Month: October 2012

Samsung HD SDI CCTV

Samsung have started to advertise and promote their new product line that moves them into the new HD SDI CCTV market place. Previously Samsung have been advocating IP and the benefits that this can deliver in the form of HD. By actively promoting HD SDI technology  built into Samsung’s new HD-SDI cameras and DVR, we can see just how much this is now in the minds of all CCTV professionals.The Samsung HD SDI CCTV solution allows the transmission of uncompressed and non-packetized Full HD (1080P) video over analogue cabling and as a result suits deployment here in the UK because so much coax currently exists here.

Samsung HD SDI CCTV

The main benefits of HD-SDI technology is that there is zero loss of image data and zero latency when viewing images. Samsung have released two new HD SDI cameras into the market place. These are the SCB-6000 fixed camera and  SCD-6080 internal dome. HD as we know ideally suits many applications especially where HDcctv images are required. Many businesses including airports, ports, banks and casinos will gain a great deal more detail from using HD. This is especially true in situations where it is not always simple or cost effective, to send HD images over an IP network.

So now Samsung has the cameras to produce HD images over coax they have also introduced a four-channel HD SDI DVR. The new SRD-480D DVR offers real-time 1080p across selected channels. When using the DVR on the 720P resolution, real time can be achieved across all channels. Both the new cameras and the Samsung  HD SDI DVR is fully compatible with Samsung’s licence-free Net-i Viewer software. This allows users to view analogue, IP and HD-SDI technologies on one common platform. Installers can now offer their customer base all the benefits of HD megapixel cameras without having to have any specialist knowledge of IP based systems.

The SCB-6000 fixed camera and SCD-6080 internal dome have included as standard Super Noise Reduction (SSNRIII) technology. In addition both are true day/night HD SDI cameras transmitting full HD images up to 100 meters over coax in real-time. With images recorded at 25 frames per second the end user experience is one of seamless movement and high quality HD. Both models are now delivering over five times the image resolution that standard definition analogue cameras are able to achieve.

The maximum transmission distance between the SCB-6000 or the SCD-6080 and the HD SDI DVR is 100 metres, however this can be increased to 200 metres when low-loss L-6CHD coaxial cable is installed. To increase transmission distances even further Samsung intend to  introduce the SPH-120R Repeater very shortly.

 

HD SDI DVR price drop. Will it continue?

HD SDI DVR’s are they getting cheaper?

HD SDI DVR’s are dropping in price as more and more options start to flood into the UK. Following the success of HD SDI CCTV in general at IFSEC this year  it seems installers have been selling the concept with a great deal of enthusiasm. It also seems that HDcctv compliant recorders are the preferred way forward. It is widely accepted that those badged as compliant are viewed as more reliable and more trustworthy. This of course does not mean that those HD SDI DVR’s that are non-compliant are not still a good option as long as the supplier is able to provide cameras with the product and guarantee they will work seamlessly together.

Everfocus HD SDI DVR was the market leader.

It remains to be seen who will come out on top as market leader but Everfocus certainly had a big head start. Analogue sales are still in the majority here in the UK but the signs are that the trend towards HD will continue to drive CCTV sales across the globe but particularly here in the UK where we have a huge legacy of coax infrastructure. Many end users are reluctant to replace all their cameras. As a result many have expressed an interest in targeting areas for HD SDI cameras rather than upgrade their entire system . With this in mind the Hybrid HD SDI DVR has been a popular choice for many. Combining HD SDI inputs with analogue inputs it allows this targeted response to HD and in times of austerity like we are currently experiencing it makes a lot of sense for many businesses.

HD SDI DVR verses Analogue CCTV

Just how good though is HD SDI compared to analogue? Well at 1.5 to 2 megapixels being the general standard HD SDI camera output the definition is at least double what was achievable previously. To the human eye though an HD upgrade looks remarkably impressive and this is matched when reviewing recorded images. The ability to zoom in on an incident without the image becoming blocky and blurred is the major benefit of HD SDI CCTV. Add to this the fact that there is no latency between the delivery of the images and many are questioning whether this technology is better than HD IP. The arguments are many on that subject but for a simple installation, using your existing infrastructure, HD SDI CCTV is the ideal way forward.

Will the prices drop further?

Further price drops are inevitable. The aim of Everfocus and other big names who now manufacture HD SDI CCTV equipment have always aimed to compete price wise with the top of the range analogue kit. This seems achievable now as new chip technology helps reduce the prices even lower and even faster. It is possible we could see some parallel pricing with analogue within two years. In the meantime its important to realize price is not everything . Quality must always come first and this is improving by the day as HD SDI technology just gets better and better.

HD SDI dome camera

So you are looking for an HD SDI dome camera?

What sort of unit do you need and will an HD SDI dome camera suit your needs. Firstly HD SDI dome cameras can only be used with an HD SDI DVR. If the DVR and dome are both HDcctv compliant no matter where you source them from they will work together. The HD cctv alliance standard is trying to achieve something similar to what ONVIF has done in the world of IP and there are a growing number of members who both manufacture and supply HDcctv compliant equipment.

In addition why chose a an HD SDI dome camera over say an equivalent Bullet camera?

Firstly dome cameras are seen as more aesthetically pleasing and they are less likely to be knocked or damaged. Therefore shop frontages, schools and other public areas will suit the HD dome camera well.

Will HD SDI definition be enough?

Of course if you go down the IP route then images as great as 29 megapixels and beyond can be achieved , however this is a very expensive route to take and conventional thinking says that 1.5 -2 megapixels is generally good for most applications. In addition to this HDcctv compliant cameras also fall into a commercially sensible price bracket.

HD SDI CCTV has been around now since about 2009 but the last year has seen an explosion in the technology. Prices have tumbled and as a result and HD SDI products such as the HD SDI dome camera have seen sales grow at an exponential rate.

Is  the technology here to stay?

Well some say yes , some say no. One thing that is without doubt agreed upon however is that HD CCTV is here to stay. Over the next 5-10 years analogue cameras will disappear in favour of  better and much clearer images produced by HD cameras. HD SDI cameras and DVR’s certainly have their place especially when considering an upgrade of your existing CCTV system. The ability to use existing coaxial infrastructure and the ease of installation makes it a popular choice right now. Add to this the fact IP camera installations can be complicated and the engineers may need extensive re-training and we can see why HD SDI camera systems are becoming the standard choice for UK installers especially.

10 reasons to upgrade to HD CCTV

1)  HD CCTV has become cheaper and more reliable in the last 2 years.

2) HD SDI DVR’s give you much better definition on zoomed in recorded images.

3)  If you are viewing HD CCTV remotely the images are crisper and clearer making decisions to act easier for the viewer.

4) When using HD CCTV zoomed out shots don’t mean loss of definition on review.

5) HD CCTV will give you crisper clearer images and of course this gives you a better deterrent value.

6) HD CCTV is simple, no engineer re-training.

7) HD CCTV means existing infrastructure can be re-used. If you have coax you may as well use it.

8 ) HD CCTV is not IP therefore you will not have issues with contention, compression or IT network issues.

9) Your engineers will have no need for laptops or remote IT support.

10) HD CCTV gives more evidence for the authorities to help with prosecutions.

So the humble HD SDI dome camera is going to be used more and more in the coming years and HD CCTV over coax will be the prefered upgrade path from analogue.

 

The Clarius IR illuminator range for CCTV lighting

Some information to let you know about the new Clarius IR illuminator and other exciting things that are now happening at Advanced LED Technology.

Newly launched in the last month is the new Clarius LED illuminator range. If you need more information or detail about what the Clarius IR illumintor can do then you can view all the information you need via the link below. All Clarius illuminators have CleanLite self-cleaning lens coating technology for excellent performance. This is a great piece of design and a development that ensure the ultimate performance even in dusty conditions.

http://www.advanced-led-technology.com/products.php

you can find out how best to choose the ultimate illuminator for your requirements by reviewing the resources page. On this page you will find a great range of tools for specifying IR illuminators, including an online product selector, maximum current information as well as distance charts for both infrared and white-light. 

This really is good news for specifiers of CCTV systems and ensures that re-visits for lighting issues after an installation can now be kept to an absolute minimum.

http://www.advanced-led-technology.com/resources.php

No other IR illuminators we have found on the market are quite as well made or advanced in their design. This gives installers confidence from day one. Most importantly though customers will be delighted with their nighttime images.

Fixed fees for annual NSI membership?

Recently in the security headlines was the news that Stanley security solutions had been elevated to gold membership of the NSI. This is no mean achievment for an organization of  the size of Stanley and very welcome news for the NSI itself. The reason the NSI will be rightly overjoyed is the new money that Stanley will bring to the organization. Being a gold NSI member means every aspect of installation work will need to be certificated. So a simple door access system will cost Stanley a small but by no means insignificant amount and the same goes for a CCTV system and an intruder alarm.

NSI gold approved security company

The NSI have been funded by charging member companies for certificates since its inception but the financial downturn has had quite an impact on the number of systems being installed and thus the number of certificates being issed. less certificates equals less revenue. This has led the NSI to have a re-think about how it can possibly fund its operation going forward and as result the idea of a fixed fee for membership has been mooted. This could have a huge impact on smaller installers who quite possibly would have to pay the same amount to issue 10 certificates per annum as some of the larger organizations who issue thousands per year.

Is this fair? Well its not been confirmed yet but it seems that by even thinking about this route forward the NSI is making every effort to ensure its own survival in very difficult times but at what cost to the overall security industry itself? We sense a potential rift and opportunity for other inspectorates to step into the breach, we will have to wait and see but we sense a shift of allegiance for many security companies could be just around the corner.