Most of the systems we install use a digital video recorder which is basically a computer that has been custom designed to record video images from multiple cameras. It usually has a large hard drive and we like to store images for at least 30 days in case there is a problem that takes time to identify. There is a motion detection “front end” that we can set for each camera that only records when there is motion in the images. There will a time and date stamp, an electronic watermark, and images can be burned to a CD or DVD or recorded on a flash drive to provide evidence for the police. The DVR will be connected the LAN and only the users that have the necessary software, login and password can see the images on their desktop computers. There will be an Icon on the desktop and the office manager can immediately see the cameras images by clicking one button with their mouse. At this time we still prefer DVR’s over on line storage of images because the DVR’s have better motion detection software and larger hard drives which permit the storage of more images and higher quality images. For high security applications we can back up the hard drive with off-site storage. DVR images can be viewed remotely with I-phones, Blackberry’s, Droids, and laptops.

For many residential applications we use a basic system with 1 to 8 cameras. We often want a picture of who is coming to the front door so the homeowner can screen the person before they open the front door. Also if a burglar is wants to see if the home is empty it is legal for them to come to the front door and knock loudly as well as ring the doorbell. When a potential burglar knows that their face has been captured by a security camera, they usually choose to go somewhere else. The remaining cameras often can be positioned around the side and back of the home. If there is a swimming pool it is a good idea to have a camera covering this area. The cameras can be viewed in real time or with the recorded images on the computers in the home or remotely as long as you have high speed internet service.

There is a full range of Surveillance Systems for businesses that can range from a 4 to 16 camera system up to a 255 camera system which connects to the main servers in the customer’s server room. For many customers with less than 16 cameras we often record to a digital video recorder which is connected to the LAN as a device or seen as essentially another computer. For the larger systems the cameras that can be fully integrated with security system, access control and transaction systems where a digital picture is taken of every customer that pays at the cash registers. Whatever system you need we will meet with you to define your needs, design the system and write a proposal that satisfies your requirements while keeping a close eye on the costs.

These cameras are located in a Vandal Resistant Domes usually made out of a tough polycarbonate plastic. They have a dark interior that hides the exact location of the camera lens – so people only see the housing and are not sure if the camera is pointed at them. They are good for stores, restaurants, classrooms and other areas where a camera could be vandalized or re-aimed. We often install these near the front door of a home. The Dome cameras we use have internal Infra Red illuminators which permits them to view in total darkness.

These are usually indoor/outdoor rated cameras about the size of a can of Red bull. A quality bullet sized camera can match the quality of the large outdoor rated cameras from a few years ago because of the advances in micro-chip CCD’s, Infra-Red LED’s, and aspherical lens technology. These cameras offer a cost effective method of achieving a high quality image with a relatively small camera.

There are applications where one megapixel camera can do the work of 3 or 4 conventional cameras because they capture so much detail. There are special purpose cameras that can see a variety of things for high level security applications. If you have special applications we can design a custom system to fit your needs.

These are the latest generation of digital cameras that communicate directly over a LAN or Wan essentially acting like a computer on an Ethernet based network. The camera usually has built in motion detection and can even work on a wireless network. They work particularly well on both a small LAN as well as large WAN networks for applications in places like a college campus with 1,400 cameras. Conventional Analogue Cameras can be converted to IP based systems with a digital IP-converter which permits customers to convert older camera systems to new IP based systems. We can often integrate older cameras with new IP based cameras into a fully functioning Hybrid system which will extend the lifespan of the existing equipment.