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Essen 2012

The bi-annual Essen Security exhibition has now closed for another 2 years.

Boasting a huge array of Halls and technology to visit, surely Essen has now rightfully claimed its title as THE Security Exhibition to visit ahead of rivals such as IFSEC?

Essen security show

Spread over 11, yes that’s 11 Halls, Essen needed a transport system of its own inside just to get us from hall to hall !

Talking of transportation, the travel system, namely the hugely efficient DB Train system, delivered us on time every day – if the platform board showed 1 minute until the next train, 1 minute it was!

Anyway, back to the show.

Notable massive stands (or booths as our European friends referred to ) were Bosch, Honeywell, Siemans.

Bosch had their representation of an aircraft, complete with actual airline seats to sit and listen to the presentations! Rumour has it (and only rumour because we weren’t invited!) that all visitors to their stand (oops, booth) were taken out to the back of the Bosch area and treated to a full 3 course cooked lunch!!! Now that is customer care!

security shows

Interesting that their flagship new MIC 550 was represented by one, solitary lonely looking model on top of one of their product podiums…….

The British contingent were represented in the BSIA section by the likes of GJD with their HD CCTV lighting solutions, Elmdene and NVT. Also present for the first time at ESSEN was 360 Vision Technology, brave guys taking their range of Predators into the back garden of Bosch MICS!!!!

Talking of 360 Vision, they certainly flooded their stand with multiple-coloured Predators! Gold, orange, green and JCB Yellow ensured that sun glasses were needed for this UK manufacturer!

Into Hall 2 and the mighty Geutebrueck had an amazing stand – packed with staff and visitors it seemed for the full 4 days!

Some great video Analytics were observed over at the UDP Technology stand – fully expecting these guys to be taking the UK by storm real soon with their very clever technology!

MP was represented amply by the usual guys – Arecont and Avigilon had excellent displays.

We spotted Todd Rockoff at the show as well spreading the word about HDcctv . Keep watching this space for more news from Todd soon.

Visitors attending the show were from far flung regions – talking with some of the exhibitors, they had seen good quality leads from US, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Middle East and of course the main Euro regions – affirming Security Essen’s status as a truly International show.

It therefore must beg the question, with such a high quality show held only every 2 years, is there now room for a smaller, certainly less well presented IFSEC anymore in the UK? We paid fairly low airline fares to Dusseldorf, stayed in a clean, functional but inexpensive hotel (compared to London or Birmingham hotels) and travelled effortlessly, cheaply and efficiently on excellent transport to and from the halls.

Our opinion? Security Essen is the show that is worth visiting……and waiting for!

What sets Avigilon apart from other HD IP CCTV systems.

Avigilon first came to the attention of UK installers around 3 years ago when the quality of their products were displayed at IFSEC. It was then that the JPEG 2000 format and their 16 megapixel camera was able to demonstrate what HD could really do for the end user. Since then Avigilon have introduced a number of H.264 cameras and at the same time they have been building a network of quality installers that can both sell and do justice to their products. All of this now means that Avigilon UK are now taking a large market share of the HD upgrades here in this country.

The main selling point for Avigilon HD here in the UK is not just the HD cameras that are on offer but the ability to upgrade analogue CCTV systems and bring legacy cameras into their recording platform using very competitively priced 4 way encoders. Avigilon’s video encoder converts a standard analogue video signal into an IP stream, this means you can send the captured digital images over an IP network making best use of existing CCTV systems. This then allows you to view live images from your existing cameras on your IP network. Once the conversion from analogue to IP is made you will then view your cameras using video management software.

Avigilon Control Center is the video management software at the heart of an Avigilon CCTV system and once the analogue conversion is made it is then possible to add IP-based cameras as budget allows. The Avigilon video encoder is the most cost-effective way to migrate your current legacy system to a network-based IP-system. Immediately you will get the significant benefits of a digital CCTV system re-using the investment already made in your current analogue CCTV system. This impressive software allows you to migrate to a fully digital system when you’re ready and includes advanced features making it the most powerful, open HD surveillance platform we have seen. The Avigilon control centre supports an unlimited number of cameras and servers making it ideal for large-scale needs.

Avigilon ACC-4.6 Range

Control centre 5 as it is called has deployed some very impressive features. You will be able to zoom in on objects to get unparalleled images and it is the detail and clarity that sets Avigilon apart from the rest. Read number plates and get quality facial recognition something that would have proved impossible before using your analogue CCTV. Advanced search features within the software save hours of time trawling through video and once you have experienced Avigilon Control Center using HDSM technology you will be very reluctant to return to analogue CCTV and your old DVR.

Price is of importance of course and because Avigilon use a scaled approach to upgrades it puts the power back into the hands of the end user exactly how much he wishes to invest at any one time into his security system. However most peoples current conception of HD is that it is expensive. Avigilon are able to quash this by deploying a highly competitive pricing structure.

If remote viewing is important to you then you can now see everything from everywhere. ACC Mobile lets you monitor your system remotely over any wireless IP network using any Apple or Android device. View live and recorded video from any location with a wireless connection reducing response times.

Avigilon iPhone app

So Avigilon have made huge strides in the UK CCTV market place, perhaps the only thing currently lacking is a full time UK base to reduce delivery times and eliminate import duties. This however in the scheme of things is a small price to pay for what could arguably be said is the best IP HD CCTV system available at present.

IP CCTV Maintaining a secure commercial network

IP CCTV – Commercial Information Security

IP CCTV is often referred to as IP surveillance and is a network of security cameras linked by a single network. This allows the user to view all areas of their commercial or residential property; whilst retaining network security. Not only can you view the different areas of the property on site, you will also be able to view them on an internet connection where you can stream live or view pre-recorded footage.

IP CCTV
Login details are a necessity with this technology as they allow your online system to remain secure. Only approved personnel will be able to access the online system, but once they do have access they will be free to use the IP CCTV system globally, providing that they have an internet connection.
There are many companies who offer this security camera system, such as cable-talk.co.uk most of which will be able to offer different security levels depending on how secure you want your IP CCTV network to be.

IPCCTV
IP CCTV is also easily adapted for use with existing security cameras, meaning that it is simple to install. As a result, many businesses are choosing to move to IP CCTV systems as it enables business owners and security managers to view their premise from a number of different locations, rather than having to be onsite to monitor security.
A plus point to IP CCTV is that it will run alongside other connections without any disturbance. The system can also be linked wirelessly to networks. LAN traffic can also be communicated if the sockets are on the same meter.
Other advantages to the system are that it can save huge amounts of time. For instance searching for particular images or a video segment is easier, as with IP CCTV you will gain more control of the footage.

Network cabling is an essential part of the system and once fitted will enable you to monitor the security of your property seamlessly.

cheap IP cameras from ACTi

ACTi corporation have eblasted customers and press alike with what seems like an excellent offer for the purchase of cheap IP cameras. The Eblast has listed several models that are now being offered at up to 75% off. The question though we have to ask is why? We understand that ACTi may have an excess of stock. What has caused this excess? It is being speculated that IP camera prices have for far too long been held at an artificially high price. Much of the price difference however between IP cameras and analogue has been due to the vast difference in numbers of units produced i.e 80% analogue cameras V 20% IP cameras. The balance though is starting to be tipped towards IP cameras as more manufacturers flood the market. So is there more supply than demand? The uptake of IP has without doubt been slower than hoped. Even the most pro IP commentators out there have been forced to admit disappointment with the speed that CCTV installers are shifting to IP camera solutions. However when a company as large as ACTi suddenly reduces prices by 75% then IP camera manufacturers everywhere should sit up and take notice. Even if this “sale” can be put down to obsolete stock making way for new more innovative products , it still means ACTi produced too much to sell in the first place.

ACTI IP cameras

The UK CCTV market has been told time and time again that IP has arrived , but we have only seen IP required when we actually want to sell HD cctv solutions. This will help IP camera sales but competition from HD SDI technology will mean a mighty battle is about to place. Price will be crucial in deciding who will come out top, it must be a worry though for IP camera suppliers that as yet they have failed to make huge in-roads into analogue dominance and just when the major benefits of IP cameras can be exploited with the surge in HD camera sales they suddenly find that they have to compete with a completely new technology. Interesting times ahead.

IPCCTV v HDCCTV who will take the UK market share?

Many years ago it was suggested that HD images could be transmitted over an IP network and reviewed and recorded using a PC. When this was first suggested and prototype cameras and NVRs produced so the marketeers could do their stuff, many CCTV professionals found this idea laughable. Most CCTV companies ignored the technology citing the fact that a company IT network would be overwhelmed with data and would simply crash as a result. They suggested no corporate company or any IT manager in fact would ever let these images on their network and suggested the technology was dead in the water before it even got off the ground.

HDCCTV V IPCCTV — IPCCTV was dead in the water according some before it even had a chance

Well, as we now know, although many of these networks have remained unchanged and the topology and infrastructure is as it always was, time has moved on and compression techniques employed by IP CCTV manufacturers have improved dramatically. Network switches have come on leaps and bounds and POE and codecs have made IP CCTV commercially viable. In addition huge PR campaigns by some of the large IP camera manufacturers have meant that an idea previously conceived as unworkable is now widely accepted as the way forward and the only feasible upgrade path for old defunked analogue CCTV systems.

Fast forward to 2009 HDCCTV is now available.

Fast forward to 2009 and a new technology is being talked about . This time it is suggested that HD CCTV images are to be transmitted using SDI interfaces over existing RG59 coax. Many CCTV professionals find this idea laughable. They suggest that this technology will never be able to become commercially viable and existing coax would never be able to cope with demands placed on it by HD image transmission. They have said HDCCTV is dead in the water and will not get off the ground.

However just two years later (2011), a blink off the eye in terms of development, HDCCTV manufacturers are now exhibiting their HD SDI DVR’s and cameras at such high profile shows as IFSEC in the UK and ASIS in the USA. It could be argued that the stand that received most attention at IFSEC this year was the Everfocus stand as crowds gathered round to watch a demonstration that many had predicted two years earlier as impossible. Many forums still mock the technology, some we have to say in a rude and quite unprofessional way and yet HDCCTV technology continues to push the boundaries. It has now been mooted that HDCCTV can be transmitted over UTP cable, now this really would set the cat among the pigeons if proven to be true. In addition every week claims of greater distances are being achieved over coax with better results and better HDCCTV images. Add to this more and more companies committing huge sums to research and development and the” third way” really is beginning to gain traction in the world of CCTV.

HD SDI DVR

Big guns are now piling in to HD CCTV production. Why would Everfocus, VISTA, CalSys and Dahua to name a few be manufacturing HDCCTV products? Also why would big distributors such as Norbain and 360 Vision Technology be making noises about introducing HD SDI DVR’s into the UK before Christmas if they were not happy that HDCCTV will take off? After all it takes huge commitment and large sums of money invested to ensure these products are able to perform and then bring them to market at a price that will sell.

HDCCTV SDI Camera

Once we see the TCO of HDCCTV become more competitive then many UK customers and CCTV manufacturers will start to consider their options. Do they dive into the HDCCTV market or go with IPCCTV? Perhaps they may wish for a hybrid solution? Many HDCCTV DVR manufactureres are expecting a mixture of analogue and HD SDI cameras will probably be the way forward here in the UK. We are sure HDCCTV, especially when supported by the HDCCTV alliance will make the technical strides necesary to ensure that any issues currently thrown back at them are overcome. Its going to be a very interesting year in the battle between HDCCTV and IPCCTV……………………that’s for sure.