Home Surveillance Systems

Posts Tagged ‘digital video recorder’

Surveillance for home, office or general security is often dependent on the efficient recording of activities. As such, majority of surveillance equipment make use of recorders in order to save any images that may be used as evidence later. For general surveillance, there are basically two types of recorders currently used: the embedded or standalone DVRs and the PC-based DVRs. Although it’s an older technology, the embedded standalone DVR remains popular for most surveillance needs not just for its ease of use but also for its efficiency.

What is an embedded standalone DVR?
DVR stands for digital video recorder. The embedded standalone DVR, as its name implies, is a complete unit designed to receive signals and record these signals onto a chip. The DVR itself is contained inside a single case, made up of a hard drive, CPU, a memory chip and an operating system. A basic embedded standalone DVR usually only includes a single hard drive for recording, although many models come equipped with one or two other hard drives to allow for longer recording times.

Advantages of embedded standalone DVRs
Older models of embedded standalone DVRs were incapable of providing users with access via the Internet, a feature that PC-based DVRs were equipped with. This greatly limited the extent of use of this type of DVR, especially if multiple locations were involved. These days, though, standalone DVRs can be used in several locations, handling feeds coming from several units of security camera systems. This meant that embedded standalone DVRs could allow users to remotely monitor and track activities from several different locations at once.

Another advantage of the embedded standalone DVR is that the operating system being used is not accessible to non-users, even if the system uses the Internet. This is an important feature in terms of security and safety because an operating system that is closed to other users helps prevent the threat of hacking attempts, worms, spyware and viruses. This also means that there is no need to obtain new security patches from the operating system manufacturer on a regular basis.

Settings can also be manipulated remotely, allowing the user or administrator complete control of the whole system. In terms of image quality, newer models of embedded standalone DVRs that have come out recently can provide high resolution recording.

The embedded standalone DVR is also generally easier to operate compared to the PC-based recorder and in terms of long-term use, relatively cheaper.

Who needs an embedded standalone DVR?
Embedded standalone DVRs are often the choice of business and corporate establishments for their surveillance needs. Because of its capability to allow remote monitoring, it makes the issue of security for an establishment easier to resolve.

For home security, the embedded standalone DVR is an excellent choice for larger houses or for homeowners who own several different properties that they wish to monitor.

Need help selecting a Embedded Digital Video Recorder? Check out the hiddenpinhole cameras store for one.

Home surveillance system purchases are on the rise, which could be attributed to many factors. One reason for the increase in popularity is the recession, which generally leads to an elevation in crime.  Another theory is that more and more people are willing to embrace new forms of technology.  Many home surveillance systems are wireless and involve little set up. However, there are a few tips to keep in mind during and after the installation process.

The installation process for surveillance system can be done by you or by professionals. Installing the system yourself will save you money, and in these economic times, any savings definitely help!  Most home surveillance systems come with very specific directions. The most common mistake homeowners make is not having a game plan or strategy when setting up the system. The instructions are easy, but there are several additional things a home owner can do to secure the surveillance system’s effectiveness. This is a serious matter to consider because you are protecting your most expensive asset, your home along with all its belongings; and your most priceless asset, your family.

When you first begin setting up your surveillance system, the digital video recorder should be installed in a place that you have easy access to, but one that is not too obvious. It would be ideal to have the digital video recorder covered up by an easily moveable device within an arm’s reach, or maybe in a closet. Decreasing the odds that an intruder will find the digital recorder gives the home owner a greater chance of protection, with the intrusion fully recorded and the person caught on tape.  The last thing you want is for the intruder to be able to disable your recording of the incident.

Another way to deter criminals when you’re setting up your surveillance system is to strategically place a security camera sign/logo sticker right in front of any potential entry way. Whether it is placed on the front door, back door, or any easy access window; you want to be sure that the sign is visible, as it may be reason enough for the intruder to move on.  In addition to the surveillance warning signs, a security light should be installed to prevent someone from entering the house. Security lights can scare off intruders and are an integral part of any surveillance system. Once the light comes on, many intruders will run immediately because they know there is a good chance the owner is coming to investigate. Having security cameras on site can make a huge impact as to whether or not an intruder will target your house. No criminal wants to be caught on camera stealing when there are a number of houses without security cameras that don’t pose such threats.

Hopefully the above tips will help you maximize your home surveillance system’s potential, keeping your home and your family safe. The directions and installation are easy, but the strategy to implement the system can be tricky. Utilizing a few additional tips when it comes to setting up your surveillance system can help your protect your family and property to the fullest extent.

• Multi-feature 8 camera remote monitoring & recording
• Record from 8 cameras to video to a hard drive & download to USB port specifically designed for quality USB thumb drives – (optional extra)
• Web ready* & connects to your existing WAN, LAN or network – (* Broadband internet connection recommended)
• Set & forget with programable motion detection
• Easy installation, use with any TV, monitor & security cameras

Product Description
The Swann DVR8-Net-PLUS is the next generation of do-it-yourself security and safety monitoring. Featuring eight standard composite video inputs and 2 video outputs, with networking, web monitoring with USB thumb drive backup facility. It is the ideal CCTV system for small retail stores, homes or as a replacement for old fashioned time lapse recorders. Integrated motion activated recording also makes it ideal for cover observation systems.

Swann 8 Camera Digital Video Recorder for Network & Web Monitoring with USB

The age of recording video images through VCRs is long gone. What we now have at our disposal are devices that exceed the features of the VCR technology by far. The fairly simple recording of video images has now evolved to systems that are equipped with a multitude of advanced functions. Digital video recorders (DVRs) are now widely used in both home and business applications. We can also find DVRs with very advanced features in security applications as part of CCTV systems. A CCTV DVR system exceeds previous video recording options in many aspects, as its multitude of advanced features enable it to offer a wider range of services. Video searches by date, time, event and camera are just an example of what the advanced technology of a CCTV DVR can do. In addition to this, a CCTV DVR provides enhanced control over frame rate and quality, which allows for the optimization of disk space usage. Furthermore, should the disk space be exceeded, the CCTV DVR can be set to overwrite older footage. This system can also be connected to the Internet or a LAN network so as to allow security footage to be accessed from a remote location using a computer. When you need to purchase a CCTV system, either for your business or for home use, you have to pay close attention to the kind of CCTV DVR that you choose as part of the kit. We could go as far as saying that the choice of digital video recorder for a security application is more important than that of the camera itself. Of course, there are many choices available when choosing CCTV cameras, but an informed choice of the CCTV DVR is very important. There are many aspects to consider when purchasing a CCTV DVR and what it basically comes down to is making the right choice so as to meet your particular needs and demands while trying to keep the budget as low as possible. Before making a choice of CCTV DVRs you need to look into some important details such as the resolution and quality that you want, the recording options, footage accessibility, the technical support offered by the supplier and, why not, the price tag that the product comes with. One of the most commonly used recorders in surveillance systems is the 4 Channel DVR, which has more advanced features than the traditional DVR used in home applications. The 4 Channel DVR is used with peripherals such as cameras and computers. Motion detection, data searching, audio and video compression and network backup are just some of its most important added features. The 4 Channel DVR can be connected to up to four cameras and allows real-time access to surveillance footage on the Internet irrespective of your location. This type of recorder also supports the use external media, such as optical disks or hard drives. As has been said before, the features of the CCTV DVR are often more important than those of the camera or other accessories. The use of a 4 Channel DVR in your surveillance system will insure high quality videos, as well as enhanced playback.

Product Description
triplex Digital Video Recorder With Integrated 160gb Hard Drive triplex Technololgy Simultaneous Playback View Or Record real Time Recording On All 4 Channels At 30fps network Interface For Remote Viewing With Support For Lorex Ddns Service usb Interface For Video Back-up Image Transfer Or Firmware Upgrade 4 Color Ccd Weather-proof Day/night Cameras With 40ft. Night Vision includes Four 60 Camera Extension Cables Four Mounting Brackets Ethernet Cable Application Software Remote And Power Supplies

Lorex 15-Inch LCD Observation System with Network Digital Video Recorder and 4 Cameras

Buying a CCTV system is by no means easy. The vast array of products available nowadays could confuse anyone so we have tried our best to put together a guide to help you make an informed decision about what system should fulfill your requirements.

Before we go through how to choose a complete CCTV System, some people may only want to connect a camera to a TV/Monitor to view and record via a video recorder.

This is simple to do, when you have selected the camera you want pick the option with the correct length ‘Plug & Play’ cable. Make a note of the ‘connector’ type, this is usually BNC, then check your TV connections. They will probably be phono or scart. Then you will need to buy a BNC to Phono connector, and if necessary a scart connection. And you’re done; you simply plug these connections into the end of your cable, and into your TV. Place the camera where you want and record images on to your video recorder, keeping in mind that it can only record for as long as there is space on the video tape. Of course you will need to “tune” in a channel on your TV to see your camera.

Below we go into more details about the two main parts of a CCTV security system, the Digital Video Recorder (DVR) and the Camera’s.

Digital Video Recorder Basics…

The Digital Video Recorder is the “brain” of a CCTV system; it takes the images from the cameras and stores them on to a hard disk drive. You can then look at the images recorded on the hard drive, and review what the cameras have been viewing by connecting a monitor (or other form of display unit) to the DVR. You can forward and rewind through the images in much the same way you may have done so with a typical Video recorder. On many you can search for specific dates and times to quickly find the footage you want to view.

Once you have your images recorded on the hard drive, from time to time there may be an incident which you will be required to give to the police as evidence, you will then need to back up the Data they require from the hard drive on to another storage device.

Backing Up Data…

All Digital Video Recorders store information on a hard drive, something you should consider when choosing your Digital Video Recorder is how you will back-up this Data if there is ever an incident that you may be required to provide evidence of to the police.

Common forms of back-up include:

• Connecting to Video recorder: This is mainly only for ‘budget’ Digital Video Recorders and involves connecting the Digital Video Recorder to a video recorder and recording the information on to tape.

• USB to PC link: Quite common, and simple to do, simply connect the Digital Video Recorder to a PC via cable and copy information to PC Hard drive, from there you can write on to disk, pen stick etc.

• USB Pen Stick: Quite common and simple to do, amount of storage depends on USB pen stick used.

• CD Rewriter (built in or external): simple to do, some Digital Video Recorders would also require you to load software on to any device that you wanted to then watch the CD on. You should keep this in mind if giving CDs to police as with this software they would not be able to view the CD. Also bare in mind CDs are limited to 750 Megabytes.

• DVD Rewriter (built in or external): simple to do, some Digital Video Recorders would also require you to load software on to any device that you wanted to then watch the DVD on. You should keep this in mind if giving DVDs to police as with this software they would not be able to view the DVD. 4.7Gigabyte of space available.

• Networked: You can copy data from your Digital Video Recorder on to any PC while viewing it over the internet

Digital Video Recorders are available as Standalone units or PC based units. Choosing which one is a personal preference, but I’ll take this opportunity to point out a couple of things. Although many PC based Digital Video Recorders offer lots of added features and familiar use, standalone Digital Video Recorders are purpose built for the job and are considered more reliable and therefore less likely to fail. With PC based units we would strongly recommend the pc is used as a security device only and not used as a standard pc with surveillance, this should reduce the risk of failures.

Also if you are “PC savvy” and decide to buy a Digital Video Recorder PC Card and install it into your PC yourself, please check that you will not void your PC warranty before you do.

Last but not least, and this goes for all Digital Video Recorders, where possible try to use a purpose built hard drive. By this we mean that some people, to save costs, use a normal PC hard drive in a Digital Video Recorder. Unfortunately this usually ends up with the hard drive failing simply because a pc hard drive is not designed to be constantly “working” twenty four hours a day – seven days a week. Also please check the compatibility of the hard drive with your Digital Video Recorder, as some may require IDE drives, others SATA, and some may work better with Seagate, others Maxtor.

Ok, now hopefully you have a better idea about what a Digital Video Recorder is, and its purpose, now let’s consider the Cameras.

CCTV Camera Basics…

For those who know little or nothing about what a CCTV camera is, or what it does.

CCTV Cameras are the “eyes” of a CCTV system, you place them inside and outside buildings to enable you to see and also record (via a Digital Video Recorder) what the camera is looking at.

Unfortunately that’s where it stops being easy, we cant emphasize enough how you need to educate yourself as much as possible about what CCTV cameras are capable of and then look seriously as to what you want to use a camera for and what you need that camera to do. By this we mean there are literally thousands of cameras available nowadays, but this is because there are so many different situations where a camera is required that there isn’t just one camera for all jobs.

So how do you go about choosing a camera, well you have to start with basics….

First where is the camera going? Indoors or outdoors? If outdoors use the weatherproof guide to choose what kind of an IP rating your camera requires.

Weather Proof Rating…

Weather proof is measured using an IP Rating, if a camera doesn’t state an IP rating you can consider it is for internal use only.

IP Ratings Guide

The IP classification system designates the degree of protection provided by an enclosure against solid objects or water ingress.

There are always two digits in an IP rating, the first digit refers to the protection against solid objects (dust) and the second digit refers to the protection against water.

Dust Protection (first digit):

0 = Non-protected
1 = Protected against a solid object greater than 50mm, such as a hand.
2 = Protected against a solid object greater than 12.5mm, such as a finger.
3 = Protected against a solid object greater than 2.5mm, such as wire or a tool.
4 = Protected against a solid object greater than 1.0mm, such as wire or thin strips.
5 = Dust-protected. Prevents ingress of dust sufficient to cause harm.
6 = Dust tight. No ingress of dust.

Water Protection (second digit):

0 = Non-protected
1 = Protected against dripping water.
2 = Protected against dripping water when tilted up to 15º.
3 = Protected against spraying water at an angle of up to 60º.
4 = Protected against splashing water from any direction.
5 = Protected against jets of water from any direction.
6 = Protected against heavy seas or powerful jets of water. Prevents ingress sufficient to cause harm.
7 = Protected against the effects of temporary immersion in water.
8 = Protected against the effects of continuous immersion in water.

So for using CCTV cameras outdoors, I would recommend a very minimum IP rating of 55, but preferably 65 and above.

Once you know this, go to the area where you want to install the camera and look at what you want the camera to see. How far is the scene you want to capture from the camera? How big is it? Think about this and make sure you know what lens size you need to be able to see the scene you want at the distance it is away. There are many CCTV Lens Calculators on the internet to help you.

Consider, will you need to be able to see in dark conditions? Or only during the day time? If its needs to see in low light conditions, how dark does it get? Is there a street lamp near by? Or is there a security light on the premises? Go back at night time and see how dark it actually is, then use the Lux guide to see what kind of “minimum illumination” your camera requires. Keep in mind during the winter it gets dark very early, no good having a camera that’s only useful during the summer.

Lux Guide:

0.00005 lux = Starlight

0.0001 lux = Moonless overcast night sky

0.001 lux = Moonless clear night sky

0.01 lux = Quarter Moon

0.25 lux = Full Moon on a clear night

1 lux = Moonlight at high altitude at tropical latitudes

3 lux = Dark limit of civil twilight under a clear sky

32000 lux = Sunlight on an average day (min.)

100000 lux = Sunlight on an average day (max.)

Is the camera going to be installed in such a place it may be subject to vandalism? If so make sure you use a vandal resistant camera.

Ok, now hopefully you have a better idea about what a CCTV camera is and what kind best suits your situation. With all the above knowledge, I hope it helps you choose a suitable CCTV system for your needs.

And good luck with your security project…

• This bundle includes a SVAT CLEARVU3 web ready 16 channel deluxe digital video recorder and bonus 16 pack of CV31 hi-res outdoor CCD security cameras with long range night vision
• View live or recorded footage from any computer with Internet Explorer, anywhere in the world (supports DDNS)
• CF card backup; Motion activated recording; Connect a microphone to this DVR to record and play back audio
• 24 hour scheduled recording; External monitor support (two outputs); Auto-resume/start recording
• Expandable up to 16 total cameras; Password protection; Records up to 1.4 years on the removable 320GB Seagate harddrive

Product Description
The CLEARVU3 is the perfect security solution for large properties. Have peace of mind and protect your assets in your home or business with this deluxe 16 channel DVR system. Easily review your recorded video online and record up to 750 days of continuous video.

The CLEARVU3 DVR has a built-in 320GB hard drive that has been designed specifically for DVRs, providing reliable recording and faster playback of your recorded footage. The hard drive will record up to 750 days of continuous video. It will start recording once the DVR is plugged in and will restart automatically after any power failure.

A great benefit of this system is the ability to view your home or business while away from the property, from anywhere in the world! The DVR allows you to view all your cameras live over the internet. Simply plug the DVR into your broadband connection to view live or recorded footage, and transfer video to your computer. You also have the option of transferring footage to a Compact Flash (CF) memory card for an easy portable solution. This DVR offers recording modes that you can easily customize to suit your security needs. Motion activated recording will only record when movement is detected on one of your cameras. Scheduled recording allows you to set up a 24 hour schedule that tells the DVR what hours of the day to record. These features will save on DVR storage space and save you time when searching for important footage. Finding your footage is easy – simply enter the date and time range and the DVR will display all the video clips recorded in that time period. The benefits of this DVR will be seen immediately and will give you peace of mind in your home or business. The CLEARVU3 deluxe DVR comes with everything you need in a video security system. This bundle also includes a 16 pack of CV31 hi-res outdoor CCD security cameras.

SVAT CLEARVU3 Web Ready 16 Channel Deluxe Digital Video Recorder & Bonus 16 Pack of CV31 Hi-Res Outdoor CCD Security Cameras with Long Range Night Vision

I am purchasing a CCTV system for work. Awaiting answers to my inquireies made directly to various company sales reps. In the mean time I would like to see what those of you experienced with CCTV can tell me. I have seen systems with hard drives smaller than the one I am looking at claim to hold 3 weeks worth of 24/7 video. I do not know what kind of resolution this would be at. Basically I am wondering if a 250GB hard drive will give me adequate resolution (for identifying faces from under 10 feet) and at the same time, a few weeks worth of storage before I have to write over the drive, or back up the video on cdrom. Come on Holsbrook..what ya got for me?

Enjoy the benefits of digital monitoring on your computer using digital video recorder (DVR) cards. To keep an eye on your business or monitor your home, just plug in the DVR card to your computer’s PCI slot, attach a camera, install the bundled software, and you are ready to go. You can record and display multiple cameras simultaneously from any remote location or the camera site with the included video surveillance software.

To use digital video recorder cards, your computer should have some minimum requirements, such as 512 MB RAM, an 80 GB hard drive, and an Intel Pentium 3 Original Chipset. In surveillance systems, digital video recorder cards are used to process information from the camera and send it to the hard drive. These security DVR cards receive analog videos from the camera and convert them into digital signals. The digital signal is then compressed using compression formats and sent to the storage device for archiving and playback.

AVerMedia offers the AVerDVR NV series, which are Windows-based DVR boards that include many advanced features. AVerMedia DVR cards feature pure hardware compression for enhanced picture quality, low bit rates, and reduced system cost. They also help you save your hard disk space. These PCI or PCI Express interface cards offer better performance and advanced search functionality. POS integration helps to associate retail transaction details with corresponding video images.

A wide range of AVerMedia digital recorder cards are available at ApexCCTV with different recording frame rates, image recording quality, and expandability. DVR cards have varying frames per second (fps), such as 30, 60, 120, 240, and 480. The fps determines the possible recording time of the device. These cards come with 4, 8, and 16 camera inputs, which can be expanded to 32.

The AVerMedia NV card series is designed to meet all your expectations from a DVR card. The AVerMedia DVR card line has a stackable structure. You can add multiple AVerMedia DVR cards to your PC to increase the recording speed and camera capacity.

Check whether your computer has an empty PCI slot to install AVerMedia digital recorder cards. The enhanced in-built processing power of these cards reduces the burden on the computer, so there is no fear of system failure. You can conveniently access video footage anywhere with the integrated remote functionality of these security DVR cards. The graphic user interfaces on all AVerMedia security DVR cards have powerful search and playback options, like video, event, visual, log, and intelligent search modes. AVerMedia DVR Cards offer password protection, audio and video recording synchronization, and much more.

They are ideal for low-profile applications and small venues. Some of the hybrid capture cards can be used for small educational institutions and medium-sized businesses.

Get these digital video recorder cards from ApexCCTV for your IP cameras and enjoy a user-friendly surveillance recording (DVR) solution.

Congratulations! You just bought the fastest, most up-to-date computer in the world! It’s so powerful, in fact, you couldn’t possibly find a more complex or more efficient motherboard, the computer’s main circuit board. It has heaps of RAM, or random-access-memory. RAM lets data anywhere be returned in any order. Your computer also has a bunch of ROM, or read-only-memory. This memory is nearly impossible to change, so it is used to dole out software that is closely related to hardware. Your system’s external hardware includes a flat screen monitor, a color laser-jet printer, and a surround-sound package. After hauling the system to your house, you quickly unpack items from their boxes, connect all the wiring, and then turn on the console. You wait in anticipation as the memory loads. Then, unexpectedly, the screen blanks out. What happened? What is wrong with your computer? You check the wirings, and chuckle as you belatedly realize you forgot to install the operating system. The DVR program is as important to surveillance equipment as the operating system is to your computer. Surveillance cameras would not be the way they now are without a DVR program.    

The Brain behind the DVR
DVR refers to “digital video recorder.” These machines keep becoming more complex, while generally becoming smaller. DVR programs are used make the linking and operation of the cameras smooth as silk. These can control features such as how fast and clearly images are captured, and the date and time stamping of recordings. The DVR without the needed software is like an eye without a brain: the camera watches without seeing.

The 0s and 1s of It
A DVD program works the same way as other computers programs. The life of software begins when the program’s source code is written in a programming language. The source code is a series of declarations and statements written in a computer program language that humans can read. This code is written by applying certain tools, such as formal logic and instructions called algorithms. Sometimes, when necessary, programs are written directly by using the 0s and 1s of machine code. This is obviously not the most fun way to spend your day.

Inside the Boxes
After software, such as a DVR program, has been written, it must be tested. In particular, the software’s quality is tested. Is it complete, correct, and safe? Other more technical requirements have to be reviewed as well, among them the DVR program’s efficiency, compatibility, portability, usability, capability, maintainability, and reliability. A computer software engineer uses two basic types of testing. In white box testing, an inside view of the test object and its processes are seen. On the other hand, black box testing perceives the test object from the outside. In other words, data is inputted and is then seen as the test object’s output.

From Release to Retirement
Software deployment of software, such as a DVR program, includes any activity that makes a software system available for use. This is a general process that should be customized based on specific requirements or features:

* Releasing software involves preparing the putting together of software, and then transferring it to the site of the customer.

* Installing software’s release involves inserting the software into a customer site for the first time.

* Activating software, such as a DVR program, is starting up the part of software that can be run.

* Deactivating is the shutting down of any part of a system that can be run.

* Adapting is done to change a software system that has already been installed.

* Uninstalling if the removing of a system that is no longer needed.

* Retiring is the withdrawing of a software’s system after it becomes obsolete.

A DVR program is the “brain” of a DVR’s body. Its creation, testing, and use are vital in bringing hardware to life.