How to choose a Digital CCTV Monitoring System
When choosing a new Digital CCTV Monitoring system it is important to have a full understanding of the different types of surveillance systems that can be utilized throughout your property. This information below will give you a clear idea of what the site wants vs. what it actually needs in order to provide a cost effective solution.
To better understand your needs and requirements you should ask the following questions prior to purchasing a solution:
- What is the main purpose of the system? Is this system to be a visual deterrent or is it to be used as a tool for evidence collection? Perhaps both?
- Is this system going to be manned by a CCTV controller or will the footage only be accessed when an event needs to be recalled?
- Does the live and captured footage need to be accessed remotely from multiple locations?
- Do you require IR (night vision) or will the facility remain under constant lighting conditions provided by interior and exterior lighting?
- Do you require any sort of video analytics such as motion detection or vehicle plate recognition?
- Do you require viewing through mobile apps?
- How many days do you require footage to be retained for and in what quality?
Once these questions have been considered you can begin to look at the cameras and technology available. This will allow you to accurately assess your options and choose what best suits your needs. A surveillance system normally falls into one of the following two categories:
- An Digital Video System
- An IP System
Both systems have their advantages but making the wrong choice can be costly. It is best to fully understand your options before making a final choice.
Digital Video System
Digital Video cameras and recording equipment are the oldest systems in the surveillance community and because of this they have also been the most widely used. As this technology has become more commonplace, prices have dropped and Digital Video setups now offer the most cost effective solution of all two options.
Digital Video cameras however do have a critical drawback in regards to their image quality. Digital Video cameras are not available in a HD format as they come with a D1 resolution and measure image quality in TVL (Television Lines).Unlike a digital camera which has image resolution measured in megapixels, the Digital Video camera only uses TVL.
Essentially the camera image is made up of hundreds of stacked horizontal lines which then form an image on screen. The more lines you have the better the image you will be presented with. Most entry level cameras have a resolution of 480 TVL; however they can reach up to 700 TVL. For a
Commercial CCTV system you should be looking in the region of 600 TVL to get an acceptable image on screen. One of the main strengths of an Digital Video system is its relative ease of installation and maintenance, no online network is required so bandwidth limitations are no longer an issue.
AKCP has incorporated Digital Video technology into its securityProbe5ESV product line which feeds this information to their central monitoring software, the AKCPro Server. Using the AKCPro Server enables users to make use of features which are normally reserved for High-end IP cameras.
IP Camera Systems
IP camera systems have quickly become an industry standard and offer many benefits compared to traditional analog cameras. An IP security camera produces higher quality images, higher resolution and has more flexibility than analog cameras. In most cases IP cameras output a full HD picture.
Because IP cameras store images they capture on a server, users can email video images to anyone on your organization. With old analog cameras, security staff is forced to constantly watch a wall of monitors to determine if a security breach is occurring.
IP cameras can make use of video analytics to “watch” for suspicious activity. A camera in the area where you keep crystal and gold, for example, can be programmed to display an alert and record video only when that area is disturbed. In addition to weeding out hours of useless video, it reduces the need for bulk video storage and improves the alertness of your security staff.
AKCPro Server is compatible with a large range of industry standard IP camera brands such as Axis Communications, Pelco, and Samsung to name just a few. The AKCP server also complies with the latest Onvif standards allowing users to have full flexibility and choice when it comes to selecting the perfect camera to incorporate into their security installation.
Another concern is data storage. Large hard drives are required to store the data from all system components. But as industries are moving towards digital equipment, they also realize the need for larger HDD’s and DAS’s.
Another major advantage of using AKCPro Server is the ability to set recording schedules based on time, motion, or sensor event. This reduces the amount of storage required and offers a cost effective storage solution.
For a detailed look at what the AKCPro Server can do for you visit us at https://www.akcp.com/akcp-products/akcpro-server/
