Tag: CCTV System

AVE and Borsatec team up to offer the new MV-DR4000H

MV-DR4000H

AVE have released its new economy 4 channel DVR and this is being distributed through Borsatec.
This affordable feature rich DVR is exceptional value for money for those installing an analogue CCTV system into small business’s.

H.264

The MV-DR4000H boasts H.264 compression with full D1 resolution at 30 FPS over 4 channels but a max of 20 FPS D1 on each input.
Triplex operation allows recording, live playback and remote viewing all at once and records onto a 500 gig SATA HDD.Video can also be backed up using a USB flash disk. And the MVDR4000H includes the ability to record audio.

Mouse control.

The MV-DR4000H can be remotely monitored and comes with CMS software for large scale video management. Ease of navigation is achieved by the GUI interface and Mouse control.

More features.

Several other features including pre and post alarm recording and intelligent power management means that you would expect to the MV-DR4000H to come in around £500 at least , however AVE and Borsatec have managed to bring this to market for around half that price.

Contact Borsatec.

01179574949 will put you in touch with Borsatec who can help you purchase this DVR together with all the features described above.

Service agreements for CCTV systems.

Buy a CCTV service agreement.

Most customers out there realize that when it comes to a good reliable CCTV system it is also crucial to ensure a service agreement to ensure reliability and continuity. End users thoughts though as to how they buy their service agreement is changing . In a climate of cost cutting and austerity, everyone is looking to save money where ever possible. In what is starting to become a “make do” approach to maintenance many customers are now looking away from their existing installer in search of a good deal. But at what cost in reality? A CCTV system is  at the heart of many businesses operations , one camera down at the wrong time can lead to missed evidence that could prove costly.

ADT and Chubb

The likes of ADT and Chubb for instance have tied their customers in over the years either with a 5 year contract or by installing a closed protocol arrangement , this keeps others out  and for years has ensured on going maintenance whatever the level of service they have actually offered . Increasingly though there is  an underlying  rebellion going on against this type of entrapment and end users are increasingly looking for smaller more reliable companies to take over the service mantle.

A better deal.

We have found that  increasing numbers of people have enquired as to where they can find a reliable company to service their kit at a reasonable price. So below we list some of the things that you should be looking for before placing an order for maintenance of your CCTV security system.

CCTV servicing the golden rules.

1)  Ensure the company you choose is credit worthy , nothing is worse than paying up only to find that the company you have chosen has gone to the wall.

2)  Never go  fall into the trap of buying a closed protocol system whatever the initial install price may be . If you are already saddled with one , look to get the system upgraded this will reduce your future servicing costs.

3) Try to get an all inclusive call out and labour contract . Not many companies will offer you replacement costs included on other peoples kit , but fixing your labour costs means that no matter how unreliable your system may be you wont keep getting on going bills.

4) Before you place an order with a new supplier , insist they carry out a full survey FOC and produce a full working drawing so if you get disillusioned with the service they offer after the first year you have good information to pass out to others when you look to get a re-quote.

5) Insist on full documentation after each call, detailing what has been done and why. This will help you to query any invoices that don’t sit right with you following a visit.

6)  When a part is replaced  the installer will get a manufacturers guarantee , insist this is passed onto you  as part of the agreement.

7) Insist the company is in a position to offer you “hot swaps”  by this we mean that while your camera or DVR is away for repair , you are not left with a blank slot on your  DVR for what is sometimes many weeks.

8)  Always realize when you flogging a dead horse.! All CCTV equipment has a life span , throwing good money after bad trying to keep repairing kit when it has clearly reached the end of its active life will just cost you in the long run.

9) Finally measure response times and insist on good communication , this is crucial for both the installer and yourself and will mean a harmonious relationship between installer and customer , always important to ensure both good service and a reliable CCTV system.

Conclusion.

Well hopefully the above information will help you ensure that next time you are out shopping for a CCTV service agreement you make the right choice and not one that may leave you full of regret and an expensive hole in your pocket.

EverFocus CCTV megapixel over coax solution

Megapixel over coax.

EverFocus have released the new EQH5200 2 megapixel IP camera that is using the latest HD-SDI serial digital interface to open the retro fit market place to megapixel technology. The EQH5200 megapixel camera is able to send images down existing RG 59 coaxial cable from a BNC connection therefore meaning easy retrofit installations for installers and therefore a more competitive upgrade solution to analogue CCTV cameras.

The camera has compact box design complete with day/night  functionality and an on screen menu set up to assist CCTV engineers.

Everfocus DVR

To compliment the ease of retro install EverFocus also have the EHDR08 8 channel DVR this unit can reproduce recordings boasting resolutions of 720p and comes in the form of a compact box design It uses the latest H.264 compression techniques and handle up to 8TB of hard drive recording space.The DVR can also output to a monitor using either VGA or HDMI.

Remote connectivity.

For those interested in remote connectivity  the EHDR08 has a 1 gigabit Ethernet interface this allows networking capability and allows remote viewing and management of the CCTV system allowing smart search functionality. Monitoring from mobile devices that is now really catching on can be achieved through 3GPP connection. A DVD burner allows information to be easily removed when required.

What we have all been waiting for.

In essence the package provide a simple megapixel solution over coax something that many installers have been waiting for for some time.

CCTV lighting

CCTV lighting.

Often overlooked but a crucial part of any CCTV system, lighting is key to good pictures when you really need them. CCTV cameras have improved dramatically over the last few years and dual chip technology has meant that night vision from CCTV cameras is now acceptable most of the time, but in many cases it is only when images are really needed that end-users realize that lighting on their site is not sufficient to see exactly what they need.

lighting audit.

Most installers will put a caveat in there terms and conditions stating that lighting will be assessed after an installation and that it is the customer’s responsibility to ensure lighting levels are sufficient.. However how often is this really done? This is especially true on installations carried out during summer months when no one ever sees the night time images until it’s a little late? Central stations also refuse to monitor poorly lit installations and will not be held responsible for poor quality nigh time pictures.

Lighting solutions.

It is a little publicised fact but colour cameras need white light to work at night, IR lamps only work with mono images and in the past you either chose to install mono from scratch, sacrificing colour daytime images for night time clarity. Bulky IR lamps were installed and these were expensive and unreliable. Dual chip cameras were the compromise and these allowed colour during the day and mono at night but this did not solve the fact that IR bulbs would blow for a pastime.

Raytec.

Raytec are a progressive company who have addressed this problem using advanced LED technology to give an IR output that is long range and reliable it is something that anyone who demands night time pictures of good quality must insist on.

halogen lighting.

Alternatively you can fit halogen lighting that will work on a sensor to bring lights on automatically when someone enters an area protected by the CCTV camera, again however these bulbs blow easily and cost a lot to run.

Blackhawk and Predator domes.

360 vision have developed the ultimate solution to good night time images. They have both the Blackhawk and Predator cameras that have IR lighting built in that follows the tracking of the camera and ensures that a good nighttime image is always available.

Designing a CCTV system.

So when you think about a CCTV system, think about when it is most likely to be used and think about how you will design your lighting it is crucial this side of things is not overlooked.

Temporary CCTV solutions

Temporary CCTV

A temporary CCTV solution is always a difficult one. Often a customer will take the approach that they have a problem that they believe they can solve with the help of a CCTV system in a relatively short space of time and therefore only want to pay for short term rental.

Still costly.

Most forget that a temporary system differs little in cost to buy for the supplier and still takes the same time to install, so the question has to be asked whats in it for the installer?

Who will install temporary cameras?

Well nothing really and this is why there a few about that offer this service. The solution for the customer may however be coming in the shape of IP cameras with on board recording. Cameras such as the IP camera 200 range. Simple to fit and using POE all the customer really needs to provide is an IP point adjacent to where he wishes to site the camera.The cameras are however not designed to be of a covert nature so a little inventiveness may well be required if the end user is looking to catch someone in the act and use the evidence against them.

Summary.

So in the past the temporary CCTV system was a difficult one to solve but now thanks to IP it is a solution that could be increasing as customers look to solve problems at a reduced cost.