October 22, 2007
CCTV - Closed Circuit Television - New Technology
Who remembers using Video Camera Recorders (VCR's) to record their camera results? Is anyone still stuck on such ancient technology? Let's compare old technology with new CCTV technology:
| Video Camera Recorders (VCR) | Digital Video Recorders (DVR) |
| Manual searching - very tedious | Fast & efficient searching by date, time, or event |
| Storage capability - Low | Storage capability - High |
| Image quality less than desireable | Image quality not degraded at all from Camera input |
| Copy or Duplication Image Quality Loss | No loss of Quality when duplicating or copying video |
| Constant additional cost of Videotapes | No additional costs incurred |
| Remote Viewing extremely limited | Remotely view multiple locations over the Internet |
| No advanced features | Many advanced features such as motion detection or remote notification |
| Manual operation needed for tape changing | Automatically rerecords over oldest recordings |
Who would want to go back to the old days? However, the requirements needed to install and service the old technology was within reach of kids fresh out of high school. However, the newer technology requires a great deal more knowledge, since digital solutions are far more complex than analog solutions. Installers must know how to install and route network technologies such as CAT 5 or CAT 6 cable, Routers, Switches… they must understand IP protocol and network masking. A far greater knowledge of computers, operating systems, and networking is required in today's security camera industry.
The entire area of video cameras, how to install them, how to network them, and how to record their output - is such a technical area that you can be easily snowed by security company salesmen that really don't know what they are talking about. It's in this area, where detailed knowledge of the field is so critical, that mistakes can occur if you haven't leased or purchased your CCTV system from a reliable and knowledgeable company.
This is also an area where you really do get what you pay for. Be sure that the image quality and focus is adequate for what your intended purposes are. You can easily purchase a 'cheap' system that simply doesn't have the power and ability that you need. Ask your salesman to explain the differences between the 'cheap' video systems and the more complete solutions that they may be offering you. Here at Dial Security, we will be happy to tour your premises, and give you our best quotes to install a video system that will do exactly what you need.
