Panasonic HD NVR

Panasonic have now made their leading edge NVR, the WJ-NV200, available
to buy through Norbain. Part of the iPro range the HD NVR boasts a host
of advanced features.

panasonic WJ-NV200These include the ability to record up to 30 IPS
across all the 16 channels in a multi format. The NVR recorder also
supports a full HD video output through an HDMI port allowing all images
to be displayed in HD. The quality is exceptional.

As we have mentioned here before at integrated CCTV the intelligent
facial recognition feature is the big selling point of the WJ-NV200
working in conjunction with the latest smart HD iPro cameras, multiple
face matching can be achieved. These HD CCTV images are matched with a
stored database in order to trigger alarms open doors or welcome
recognised customers, the possibilities in fact are endless.

Search facilities integrated into this HD NVR include an easy to use time line or alternatively you
can use the quick search calendar.

Leading the way as always the WJ-NV200 is what Panasonic hope to be one
of their big sellers during 2011. As HD recording and displayed images
comes of age we can expect Panasonic to be at the forefront of this.

Avigilon talk to Integrated CCTV about their company and the future.

Avigilon logoare now well known throughout the CCTV industry as quality manufacturer’s of Megapixel IP cameras and software. We were lucky enough to get the opportunity to ask Rick Ramsay the product manager with Avigilon some in- depth questions about their megapixel cameras, the company and the future.

Below Rick is able to explain why Avigilon are such a respected name in the industry today.

Avigilon Rick Ramsay Product Manager

1. Rick, what is your role within Avigilon and how long have you been with them?

I am a product manager, responsible for both Avigilon‘s hardware and software products. I joined Avigilon in 2007.

2. How long has the company been trading and how quickly have you been able to grow now megapixel is the buzz word in the security surveillance industry?

Avigilon was founded at the end of 2004. In 2010, Avigilon was ranked among the Deloitte Technology Fast 50™, a ranking of the 50 fastest growing technology companies in Canada, based on the percentage of revenue growth over five years. Avigilon’s revenues increased 33,664 percent from 2005 to 2009—making it among the top five fastest growing companies in Canada. Avigilon was also named to Red Herring’s North America 100 list in 2010, a prestigious list honoring the year’s most promising private technology ventures in North America.

Avigilon Camera HD Pro

3. The 16 megapixel hd professional camera is quite a talking point. For what applications have you seen it used and how would you measure its success so far?

The Avigilon 16 MP HD camera delivers the highest resolution possible and exceptional detail for monitoring very large areas — the equivalent resolution of more than 50 VGA cameras. Leveraging JPEG2000 compression and High Definition Stream Management (HDSM,) the Avigilon 16 MP HD camera can capture extremely high quality image detail, but requires little bandwidth and storage. The Avigilon 16 MP HD camera is being used in stadiums and public venues, parking lots, transportation systems, and cargo terminals. Avigilon’s online system design tools including the camera resolution and lens estimator facilitate the selection of the correct resolution camera for each location’s requirements. So far, the camera has been a tremendous success as it offers a solution unique in the industry for delivering high resolution and exceptional detail covering very large areas.

4. Having seen your offerings at IFSEC this year, build quality is obviously very important to you. Do you believe this helps you sell your product over cheaper mpix cameras on the market?

Avigilon is committed to delivering prompt service and support, and offers a three-year warranty on all parts, adding to the solution’s overall reliability and we believe that this does differentiate us in the market.

Avigilon maintains all of its development and manufacturing in Vancouver, Canada, and has invested more than $2 million in state-of-the-art equipment to automate the production and assembly of sub-components and finished goods to boost its production capability. With in-depth experience in the life science/microscope camera field, the company’s core development team has worked together for almost a decade to develop a high-performance and reliable HD surveillance solution based on proven technologies.

5. Arecont look like your nearest competitors – how does the recent price reduction news from them impact or influence your roadmap?

Arecont is one of our partners. In fact, their cameras can be used within the Avigilon Control Center NVMS, so we’re certainly pleased to see moves in the industry that are advancing the adoption of HD and megapixel cameras. Avigilon continues to be the performance and value leader and recently introduced its HD H.264 line of cameras that deliver industry leading H.264 image quality and fully motorized lenses for remote zoom and focus to improve ease of installation at pricing designed to give the broad market access to HD quality surveillance video.

6. What is the Avigilon roadmap?

Avigilon’s recent decision to offer two editions of the award-winning Avigilon Control Center software — Enterprise and Standard — reflects our road map as we expand our portfolio to include effective solutions that deliver greater access to HD surveillance to all parts of the market. Avigilon is committed to remaining the performance and value leader in HD surveillance systems, driving innovation to improve video surveillance quality, reduce investigation times, and deliver better video evidence.

7. Some in the industry have shed a little doubt about how successful megapixel cameras will be. What is your best answer to critics of high megapixel bandwidth ?

Avigilon Control Center was engineered from the ground up to intelligently manage HD video, delivering both situational awareness and complete image detail while efficiently handling bandwidth and storage. High Definition Stream Management (HDSM) makes the Avigilon Control Center engine the most powerful and efficient Network Video Management platforms on the market because it intelligently manages HD video transmission, sending only requested portions of the captured video to monitoring stations. HDSM results in immediate savings in transmission bandwidth and reduces costs by requiring less powerful workstations.

Effective management of HD video is the only way to ensure the system as a whole can handle the higher demands placed by HD video and deliver details needed to reduce investigation times and improve success.

8. Will a megapixel camera replace a dome PTZ camera?

Depending on the scope of coverage and desired level of detail required, a megapixel HD camera can replace a dome PTZ. We have developed a unique set of online system design tools including a camera resolution and lens estimator to help our customers choose the correct camera resolution for each scene to get the detail level expected.

9. When will the industry completely embrace IP? is it cost related?

Cost is certainly a factor, but the ability for an IP system to truly outperform an analog system has also been an important factor in the industry’s move toward full HD performance. The introduction of HD cameras and purpose built HD NVMS platforms has provided the benefits and needed incentive to accelerate the transition.

10. DVRs….are they dead? VMS and servers are the future right?

Analog encoders are designed to integrate legacy analog cameras into a High Definition IP surveillance system, facilitating the transition from analog to full HD over time. The Avigilon analog encoder seamlessly integrates with Avigilon Control Center, using only a single camera license for all 4 ports, creating a network based surveillance solution with unmatched performance, ease of use, and ease of installation.

11. Security installers or IT specialists – who do avigilon favour? And where do you see the industry going in the next 5 years?

Avigilon works with both security installers and IT specialists. We believe that both groups are expanding their knowledge and expertise in security and IP technology to take advantage of new opportunities. Over the next five years , we’ll see more security installers expanding into areas conventionally performed by IT specialists and at the same time, IT specialists will begin to offer more integrated security applications.

Avigilon ACC-4.6 Range12. Finally Rick can you give us 3 reasons why customers should consider Avigilon products over your many competitors out there?

1) Avigilon Control Center was engineered from the ground up to intelligently manage HD video, delivering both situational awareness and complete image detail. Featuring HDSM, Avigilon Control Center is the industry’s only truly open NVMS, allowing system designers to integrate Avigilon solutions with existing assets including analog and IP cameras, access control, and other intrusion systems. HDSM intelligently manages HD video transmission, sending only requested portions of the captured video to monitoring stations, resulting in immediate savings in transmission bandwidth and reduces costs by requiring less powerful workstations.

2) Avigilon designs and manufactures the industry’s widest range of high quality HD cameras in resolutions from one to 16 megapixels, which seamlessly integrate with the Avigilon Control Center Network Video Management system to create a network-based surveillance solution with unmatched performance and ease of use. Avigilon cameras exploit the benefits of both Onvif-compliant H.264 and JPEG2000 compression standards to provide system designers with maximum flexibility in order to meet video resolution requirements for each location in the most cost effective manner.

3) Avigilon backs all of its products with a 3 year warranty and industry leading 24×7 technical support. With a focus on prompt delivery and service, Avigilon’s global network of partners provides rapid access to equipment and accessories. Our brand promise is to be #1 in end-user satisfaction by providing greater performance, value, ease of use, reliability, customer service, and market innovation.

We would like to thank Rick Ramsay for his time, a great insight into where the industry is heading and why Avigilon are leading the way.

Panasonic WJ-NV200 video surveillance solution

Panasonic has now launched the WJ-NV200 network disc recorder. This will further help enhance the iPro range. The key benefit of the unit is the ability to use facial recognition technology, a feature that is becoming more and more popular. Offering HD video quality and smart analytics capability is also a feature of all the i-PRO SmartHD cameras and recorders . The WJ-NV200 provides an advanced, cost-effective IP video surveillance solution to suit the widest possible range of applications. Being a Hybrid NVR it also provides seamless operation and compatibility between analogue and IP cameras. This makes the product suitable for integration into legacy systems and enhances installation simplicity.

Full training is available on the product and this ensures that from system design to final commissioning all considerations can be taken into account to ensure a seamless installation.

WJ-NV200 benefits and features

Real Time Face Matching displayed on live images
Up to 16 network cameras can be connected and recorded
Quick set-up by automatic camera detection with setup wizard.
Mouse operation using a new GUI platform – again, no PC is required
Supports Full HD output (HDMI) for  display of recorded and live images in high definition
In built feature to enable calculation of HDD capacity by frame rate and image quality
16 cameras simultaneously displayed live.
ECO-friendly automatic back light control of LCD monitors – reducing power consumption to 30% ~ 60% in normal use
Camera control: Pan/tilt, zoom, focus, brightness, preset position and auto mode
Advanced search options with calendar and timeline.
Full audio across all 16 cameras
Optional i-PRO Management Software for multi site system configuration
H.264, MPEG-4 and JPEG multi-format
Configuration set-up with no PC required.

Once again Panasonic have come up with a gem here, well worth a second look.