Integrated CCTV systems

Integrated CCTV systems are becoming more and more widespread as industry realize the major benefits integration can bring. Security systems are becoming more sophisticated and IP security solutions means integration between all the different disciplines is inevitable.

Emizon TCD

In the past we have been used to seeing access control on one platform, CCTV on another and intruder alarms have been governed by strict European regulation meaning IP has been slow to penetrate this market place.

However Emizon broke the mould with their IP communicator and Siemens are set to launch the new Intrunet SPC 4000, SPC5000 and SPC6000 intruder panels that will form the basis of their building technologies platform that will see Sipass access control and the SPC range integrating with Siemens current CCTV range of cameras to allow a true building management system. IP based and simple.

Paxton Net2 controller

Access control from Paxton and biometric solutions such iEVO fingerprint readers have also been integrated through IP and now mean that what used to be a slow process to open a door has now become fast and efficient bringing biometrics back to the forefront of building management systems.

Sistore MX hybrid DVR
Hybrid CCTV

With many manufacturers pinning their hopes on integrated security solutions we will see many more products and much more competition in the market place. So it seems the opportunities are now endless IP has bought integration to a point where many security solutions are now seamless even when different manufacturers are involved …the future is bright it seems!!

CCTV maintenance,essential service or industry myth?

CCTV maintenance, essential service or industry myth.

For many years it has gone without question that when you buy a CCTV system then you also buy a maintenance package to go with it. The packages you can buy are diverse, however and you can go from 1 visit per annum to clean and test the system to an agreement that will cover comprehensive labour and parts. The choice at the end of the day is of course in the hands of the customer but ultimately to the installer the maintenance is sometimes crucial to ensure that after year 1 a profit can actually be achieved on the installation itself.

Dangerous game.

This for the installer is a dangerous game to play in the current market place. Cut throat pricing means margins are small to non existent, if the client decides against a service agreement this can cripple small to medium sized installers and many businesses have failed in the last 18 months trying to get jobs on the back of a maintenance package.

CCTV servicing.

This then of course begs the question how profitable is a CCTV maintenance agreement? Well it tends to go back to the kit that is installed in the first place. Cheap kit is inherently unreliable and we would never recommend its installation. The other trick of course is to install closed protocol equipment meaning due to software restrictions only the installer will ever be look after the kit and will sting you forever and a day every time you call them out.

Cheap kit…dont take that route!

Customers tempted by cheap prices often regret their purchase simply because  a) the kit does not do what it was originally claimed to do.  b) The CCTV installer is constantly out trying to fix it. Of course any company doing multiple visits back to installation will soon see any profit wiped out, they will go under and the end user left with a useless un-serviceable CCTV system.

Do you need maintenance?

So back to the original question does a CCTV system need a maintenance agreement? Well the answer is defiantly yes. CCTV can be very reliable but it is a critical requirement. When it goes wrong it needs fixing and fast, an agreement that does not include a “hot swap” arrangement means goods can be removed from the site for repair and not returned for long periods of time. So the company you use to install and to service is crucial. The whole concept of  CCTV maintainence agreements really does come down to one of quality. Buy quality in the first place and your failure rate will be low , When the product does fail the installer should have a stock item to replace it , this is only possible if the installer can make a profit on the install and this is only possible if the customer has the vision to pay a fair price in the first place.

Tough times!

We find ourselves in a climate that is pushing prices and margins down; this can only lead to poorer service levels in the future, choose your installer wisely, pay a fair price for good products and don’t fall foul of cheap deals it may come back to bite you!!!

Integrated CCTV System

Integrated CCTV systems.

What are the elements involved in a fully integrated CCTV system?  Starting with the a basic CCTV system we will always have the cameras , the DVR and the monitor. this is what people generally understand when they ask to have a CCTV system installed.

Lots of applications.

We can have an internal CCTV system, an external CCTV system or we can have a mixture of both. Until recently CCTV systems tended to be restricted to a fairly small number of cameras usually up to about 16. Of course there has always been a need on bigger sites for more cameras but there was always the restrictions. The number of frames per second per camera that a DVR could process for instance. The more FPS the more expensive the DVR tended to be to accommodate. Then of course we have the picture quality. Analogue CCTV cameras have always been restricted as to how many lines they can produce to make up the image we see on the screen.

Better picture quality.

Although cameras have advanced to allow more lines,  420 TVL would be typical for instance. It does not stop there, we are then restricted by the monitors and the picture quality they can produce . With the introduction of IP we now have the exciting development of HD CCTV and this means mega pixels and in turn a huge advance in picture quality that we can expect from our recorded images in the future.

Integrated CCTV solutions provide so much more.

Integrated CCTV systems though consist of more .They can be hybrid CCTV systems part analogue, part IP. They can be Integrated to access control systems and linked to central stations. They can be linked to external alarm systems. Sensors, fixed beams and so on to give us many different security solutions and the ability to generate alarms.

CCTV in the future.

Most integrated CCTV systems of the future however will be able to incorporate analytics to generate alarms. This could be used to warn of a terrorists threat such as abandoned luggage and suspicious behaviour etc. The CCTV systems can be integrated to ANPR software that will allow number plate recognition to control barriers and access control and the  police are able to track suspicious vehicles across the country by using this ANPR technology. CCTV systems can now integrate to biometric readers to allow faces to be linked to finger prints this offers companies a huge upgrade of security within their organisation.

In summary.

In summary CCTV systems on their own will be a thing of the past. Integrated security in its many forms is the way forward for the future. IP cameras and the improved picture quality they bring together with analytics and more flexibilty are just around the corner , things are moving fast!