BNC Video Input Ports: Built-In vs Pigtails

A DVR System may stand without audio recording but we cannot call a system a 'DVR' without video recording. Hence the name Digital VIDEO Recorder.

The BNC video input ports serve as gateways of video signals from the analog cameras to the DVR System - for later recording and management. As for the DVR Cards for PC-based Systems, they may come built-in on the DVR Card or separated by DB25 video cables as shown in the above image. The same thing goes for the Standalone Systems, the BNC ports may be built-in on the unit found at the back panel or separated by DB25 video pigtails.

There are various reasons why we have these 2 different BNC port standards. Some installers prefer the built-in type due to durability concerns. They find the video cables easy to wear and tear over the months which will apparently call for replacement and they consider it costly. Another issue is the labeling on the video cables. Video cables that are poorly labeled may cause confusion should the labels be erased over their use. They may re-label them but it will look unprofessional and it's unacceptable. So their last resort is again to replace the video cables.

Others, however, consider the pigtail-type more advantageous. For the DVR Cards, they believe that replacing the video cables is better and a lot easier than having to remove the entire DVR Card from the system to check the issue on the BNC ports. They will need to repair the hardware which will most probably leave unnecessary marks on the affected portion in the board. All the worse, the unit will be called for RMA. Now with the Standalone Systems, the ones that make use of video cables are obviuosly more compact. They are smaller in size since the supposed space for built-in BNC ports has been saved leaving a single DB25 port. Smaller size means lighter weight; and lighter weight means lower shipping cost per unit.

Now what do you think? Will you go for built-in or pigtails?

Analog PTZ Camera Connection Diagram

Connecting an Analog PTZ Camera to the DVR System maybe an easy job for professional CCTV Installers. But for starters, it will take them wild guessing and a lot of trial and errors to accomplish the supposed-to-be-simple task. It might sound weird but it's surprisingly true.

Below is a diagram showing the proper connection of an Analog PTZ Camera to the DVR System:


I hope this will help the starters out there. Asking is a step to Knowledge. Everyone started from nothing. This is something we should not be ashamed of. Be an inquirer!

Cheers people! :D

The H.264 Standalone DVR: A New Level of Security

With its combined high performance, usability and affordability, the H.264 Standalone DVR is tailored specifically to meet the demands of your video surveillance. Utilizing the advanced H.264 compression technology, it ensures efficient data transmission and high-quality video at a much lower bit rate. Equipped with other key features such as enhanced GUI and mouse support, EMAP and DDNS support, 3G Mobile Phone Viewing, TV out support, multi-streaming and flexibility for integration, it is the ideal choice for medium to large-scale or growing systems.

The Wall-Mount H.264 Standalone DVR
The Desktop H.264 Standalone DVR

Key Features:

H.264 Video Compression Technology
Utilizes an advanced high-compression H.264 algorithm for efficient video recording and management system. Supporting video resolution up to D1, the highly efficient H.264 video compression format drastically reduces bandwidth and storage requirements without compromising image quality.
• Longer Recording Time. With high image quality and small file size, the SH Series provide longer recording duration and thus reduces storage cost.
• Efficient Data Transmission. Compared with conventional DVRs, the SH series provide faster network transmission with better video quality via internet.

* The diagram shows that MPEG-4 requires approximately one-third of the bandwidth used by JPEG and H.264 requires just one-fifth. That’s almost a 40% saving between standard MPEG-4 and H.264.

GUI with Mouse Support
Supports graphic user interface as well as dynamic, easy-to-navigate menus to allow users
manage the DVR easily. It features full mouse control through USB mouse for easy setup and operation.

EMAP support via Remote Client
Using an impressive E-Map, you can add floor plans or maps to plot the locations of cameras, sensors and relays. By charting positions this way, the DVR provides you with rapid response-time to emergencies. Via a single click, you can view live display of events instantly.

TV Live Display
With TV out function and IR control, you can easily do on site installation setup, configure video quality and perform local monitoring even without network.

Mobile Phone Surveillance
Supports mobile phone viewing through wireless devices such as cellular phones, PDAs and other smart phones.

DDNS Support
Supports static IP, dynamic IP and dynamic domain name system (DDNS) for easy remote
connection.

Multi-Device Streaming Support
Supports simultaneous encoding of D1, half D1, CIF, to allow multi-platform web viewing. Each stream is optimized for its purpose and environment, e.g. if you want to view high quality videos for live viewing, you can stream it D1 via PC. On the other hand, if you want to stream videos using lower bandwidth, you can stream it CIF size via web viewing on PC.

Integration Flexibility
Can easily be integrated with other systems such as Hybrid DVR, Video Server, CMS solutions and Sensors/Alarms.

Others
• SATA Support
• Motion Detection
• Two-Way Audio
• Hardware-Watchdog System
• Real-time event notifications through SMS and Email Alerts

Genuine CCTV Drama

We've recently seen and heard from the news some astonishing and heart-breaking real-life dramas caught by CCTV. They may look like scenes from a movie but they're actually real - no scripts, no directors and no stuntmen.

Here are 2 of the most sensational and controversial CCTV footages that lately created wild buzz esp. over the internet worlwide.

A Robber's Change of Heart:



A repentant robber fell to his knees and prayed with the clerk of the store during a hold-up, according to US media Wednesday, which said the man nevertheless proceeded to pinch 20 dollars from the cash register.

The 23-year-old initially entered the check-cashing establishment in the midwestern city of Indianapolis, Indiana seeking a loan but left, purportedly to get an identification card that was requested, law enforcement officials told ABC television.

He returned armed with a gun, which he pointed at the employee, telling her that he had a son to feed and "no choice" but to revert to robbery since "times are hard," according to the report of the heist.

But when the clerk started to talk to the man about God, the gunman appeared to have a change of heart, confiding in the clerk about his hardships and asking her to pray with him.

"I started crying and praying and telling him, 'Don't do this,' he was too young to throw away his life," store clerk Angela Montez later told a police dispatcher by phone.

"He took the bullet out of the gun and said, 'Here, I'm not going to hurt you, I'm not going to hurt you,'" Montez said.

The suspect, Gregory Smith, asked Montez for a hug and asked her not to report the crime, then told her to go into the store's restroom and not come out for 20 minutes, police told ABC.

Officials said Smith took Montez's cell phone from her purse and 20 dollars from the cash drawer, leaving the rest of the money behind.

He was arrested on robbery and firearm charges when he turned himself in to authorities a few hours later.

Baby Miraculously Survived Pram's collision with Train:



A six-month-old baby boy whose pram rolled onto railway tracks in front of an oncoming train has survived with only a bump to the head, officials said Friday.

The child, who was strapped into his stroller when the accident occurred, was dragged about 35 metres (yards) by the train as it pulled into Ashburton station in Melbourne's east on Thursday afternoon.

"The pram rolled a very short distance straight over the edge of the platform and onto the tracks right as the train was coming in," Connex trains spokesman John Rees told AFP.

"The baby has gotten away with just a cut on the forehead."

Rees said the driver slammed on the brakes as hard as possible as soon as he saw the pram tumble in front of him, and was aided by the fact that the train was slowing down as it entered the station.

Paramedics, who arrived to find the baby being comforted by his mother, confirmed the child received a bump on his head.

"Luckily he was strapped into his pram at the time, which probably saved his life," paramedic Jon Wright said in a statement.

The accident occurred one day after Connex issued a child safety awareness campaign focusing on warning parents to keep infants strapped into their prams at all times while on train platforms.

References:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20091021/ts_alt_afp/uscrimereligionoffbeatprayer
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20091016/od_afp/australiatransportbabyoffbeat_20091016161944

CCTV Footages: Funnily, Shockingly and Amazingly Useful

How did you find the above sample CCTV footage? It was an accident caught in CCTV camera. Please forgive me but I must admit that I found it very funny at first view. That's the least that I can think of to happen to the waitress in that set up (actually giggling while writing this). It's shockingly entertaining. Kudos to her for getting a tight hold on that tray (LOL).

But seriously, we may find CCTV footages in these kinds of scenarios very useful. It's an honest evidence to probe unwanted incidents in the workplace. In that video, it appeared very clear that it's an accident. Using the recorded videos, authorities will be able to examine the event, identify causes and execute corrective actions and necessary sanctions to responsible personnels. I actually worried for the lady afterwards. I wondered if she's okay. Moreover, I can only hope that their pub is not situated in the 2nd or 3rd floor of a building.



This is another CCTV footage I found interesting. Amazing how the fugitive survived that death-defying crash and still managed to get on his feet and run for his life. But I doubt if he managed to get away from the police. A real-time CCTV video is a very useful lead to help the authorities locate, chase and corner escaping criminals.

We may find a CCTV footage funny, shocking and amazing in a sense. But nevertheless, it still gets to serve it's significance and very purpose; that is to provide a material that will lead to solving crimes and identifying anomalies in a workplace... to apparently establish better operations and procedures.

A Major Peak from 2009 Downfall: The Future of CCTV and Video Surveillance Market

The CCTV and Video Surveillance Market wasn't spared from the massive stroke of the Global Economic Downfall. Not all but most of the larger CCTV Companies around the globe were hardly hit by this unwelcome phenomenon. But as we all know, there's always a rainbow after the storm and the storm that devastated our industry is about the come to an end. There's a striking future ahead of the CCTV and Video Surveillance Market. A very big opportunity awaits.....

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The video surveillance market is showing limited unit growth in 2009, but still seeing revenue declines as the weak economy takes its toll. However, the impact is greater in some segments than others, according to market research firm, In-Stat(http://www.in-stat.com). Due to their higher cost, IP cameras will see a large slowdown in 2009 shipment growth. As the Networked Video Recorder (NVR) segment is tied to IP camera shipments that area will be impacted as well.

Meanwhile, stimulus programs are actually increasing surveillance equipment shipments in select applications. "In-Stat sees Digital Video Recorder (DVR) channel shipments growing faster than camera shipments, with hybrid DVRs that can connect to both analog and IP cameras increasing at the highest rate,"says Michelle Abraham, In-Stat analyst. "We expect the overall market to return to growth in 2010."


Recent research by In-Stat found:

* After a decline in 2009, revenue from analog cameras, IP cameras, DVR/NVR, and IP encoders will grow to US$19 billion in 2011.
* Video encoding for DVRs, IP cameras, and IP encoders is moving to H.264 from MPEG-4 part 2. This is enabled by more powerful ICs able to encode multiple streams of H.264 on a single IC.
* As pricing comes down, the attach rate for video analytics in video surveillance equipment will increase at a fast pace.
* Semiconductor revenue for the video surveillance equipment will be stable through 2013, with lower average selling prices offsetting shipment growth.



Reference: http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS43398+20-Oct-2009+BW20091020