Showing posts with label wireless video. Show all posts
Showing posts with label wireless video. Show all posts

Wednesday, January 7, 2015

Wireless IP Security Camera Systems

Wireless IP security camera systems have been gaining popularity among business owners in recent years. They offer all of the same advantages of more expensive wired CCTV security camera systems without many of the attendant inconveniences. Wireless CCTV security systems offer portability, adaptability and the ability to monitor your property remotely from anywhere you have network access. Those powerful advantages make wireless IP camera surveillance systems the clear winner when you need an affordable addition to your home or business security.

There are many types and styles of cameras that can transmit to a DVR or a PC without a wire tether that makes them more conspicuous and more inconvenient. When you choose a wireless IP security camera, you can position it where it makes the most sense and offers the greatest benefit without having to worry about the length of the wire or having to drill holes in your walls to accommodate the wiring. You can easily modify your security camera layout because you're not dependent on the position of the wires and outlets to position your cameras. That allows you to make adjustments to your overall security scheme as needed, a luxury that wired surveillance systems don't give you.

Choosing the right security camera system depends on a number of factors. One of your best sources of information about the various types and styles of security cameras is an authorized dealer of security and CCTV surveillance systems, but you can gather a great deal of general advice to help you design your system. This IP security camera information can help you choose among the many wireless ip security cameras on the market to find the one that's best for you.

Resolution

Resolution is an important factor in choosing the right security camera for your system. IP security cameras run from VGA resolution (640x480) up to 16 megapixels – the equivalent of the best digital cameras on the market. The higher the resolution of the camera, the more you can expect to pay for it. Generally, unless you're running specialized facial recognition software or need to provide granular detail in your surveillance, you don't need high-end resolution. On the other hand, VGA resolution may make it impossible to see enough detail to make identification from your surveillance cameras.

FPS Rate

FPS stands for framers per second. Higher FPS (30 FPS) will give you considerably more detail and is close to real time action, but it will cost you. Many of the more affordable megapixel IP security systems only give you 8 fps when you use their full megapixel resolution. That's generally enough for most security or surveillance purposes and it won't break your bank.

Indoor or Outdoor?

Will you be using your cameras indoors or for outdoor video surveillance? If you're planning on mounting your IP security camera system outdoors, you'll want to invest in IP security cameras with sturdy, weatherproof cases and vandal-proof housing.

Software

Make sure that you choose IP security cameras that work with the surveillance software you want to run. Not every camera will work with every type of software.

The advantages of wireless IP security camera systems are many, but you do need to shop carefully to make sure you have the right equipment. Take the time to educate yourself about IP security cameras, DVRs and other equipment before you buy so that you're sure to get the right system set up on your first try.

Wednesday, December 31, 2014

WiFi Security Camera System - The Features and The Advantages

Thinking to get your own WiFi security camera system? Whether you are looking to install it in a home or an office or a commercial establishment, it's essential that you know all about these security camera systems. For one, what are the different features that they offer? What do you need to know when buying them? What should be your first priority when it comes to owning WiFi security camera systems?

Nowadays, wireless security camera systems is a must in providing surveillance and securing for homes and workplaces. Fortunately, it is an easy system and you can install and operate it by yourself. However, before purchase one for yourself, it is better for you to know a few points which enumerate the must-have features of any WiFi security camera systems, apart from simply monitoring the place.

Complete Wi-Fi control: The basic feature of any WiFi security camera is that it runs on Wifi. Therefore, before getting any such system for your home, make sure that it has fully automatic wifi system which runs according to your whims. It means that it should be efficient enough to get connected to your portable device, such as a smartphone or a tablet. It will empower you to secure your place even when you are on the go.

Easy integration: It is important that your WiFi security camera should have the option to integrate with other devices. This makes it extremely easier to add more cameras to the system or integrating the entire system with an alarm. The best part about wifi cameras is that they are cable-free. Thus, they can be connected to other hardware in a flash through the wifi network.

Night vision: Thieves operate at night! Yes, shelling out a lot of money on a security camera which is not proficient enough to give clear night vision may not be a good option. Night vision is a must-have feature for any WiFi security camera system. Such a camera can also be installed in the darker areas in the houses, like the store room or the garage. With technological advancements, infrared techniques are being used by many companies to come up with cameras which yield in high quality videos even during the night.

And here are some reasons why the wifi security camera system is beneficial:

No camera limit. As these security systems work on the wifi signals, there is practically no limit on the number of cameras that can be installed. The only thing to be considered is the strength to transmit the signals. As long as that is covered, the number of cameras is not a problem.

No cables. Obviously, a system running on radio waves is not going to need any wired apparatus to be installed. Just a few easy steps towards the IP installation and access points is all what is needed in order to get these cameras ticking. It is actually a lot easier to install this camera and work with it simply because you do not have to worry about the wires and neither can that cunning thief cut the wire to stop the camera from working.

Cost Effective. Because there is no extravagant apparatus like wires which is involved, these cameras also are very cost effective. The closed circuit systems which are used traditionally are very complicated systems and can be procured only after paying a lot. The little infrastructure requirements of the wifi cameras make them very cost friendly.

Easily integrated. A wifi system can always be easily integrated with other systems. Therefore, the wifi camera security system can also be integrated with other systems which run on the same network. It can be conveniently done through organizing an Ethernet or a Wifi Network in the premises. Another advantage of such integration is that the security network can be easily expanded as and when required.

Quality. As compared to the traditionally used cameras, the image and video recording and processing qualities of the wifi cameras are far better. As the system works on the digital network of wifi signals, no quality of image is lost in converting the signals to the analogue form. Where the systems are themselves analogue, the image quality reduces considerably. Moreover, the videos from the wifi cameras can be easily reviewed and accessed, without any loss of quality.

Tuesday, December 23, 2014

Video Intercom System For Home Security

Video intercom systems for home security are increasingly becoming more cheaply available and now can be found in many average homes. While audio intercoms have long been popular devices, video intercoms until recently were the territory of only wealthy and advantages homeowners; no longer is this the case.

The concept behind video intercoms is that by your buzzer or doorbell, you have a small camera which allows you to check who exactly it is outside before you decide to let them in. Essentially then it's similar to having a spy-hole built into your door but for longer ranges and so is particularly useful for those who have a long front drive with gates, or those who live in flats, both of which would make it difficult to see the visitor through a window. This can be useful for many reasons and can highly improve the safety of you and your family.

Firstly, video intercoms allow you to check the appearance of your visitors before you decide to let them in. While they say never to judge a book by its cover, this can mean that you don't let in large gangs of youths when you're not expecting them or it's late at night. Furthermore it allows you to check that the visitor is who they say they are, and you can even ask them to show ID to the camera before you let them in.

Normally to do either of these things you would be forced to present yourself by going outside and seeing or speaking to your guest - even with audio intercom systems you are required to answer the phone system in order to speak with them which will alert them to your presence. Similarly, attempting to spy guests through the window can be risky if it means they might see you.

Once you've alerted people waiting outside to your presence, it can make them quite agitated if you then refuse to answer the door or let them in. For the elderly particularly, or those in rough areas, this can then lead to trouble. Fortunately, all that can be avoided with a video intercom which allows the user to simply look at the screen in order to see who's waiting outside before deciding whether or not to speak to them.

Video intercoms have many other uses however, particularly for the unsociable (guilty!). Sometimes it may simply be the case that you don't feel like visitors, or talking to that annoying neighbour, in which case video intercoms can be a real Godsend.

Making them even more practical today is the fact that many of the video intercom systems available on the market now come as do-it-yourself style packages that require some basic construction upon delivery. This saves on costs and also means that you can adapt them to the layout of your front door and gates without having to pay for hired professionals.

Overall then, video intercoms make an affordable and highly useful part of any home security plan that many of the general public simply do not consider. If you're looking to revamp your home security then they are a great option that will also look high-tech to impress your guests... if they ever get inside that is.

Monday, December 22, 2014

Wireless Video Security System - A Technology Explained

Video systems are becoming a part of our everyday lives. When video surveillance systems first hit the market in the mid 80's, they immediately made a major impact on crime prevention and the way crimes are investigated. Early video systems required a hardwired connection between the camera and the recording system. Recent innovations in wireless video transmission are changing that requirement.

Wireless video systems are popping up all over the place to satisfy a range of consumer requirements. From wireless baby monitors to high-end high-definition wireless broadcast systems, wireless video systems are available in a wide range of prices, features and functions.

Most modern, consumer grade wireless video systems will fall into one of the following frequencies; 900 MHz, 2.4 GHZ or 5.8 GHz. Almost all of the affordable consumer grade wireless cameras on the market fall into the 2.4 GHz range.

Every wireless video system consists of a camera, a transmitter, a receiver, an antenna and a power supply. Transmission ranges can vary greatly depending on the frequency, the antenna and the rated power output.

With the exception of higher end, high power broadcast quality systems; most wireless video systems do not require a license from the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) to operate. No matter what frequency you plan on using, if you are installing a high powered installation, especially near a highway or an airport, you should secure the appropriate FCC license.

For the best results and the longest range, most wireless video transmission systems require a clear line of site between the transmitter and the receiver to operate consistently. Wireless video signals do not penetrate very well through glass, walls, concrete, trees, steel or other obstructions.

In addition, other RF signals around the same frequency can cause interference or be interfered with by wireless video systems. In the 2.4 GHz range popular with most security applications, interference can be experienced between cordless phones, microwave ovens, local television broadcasts, computer monitors, power supplies or wireless LAN/WANs. Sometimes interference problems can be solved by re-locating the transmitters or receivers.

Since 90% of consumer grade wireless video systems fall into the 2.4 GHz category, we will discuss the features of both the 2.4 GHz analog and digital systems and the limitations and benefits of each.

The entire 2.4 GHZ bandwidth allocated for consumer use is from 2,412 MHz to 2,462 MHz. As per the FCC standards, there are 11 possible channels which are 22 MHz wide with a 5 MHz spacing interval between each.

In order to allow multiple cameras on the same system, residential, consumer grade 2.4 GHz analog video transmitters such as a wireless baby monitor or a front door camera require fixed frequency, non-overlapping channels to reduce interference.

These 2.4 GHz analog wireless cameras are some of the most popular video surveillance systems for consumers and end users, yet very few professional security providers will offer these wireless cameras.

At best, professional security installers consider the 2.4 GHz analog video systems as low-end residential solutions which are notoriously unreliable. The analog 2.4 GHz cameras are easily identified by their price tag which is usually in the $ 69.00 to $ 140.00 range per camera.

If you take away the benefit of their low cost, there are several inherent limitations to Analog 2.4 GHz video transmission including:

In the 2.4 GHz range, there are only 4 available non-overlapping channels. This limits these systems to a total of 4-cameras, each of which is tuned to a different pre-defined frequency. Each of these fixed frequencies is capable of transmitting about 11 mega-bits per second of data (Mbps).

Because the analog 2.4 GHz wireless video transmitters are on fixed frequencies, they are especially susceptible to interference from outside sources. A typical transmission range for an analog 2.4 GHz wireless video link is about 200 to 300 feet when installed outdoors with a clear line of site. The relative transmission distance is greatly reduced when installed indoors with some lower end analog systems typically providing about 10-30 feet.

Since these cameras are transmitted on a fixed, un-secured open frequency, the signal is easily intercepted and can be seen by anyone with a 2.4 GHz 4-channel receiver. A voyeur or a burglar could simply drive around a neighborhood with a receiver and see inside your home. If you have one of these systems installed, perhaps a burglar is watching you right now.

In 1997, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) created the first Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) standard which was named 802.11. The original 802.11 utilized the 2.4 GHz frequency to allow reliable transmission of 2-Mbps of bandwidth. In 1999, the standard was upgraded to 802.11b which supports up to 11 Mega-Bits per Second (Mbps) which was comparable to traditional Ethernet connectivity speeds.

The 802.11 protocol works by sub-dividing the entire 2.4 GHz frequency into channels and switching between them during transmissions. As the signal is sent, it sends a packet of data at one frequency and then hops to the next channel and sends another packet and so on, until the entire data package is sent.

In 2003, WLAN products began supporting a new 2.4 GHz wireless standard called 802.11g which supports a bandwidth of 108 Mbps of data. The days of cost effective, reliable and secure wireless video transmission have finally arrived.

The added features and benefits of using internet protocol cameras and 802.11g for wireless video transmission in a security application are many.

The 802.11g protocol utilizes digital bi-directional signals which support the use of pan/tilt/zoom functions and presets found in many newer cameras. The digital signal used is duplex (bi-directional) as opposed to the simplex (one-way) binary signal used in analog type systems.

Because 802.11g utilizes the entire 2.4 GHz frequency spectrum, interference is greatly reduced and longer transmission ranges can be expected. If an area of the frequency is noisy then the transmitter/receivers will adapt the signal by sending smaller packets in the noisy affected area and larger packets in the non-effected areas of the frequency. A wireless IP video system will offer almost the same performance as a professional grade wired system with a reliable transmission range of 150-200 feet.

If the camera is to be located further than 200 feet, directional antennas are available which can increase the distance to 600 or more feet. If a greater distance than 600 feet is required, point to point, long range directional type systems can increase the distance to several miles.

In addition to standard 64/128-bit WEP Security, 802.11g protocol allows data packets to be encrypted using a 40-bit RCA key. When considered in conjunction with the inherent security built into DSSS spread spectrum technology, the data signals are at least as secure as data traveling over a wired network.

The 802.11g protocol can support a much larger number of wireless cameras by using a medium access control or MAC layer called CSMA/CA or Carrier Sense Multiple Access/Collision Avoidance. The collision avoidance in 802.11g supports the use of CTS/RTS signals (clear to send/ready to send) which tell each camera on the system when it is O.K. to begin transmitting or receiving data thereby avoiding interference.

Any hardwired IP Camera that is installed on your intranet or internet that is using the same CODEC (Coding & Decoding) algorithm can be integrated into the same software viewing and recording system.

An IP addressable camera system can be viewed or recorded from a properly equipped computer from any location in the world. This can allow you the freedom to move anywhere on the planet while still keeping track of your assets. In addition, if you ever decide to move your head end recording equipment to a different location, you simply pick it up and move it. No wires to re-route.

One thing to remember when deploying a multi-camera wireless IP based video system is that processing multiple streaming video signals places a substantial work load on a computers CPU.

Hard Wired systems have video capture cards which are installed in the PC/DVR. These cards take up to half of the work load off the computers CPU. Because wireless IP video systems do not have the help of these capture boards, the computers CPU must handle 100% of the processing workload.

What this means is that as you add cameras to a wireless system the total frame rate or the total images per second which can be viewed and recorded will decline due to the increased workload.

Some people shy away from IP and network security solutions because they appear to be complicated and difficult to set up. The fact is the initial set up does require some expertise and knowledge but the operation and day to day use of the systems are no different than using any other PC based security camera system. The required computer skills are minimal. If a person can check email, use a word processing program or load and play any type of game on a PC they most likely possess the skills needed to use and manage a PC based system.