360 PREDATOR Round up…..

As readers of this blog will know we have followed the journey of the Predator cameras from new kid on the block to seasoned professional. Our first post all the way back in 2010, we talked about its new patented technology and our most recent where we caught up with Mark Rees from 360 for an interview.

Below are just a few of our articles.

Inside Story Read More

Jack of all trade, Master of all Read More

Success of the Predator Read More

360 Launch Enhanced Patented White Light Predator Read More

Predator gets thermal Read More

Mickey versus Predator Read More

Hikvision CCTV HD NVR Kit

Hikvision range of products and value is clear to be seen, even if the security of their products is still questions by some. Installed and configured correctly these security concerns can be mitigated. The options and kits available meet almost every requirement and would suit every budget.

NVR comes with the latest Firmware pre-installed, no need to install OS. They support Plug and Play, motion detection, ealerts, easy playback and export of footage in addition to a range of advanced features. Depending on models and cameras you will also be able to leverage powerful analytics.

HD CCTV and all the benefits it can bring. Its not just about security

CCTV is about security right? This is the public perception and mainly because this how it has been sold for the last 30 years. Now though with the advent of HD CCTV things are about to get very different for installers and end users alike. ROI is important when buying any product but using CCTV for security purposes only is not going to be cost effective anymore. Often any loss of goods on site is far outweighed by the capital cost of the CCTV itself. Naturally it is always going to be hard to determine how much CCTV cameras do actually save in real terms but many companies have concluded rightly that they need to get much much more out of camera systems and these systems need to go far beyond providing a security deterrent alone.

Although CCTV is primarily about security and reducing crime, this aspect can be dwarfed by other benefits bought about by HD CCTV solutions. The ” where there is blame there is a claim” culture has led to an increase fraudulent cases being bought against companies. This has risen steadily over the past few years. Traditional analogue cameras do little or nothing to substantiate  that the claim may be false. HD though is different and especially when backed up with top of the range video management software such as Avigilon or March VMS. The reduction of false claims against a company that may have cost them hundreds of thousands of pounds is just one way HD CCTV can help. Other benefits such as improvements in productivity and enforcement of health and safety are all big pluses. HD CCTV can bring an almost forensic level of detail that cannot be supplied by analogue CCTV. This means that HD CCTV is making and will continue to make a huge difference. Evidence prevoiusly made useless by older cameras and analogue DVR’s  is now clearly visible in HD. Add to this functionality that allows the user to zoom in on events without losing clarity and we can begin to see systems that will make CCTV useful in the 21st century. Also the potential of improved productivity in the workplace, something every company strives to achieve. We can expect many to conclude now is the time to invest in their business and gain the information they need to make it work efficiently giving them the edge over competitors.

 

Like all new concepts and products HD has to be seen to be appreciated however once experienced it would be hard and indeed foolish for any user to go back to analogue.

 

How to choose the right HD CCTV System

As analogue CCTV is being rapidly replaced with HD CCTV solutions how do you know what the best system to buy will be? In the past it was always advisable to go with the bigger names such as Panasonic, Sony or Bosch when buying analogue solutions, the same may be true now but there are many specialised players in the market place now that are only just starting to make a name for themselves and sometimes these can be a wise choice when going for HD CCTV.

The basic principles with HD that must be considered are simple though. Pixels on target is a new term in the industry but one that makes all the difference when you specify a system. Deciding what you need before you buy is a must. There are choices of cameras ranging from 1 meg to 29 meg from various manufacturers but as well as pixel density scene width also plays a part. Many manufacturers will supply a design tool with their software and  we always recommend that a design tool is used when you specify an HD CCTV system.

The second critical factor is lighting. Poor lighting is biggest enemy of HD. It is pointless having amazing daytime images only to be bitterly disappointed by the night-time pictures. Using IR illuminators will hugely improve your experience of HD,  never specify a system without considering how light will play a part.

Finally HD CCTV offers big improvements on analogue but without using the right software to get the very best from HD you could be wasting your money. The big players have made vast investment into their VMS solutions and rightly so. We are starting to see analytics integrated into software as well as ANPR. However simply put it is all about the way we are able to interrogate our software for information that makes all the difference.

In summary all three of the above points must combine to give you the perfect HD CCTV solution. Always deal with experts when you make the leap to HD and always take time to ensure you buy the very best equipment on the market