Author: Andy

How to Position Security Cameras and Avoid Callbacks

Determine the location for your Cameras

This short article will cover the basics of how to position security cameras for best results. While many factors exist for placing cameras I will touch on the basic ones of placement. I would consider the following to be the four steps in placing your cameras:

1.Determine the location of your cameras
2.Determine Camera Types
3.Determine what the camera will be watching/securing
4.Verify with stakeholder on camera position

What are you trying to secure or protect?

Cameras should be placed in a manner that they are protecting or securing your point of interest. Simply put, you need to watch what you want to protect.

Are there control points or means of access that can be watched?

Is there only one way to get in and out of the area or do multiple entrances exist?

You place cameras at control points/ Access Points so you can receive a notification when a subject enters the area, and so you can capture a clear picture/video of the subject.

This works the same whether it is a military base or a grocery store. Obviously, the assets and location of choke points differ but these guidelines remain.

For example, at a Gas Station, the things you are protecting would be the Cash Register, Store Inventory, Gas Pumps, etc. You would place cameras that would watch each one of these areas. In addition, at a Gas Station, the Control Points / Access Points are usually the front customer entrance and sometimes the back/service entrance. You almost always place cameras at those locations.

Camera Type Selection

You have 4 general types of cameras to choose from:

Fixed cameras: the view is locked on to a specific area
PTZ: the view can be manually adjusted by a user, but the camera will only record what it is watching.
Variable Lens Camera: These are fixed cameras that have an adjustable lens which can be adjusted manually or is motorized.
Specialty: Cameras made for specific applications. (Thermal, LPR, Fisheye, Panoramic)

Selecting the Right Type:

Use a fixed camera if you have a point of interest that needs to be watched all the time.(i.e. Cash Register)
Use a PTZ cameras if there is a wide area to cover and a PTZ operator is present to move/control the PTZ.
Use a Variable lens camera when a fixed lens camera can’t be used, or if you need to have a motorized zoom function.
Use a specialty camera as needed. This could be a fisheye, panoramic, or maybe even a License Plate Reader camera.

Views of Cameras

Picking the general location of cameras is the first half of the solution. This part is easily done because you know what you need to protect(i.e. Front Entrance, Register, etc.).

The second half of the solution is making sure that the camera is placed correctly so that the video being captured is useful. Selecting the Right lens size here is crucial as it directly affects the effective captured area. The four most common lens sizes in security are 2.8mm, 4mm, 6mm, and 12mm. Varifocal cameras can be in different ranges, but usually, they are 2.8mm-12mm.

Verify with Customer

Before you install any cameras, you should prepare and provide the following documentation to the stakeholder:

Take a photo of the approximate FoV of the camera
Take a photo of the place where you plan to mount the camera. Mark the exact spot on the photo
Prepare a map of the facility. Mark the location of each camera on the map
Submit all of this in a report
This may seem time-consuming and wasteful but I think it is critical for the following reasons:
(1) to ensure that the objectives are met and (2) to eliminate re-work and changes after installation.

Without pictures and plans, it’s very hard to imagine how exactly cameras should be placed. It is also very easy for misunderstandings to occur (“I thought you were going to mount that here instead of there”, etc.).

Summary

A carefully planned and documented design is a key tool in deploying optimized video surveillance solutions that prevent callbacks.

Stream an IP Camera with RTSP & KODI on Raspbian.

Overview

I wrote a previous article covering the RTSP function of Arcdyn cameras and NVR/DVRs and how to use VLC to get a viewable live stream. In this write-up, I will walk you through the process to add your camera stream into LibreELEC which is powered by KODI.

LibreELEC powered by KODI

KODI is an open source entertainment HUB that is 100% free. I’m going to use the LibreELEC version of KODI that can be easily installed on your Raspberry Pi via NOOBS. You don’t need a Raspberry PI to run KODI; it is supported Continue reading “Stream an IP Camera with RTSP & KODI on Raspbian.”

Use RTSP to view your Arcdyn security cameras in VLC Media Player

Overview

RTSP is one of the most useful things that an IP camera provides over Analog counterparts. Since the encoding is done at the camera, we can pull the RTSP stream right from the camera. NVR/DVR’s also have an RTSP Stream that can be used for live viewing the streams. This write up will cover both products. An excellent tool for testing and implementing solutions is VLC media player. It is Open Source and free to use.

Continue reading “Use RTSP to view your Arcdyn security cameras in VLC Media Player”

What are Smart Security Cameras and Analytics?

 

What are smart surveillance cameras?

Smart Security cameras are advanced cameras that feature a robust set of configuration tools to help secure your area. These Advanced Analytics have revolutionized traditional surveillance systems with advanced features and alerts. These features are most commonly found in IP security cameras. Different Security cameras will have different features. I am going to cover our Bolt 4k bullet camera and the smart features on that particular camera. Read the Full Article

Should I use Cat6 or Cat5e for my IP Security Cameras?

Overview

A very common question regarding security cameras and installs is the type of cabling to use. Currently, 2 types of wiring are widely used for IP security cameras which are Cat6 or Cat5e twisted pair cabling.
Security Cameras Cat5e or Cat6

Cat5e

Cat5 Enhanced(cat5e) replaced the traditional Cat5 cable and introduced speeds up to ten times faster than Cat5 cable. This was considered the standard cable to use in the early 2000’s. It can handle up 1,000 Mbps of bandwidth.

Cat6

Cat6 is slowly replacing the standard cat5e cable and becoming a valid choice for many network related installs. It allows for ten times the amount of bandwidth, capable of 10,000 Mbps of bandwidth. It should be noted, though, that after 165 feet Cat6 is only capable of supporting 1,000 Mbps of bandwidth, the same as cat5e

What Cable for my security cameras?

Both cables are a reliable choice for security cameras. Currently, Cat5e cable is more than enough bandwidth for most IP security cameras on the market. This makes it a great choice for most surveillance installs. Almost all IP security cameras currently use less than a 100/mbps of bandwidth making cat5e a valid choice.

 

Resolution and Bandwidth Cat5e – Remaining Bandwidth Cat6 – Remaining Bandwidth @ less than 165 feet Cat6 – Remaining Bandwidth @ 165 feet
1080P @ 5/mbps 995/mbps 9,995/mbps 995/mbps
4MP @ 10/mbps 990/mbps 9,990/mbps 990/mbps
4K @ 30/mbps 970/mbps 9,970/mbps 970/mbps

 

 

If you are looking to future proof your install for future upgrades to your security cameras, you could use cat6, but if your cable runs are more than 165 feet, you might as well use cat5e because you will be subject to the same bandwidth. If you are looking to go even further into future proofing, you can look into cat6A which is capable of 10,000 Mbps past 165 feet.

 

5 Benefits of a Security Surveillance System

1. Deter potential theft

Security surveillance is an effective deterrent. Someone casing the neighborhood is more likely to choose the property with no cameras over the property with cameras. Having a surveillance system not only protects your property, but makes the community a safer environment for everyone.

2. Remote Access and live video feed

IP security surveillance systems have the ability to be accessible across multiple platforms. Smartphones, computers, and tablets can view and monitor the area with live video feeds. Depending on the security surveillance system, you may even be able to set up e-mail based motion alerts, so when a subject enters a certain area a notification will be sent to your smart device. Some systems even have the ability for you to open doors remotely and control other house peripherals.

3. Protect your Belongings

One of the more obvious benefits of a security system is that it helps protect your personal assets and valuables. Probably all of us can relate to a friend or someone who has been a victim to of a robbery. The use of a security surveillance system can help protect your precious valuables and the footage can be huge help in recovering or locating the parties involved.

4. Insurance

A security surveillance system could lower your monthly insurance premium. Saving you money and protecting the things that matter to you.

5. Peace of Mind

Knowing that your valuables are being protected definitely will give you peace of mind. You can check in on your kids, pets, or just make sure everything is ok.

Summary

Using a security surveillance system helps protect the things that matter most to you and has many other benefits as well. If you have been considering a security system take a moment to look around and understand what level of security that you need or want for your property. Also consider the possible benefits from the different types available in today’s market.

Three steps in selecting your IP home security system


It really is easy, but if you still need some help designing your system, we’re here to help… For FREE!

Overview

Securing your house with an IP security surveillance has many benefits and is actually an overall easy process. Most IP camera surveillance systems on the market are now plug and play, greatly simplifying the setup process. To get started in selecting your equipment follow these 3 easy steps on selecting the right IP security cameras and Network Video Recorder(NVR).

Step One:

Identify the area(s) to secure.

Depending on your needs and site layout this may vary greatly. For now, just note the number of cameras you think would be required. Common places to secure are the garage, backyard, mailbox, indoors, pool, front door, patio, back door, basement, storage shed, barn, kennel and many more.

Step Two:

Select the cameras based on the area you are trying to capture

One of the most important factors to consider when choosing a security camera will be it’s focal length. Focal length is a measurement of the distance between the lens and Image sensor. The focal length of a camera determines it’s field of view” or rather, “what the camera can see”. In security cameras we encounter fixed focal lengths and variable focal lengths. A Fixed focal length security camera is most commonly called a “fixed lens” camera, while the variable focal length camera is called a “varifocal lens” camera.

Fixed Lens Camera

  • 1.) Fixed Field of View (i.e. 75° FOV )
  • 2.) Fixed Focal length (i.e. 4mm Fixed lens)

Varifocal Lens Camera

  • 1.) Variable Field of View (i.e. 30°-100° FOV)
  • 2.) Variable Focal Length (i.e. 2.8mm-12mm varifocal lens)

Focal length is measured in mm and smaller focal lengths give larger FOV’s while larger focal lengths give a smaller FOV. In simple terms you can think of a fixed lens camera as a “what you see is what you get”, and a varifocal camera is going to give you the ability to adjust what the camera “can see”.

Step Three:

Choose an appropriately sized NVR for the application.

Choosing a NVR relies on a three key starting points which include: the amount of footage you want on storage, the amount of cameras you require to secure you area, and the incoming bitrate of the NVR. Let’s briefly touch on each item and how they interact with each other.

The amount of recorded footage that you want on file will dictate the Hard Drive size that you need to purchase. It is important to use a surveillance rated hard drive as they are designed for 24/7 read/write tasks. The amount of storage required is directly related to your total camera bitrate.

The amount of channels is usually pretty easy to determine since 1 channel = 1 camera. Generally speaking, grouping nvr’s by this specification is rather effective. However, pay attention to what’s actually going on, just because a nvr claims it is a 16 channel nvr doesn’t mean it will actually support all 16 cameras chosen.

Bitrate is probably the most important specifications of a nvr. It determines the overall resources available for accepting incoming streams from IP cameras. Bitrate is measured in mbps(megabits per second) and the bitrate varies for each camera depending on the resolution and FPS of that camera.

What does all this bitrate stuff mean? As a general rule we can say that a 1080p camera uses 5/mbps, while a 4k camera can use upwards of 20/mbps. So, if you had a 4 channel recorder with an incoming bitrate of 40/mbps this means you could use one 4k camera and three 1080P cameras(A total bitrate of 35/mbps). On that same nvr you could only use 2-4k IP cameras even though the recorder can support 4 channels/cameras. This is because all of the bitrate is allocated to the 2-4k cameras(40/mbps).

Next Steps:

Once you get your equipment, installation is as easy as running an ethernet cable to each camera and mounting the cameras in your desired locations. It’s that simple!

Summary:

Take the time to research the cameras you are buying and compare the different options available not one camera is perfect for every solution. Selecting a quality surveillance hard drive will ensure a stable storage method. Bitrate may seem overwhelming but it’s just a simple adding process, correctly paying attention to this factor can help you future proof your system. If you keep these simple steps in mind when selecting your IP surveillance equipment you can be positive that your system will record in the desired manner and have room to grow.

Analog Security Cameras vs Digital IP Security Cameras

Overview

Security cameras come in two distinct types, Digital(IP) and Analog(AHD, TVL, TVI, HD-SDI, HD-CVI). Many types of these security cameras are still widely in use. However the security camera industry continues to push the limits of resolutions, and as a result, the use of digital IP security equipment continues to increase while analog continues to decline. Let’s take a look at the general differences in analog surveillance cameras and IP surveillance cameras.

RJ-59 Cable Ends

RJ-59 Cable Ends-Security Camera

Analog Security Cameras

1. Analog cameras send a video signal to an encoder(DVR) which then processes the signal and records it.
2. Analog cameras require a direct connection to the DVR.
3. Analog security cameras require two cables, one for power and one for video.
4. Analog cameras have a limited platform of resolutions available.

RJ-45 End

Cat5e and Cat6 can be used for IP cameras

IP Security Cameras

1. IP Cameras encode the video signal at the camera and send the video to Network Video Recorder(NVR) through an internet protocol(IP).
2. IP cameras require a connection to the same network as the NVR and don’t have to be directly connected to the recorder.
3. IP Security cameras use Power over Ethernet(PoE) which means you only have one cable going to the camera that supplies power and transfers video.
4.The worst IP camera resolutions are far superior to the best analog resolutions.

Analog Surveillance Camera Types:

Analog Camera Types: TVL, AHD, HD-CVI, HD-SDI, TVI

Television Lines(TVL) :

TVL is the oldest of all the analog camera resolution rating systems and was popularized by Chinese manufacturers in an effort to artificially inflate the resolution of their cameras, making them seem like they had higher resolutions. TVL cameras have incredibly low resolution, and are usually black and white. While most modern resolution ratings reference the vertical pixel count (1080p, 4k, etc.), TVL as a rating refers to the specification of an analog security camera’s horizontal resolution power. It is common to see TVL resolutions measuring 480 TVL,  600TVL, 650TVL, 700TVL.

Typical TVL Resolutions in Pixels:
480 TVL: 510 x 492 (0.2 Megapixel)
600 TVL: 768 x 494 (0.3 Megapixel)
650 TVL: 811 x 508 ( 0.4 Megapixel)
700 TVL: 976 x 582 ( 0.5 Megapixel)

Almost all of this equipment is phased out or in the process of being replaced. If you are installing new security cameras and using TVL cameras, you are installing old technology with hard to find replacement parts.

vcdto4k
Expect TVL cameras never to have a resolution greater than 720P

AHD, HD-SDI, & HD-CVI:

Analog HD, HD-SDI and HD-CVI CCTV cameras are capable of capturing video surveillance footage at a 1080p resolution. These high definition analog surveillance cameras must be used with a special surveillance DVR that supports their video signals for encoding. All of this hardware still uses the BNC Coax cabling (RJ59) and was introduced as a way to achieve High Definition over coax.

The current price, availability, and interoperability of these security camera systems makes it a bad choice for a new install or a retrofit.

vcdto4k
Expect High Definition analog cameras to have a max resolution of 1080P

Transport Video Interface(TVI):

TVI is currently the best and most affordable transitional technology available for upgrading your old analog system to High Definition without pulling new cable.  TVI solved what AHD, HD-SDI, & HD-CVI had problems with or failed to do. Able to acheive greater cable distances and better resolutions while still utilizeing the same coaxial TVI became a large contender in the analog cctv market. TVI supports HD video signal (1080P/720P), audio signal, and digital signal transmissions. If your looking to upgrade your old analog system and don’t have the option to pull new cable for an IP based Security System then TVI may be an option for you.Typical TVI Resolutions in Pixels:
720P: 1280 X 720 (1 Megapixel)
1080P : 1920 X 1080 (2 Megapixels)
vcdto4k
Expect TVI analog cameras to have a minimum resolution of 720P and a maximum of 1080P.

IP Surveillance Cameras

IP security cameras have impressive resolutions and ever-evolving technologies. IP cams have introduced some of the biggest changes in the security world with their crystal clear 4k resolutions and smart video analytics. If your buying a security system for the first time or upgrading an existing one you should definitely consider using an IP security camera system. It has many benefits over analog and the overall install is easier compared to conventional security surveillance systems.Typical IP Resolutions in Pixels:
1920 x 1080 (2 Megapixels) 1080P HD
2688 x 1520 (4 Megapixels) HD+
3840 x 2160 (8 Megapixels) 4K+
And More!
vcdto4k
Expect IP security cameras have minimum resolution of 1080P.

Summary

While this article is short and touches on the basics of analog security cameras vs IP security cameras many more differences co-exist between both styles of cameras. One of the easiest ways to identify an analog camera is by the camera cable end. Analog cameras will require two cables, one for power and one for video while IP cameras use PoE and only require one cable to work.