Panasonic WJ-ND400 network video recorder


The WJ-ND400 is a network video recorder that  will allow up to 64 IP cameras to be connected to the unit. In addition Panasonic’s WJ-ND400 will allow both images and audio to be  recorded at the same time giving a high level of flexibility. As standard Panasonic have equipped the WJ-ND400 with 8 HDD slots. This allows expansion from the standard 500gig hard drive that comes out of the factory. In fact, in total the WJ-ND400 can be expanded up to an impressive 27TB,  ideal for large scale IP installations making it a real candidate for consideration when installing large data generating megapixel IP camera systems. A hot swap facility means that harddrives can be replaced without any interruption in the recording process.

panasonic WJ-ND400

The WJ-ND400 is oozing with features and benefits such as filtered searches, FTP transfer, alarm recording and e-mail notification to name but a few. Avanced search facilities mean movement within specified areas can be searched on as well as time and date and event searches. The WJ-ND400 is primarily an H.264 recorder but can accommodate MPEG-4 and JPEG.

Two NICs mean the recorder allows the client network to be separated from the camera network. This clever idea means the camera network performance is not affected by users monitoring the system. This is also an additional security measure. Cameras placed within a separate network means access can only be obtained through the NVR.

i-Pro network cameras are auto-sensed  by the WJ-ND400, meaning their IP addresses are easily detected. This really helps the engineer save time in setting up and configuring a large IP surveillance system.

The new Panasonic WJ-ND400 is a great example of an NVR that boasts both usability and reliability and caters for both users and engineers when looking at large scale IP CCTV surveillance systems.

 

Panasonic IP video

Panasonic i-Pro smart HD.

Panasonic have recently unveiled a new division within its organization called PSNE or if you prefer the full version, Panasonic System Networks Europe. The new division formed in January of this year (2010) and is seen by many forward thinking in the CCTV industry as a very clever move.

Quite simply Panasonic have realized that CCTV as we know it today will look very different in the future. By recognising that the convergence of telecommunications, security and imaging products all needing to come under one portfolio, they have sent a message to the market place. They see  IP video systems integrating with various different edge devices including epos point of sale, industrial and medical cameras as well as home networking products as the way foward.

With this new focus on IP based technology they have produced some excellent network video cameras that are designed to suit just about every application. This has been named the i-Pro smartHD. This range of  IP cameras and monitoring systems means they can easily integrate older analogue products seamlessly with the new IP video based systems.

NVR’s within the new portfolio include the WJ-ND400, WJ-ND300A and the WJ-ND200 all the new equipment is of course ONVIF compliant.

Panasonic trail Axis now a very close second in the sale of IP Camera and ip video systems and see that although the market is still split 80% 20% heavily in favour of analogue camera solutions the trend towards network video systems is an irresistible force. This is now driving many CCTV camera manufacturers to look very closely at what Panasonic are able to achieve in this next year or two, especially as the CCTV market place is thought to be worth anything upwards of 350 million pounds this year.

With IT mangers now taking ownership of newly installed Network video systems the design of any IP video system needs to ensure that the ITC department is kept happy. Getting the IT manager on board as we all know is going to be half the battle when specifying IP surveillance systems however this is becoming easier, especially with Panasonic giving heavy behind the scenes support for its network of dealers.

To ensure Panasonic are able to get their message across to the general public they have invested heavily in the London 2012 Olympics so their famous catchphrase “ideas for life” will soon be ingrained in the thoughts of many installers and new customers who will inevitably start to migrate from analogue to IP camera solutions. Probably an awful lot sooner than they think!