HD SDI helps petrol stations finally get a CCTV system that really works

ST1 are a Finnish group who own many service stations across the Finnish mainland. They needed a solution to replace their poorly performing analogue CCTV systems, below is detail of how they went about solving it.

“Only a few people in the UK may have heard of the Finnish energy group St1. The company based in Helsinki was established in 1995 under the name Greenergy Baltic Oy and is committed primarily to the development and sale of environmentally compatible and sustainable energy solutions. Following the purchase of the Finnish service station operator St1 in 2005 the company also changed its name to St1 that year. St1 currently operates its service station business in four countries: Finland, Sweden, Norway and Poland. In 2010 the company took over the Shell Finnish service station chain. The total of 225 Shell retail stations are operated under their old brand name in addition to the 360 Finnish service stations. The company claims to operate around 1,200 service stations throughout Scandinavia.

Test phase passed with distinction

 

Last summer a test phase examined conversion of analogue CCTV systems to HDcctv at St1. The management wanted to trial the promise made by HDcctv – video surveillance over coaxial cable in outstanding HD quality, which was previously the domain of only IP megapixel cameras – in practical conditions.

 

The company 4safe was therefore entrusted with the task of a test installation in a St1 service station near Helsinki. The reason why eneo was chosen was explained by the system installer Kai Mäntylä: “My experience with eneo products over many years has been absolutely positive. Apart from the very good value for money and the three-year warranty, I have been impressed again and again by the high product reliability as well as the competent and fast support.” And furthermore, as a member of the HDcctv Alliance eneo offers a complete HDcctv product portfolio, from the camera through suitable recorders right up to accessories. Nothing therefore stood in the way of a full environment with eneo equipment.

Slimmer, more efficient, more cost effective

Specifically, eight HDC-2100M1080 cameras were installed – four cameras less than in the analogue system. This was possible due to the fact that one of these cameras can monitor up to four petrol pumps, as opposed to only two by an analogue camera. Conversion to HDcctv therefore has the effect of considerably streamlining the system as well as helping to save money. In the test installation the previously required 16-channel recorder was replaced by the much slimmer and ultimately more cost-effective DVR HDR-4008AE (8 channels). Whereas the existing coaxial and power cables were retained along with the external housings for the cameras: they were reused for the new HDcctv cameras. eneo HDcctv was therefore not only able to notch up points by creating savings potentials and producing artefact-free imagery, but also due to its minimal training requirement: thanks to the very simple DVR menu structure, the specialist from 4Safe needed barely one and a half hours to instruct the responsible employees in all the functions and parameters of the HDR-4008AE. The positive overall impression was rounded off by the sophisticated design and solid workmanship of all the devices.

Course set for the conversion

The pilot project was rated as being extremely positive. Although some time passed before the final decision was made, we have recently received confirmation: St1 will gradually convert numerous subsidiaries of its service stations in Finland to HDcctv technology from eneo. What has already been decided are the HDcctv models for which the analogue cameras will have to give way: HDD-2000MIR1080, HDD-2110M as well as the HDB-2000MIR1080.”

So the above demonstrates how HDcctv products can be used to give companies a true upgrade at a sensible price. The fact that more area can be covered within the view of the camera and the picture quality is so much more impressive give the end user a real feeling that they have got a CCTV system that offers true value for money. Although the example above is Eneo products HDcctv solutions offer many a good choice of HDcctv systems for sale check out the link for more detail on our fantastic hd sdi  bullet camera

 

 

Boston Bombing CCTV images..are they acceptable?

Look at the image below. Captured from a CCTV camera just before the Boston bombings occurred.

Boston Bombers

The good thing is that it proves CCTV can capture crucial images . The bad thing is the images are not acceptable. We can see the suspects are male and we can guess their age. We can see what they are wearing and see the ruck sacks they are carrying but we can’t make out crucial detail about their faces or logos on the clothes. This is the detail that would help the police catch them even more quickly than they did.

In the case of the Boston bombers they have been apprehended. Did the CCTV images play their part? Its likely they helped the police profile them quickly but if the cameras had been HD we would be able to see their faces in these images.

HDcctv is the way forward and it won’t be long before images like the one above are massively improved by HDcctv cameras and HDcctv dvrs. Lets use the technology we have now to help prevent crime and catch criminals that blight western society.

Benefits of an HD SDI camera

HD SDI cameras are starting to fulfill their potential but what are the benefits over IP technology (if any) and how easy are they to install?

The first and most obvious benefit has to be the fact that we can view and record the images from an HD SDI camera in HD. The HD revolution is under way and HDcctv over coax is leading this surge in HD security camera sales. The second benefit of HD SDI cameras are that they can be run over existing coax. This gives a particular advantage to companies looking to upgrade existing analogue systems but trying to keep the cost down. The third advantage is the speed that these HD SDI cameras and recorders have dropped in price due to new chip technology. Just two years ago a camera that would have cost over £600 can now purchased for around the £250 mark. As always there is varying quality between different manufacturers products but none the less as a technology improves and more product is made prices have seen dramatic falls. Chips manufacturers continue to invest heavily to ensure involvement in this rapidly expanding market place.

Further advantages include ease of installation and the limited training required to actually understand the technology . Its no different to installing analogue. Finally there is the playback quality. We now have cameras that can capture quality images that can be used to achieve their goal ie recognising individuals committing crimes , identifying health and safety breaches, picking up number plates on forecourts or in gate entrances and giving the end user real value for money.

So as HD SDI cameras develop further with added features at better prices we can only imagine how far this HD revolution will go. As for the initial comment regarding IP cameras and whether HD SDI cameras are better, we think they fit into totally different market places and that HD SDI cameras will be sold to upgrade analogue security systems where as HD IP cameras will fit into manufacturing and larger industry that run much of their network using IP. Its horses for courses !

Time to focus on security again

Its been a long recession and it may not be over yet but there are signs that we may just be seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. For almost 6 years inside the security industry we have been been faced with the same recurring problem , namely customers asking us as installers not to replace or upgrade equipment but simply to keep it going, repair it, recycle it.

This has led to a legacy of security systems, particularly CCTV systems that are more dated than at any period since the inception of CCTV as an industry. Installers ,distributors and manufacturers have tried, unsuccessfully, to persuade end users to migrate to IP solutions, citing more flexibility and of course HD as a way to move forward. Customers have stubbornly resisted. Of course this is not because they do not want to embrace new technology nor do they have an objection to IP but the fact that any spending has been extremely restricted to all but the most fortunate companies.

So how long will it be before its time to focus on security again? As we have said the signs are there already. Years of putting up with poor, almost unusable analogue images and sluggish DVR’s has driven those who do now have a few pennies to spend to seek out what they can now purchase in the form of an HD CCTV solution.

With the advent of  HD SDI CCTV, end users now have a great choice. They can re-use their existing coax infrastructure and with HD SDI the camera images are refreshingly good. Crisp clear pictures mean that when an incident does occur it can recorded properly and can then be acted upon. Years of putting up with frustratingly poor analogue images are coming to an end.

If you have had enough of grainy rubbish then take a look at HD CCTV solutions and see how you can seriously improve your CCTV system and upgrade to HD.

The time is here to invest in the future and stop looking to patch up equipment that serves little or no purpose whatsoever………… we say #binanalogue

HD SDI compatability

It has long been known that the HDcctv standard has been developed in order to ensure interoperability between compatible HD SDI equipment but what happens if you test non compliant equipment together? We set out to prove if it mattered or not. The devices we tested were as follows.

The edge bullet camera (C)

The concept pro internal dome

The Qihan bullet camera

The Qihan vandal proof dome

The edge body camera.(C)

These were tested with the following HD SDI DVR’s

The Edge 4 way lite

The FD02 2way Trium

Everfocus 4way EDRHD4 (C)

(C) = HDcctv compliant.

Firstly it was interesting to note that all cameras initially seemed to work with all the recorders. We got pictures and it seemed that all was fine. It has to be said though the although the pictures were massively better than any analogue picture we have ever seen there were some notable variations in image quality. The Edge bullet and the Edge body cameras were clearly better images on all 3 HD SDI DVR’s. The concept Pro came a close second for picture quality but with both the first two camera makes the colour left a little to be desired. The two Qihan cameras had picture quality that seemed slightly less crisp but the colour was undoubtedly better and the pictures with the built in IR was superb both inside and externally.

We then however discovered our first compatibility issue. With the cameras connected to the Edge lite we removed power from all the cameras but when power was restored the Qihan bullet camera refused to boot up unless the coax was disconnected the reconnected. All other cameras including the Qihan dome restored without issue.

We tried different cable lengths and different coaxial connectors. It was clear that we must stay within the 90 meter cable length and no compromise should be made on connectors. Ensure you use HDcctv compliant BNC’s. Don’t compromise on the quality of the power supply!

We continued to test and all the pictures remained of the highest quality but to be fair no other incompatibility issues arose. It did however bring home the one issue we are all aware of. If you sell non HDcctv compliant equipment or mix and match then you will come across potential problems that could cause you issues going forward. The industry must not take this risk and all HD SDi manufacturers should get on board with the Alliance in order to ensure HD SDI continues its epic rise in the CCTV market place.