to place your camera out of the reach of human hands, or to protect it from projectiles, like rocks or sticks or anything an intruder might hurl at it.

3. Off-Street Windows

Burglars often enter a home by breaking a rear window. Get a jump on them and train a camera on any area of your home with windows that cannot be viewed from the street.

4. Backyard/Side Gate

Arm your yard with motion-sensor floodlights and a night vision surveillance camera to protect your home and belongings. If your backyard is fenced in, make sure your camera has a view of the entrance gate (or install a second camera there).

5. Basement Stairs

Place a camera on the stairs leading up from the basement to your home to record any wayward prowlers who sneak their way into your home via the subterranean route.

CCTV installation tips
By Izhak Tips and Tricks 0 Comments

Tips for Successful CCTV Installation in Your Home/Office

Before you buy your CCTV Security Camera, first you must do some research to ensure that you are buying the right security camera system for your situation. If you are not sure about this, then find a professional security camera installer to do the job.

Security Lighting

Another problem with any outside security camera installation is lighting, or the lack of it. If you want to record an area at night, you need to ensure the area is well lit. You can do this by installing additional security lighting. Alternatively, there are many cameras with low light level capabilities, or even infrared night vision capabilities.

Weather factors

A sturdy, durable protective cover is essential for an outdoor security camera installation.

Depending on the climate in your location, you may need to consider the temperature ranges your system will need to endure. Make sure the system you choose to install will work all year round in your climate.

Power outlets

The most common problem is the lack of access to a power source. If access to a power source is a challenge to your CCTV installation, you have several options. You can have power outlets installed near where you plan to install your cameras. Alternately, you can run hidden wiring into an outlet inside your garage. Or you can opt for a camera that draws power from a plug-in battery pack.