Thursday, May 13, 2010

1/3" SONY CCD IR Color Infrared CCTV Camera Outdoor with Free Camera Power Supply And 100ft Video Power Cable free surveillance DeCal IR40SKC 1OF



Product Description

Infrared Lenses are special designed for use with Day/Night cameras. They eliminate focus shift in the night mode, especially in the presence of IR lighting. IR lenses' employment of advanced optical designs and special glass, eliminates the shifts of focus point in Day and Night. Rays of light from both spectrums are focused onto the same focal plane, resulting in sharp images for IR cameras. The Supra IR is an all-in-one, day/night camera that captures images in all lighting conditions, with a built-in long range IR illuminator. The camera provides color images in bright lighting conditions, and automatically adjusts to black-and-white images when the light level drops. Even in complete darkness, the Supra IR provides clear, accurate images with the support of 26 infrared illuminators. The Supra IR camera has a weatherproof housing and sunshield. It comes fully assembled, pre-wired and pre-focused for easy installation and the new Universal Bracket provides for quick pan/tilt camera adjustment. All brand new in box. Note: This camera not made by SONY, it uses SONY Super HAD CCD image sensor and SONY DSP technology, made by one of the world largest OEM manufactures. Free universal mounting bracket and 12vdc 500mA regulated UL listed power supply included, and free 100ft video power camera cable .







Product Details

  • Amazon Sales Rank: #26383 in Consumer Electronics
  • Brand: DIGIAIR
  • Model: 1OF

Features

  • 1/3" Sony CCD Technology;420 TV lines high resolution;Water, dust and crush resistant glass coating
  • Infrared Lenses f 3.6mm super wide angle;0 lux with IR LED
  • Built in IR illuminator effective up to 54 feet 35 °and light senor;Dimensions (L x Dia.) 5" x 2.5"
  • Video out:composite output 1.0Vp-p at 75-ohm;Electronic shutter 1/50 - 1/12000 seconds;Auto iris AES
  • Free universal mounting bracket and 12vdc 500mA regulated UL listed power supply included, free 100ft video power camera cable ; free 1 DeCal 3"x2"

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Clover Electronics HDC500 Super High-Resolution Indoor/Outdoor ET Security Camera with 180 degree Coverage - Small (Dark Grey)


Product Description

Product Details: Super Hi-Res Dual Lens ET Camera Produces Extraordinary Picture Quality; Perfect for Viewing Hallways and Expansive areas; Offers Two Separate Cameras in One Housing; Rugged Steel Weather-Resistant Construction; Improved Circuitry for a Better CCTV Camera; Camera Covers 180° Angle of View Without any Blind Spots for a Panoramic View when Used with a Quad Splitter or DVR; Comes Complete with Hardware Accessories Kit, Attached Universal Mounting Bracket, 100' Long Cable and Instruction Manual Product Specifications : Image Sensor: 1/3" Sony Super HAD CCD, 510H x 492V; Scanning System: 525 Lines, 2:1 Interlace; Horizontal Resolution: 420 TV Lines; Shutter Speed: Auto, Manual (1/60 to 1/100,000 sec); Sync. System: Internal; S/N Ratio: More than 46db (AGC off); Minimum Illumination: 0.1 Lux / LEDs off; Video Output: Composite 1.0Vp-p @75 Ω; AGC: Auto; White Balance: Auto; Lens: 3.8mm + 3.8mm Fixed Lens (180°); Current Consumption: 200mA Max @DC12V; Power Supply: DC 12V, 250mA; 54" Lead for Easy Installation; Operating Temperature: 14°F to 122°F For Additional Product Specifications Please Contact Customer Service at 877-327-5000




Product Details

  • Color: Gray
  • Brand: Clover
  • Model: HDC500
  • Number of items: 1
  • Dimensions: 12.00" h x 6.00" w x 15.00" l, 5.82 pounds

Features

  • Panoramic color
  • Panoramic e.t. color camera; sony 1/3 super had; resolution: 420 tv lines; 0.01 lux at f1.2; vandal resistant &
  • Rugged steel construction; covers 180º angle of view without blind spot; connect video output 1 & video output 2 to channel 1

Defender SN500-4CH-002 Feature-rich 4 Channel H.264 DVR Security System with Smart Phone Access and 4 Indoor/Outdoor Hi-Res CCD Night Vision Cameras


Product Description

Protect your hard-earned possessions, assets, and family; know who has been on your property; rid yourself of uneasiness when you travel on vacation or business. The SN500-4CH-002 offers some of the most advanced surveillance options available but in a hassle-free, do-it-yourself approach so you can have a fully functioning security system for your home or business in less time and for less money. The SN500-4CH-002’s online viewing feature allows you to conveniently access your DVR’s live or recorded video footage on any computer in the world with Internet Explorer. Checking in on your property is easy and means you will never miss a moment. This DVR is loaded with features that will help keep your property safe and secure. Record over 2 years of continuous video on the built-in 500GB hard drive. The SN500-4CH-002 is an effective and simple solution for protecting your property.



Product Details

  • Amazon Sales Rank: #6742 in Camera & Photo
  • Color: Black
  • Brand: Defender
  • Model: SN500-4CH-002
  • Dimensions: 1.75" h x 9.00" w x 8.50" l, 8.00 pounds

Features

  • Access live video footage directly from your iPhone or BlackBerry
  • Record over 2 years of video footage on the built-in 500GB hard drive
  • The system utilizes the latest, most advanced compression level available—H.264—saving you storage space without sacrificing video quality
  • View video online with no service fees from any computer in the world
  • 24/7 lifetime live customer support is available through phone, email, and live web chat both before and after you buy

Infrared Camera Wide Angle YY_F25A530 1/3" Sony Superhad Color CCD DSP Waterproof Indoor/outdoor Infrared Illumination Nightvision 3.6mm Lens 5mm 30 Leds Camera Ip66 Silver (90 Degree Wide Viewing Angle) with Free Mounting Bracket


Product Description

This Day/Night Vision Color Bullet camera can incredibility see 75 feet in total darkness. It has 30 high power Long life luminary with special wavelength Infrared LED. It also meet the IP-66 water and dust proof standard for outdoor and indoor special IR Led board can void cross-voltage input error(positive and negative end reverse) during installation. This camera employs 1/3" SONY SuperHAD CCD sensor and Digital Signal Processor (DSP) IC for image control. We guarantee this camera offers at least 10 times better image than those cheap CMOS on the market. It provides excellent day time color image and black/white night vision in total darkness. Built-in environment illumination detection and control circuit that can turn-on/off the infrared illuminant automatically. It comes fully assembled, pre-wired and pre-focused for easy installation. New Universal Bracket provides for quick pan/tilt camera adjustment. All brand new in box. Note: This camera not made by SONY, it using SONY Super HAD CCD image sensor and SONY DSP technology, made by one of the world largest OEM manufacture. Power supply and cable are sold separately.




Product Details

  • Amazon Sales Rank: #4506 in Consumer Electronics
  • Color: Silver
  • Brand: YY Trade Inc
  • Model: F25A530
  • Dimensions: 2.95" h x 2.83" w x 4.96" l, 1.43 pounds

Features

  • LED 420 TV lines high resolution base on the 1/3" SONY SuperHAD CCD sensor.
  • Infrared Lenses f 3.6mm super wide angle; 0 lux with IR LED; Built in IR illuminator effective up to 75 feet 50°
  • Built in light sensor; Auto iris AES; Video out
  • Distance up to 75 Feet, Sunshield, Anti-ultraviolet
  • Dimensions 72mmW x 75mmH x 126mmL, Free universal mounting bracket

Customer Reviews

IR Buff4
This is a very nice little camera and I feel it is a great value if you are looking for a camera with a 3.6mm lens (aprox.90 degree field of view). The camera has very good night vision compared to the IR cameras that came with my system. The IR cameras that came with my system could not see down my driveway in the dark let alone see the street in front of my house at night. Now at night, I can see down my driveway and with the illumination from the streetlights I can see across the street.

The only down sides are no power supply and BNC cable connector instead of RCA for the camera video to the field wiring. This is not a big deal. Only other issue is the mounting holes for the camera, to mount the camera onto the bracket, are towards the back of the camera. The mounting bracket comes in sections and must be threaded together. My cameras did not want to stay aimed until I placed some epoxy on the threaded sections of the bracket and allowed it to set to make the bracket parts less susceptible to turning. Other than that, they are great. I have two more on the way.
Works great!5
I bought this to work with the Q-See 4-Channel PCI card in my PC. The picture is great when hooked directly to a TV, but the Q-See MPEG compression really defeats the high resolution of this cam. Night vision is pretty grainy beyond 10-15 feet, but the illumination is good within that range. My only gripe is that I intended to mount this under an eave of my roof, but the hole for the bracket is underneath the camera and the bracket is not long enough to mount under a horizontal surface. This will have to be vertically mounted on a wall, which is less attractive and less weather resistant. Otherwise; a pretty good buy. BEAR IN MIND: this does NOT include a power adapter or "Siamese Cabling", factor that into your budget.
Great low light condition camera5
Have been using this camera for a couple of weeks now and it out performs my other cameras. Especially in low light conditions. Can see farther and in color longer at night than the cameras I have from other vendors. Also, the short cable is perfect for installations where you want to swap out a camera. Overall very happy with this camera.

SVAT VU5 Indoor/Outdoor Night Vision Color CMOS CCTV Security Surveillance Camera - Bonus Pack of 8


Product Description


The VU5 is a high resolution indoor/outdoor color camera that provides a clear, consistent picture at 400 TV lines of resolution. It is an effective and simple addition to your existing security system, and gives you an extra eye when protecting your property. Always be aware of what is happening at your business or home with 11 infrared (IR) LEDs that allow you to see in the dark, up to 15ft away.
View in the Dark with Automatic Night Vision: The VU5 has complete night vision capabilities that allow you to see any monitored area (up to 15ft away) in total darkness. The 11 infrared (IR) LEDs activate automatically when it becomes dark and deactivate during the day to save energy.
Clear, Crisp Picture: The quality image sensor in this camera provides a clear and consistent picture at 400 TV lines of resolution.
Weatherproof Housing: The VU5 was designed to withstand the outdoor elements. Its professional grade weatherproof metal housing and sunshade help protect against rust and deterioration.
Easily Connect to TVs and DVRs: This compact camera can be connected to your television, monitor, or recording equipment without difficulty. Since there is only one wire to connect, setting up live viewing is simple and hassle-free.
Endless Mounting Options: The VU5 comes equipped with an adjustable bracket, so that you can mount the camera on a ceiling, wall, or desk effortlessly. With 60ft of included wiring, you have lots of flexibility for the installation of your camera.
List of Contents: Indoor/Outdoor Night Vision Camera, 60ft 4 PIN DIN to RCA (male) video/power wire, power adapter for camera, 2 window warning stickers, BNC connector, instruction manual, 1 year manufacturer's direct warranty.
This bundle includes 8 SVAT VU5 indoor/outdoor night vision color CMOS CCTV security surveillance cameras.



Product Details

  • Brand: SVAT
  • Model: VU5-8PACK

Features

  • This bundle includes 8 SVAT VU5 indoor/outdoor night vision color CMOS CCTV security surveillance cameras
  • Do-it-yourself video surveillance camera that can be set up in minutes; Easy to install with standard RCA video connection; See in the dark with 11 automatically activated IR LEDs (night vision)
  • Automatic night vision control activates the IR LEDs when it gets dark;View a clear, crisp picture and positively identify suspicious individuals; Professional weatherproof/rust proof housing with sunshade
  • Weather resistant for all cold/wet/hot/dry seasons; Easily connect to TVs and DVRs for live viewing that is hassle-free; Wall, ceiling or table top mountable with extremely flexible bracket
  • Connects easily to any surveillance system, TV, VCR, computer or DVR for viewing/recording; 60 feet of cable included for greater camera placement flexibility

SVAT VU5 Indoor/Outdoor Night Vision Color CMOS CCTV Security Surveillance Camera


Product Description

The VU5 is a high resolution indoor/outdoor color camera that provides a clear, consistent picture at 400 TV lines of resolution. It is an effective and simple addition to your existing security system, and gives you an extra eye when protecting your property. Always be aware of what is happening at your business or home with 11 infrared (IR) LEDs that allow you to see in the dark, up to 15ft away. Mounting the camera is easy due to its compact size and 60ft of included wiring-you can set it up almost anywhere!




Product Details

  • Amazon Sales Rank: #988 in Camera & Photo
  • Brand: SVAT
  • Model: VU5
  • Number of items: 1
  • Dimensions: 7.00" h x 6.25" w x 9.75" l, 1.80 pounds

Features

  • Do-it-yourself video surveillance camera that can be set up in minutes
  • Easy to install with standard RCA video connection
  • See in the dark with 11 automatically activated IR LEDs (night vision)
  • Automatic night vision control activates the IR LEDs when it gets dark
  • View a clear, crisp picture and positively identify suspicious individuals

Avermedia NV5000 120 Frames Per Second Video Capture Card with Surveillance Software



Product Description



  • Hybrid Network Video Recorder (Accepts both CCTV/Analog as well as IP Cameras)



  • Advanced MPEG4 / MPEG4 H.264 / Motion JPG



  • Supports Video Encryption to an even more secured remote access



  • Supports Direct burn to DVD-RW/CD-RW (via Nero Ultra v6.0+)



  • Easy setup and usage



  • Point of sale integration (ANSI ASCII Serial output based cash registers)



  • Attention metric designed to measure the attention span of security officers



  • Intelligent Status Notification (Alert you on HDD space, CPU load, Memory usage, etc)



  • Compact mode for cleaner interface



  • Smart Voice detection recording



  • Multiple events alarm alert



  • Easy Search and Playback: Step by step on date, hour, minute



  • Bookmark playback for easier retrieval



  • Dispatch Server shares internet access loading



  • Remote backup of video surveillance data



  • Keyboard lockup to enhance security



  • Watermark image verification technology



  • Supports over 12 different languages



  • Virtual keyboard



  • Record to multiple hard drives



  • Watch dog function built in



  • Video enhancer software designed to visually enhance surveillance video data



  • Central monitoring system enables users to access and monitor up to 128 channels simultaneously for a wide range of applications



  • PDA/Mobile Handy viewMain Features



  • Manufacturer: AverMedia, Inc



  • Manufacturer Part Number: NVDNV5000



  • Manufacturer Website Address: www.aver.com



  • Product Type: Video Capture Device



  • Host Interface: PCI



  • Functions: Video Capturing



  • Graphics Resolution: 320 x 240 NTSC/PAL Preview/Recording , 640 x 480 NTSC/PAL Preview/Recording , 720 x 480 NTSC/PAL Preview/Recording



  • Interfaces/Ports: 4 x Composite - BNC Video-in , 1 x Composite - RCA TV-out








  • Product Details

    • Amazon Sales Rank: #37479 in Consumer Electronics
    • Brand: AverMedia
    • Model: NVDNV5000
    • Format: CD
    • Number of items: 1
    • Dimensions: 3.00" h x 8.40" w x 11.80" l, 2.00 pounds

    Q-See QSM0S 8-Inch Color LCD Monitor with Speakers


    Product Description

    This 8" LCD Flat monitor can be connected to your Satellite TV or HDTV, your Cameras and DVR's systems, Video Games and PC Computers at the same time and display them with an easy touch button menu

    Product Details

    • Amazon Sales Rank: #1077 in Camera & Photo
    • Brand: Q-See
    • Model: QSM0S
    • Dimensions: 10.00" h x 6.00" w x 8.00" l, 3.00 pounds

    Features

    • 8" Color LCD Mini Monitor
    • Wide view angle and Color quad mode
    • Resolution: 1440 (H) x 468 (V)
    • Directly connect to CCTV security camera's, DVR, or Quad Processor
    • Loudspeaker




    Customer Reviews

    Good enough for the price point4
    It is a good product but instructions were very poor, esp. for a wall mount. I even called QSee tech support before purchase to ensure it can be wall mounted and I can remove the desk stand, it turned out that they too scrambled to find that information for me. Out of the box it is meant for installing on the desk, however, I struggled for a long time to figure how to install it on the wall. I found a small threaded hole at the bottom of the unit, luckily found a right size screw to get in there and secure it with a L shaped bracket (I had to cut the bottom leg to the right size so it wasn't protruding out) and neon washer. Althought the installation is very secure now but I just hope it stays in place. I wish they had provided wall mounting hardware because I wasted lot of time and made numerous trips to Lowes/HD. 

    Monday, May 10, 2010

    How to chose a good CCTV Security Camera Surveillance System

    In the past few years the need for CCTV security surveillance systems has increased, wither its for your home or your business CCTV technologies have proven to increase security. and Just like any other technology now a days, CCTV systems are way more affordable that they used to be, but first what makes a good CCTV security camera system?


    Instructions



    1. Step1
      The number of Frames Per second your DVR (Digital Video Recorder) is capable of handling. First understanding what that means, A real time second of video is 30 Frames. so a recorded second or video motion that doesn't skip is 30 Frames. So if your CCTV camera system is capable of handling 30fps that means you can record only one camera real time otherwise the 30fps will be divided into how many cameras they system might support. So when looking for a good CCTV Surveillance system make sure you get a system that does 30fps for each camera. so if you are looking for a 4 a good CCTV security camera system look for a 120fps DVR capable.
    2. Step2
      TV Lines supported by the CCTV cameras. A CCTV camera's quality is measured by TV Lines, which is the number of horizontal TV lines the camera produces, and of course the higher the clearer and better picture. the average quality is 400TVL, 420TVL is good picture quality, 480TVL is higher quality and more is even Better. keep in mind that TV Lines is what mainly controls the price of the CCTV camera.
    3. Step3
      The Resolution of which the DVR does display and record. which is the original dimensions in pixels of the displayed or recorded video Such as 160x120, 320x240 and 640x480 and the higher is the better.
    4. Step4
      The HDD capacity of the CCTV DVR. which basically means the number of recorded previous days of video that the DVR will keep before recycling. most CCTV systems by default record video based on motion which means if there is no motion there is no recording because practically it will be a still image rather than video. the average for a 4 camera system is between 160GB and 250GB and the higher the more days of recorded video (motion) your DVR system keep.
    5. Step5
      Remote capability. Now a days a standard CCTV camera systems are remote view capable. which means you can view your cameras remotely and virtually from anywhere in the world using the internet using internet explorer or using a remote client that is installed on the PC your accessing the DVR from.
    6. Step6
      Back up and recovery compatibility. CCTV camera systems give you the ability to back up desired video period either on CD-R, DVD-R or USB storage including USB flash drives. Making it easy to export video to other devices for many various reasons. for example making a copy for the police or the insurance company.

    How to Adjust the Color of CCTV Cameras

    losed-circuit television surveillance cameras have been recording video in black and white because color cameras couldn't match black-and-white cameras' sensitivity to light. Recent electronic advances now enable CCTV color cameras to capture color as well as black-and-white cameras do, but if the color is not accurate, the image is hard to see. Adjusting CCTV color cameras so that they properly display color is a necessity for them to function at their optimal setting.

    Instructions

    Adjust the level of the synch pulse amplitude on the CCTV color camera to 40 Institute of Radio Engineers (IRE) units. View the image of the CCTV color camera to see if the picture is breaking up or rolling. If the picture is breaking up or rolling, readjust the synch pulse amplitude to a higher number and view the picture again. Stop adjusting the synch pulse amplitude when the picture on the monitor is no longer breaking up or rolling.


    Set the white-level iris setting to 100 IRE units exactly on the CCTV color camera.


    Measure the peak-to-peak video signal of the CCTV color camera using the 10 megahertz oscilloscope. Replace the CCTV color camera with a new one if the measurement is not on or about 140 IRE units.


    Install a video equalizer in the video signal cable between the CCTV color camera and the monitor. Adjust the color burst control of the video equalizer to 40 IRE units to place the chroma level at its correct setting.

    How Do CCTV Cameras Work?

    Analog CCTV
    Analog CCTV systems use one of two main conduits to transmit audio-visual information. The first, and most common, is a wired configuration. The second uses a wireless transmitter to connect to a receiver.

    Wired CCTV installations run a cable or wire between the camera and the monitor. The image data is usually transmitted over a coaxial cable. The audio is usually transmitted over a simple copper wire or wires. The signal transmitted over these wires and cables is then fed in to a monitor or a set of monitors if the image needs to be visible in different locations. A multiplexer can be used to display feeds from multiple cameras on a single monitor. Each camera's picture would take up a pre-set amount of space on the monitor. Analog CCTV cameras can also be routed to an image capture board on a computer to allow the audio-visual information to be viewed on a computer monitor.

    Wireless CCTV installations are similar to wired. The difference is that a radio transmitter is attached to the camera. A radio receiver is then attached to the input on the monitor system or computer. Wireless systems are useful in a couple of situations. The first is when the distance between the camera and the monitor is too far to be practical for a cable run. Wireless CCTV is also good when cables aren't practical because of aesthetic reasons.
    Digital CCTV
    CCTV installations can also be digital. Digital CCTV often uses Internet Protocol (IP) cameras. An IP camera is a camera that contains the camera and hardware to convert the audio and video signals to a stream of packets that can then be transmitted over a local area network (LAN) wide area network, (WAN) or even over the internet.

    Digital CCTV has many advantages over analog. First, it can use existing wired or wireless internet, including Wi-Fi. Because of this, it isn't limited by distance. A CCTV camera can be set up in one city and have its signal transmitted easily to another city. Another advantage of digital CCTV is that a series of cameras can be routed to a wireless hub, thus minimizing the amount of cabling required for a complex installation.

    How CCTV Works

    CCTV stands for Closed Circuit TV. CCTV uses one or more video cameras to transmit video images and sometimes audio images to a monitor, set of monitors or video recorder. The difference between CCTV and standard TV is that standard TV openly broadcasts signals to the public. CCTV is not openly transmitted to the public. CCTV uses either wireless transmission or a wired transmission to send the broadcast from the video cameras to the monitor(s) or recording device. Most CCTV systems are used for surveillance which can include security monitoring, spying or for safety monitoring purposes.

    CCTV Cameras
    CCTV systems have become extremely popular over the last few decades as the technology has improved and become more affordable. The majority of CCTV cameras in use today are usually for surveillance and security purposes. You can find CCTV systems in almost every bank, casino, malls and large department stores. In fact, CCTV systems have become so affordable, most smaller mom and pop stores also have CCTV systems in their stores for security purposes.

    Types of CCTV Cameras
    There are many types of CCTV cameras, they can be categorized by the types of images they are able to capture, the amount of frames they can take per minute, the type of connection to the monitor or video recording device, whether they are able to move position, and special functions they can provide.

    Types of Images: CCTV cameras generally take both black and white or color video images. In addition, many CCTV cameras can even have night vision capabilities which allow a CCTV camera to view and record low light images using special technology.

    Frames per Second: Frames per second means the amounts of full frames that a video camera captures and sends to a recording device or monitor per second. While most CCTV camera systems are easily able to capture 30 or more frames per second (30 fps is considered real time), the amount of video tape or digital storage would be enormous to record every moment of everyday. For most stores, speeds of 1 to 6 frames per second are more than enough to catch and record a perpetrator committing a crime.

    Pan Tilt Zoom (PTZ) Cameras: These types of CCTV cameras allow a person controlling the surveillance of an area to move the camera remotely, usually with an RF or wired controller. Most moveable cameras allow the person monitoring it to move the camera from right to left (pan), up and down (tilt) and from a tight angle to a wide angle (close up zoom).

    Cameras with Special Accessories: Certain CCTV cameras have special functions which are made for specialty uses. For instance, there are extremely small surveillance cameras that are used for spying (Nanny Cams), there are cameras that are made for night viewing, cameras that are vandal resistant and cameras that are specifically made for indoor or outdoor uses.

    Wired Vs. Wireless Connection
    There are two main types of connections for CCTV cameras to the monitor or recording device, they consist of either a fixed cable or a wireless connection.

    Fixed Cable Connection
    Fixed cable connection means that your camera will be physically connected to your monitor or recording device via a cable. Usually coaxial cables are used, most of the time they are similar to your normal home TV cables. Lengths come in 25, 35, 50, 100 or 500 feet. As the distance increases, you may see degradation in signal quality. For distances longer than 100 or 200 feet, you can purchase higher quality coaxial cables such as RG59 coaxial cable for distances up to 600 feet and for distances more than 600 feet, but less than 2,000 feet, you can purchase CAT5 cable.

    Wireless Connection
    Most wireless CCTV cameras use the 2.4 Gigahertz frequencies to transmit their video images to a monitor or DVR (digital video recorder). Usually, frequencies can be slightly changed to have more than one group of cameras in a specific space. Wireless CCTV cameras used a this frequency can easily transmit through most walls and obstacles; however each individual location will have its own operating limits. Expect most wireless CCTV cameras to send data to a range of about 200 feet, however many will more likely work well when transmitting less than 150 feet. A clear line of sight transmission will always work the best

    Obviously a wireless connection allows you greater freedom to place your CCTV camera almost anywhere. While wireless CCTV cameras transmit their video images to a digital video recorder or monitor, many of these types of cameras must be plugged into an electrical outlet. There is however some CCTV cameras that are battery operated.

    Tape vs. Digital Video Recorders
    There are two main ways to record video images that your CCTV cameras capture; they are analog tape and digital video recorders. The vast majority of analog video recorders use VCR tapes and either standard VCR's to record the images or special security time-lapse VCR's to record images for a longer period of time.

    VCR Tape Recorder
    A tape recorder such as a security-time lapse VCR can record CCTV camera images in either black and white or color for either 2,4, 6, 8, etc all the way up to 960 hours which is 40 complete days. The determining factor is how many frames per second you intend to record and how many cameras you have hooked up to your VCR for recording. For instance, if you record 30 frames per second (real time video), you will only be able to get a few hours of video captured on your recorder. If you record one frame per second or less, you can record for dozens of hours before the video tape is full. VCR's are very practical, very reliable and extremely affordable. Expect to pay only a few hundred dollars for a security VCR.

    Digital Video Recorders
    There are two types of DVR's (Digital Video Recorders). They are either stand alone devices or hard drives that are connected to a computer system. DVR's work similar to VCR's except the images they capture from the CCTV camera is digital. The amount of digital images you can capture on a DVR is determined by a few factors including the frames per second recorded, the amount of cameras hooked up to the DVR device, the resolution that the DVR saves the images at and the video compression used (e.g. MPEG4). For a common set up, where you have 4 cameras shooting at 30 fps and you use an image resolution of 320 X 240, each camera only records when motion is on, and you use MPEG4 compression, you should be able fill up a 20 to 25 GB hard drive in about 80 hours.