Hybrid CCTV starts the green shoots of recovery.

Hybrid CCTV.

CCTV suppliers, manufacturers and installers have endured a barren couple of years. We have seen many good companies go to the wall and some bad ones as well. Add to this the strain that wholesalers have suffered, lots of them have been taken for tens if not hundreds of thousands of pounds as their customers (the installers) go bust.

Sistore MX hybrid DVR
Hybrid CCTV

Its also the end user that has suffered. Pressured into taking the cheapest quote due to the economic climate they have seen CCTV systems installed to poor standards and then find that within a few months the installer has gone to the wall leaving them with a very unpleasant legacy and few choices but to find another installer to take on the servicing of the security equipment.

This year however we hope to see a change for the better and a situation that will benefit all. We are at a cross roads for the industry and everyone is wondering how the next two to three years will develop. Analogue CCTV systems are still by far the dominant surveillance system out there but IP CCTV is making a relentless march and inevitably this type of system will takeover. However we believe it going to be Hybrid CCTV that is going to dominate proceedings now and in the short to medium term. CCTV manufacturers are also finding that the shift away from analogue is taking much longer than expected and are seriously having to re-think their strategies.

The thing is Hybrid CCTV solutions offer end users the flexibility they need. Many want to move to IP CCTV but have little or no budget to do so. However the thought of HD and megapixel IP cameras is whetting their appetite for change and Hybrid CCTV solutions mean they can combine the best of both worlds.

We predict that some very big players will start to produce 32 way units that will accommodate a 16/16 split to enable them to start selling their HD cameras, slowly at first but once the benefits are realized by the end user we expect upgrades to start taking off.

So there is hope, the weak have failed and the natural process that is the survival of the fittest has left the CCTV industry in good shape and ready to fight off competition from IT integrators. So with good installers and great new technology we are sure that Hybrid CCTV will help to fuel a strong recovery over the next 5 years.

Honeywell Fusion IV DVR

The Fusion IV is here! Honeywell’s hybrid 32 channel recorder has set a standard that will get the market place talking for some time. Not just an analogue DVR,the Fusion IV is equally at home recording IP cameras; Being Hybrid the unit bridges the gap between analogue and digital and has plenty of features to boot. The fusion IV is not just for recording either it can transmit up to 32 channels of analogue or IP video sources, and up to 16 channels of audio. POS/ATM text data can also be transmitted to provide an overall Ip video surveillance solution.

Devices that can be easily connected into the Fusion IV includes IP cameras, network encoders and megapixel cameras. Fusion IV also offers up to 32 channels of hybrid (analogue and/or IP) camera support. The hybrid DVR fully embraces H.264 video compression across all the inputs meaning reduced file sizes and longer recording times.

Multi-tasking of simultaneous operations including network cameras, megapixel cameras, point of- sale, video analytics and more are included in the Fusion IV portfolio. Dual video ports have also been added. Windows® XP is the preferred embedded operating system, and network security and firewall protection is a prerequisite, this also eliminates the need to format DVDs before back up. Hard drives can be easily replaced from the front panel meaning field replacement of hard drives is easy and efficient.

 
IP and megapixel camera technologies are now seen as the future of video surveillance systems and drive the need for new the functionality offered by the Fusion IV DVR. Fusion IV is ideal for systems requiring transition to IP from analogue to maximise the cost-savings benefits associated with IP networking. By using H.264 compression recording the  unparalleled image clarity using megapixel cameras is now perfectly possible. Many businesses will find the benefits of the fusion IV will fit seamlessly into their security operation and the hybrid functionality offers unparalelled options.

Some of the benefits of the Honeywell Fusion IV
Recording rates across all 32 channels for 100 to 400 at CIF resolution PAL
Recording resolutions up to 720 × 576 (D1)
VGA and DVI-D ports for local live viewing
Available with 8, 16 and 32 looping video inputs
Internal storage capacity up to 8 TB
External storage options
Analogue and IP recording across 32 channels
16 sensor inputs and 16 outputs
Multiplexed switched spot outputs
16 channels of audio on selected models
10/100/1000 gigabit network standard 
Windows® XP embedded operating system
 

Hybrid operation for analogue/IP camera mix based on DVR model – 8/16/32 channel video input
User software included with each DVR:
Fusion Server Software – Local user interface
4 channels of analytics on certain models

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.

ACTi ACD- 2400 video encoder

ACTI ACD-2400 video encoder.

The ACTI video encoder is a 16 way MPEG4 1U unit It looks sleek and well built and makes up just one more component in what is now an extensive range of products from the ACTI corporation.

Each channel of analogue video can be converted to IP at 25 FPS at full D1 resolution, in addition each channel boasts 2 way audio and video motion detection. With digital inputs and outputs and serial control ports for PTZ again per channel. ACTi have produced an encoder that fits well into a scenario that requires a hybrid CCTV solution.

Protocols included to allow PTZ control include Pelco-D and Pelco-P Sony VISCA and American Dynamics also with regard to integration  we can confirm the encoder is fully compatible with all ACTi software and there is an SDK available on request.

In order to to access the browser on the unit you will require Microsoft Internet explorer 6.0 or something newer.

So as we build on the portfolio of ACTi products we can see that by producing a 16 way encoder they are looking to create a situation for installers to start to create hybrid CCTV systems and use ACTi IP cameras as well.

Hybrid CCTV, Analogue CCTV or IP CCTV?

Decisions , decisions

If you are the  MD of a company who is about to upgrade or install a new CCTV surveillance system, you are probably going to be faced with some pretty tricky decisions on how you are going to approach the subject. The three main questions you will need to ask yourself are:

1)      Will I just upgrade my analogue cameras for new analogue cameras?

2)      Will I use a mixture of my existing equipment with new IP camera technology .i.e. a hybrid CCTV system?

3)      Will I go for the latest IP Megapixel camera solutions with a VMS recording platform?

CCTV solution? Too many choices?

The problem is there is no clear answer on this. Option 1 will almost certainly work out the cheapest at the point of installation and the results you will be able to achieve will mirror those of any previous analogue system you have used. The cameras and DVR may well have more features but overall system performance is going to be the same.

Hybrid CCTV.

Option 2 will give you a half way house solution. Hybrid systems combine analogue and IP cameras with the potential to record on either a DVR or an NVR but you will have to convert the cameras to either analogue or IP at the point of recording. Having said that some companies advocate the use of a Hybrid DVR that can handle both, but long term support for these products is distinctly questionable. However for the time being they provide a convenient bridge between the two technologies.

IP CCTV.

Finally option 3. This will mean a commitment to the future, but one that is still evolving. With megapixel cameras you really need to consider your companies network capabilities to ensure the frame rate and picture quality are maximised. It is inevitable that IP products will be the dominant force in the CCTV market place over the next 5 years. Analogue solutions have reached their ultimate performance levels and have become as cheap as they ever will do. The price of analogue will rise in time, which is why option 1 may not be the cheapest route in the long run. Conversely IP products will fall in price sharply and the options and ranges of the camera and recording products will be wide ranging.

Buy IP CCTV solution.

So as an MD the decision is defiantly not easy, proper advice should be sort to ensure that a supplier with an installation preference does not force you down the wrong route. So thought and consideration is now crucial as to the decision……… “Buy IP Camera solution”? probably …yes!