February 2012 - Integrated CCTV

SPC iPhone app for Siemens intruder alarm

SPCanywhere Mobile App

Siemens have announced the release of SPCanywhere – the mobile application solution for SPC.

SPCanywhere will work with with iPad 2©, iPad©, iPhone 4©, iPhone 3GS©, iPhone 3G©. The new SPC iPhone app gives the iPhone user a powerful interface to control his SPC intruder alarm system from anywhere. Using advanced graphics and mapping the SPC iPhone app can let you easily see the status and condition of your alarm giving reassurance of the state of the premises. Setting or unsetting your SPC intrusion system is simple,also check the status of all of the zones on your system and also to get live CCTV images from the IP cameras connected to SPC.

Link to SPC iPhone app

Everfocus HD SDI DVR

Everfocus were the first company to produce a commercially viable HD SDI DVR. One of the founder members of the HDcctv alliance they can rightly claim to currently be the leaders in HD SDI CCTV solutions.

This year they will start to see big competition from the far east as many manufactureres out there realize the benefits of HD SDI . IFSEC will be one the best for years as we see companies go head to head and prices be squeezed. Everfocus will need to be on their game to stay ahead of the new players out there.

Everfocus HD SDI DVR

HD SDI at IFSEC 2012

HD SDI CCTV is going to be one of the main talking points at IFSEC this year. Many companies are now bringing out their HD SDI offerings in time for this years exhibition. Perhaps the most interesting thing from installers point of view is going to be the question why install HD CCTV rather than IP HD. Many CCTV companies have struggled to make the shift from Analog to IP and HD SDI gives them a solution that has not been available commercially until this year. HD SDI CCTV has no latency and the images are of excellent quality. There will be lots of comparisons this year of Analog images verses HD SDI but there is really no contest. High def images are the way forward for the CCTV industry and HD SDI is what many installers have been looking for for a long time now.

Installation is simple , either use the existing coax or alternatively run new coaxial cables just as would have been the case with a standard analog CCTV system. Many have questioned the flexibility of CCTV over coax but in essence most HD SDI DVR s have the ability to network and be accessed remotely via mobile devices.

HD SDI cameras do vary in performance and the HDcctv alliance has made great steps in making manufacturers cameras and HD SDI dvr s compatible. This will push the technology to bigger and better things and mean HD SDI technology will rival IP HD solutions for the market share. It must be stressed that HD SDI CCTV and IP both have there place. For new build and large integrated projects IP will still be the preferred option but the bulk of existing CCTV that has traditional RG59 coaxial infrastructure HD SDI offers a simple upgrade path that will find favour with CCTV installers and end users alike.

So this is the big year for HD SDI CCTV and with HD SDI technology improving by the day it will be interesting to see where we are the same time next year

HD SDI CCTV solutions

HD SDI CCTV, the broadcast HD technology that has recently been causing much discussion in the CCTV industry has started to see some recognised names bringing out products in Q1 2012. Samsung,Videcon, Grundig and Vista have all released products onto the market that is starting to recognise the importance of HD SDI CCTV. Unlike IP CCTV the existing coax infrastructure can be used , no new cabling is required to upgrade from analogue to HD SDI CCTV and this is proving attractive to installers. The UK is abundant in legacy coax especially in small to medium sized premises , this suits upgrade to HD SDI CCTV perfectly. Now as technology advances customers are asking for HD and they want to pay as little as possible for it. Many smaller to medium sized outfits do not boast large IT networks or have a requirement for IP systems but they do have CCTV with between 4 and 8 cameras on site. By using HD SDI CCTV we can replace these cameras and bring high quality HD images to the end user without a complete redesign involved to upgrade to IP.

: HD SDI DVR

So have the likes of Samsung, Videcon and Grundig made the right decision by trying to bring HD SDI CCTV to the mainstream CCTV market in the UK? Having seen seen some of the images that are being produced you would have to say yes. True 1080P images with no latency are impressive and compared to some analogue systems out there the quality upgrade is brilliant. HD SDI cameras and HD SDI DVR s will be on show at IFSEC this year as the industry decides if HD SDI CCTV is really going to be effective and if it can compete with increasingly cheaper IP HD solutions. The other question still being asked is will it be better to sell a hybrid DVR that is able to record both HD SDI cameras and analogue cameras as well? A partial upgrade may be preferable rather than upgrade the whole system to HD. Targeted areas for HD SDI cameras could prove the way forward.

So what are the major benefits of HD SDI CCTV. Well it really is the simplicity of the installation and clear sharpe images as well as the ability to zoom in on events without the loss of clarity, these are the main factors. In addition there is no need to re-train engineers and re use of legacy cable keeps costs down. It’s just plug and play. HD SDI CCTV has always been a goal within the CCTV industry. Now CCTV salesmen have a product that works and brings genuine benefits to the end user at justifiable cost. Having seen the HD SDI CCTV images and used an HD SDI DVR its safe to say customers will be happy with what they get, unlike some analogue systems out there. It should be mentioned that for low light scenarios IR is crucial in order to gain acceptable images.

As for functionality HD SDI CCTV is very flexible including the facility of remote connectivity. However we now have a zoom facility that can give us more detail post event.

So HD SDI CCTV as a solution has arrived and now we have real input into the market place from recognised names, it will be interesting to watch the growth of HD SDI CCTV and monitor if it helps produce more convictions and reduce crime as a result.

March Networks News

The March Networks®MegaPX MicroDome offers best-in-class Wide Dynamic Range (WDR) and 3MP resolution in a dome configuration for indoor and outdoor applications. The camera’s exceptional WDR technology captures crystal-clear images in environments with large windows, bright light, and potential glare. Its P-Iris maintains image sharpness, even in varying outdoor lighting conditions, and the remote zoom and focus allow users to adjust the viewing angle over the network – eliminating the need for manual focusing. Multiple H.264 and M-JPEG video streams can be recorded simultaneously.