HD CCTV to the rescue

As both HD IP and HDcctv over coax become ever more popular we look at how the industry has changed and how the major benefits of CCTV are now enhanced by HD images

CCTV is just about everywhere now and is universally accepted by the public as something that is part of  our everyday lives. However what are the benefits and what is the real truth behind CCTV systems that have been installed over the last 20 years?

Benefits as follows:

1) CCTV is always on. Day and night the systems record every movement  that takes place in view of the camera.

2) CCTV acts as a valuable visual  deterrent. No one is knowingly going to commit a crime when they know they are being watched and recorded.

3) CCTV cameras can be fitted both internally and externally this is certainly not the case with all physical deterrents.

4) CCTV can be used to determine authorised access to site, controlling movement and keeping out those who perhaps should not be in a certain area at a certain time.

5) CCTV can be used to determine when a deliberate attempt to compromise a secure boundary is taking place . Particularly useful for high security situations such as the MOD sites and airports.

6) CCTV reduces loses due to theft. Crucial in the retail industry.

7) CCTV reduces company loses from fraudulent transactions or injury claims.

8 )  CCTV can be used to enforce health and safety requirements on site , it may even to be able to claim that it saves lives.

9) CCTV enables retrospective analysis of crimes and actions, the resulting evidence can be used to enforce a conviction or in the case of companies, a dismissal.

10) CCTV gives  the public a feeling of well being that that would not be achievable without the help of the knowledge that people are watching to keep you safe.

11) CCTV is cheaper and more reliable that manned guarding and human intervention . Cost is always a primary decision when it comes to security.

CCTV images of riotsCan we get a conviction from this kind of quality image? 

To be fair we could go on, but the above bullet points prove that for all the negative publicity that CCTV sometimes gets, there is certainly value in the concept.

The concept?…yes this is where we actually to get to root of the problem with CCTV. Everyone loves the concept but over the last 20 years people have been less than satisfied with the results that have been achieved by installing CCTVon the streets or into their businesses. Why you may ask? Well the answer is simple “ANALOGUE CCTV”.

Analogue CCTV  has been about the most mis-sold product of the last 20 years in our opinion. The reason is quite simple….. “definition”. Lets be fair, analogue CCTV is quite capable of providing the correct definition if specified correctly , however cost has proved a limiting factor in the sale of CCTV systems across the UK and invariably CCTV has been massively undersold as a result. There are simply not enough cameras or recording memory to get satisfactory results. Everyone wants a wide angle picture, all customers want to see every part of of their site  but they also expect to be able to see car reg plates and faces as well . This is not possible or at least it is not possible without the correct investment. You must buy the right lens and ensure you get the correct angle of view as well but you must have enough cameras looking into the area of interest. You must also take lighting into consideration to really achieve what the end user expects. Sadly over the years salesmen have wrongly under specified in order to keep costs competative and win contracts. This way of selling has caused disillusionment amongst business owners and the public alike.

Now though the CCTV industry has the means to redeem itself. HD CCTV is the answer. This can be provided either through an HD SDI format or over IP. Now images that we all agree are a huge improvement on the past are achievable. The CCTV industry has something to hang its hat on !

thanks to integrated CCTV for that insight

 

HD SDI CCTV, HD CCTV DVR, HD SDI DVR

 

Is the CCTV industry recession proof? If not can HD make the difference?

Over the years we have been through a number of downturns in the UK economy and one industry that has ridden this better than most is the electronic security market place. It has long been the belief that as money gets tight and unemployment rises this can be a catalyst for crime to increase and for manned guarding to be cut back in preference to electronic security, mainly CCTV. This recession though has had a slightly different tilt on it. The influx of cheaper electronic security from the far east has badly hit the traditional suppliers and installers especially here in the UK. We have seen the demise and re-birth of Norbain, big players such as Pelco and March networks disappear almost without trace and analogue CCTV that had in reality reached the end of its natural reign suddenly have a renaissance in terms of sales.

HD CCTV UK
CCTV cameras

This though has come at a price to many involved in the business of CCTV. Margins are now small to non existent standards are dropping and quality is suffering. IP CCTV that many thought would be the making of the industry has really struggled to secure a foothold even with the added benefits of HD.

Is this a local problem though by which we mean one that is mainly UK based? It does seem to be. This does make sense though . The UK was a saturated market long before the rest of the world started to catch up. The hope was IP and HD CCTV solutions would drive the market forward. Consumers however are just making do. Service contracts are as hotly contested as ever but there are plenty of  opportunity for service based companies to make hay while upgrades are on hold.

There is some good news though. Security systems have a life on them and many old analogue DVRs out there are getting tired….very tired. Sooner now rather than later many companies are going to have to make a choice. To upgrade or to abandon their CCTV systems. Although a few may decide they can do without CCTV for the foreseeable future most will be thinking they have to start spending on infrastructure at some point and this decision cant be too far away.

So do they go IP or analogue or do they opt for HDcctv? This has been the perennial question now for sometime. The thinking has to be that some form of HD solution is the way forward. With some of the big IP CCTV players seemingly abandoning the UK market place in favour of big projects abroad perhaps an HDcctv upgrade using existing coax would be something that installer would be trying to pitch to end users. To do this however they need choice of both HDcctv cameras and DVRs and HDcctv equipment that is certified alliance kit seems to be reasonably hard to come by here in the UK.

HD SDI over coax

So the jury is out but HD cameras in one form or another will prove the way forward for the industry. All we need though is for someone to be able to tell us when ? Any thoughts?

Benefits of CCTV…but is this the real picture?

CCTV is just about everywhere now and is universally accepted by the public as something that is part of  our everyday lives. However what are the benefits and what is the real truth behind CCTV systems that have been installed over the last 20 years?

Benefits as follows:

1) CCTV is always on. Day and night the systems record every movement  that takes place in view of the camera.

2) CCTV acts as a valuable visual  deterrent. No one is knowingly going to commit a crime when they know they are being watched and recorded.

3) CCTV cameras can be fitted both internally and externally this is certainly not the case with all physical deterrents.

4) CCTV can be used to determine authorised access to site, controlling movement and keeping out those who perhaps should not be in a certain area at a certain time.

5) CCTV can be used to determine when a deliberate attempt to compromise a secure boundary is taking place . Particularly useful for high security situations such as the MOD sites and airports.

6) CCTV reduces loses due to theft. Crucial in the retail industry.

7) CCTV reduces company loses from fraudulent transactions or injury claims.

8 )  CCTV can be used to enforce health and safety requirements on site , it may even to be able to claim that it saves lives.

9) CCTV enables retrospective analysis of crimes and actions, the resulting evidence can be used to enforce a conviction or in the case of companies, a dismissal.

10) CCTV gives  the public a feeling of well being that that would not be achievable without the help of the knowledge that people are watching to keep you safe.

11) CCTV is cheaper and more reliable that manned guarding and human intervention . Cost is always a primary decision when it comes to security.

CCTV images of riots
Can we get a conviction from this kind of quality image?

To be fair we could go on, but the above bullet points prove that for all the negative publicity that CCTV sometimes gets, there is certainly value in the concept.

The concept?…yes this is where we actually to get to root of the problem with CCTV. Everyone loves the concept but over the last 20 years people have been less than satisfied with the results that have been achieved by installing CCTV on the streets or into their businesses. Why you may ask? Well the answer is simple “ANALOGUE CCTV”.

Analogue CCTV  has been about the most mis-sold product of the last 20 years in our opinion. The reason is quite simple….. “definition”. Lets be fair, analogue CCTV is quite capable of providing the correct definition if specified correctly , however cost has proved a limiting factor in the sale of CCTV systems across the UK and invariably CCTV has been massively undersold as a result. There are simply not enough cameras or recording memory to get satisfactory results. Everyone wants a wide angle picture, all customers want to see every part of of their site  but they also expect to be able to see car reg plates and faces as well . This is not possible or at least it is not possible without the correct investment. You must buy the right lens and ensure you get the correct angle of view as well but you must have enough cameras looking into the area of interest. You must also take lighting into consideration to really achieve what the end user expects. Sadly over the years salesmen have wrongly under specified in order to keep costs competative and win contracts. This way of selling has caused disillusionment amongst business owners and the public alike.

Now though the CCTV industry has the means to redeem itself. HD CCTV is the answer. This can be provided either through an HD SDI format or over IP. Now images that we all agree are a huge improvement on the past are achievable. The CCTV industry has something to hang its hat on !

HD SDI CCTV, HD CCTV DVR, HD SDI DVR

HD CCTV promises to restore the faith of the public in CCTV in general and offers the CCTV industry the opportunity to upgrade many of the poorly sold systems of the past. This of course does not excuse mistakes that have previously been made. It must also be warned that as always you will get what you pay for. Don’t be tempted by cheap HD SDI DVR’s that offer frame rates and recording capacity that just won’t cut it.  It does however offer a way forward that will see all the benefits listed above be able to be applied and at last get some real value for money out of your CCTV system.

CCTV footage as Petrol tanker bursts into flames

Dramatic footage was captured on CCTV as  a petrol tanker bursts into flames

During a routine delivery to a petrol station in Melbourne this huge explosion occurred.  Australians were amazed at the scenes captured on CCTV that enveloped the fuel station and surrounding area.
The flames described as  up to 150m long also leaped into the air and  engulfed the forecourt. As the flames spread it reached as far as the outside of  the Stamford Inn hotel in the south east of the city.
The driver encountered amazing fortune as he was able to climb out of the fuel tanker, loaded with over 20,000 litres of fuel. He suffered burns injuries to his arms and legs as he was able to get clear before the explosion. Reports stated that at least 500 people had to be  evacuated as parked cars were also engulfed and exploded. The cause of the inferno was caused by a lightening strike that hit the area during an electrical storm.

Prevent metal theft .360 vision White light Predator camera casts more light on the situation.

In this issue

In other news

Predator installed in another Town Centre

360 Vision captured yet another town centre project, supplying 20 Predator units for upgrade to a major town centre system……………

Predator chosen ahead of competitors!

360 Vision’s Predator was recently selected ahead of competition from Bosch and Ganz to be installed at prestigious chemical plant near Chester. The installer in question chose Predator as it offered support and service from a UK based design and manufacturer, along with features not available on other conceptually similar products

360 Launch Enhanced Patented White Light Predator & Long Range IR Predator

White light predator camera

360 Vision Technology have announced the immediate release of  Enhanced Patented White Light Predator camera & Long Range IR Predator camera– featuring embedded mixed technology High Intensity IR Light and White Light to give true Colour at Night CCTV images and fantastic deterrent value!

The New Combined Technology White Light Predator camera has the capability to give the customer full video colour images to at up to 120m. This is achieved by enabling a high intensity White LED Light on alarm, but also using the combined dual IR lamps  to provide full video monochrome images at distances of up to 120m. an industry first for deterrent + quality images.

The White light predator is unique and the deterrent value it gives is second to none. With the ability to either automate or control through an operator. The white light feature offers a search light effect that not only causes intruders extreme discomfort when captured in its intense beam but clear crisp images for the authorities to use after an event. This is unique in the world of security. Metal theft is one area that will see a reduction as a result of this combined technology.

The New IR150 Predator can deliver full video monochrome images to 150m – completely unique and previously unheard of on comparable PTZ camera products!


Predator camera cost

 

Patented Technology

Predator CCTV cameras use Patented technology in this British made 360 vision product. lights are only ever switched on when the camera itself determines that light levels make this a necessity.Other systems use less than accurate methods. These generally include timer switches or photo electric cells. there is of course always the option for manual control.

Reduced power consumption is yet another reason to deploy the 360 vision Predator camera.Utilising high beam but low power LEDs, both White Light and IR offers installers and end users alike the ability to reduce costs through reduced power consumption.