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Security Camera Technology

Security Camera Technology Explained

Like it or not, security cameras have become a daily part of our lives. People have become so accustomed to seeing security cameras that they hardly even notice them anymore. That is of course, unless you are a criminal.

Fortunately for us, most criminals have an innate tendency to notice security cameras, especially if they are casing a store or building with the intention of committing a crime. In that situation, a couple of well placed security cameras could make the difference between deterring a crime and becoming the victim of one.

Modern security camera systems are inexpensive, easy to install and extremely effective at deterring crimes. The addition of security cameras could quite possibly represent the best possible investment of your security dollars.

Retail stores, offices, restaurants, malls, parking garages and home owners can all benefit from the addition of security cameras.

Security Cameras installed in retail and convenience stores provide an exceptionally visible crime deterrent and any crime scene video can prove invaluable in apprehending the suspects.

Office complexes can benefit from security cameras in many different ways. The costs for liability insurance can be reduced with the installation of security cameras. Tenants will feel more secure knowing that there are security cameras on the premises and the resulting vacancy rates will invariably be reduced.

Would you feel safer in a mall with security cameras or without? I know where I would want my wife and kids shopping. I would bet that a mall with security cameras would be able to attract and retain better stores.

Has your car ever been broken into at a public parking garage? If it has, chances are that the parking structure did not have security cameras. A woman walking to her car late at night would probably feel much safer if there were security cameras installed in the parking structure.

Security cameras can help you manage your business or protect your home. Video surveillance is a valuable addition to any business and a worthwhile investment for any homeowner.

Security cameras can offer you a piece of mind that is hard to match with any other type of electronic security equipment. Security cameras never lie and the forensic evidence provided from CCTV video has been used to convict thousands of criminals.

Security cameras can protect you from risk. Closed circuit television cameras are a great tool for crime prevention because they discourage your customers and employees from stealing and they can greatly reduce your exposure to litigation.

A security camera can provide you with freedom to travel and the flexibility to check on your home or business. Modern Internet Security Cameras and PC based digital video recorders allow you to view your surveillance cameras from anywhere in the world.

A security camera system can help you increase your productivity and enhance your operations by keeping an ever present “eye” on your office and employees. Employees are less apt to steal, loiter around the water cooler or take long smoke breaks when a security camera is present.

How Do Security Cameras Work

A security camera uses a digital imager that is referred to as a CCD to capture images that are focused on it through the security camera lens. The images captured by the security camera are converted to an analog composite video signal that contains the brightness and color of the images. The signal is transmitted to a display or a recording device on a coaxial or other type of cable.

Security Camera Horizontal Resolution

Security camera performance is based on the number of horizontal lines the CCD sensor in the camera provides. The lines of resolution dictate the quality of the video the camera can produce. In the simplest of terms, the higher lines of resolution the better the picture quality.

Resolution refers to a measurement of a security camera or a video monitors ability to reproduce detail which is equal to the total amount of lines that appears on the screen. Most computer screens are measured by both width and height while most cameras are measured by TVL (Television Lines), or horizontal resolution. When designing a security camera system, remember that the system is only as good as the lowest resolution equipment. If you have 530 line camera and a digital recorder that records 420 TV lines, you will not get more than 420 lines of resolution.

Aspect Ratio is the relation of picture width to height. Closed circuit television equipment normally has an aspect ratio of 4:3 which is 4 units high to 3 units wide. Widescreen images are normally in 16:9 ratio which means that your security camera equipment does not always display correctly on that new wide screen monitor.

Light Levels Required for Operation

Security cameras are also rated by the level of light required for the security camera to provide a usable image which is measured on Lux. When selecting your security cameras you should pay special attention to the amount of light which is available in the areas you want to place under surveillance.

In reference to security cameras, lux is a measurement of luminance or the apparent intensity of light passing through a lens. An luminance of 1 lux is roughly equivalent to the light provided from a full moon on a clear night and a measurement of .01 lux is equivalent to that of a quarter moon.

You can tell if a color camera does not have enough light to operate because the picture will go grainy. If you are not sure you have enough light consider using a night vision camera or a black and white camera. Black and white cameras have a .01 lux minimum and do much better in low light. Night vision cameras can see in complete darkness because they produce their own light.

Lens Selection and Field of View

A CCTV camera lens is an optical device which gathers the light and focuses it onto the CCD imager. The focal length of the lens determines how narrow or wide the field of view the camera provides. Lenses range from 2.8mm which is a very wide angle to 75mm or more which are considered to be telephoto lenses with a very narrow field of view.

The larger the lens size the closer it will bring a distant object into view. The draw back to a larger focal length lens is that as the ability to make distant objects appear closer, the horizontal view narrows.

As a general rule of thumb, we recommend standardizing your fixed surveillance cameras with a wide angle lens like a 3.6mm lens. They are designed to provide about a 90 degree field of view, and provide effective surveillance in a 30' x 30' area. The number one mistake when designing a camera system is that we all expect one camera to do the work of two or three.

Vari-Focal Lens

Depending on your application and budget, you might consider purchasing surveillance cameras with variable focal length lenses that allow you to manually adjust the focal length of the lens to zoom in or out to achieve the desired filed of view. A Security Camera with a Vari-Focal Lens makes placement a breeze as you can adjust the filed of view for different application such as a hallway or an entry door without having to move the camera.

Electronic or Auto Iris Lens

Most security cameras have some type of built-in automatic iris control. The auto-iris is a mechanical or an electronic device used in CCTV cameras which mimics the function of the human eye to control the amount of light focused on the imager. A Security Camera with an Auto-Iris Lens controls the aperture; opening up and enlarging the aperture to allow more light in, or closing and shrinking the aperture to allow less light in. Do not consider a camera without auto iris. You will constantly be adjusting the camera as the light levels change.

CCTV Camera Power Supplies

Security cameras are powered with either 12 volt DC or 24 volt AC power. It does not matter which you choose as long as you don't connect a 12 volt camera into a 24 volt power supply or 24 volt camera into a 12 volt power supply. We recommend using 12 volt DC surveillance cameras and camera power supplies because they offer some protection from the voltage spikes and brownouts that are common with many electrical distribution systems and the direct current does not bleed over into the coaxial cable causing interference.

Depending on your camera placement, you can utilize a plug-in transformer for each camera, or you can use a multi-camera power supply. Plug in power supplies are usually located within 6-10 feet of the camera and the multi-camera power supply will require you to run all of the power cable back to a central location, but it will provide you with individual fuses for each circuit.

When designing a surveillance system you may want to use a combination of plug in and multi-camera power supplies. This will depend on where your power outlets are located and how easily you can pull a wire from a multi-camera power supply to each camera.

Based on several factors, there is a maximum distance that you can place a security camera away from the power supply. For standard indoor security cameras with a low voltage draw, we recommend using an 18 gauge power cable. An 18 gauge wire will allow you to extend the distance from the power supply to an indoor fixed camera up to 500-600'. PTZ security cameras and those with infrared illuminators and thermostatically controlled heaters and blowers will draw more power, therefore the power supply should be located much closer to the camera, or a larger power wire must be used.

Video Cable & Maximum Distance

All professional grade systems use video coax cable to transmit the video from the camera to the recorder. The maximum distance the cameras can be from the recorder is a function of the cable rather than the camera itself. Using RG59 coax cable you can extend the camera out to 800 feet. Using RG6 coax cable you can run up to 1,200 feet. Cable is available in 500' boxes or pre-made cables 200', 100', 50' lengths.

Siamese cable is a great alternative to using a separate coaxial cable and a power cable as it combines both wires in a single sheath for ease of use. Most of our pre-made video cables are Siamese style that combines an RG-59 coax and an 18-2 power cable.

If you need extended distances beyond 1,200 feet, you may consider active video baluns that use Category 3 or Category 5 universal twisted pair wire or UTP to transmit video up to 2,000 feet or more. Distances beyond that will require fiber optic video transmission systems or Ethernet based video streaming.

Security Camera Common Terms

Here are the definitions of some common terms used in the video surveillance industry to describe the features and functions of security cameras.

Analog Video Signal : Electrical charges used to transmit a video signal from a security camera to a display or recording device. The signal contains the brightness and color of the image as a composite video signal. Modern security cameras create digital video images and then convert them to analog to transmit the signal over coaxial cable and to be recorded on VCR’s. Digital video recorders actually convert the analog video signal back into a digital format for recording to a hard drive.
Aspect Ratio : Ratio of picture width to height. Closed circuit television equipment normally has a 4:3 aspect ratio which is 4 units high to 3 units wide while widescreen images are normally in 16:9 ratio.
Auto Iris : Refers to a feature of many cameras where the camera detects the amount of light entering and opens or closes the iris automatically to ensure that the image does not end up too bright or too dark.
AGC : Automatic Gain Control. This feature makes adjustment for lighting changes such as bright reflections from glass or headlights passing through the image to provide a more balanced lighting level. AGC reduces signal to noise ratio so that a higher quality recording can be achieved even in harsh lighting conditions.
ALC : Automatic Lens Control is an output on the camera that controls the auto iris lens adjustments for speed and sensitivity which makes a picture higher or lower contrast depending on lighting conditions.
Aperture : The lens opening that controls the amount of light reaching the imager. The Aperture size is represented as an ‘F-Stop’ number. Larger F-stop numbers (F/1.4, F/1.8, F/2.8, etc.) represent smaller openings, which allow less light in.
Back Focus : A camera adjustment that allows the imager to move closer or further away from the lens to fine tune the focus. Back focus is commonly used to compensate for the different mounting styles of CCTV lenses, such as C and CS mount lenses.
Back Light Compensation (BLC) : Refers to the electronic processing of video signals that can reduce the darkness and shadowing effects caused by strong lighting in the target area. Back light compensation can increase the brightness of objects in the picture that would normally appear dark as a result of strong lighting in the background.
Brightness : A term used to describe the overall photometric luminance or reflection of light A video adjustment which controls how light or dark the image appears on a camera or video monitor.
C-Mount : A closed circuit television lens mount that extends 17.5-mm into the camera. One of two styles of mount for a camera lens, this style was developed first and is present on older cameras. A C-Mount lens can be used with a CS-Mount camera with the aid of a special adapter.
CS-Mount : A closed circuit television lens mount that extends 12.5-mm into the camera. The newer of two styles of mounts for a camera lens. The CS-mount lens is prevalent on most new cameras. The lenses are smaller, more compact, and less expensive. A CS-Mount lens cannot be used with a C-Mount camera.
CCD : Charge-coupled device is an electronic capacitor array or a photosensitive image device that captures the light that passes through a camera lens and transforms it into an electrical charge which captures a two dimensional image of the scene projected onto it. Light passes through the iris, is focused by the lens, and lands on the CCD where the image is generated.
Contrast : A measurement of the luminosity of an image and the differences between the dark areas and colors and the lighter areas and softer colors of the image.
Digital Signal Processing (DSP) : DSP is a type of electronic processing of video signals to clean up any noise and enhance the picture.
F Number/F Stop : A relative measurement of a lenses ability to gather light. Each step up reduces available light by half while each step down doubles the available light.
Focal Length : The distance between the lens and the imaging chip of the CCD. The focal length affects the angle of view and viewing distance of the camera. A larger focal length has a narrower view, while a smaller focal length provides a wider angle view.
Foot-Candle (fc) : A measurement of light intensity. 1 foot candle (fc) is equal to 10 lux. 1 lux is equivalent to the light provided by a full moon at night.
Gain : Gain is a measure of the ability of a circuit to increase the power or amplitude of a signal. In security cameras, it references an increase in the signal and is measured in decibels (dB).
Hue : Hue is used to describe and distinguish between similar colors with different lightness and color quality such as light blue, vivid blue, etc. Adjusting Hue on a security camera can vary the color rendering of objects that appear in the picture.
Imager : An imager is a photosensitive charged-coupled device (CCD) that is used in digital cameras to capture the light from the lens and transform it into an electrical signal. An imager has a capacitor array, each of which accumulates an electrical charge proportional to the amount of light focused upon it.
Iris : The iris is a mechanical device used in CCTV cameras which mimics the function of the human eye to control the amount of light focused on the imager. The iris controls the Aperture; opening up and enlarging the aperture to allow more light in, or closing and shrinking the aperture to allow less light in.
Lens : An optical device which gathers light and focuses it onto an imager. Lens focal length determines how narrow or wide the area of view is.
NTSC : The National Television System Committee or NTSC represents the analog television format as used in the United States, Canada, Japan, Mexico, South Korea and Taiwan. Other countries, including Europe, utilize the PAL (Phase Alternating Line) format which is not compatible with NTSC standards. In the security surveillance industry, many devices allow you to select either NTSC or PAL format with a slide switch.
Resolution : A measure of a security camera or a video monitors ability to reproduce detail which is equal to the total amount of lines that appears on the screen. Most computer screens are measured by both width and height (IE : 1024 lines wide, 768 lines tall) while most cameras are measured by TVL (Television Lines), or height alone.
Varifocal Lens : A type of lens which can be manually adjusted to control the focal length to zoom in or out to achieve the desired filed of view.
White Balance : An adjustment of the intensities of specific neutral colors; especially white and gray to render colors other than the neutrals to display correctly and within established parameters.
Wide Dynamic Range : A feature of security video cameras that compensates for uneven lighting conditions by taking a high shutter speed image and a low shutter speed image and then combining them into a single image.
Zero Light/Lux Camera : A security camera which can see in total darkness is referred to as needing zero light or zero Lux. The most cost effective way for a security camera to see in darkness is infrared illumination. Many cameras provide their own IR illumination by utilizing light emitting diodes or LED’s as they are commonly referred to. Most infrared light is invisible to the human eye, but the illuminator or the LED’s can be spotted by their red glow. Some specialized high end security cameras can utilize night vision intensifiers that multiply the amount of existing light. These are sometimes referred to as star-light cameras.
Zoom Lens : A type of optical lens that can change its focal length and zoom in or out to bring a distant object into a closer view. Some security cameras offer both an electronic zoom and an auto-focus feature which automatically adjusts the focus based on objects in the frame. Most high end PTZ dome cameras offer zoom with auto-focus.
Zoom Ratio : A number used to describe how far a camera can zoom in on an object. Based on its widest angle, such as 5-mm, an 18x lens can zoom out to 90-mm. In simpler terms, an 18x zoom lens can magnify an object in the distance eighteen times. Many high end cameras have an optical zoom and a digital zoom for even further viewing.

Choosing the Right Security Cameras

Make a visual survey of each area of concern. Take into account the existing lighting conditions and how wide of a view you want to capture. Then you should envision how you would mount the camera. Would a ceiling or wall mount dome camera work better than a wall mounted bullet camera?

Taking into account the resolution of the camera, the light capabilities and the lens selection as it relates to the angle of view, decide how many cameras and which types are best suited to your situation. Remember, the number one mistake in designing a video surveillance system is trying to get one camera to do the work of two.

For indoor security cameras do not expect the camera to provide usable video past 30-40 feet. Try not to exceed 50-70 for one outdoor security camera to cover. The cameras will view past these distances but in most cases the detail is so small the video rarely can be used to identify a person.

Indoor Security Cameras

Indoor surveillance cameras come in all types, sizes and styles. From dome enclosures to bullet style cameras and traditional box cameras, security cameras rated for indoor use are not weather tight and should not be installed where they are exposed to moisture or extreme temperatures.

Outdoor Security Cameras

Outdoor security cameras are specifically designed for use in harsh environments and low temperatures. Outdoor security cameras come in just as many varieties as indoor cameras, the only difference is that they have been installed in environmentally protected housings or security camera enclosure with heaters and blowers. Some of the smaller outdoor rated dome cameras can produce enough heat for operation without the need for auxiliary heating systems. Outdoor cameras have different low temperature ratings, but most can easily operate in temperatures from -10 to 120 degree Fahrenheit. There are a series of outdoor extreme duty security cameras which are rated to work in extreme temperatures as low as -40 degrees or more for extended periods.

Mini-Dome Security Camera

Available in both indoor and outdoor varieties, one of the most popular surveillance cameras is the mini-dome. The dome camera can be mounted on the ceiling or wall and adjusted to view any angle. The dome not only protects the camera, but it can disguise the viewing angle and make the camera more aesthetically pleasing. Some models of dome cameras are available with clear, mirrored or smoked dome covers, but the smoked and mirrored domes cut down on the amount of available light and can sometimes affect the color rendering of the cameras.

Vandal Resistant Security Cameras

Vandal proof security cameras are installed in some form of vandal resistant enclosure to protect the camera from tampering or vandalism. Most, but not all vandal proof security cameras are dome style cameras with heavy metal bodies and thick Lexan domes. They normally have tamper proof screws which makes them harder to tinker with. Several manufacturers also make tamper proof or even bullet resistant cameras machined out of solid pieces of stainless steel. Some high end tamper proof pan tilt zoom cameras can cost ten thousand dollars or more.

Low Light Cameras

Low light security cameras need very little light to operate. A color security camera that works in les than .1 Lux is considered to be low light. Black & white security cameras typically need much less lighting to produce a usable image. A monochrome security camera is considered low light if it operates at less than .01 Lux, which is equivalent to the light produced from a one quarter moon.

Night Vision Surveillance Cameras

Affordable night vision cameras are one of the latest innovations to the video surveillance industry. Night vision technology has advanced so that anyone trying to protect themselves or their property at night can easily and affordably do so.

Infrared technology or, more commonly known as, night vision has been used for video surveillance, military, security, navigation, law-enforcement and hunting over the last 50 years.

There are three main types of night vision and all have their advantages and disadvantages.

Active Infrared Cameras

Active infrared is most commonly used in video surveillance equipment with night vision security cameras. Infrared light is not visible to the human eye but is detectable by night vision cameras that use IR cut filters.

Until recently, the only way to use IR lighting on security cameras was to flood an area with infrared light. Looking similar to an outdoor lighting fixture, infrared illuminators work by generating light in the 695 nm to 1,000 nm wavelengths.

There are many different types of infrared illuminators including spot lights and flood lights. Depending on their wavelength, the bulbs on IR illuminators can emit a slight glow that can be seen by the human eye even though the lighting they produce cannot.

Some infrared night vision cameras create their own light by using light emitting diodes (LED) on the front of the camera. The LED’s create enough IR lighting to illuminate a small area, much like a spot light or flash light would.

Night vision cameras vary in distance from short range night vision cameras that see a few meters to long range night vision cameras with a distance of 200 meters or more. The distance that a night vision camera can see in darkness depends on how much IR light you flood the area with and the size of the lens of the camera.

During the day, IR cameras work the same as daytime color cameras. As the light level decreases, a photocell sensor in the camera turns on the IR illuminators. When switched to the active IR night vision, the image is seen in black and white.

Active infrared has proven to be an effective and low cost solution for night time video surveillance. Its main advantages include the ability to see through windows and transparent objects unlike thermal imaging. It also has the ability to eliminate shadows and reveal identifying lettering, numbers, objects, and facial identification. Because of its ability to view and record details in high resolution, most active IR video is acceptable in courts of law, whereas most thermal imaging is not.

Image intensifier Cameras

Image intensifier technology is most commonly used by the military or hunting enthusiasts. This method of night vision intensifies existing light, such as star light or moon light, to achieve night vision.

While sometimes used for video surveillance, night vision intensifiers or star light cameras are mostly seen in night vision goggles and night vision scopes. To convert low levels of light into useable images, image intensifiers use an electro-optical device which converts photons to electrons, amplifies them, and then converts them back to photons. This process allows the user to see at light levels that are normally too low for the human eye.

A green phosphor is used in these applications allowing for greater differentiation of objects in the picture because the human eye can differentiate more shades of green than any other color. As a result, the picture comes to the viewers eyes as different shades of green.

The advantage of image intensifier night vision is that it is creates detailed high resolution images with very little light and it has low power consumption. They can often be operated with a few AA batteries.

Image intensifiers are useless in total darkness and because it uses an amplification method, there is a possibility to cause damage to the device when viewing very bright light sources under low light conditions.

Star light cameras with image intensification are less expensive than thermal imaging night vision devices but quite a bit more that active infrared cameras.

Thermal Imaging Cameras

Thermal imaging cameras utilize passive infrared to detect the heat signature from objects that it views. Thermal imaging is used for a range of applications such as home inspections, military and law enforcement, and video surveillance.

Thermal imaging detects radiation in the infrared range of the electromagnetic spectrum (around 900–14,000 nanometers) and produces images of that radiation. Since infrared radiation is emitted by all objects based on their temperatures, thermal imaging allows you to view an environment in complete darkness or the bright of day.

The amount of radiation emitted by an object increases with temperature; therefore thermal imaging allows one to see variations in temperature. When viewing a thermal imaging camera, warm objects stand out well against cooler backgrounds; people and other warm-blooded animals become easily visible at day or night.

Thermal imaging cameras are widely used by the military for there ability to detect infrared heat signatures such bad weather conditions such as fog, rain, mist, dust, sand and smoke. Although a useful tool for military and some law-enforcement agencies, thermal Imaging does have its draw backs. Infrared imagers cannot “see” through windows or many other transparent materials and are very expensive.

Pan Tilt Zoom Cameras

Reach out and touch someone with a Pan Tilt Zoom security camera. Modern PTZ cameras can provide a user with an almost superhuman ability to zoom in and see what’s happening from thousands of feet away.

By combining high resolution cameras with long range auto-focus lenses and high speed pan tilt zoom motors, engineers developed the latest generation of high speed PTZ security cameras.

PTZ security cameras are controlled and programmed with either a desk top joy stick controller or through the software of a PC based DVR. They come in both indoor and outdoor versions, can be wall or ceiling mounted, and can be equipped with color Day/Night cameras or night vision.

Pan Tilt Zoom or PTZ security cameras can cover very large areas with their high resolution long range auto-focus lenses and they are especially useful to security personnel. Many PTZ security cameras offer 22x optical zoom lenses with 12x digital zoom that effectively provide the ability to zoom in up to 264x or more. A modern PTZ camera can read a license plate from thousands of feet away.

The auto-focus features allow you to follow fast moving objects without having to constantly adjust the focus of the camera. Day or night, the camera can automatically focus on objects located in the center of the image within milliseconds, which allows the camera operator to focus on following the subject rather than the focus of the camera.

Optional day night operation allows PTZ dome cameras to operate in extremely low light conditions by switching from color in the daytime to black & white at night. Switching to black & white operation allows a day night PTZ security camera to see with as little as .01 Lux which is equivalent to the light provided by a quarter moon.

With 360 degree rotation at over 250 degrees per second, many PTZ dome cameras can zoom in on an object in alarm and be completely focused on the scene within 1-second. Auto-flip features allow you to follow a subject as it moves directly underneath the camera without any hesitation or delays in movement.

By integrating alarm preset positions, a PTZ camera can effectively cover an entire parking lot or the interior of a large warehouse. An example would be emergency call stations in a hospital parking lot. If a panic button gets pushed, the PTZ camera can focus in on the situation within 1 to 2 seconds.

Preset patterns or tours as they are sometimes referred, can be programmed into many pan tilt zoom camera. By calling up the tour, the camera will run the programmed pattern over and over until it is sent to a preset position in response to an alarm or it is controlled manually by an operator. You can program in park times so that the camera will resume the tour automatically after a pre-programmed period of no activity. The park time allows an operator of a large CCTV surveillance system to control many pan tilt zoom cameras without having to worry about re-starting the pattern after they have manually controlled a camera.

Programmable on screen displays with true north/south azimuth allows you to define and label any area of the picture. As the camera is panning through an area, it can alternately display the zone or area into which it is pointed such as north parking lot or front entry door.

Window blanking is an especially useful tool that allows you to block out certain areas of the picture from display. Zone blanking will black out entire areas, while proportional window blanking allows you to pinpoint certain areas such as windows or swimming pools for obscuration. Many schools for example, will install high speed PTZ cameras to watch the playground areas. Most schools are in located in residential areas, so the window blanking can keep a security guard or resource officer from sneaking a peak inside someone’s home.

Some PTZ dome cameras even have auto-tracking features built in. An Auto-tracking PTZ camera will lock the camera onto a moving object and follow it wherever it goes. Programmable limits allow you to set up a camera that follows cars through your parking lot, but ignores cars driving by on the street.

Up to 16 PTZ cameras can be installed on most DVR systems and 256 or more can be installed and controlled with a matrix switcher. The cameras are controlled with a two wire communication wire which loops from one camera to another. Each camera has dip switches which are used to set its address. The communication wire can have a maximum distance of 3000 feet.

On DVR's the communication cable terminates on an RS422 or RS485 PTZ Netcom control board installed in the DVR. This control board interfaces the software and mouse commands with the cameras.

On matrix switchers, time lapse recorders and other surveillance systems the cameras are controlled with a desk top joy stick controller. Many people prefer the precision of a keyboard controller over software control, but the one down side to the joy stick control is it does not provide the ability to control the cameras remotely.

Wireless Security Cameras

So you want to install a wireless camera system? Depending on your application, installing a wireless video system can be simple or very complex. If you have the right knowledge, equipment and settings, wireless video transmission can open up a world of possibilities and opportunities.

Wireless video; It might sound easier than installing all that cable, but depending on your application, the learning curve can be steep. You may need expertise in RF engineering, a degree in regulatory law, and an FCC license to enjoy all the benefits.

Wireless video camera systems can range widely in cost, capabilities and effectiveness and transmission distances can vary from 50 feet to over 5 miles depending on the frequency and the rated power output. A standard system consists of a transmitter, a receiver, an antenna and some power supplies.

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.

Most consumer grade wireless camera systems designed for home use utilize analog video transmission in the 2.4GHz frequency band systems are usually simplex and they only transmit video in one direction.

In order to allow multiple wireless video streams on the same system, 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.

In the 2.4 GHz analog frequency range there are only 4 non-overlapping channels available which limits the system to 4 cameras, each of which must be tuned to a separate pre-defined frequency. Each of the 4 channels is capable of transmitting about 11 mega-bits per second of data (Mbps).

Because the analog 2.4 GHz camera systems are on fixed frequencies, they are especially susceptible to interference from cordless telephones, microwave ovens, local television broadcasts, computer monitors, power supplies or wireless LAN/WANs which can all share the same frequencies.

A typical transmission range for an analog 2.4 GHz wireless video link is about 300 to 500 feet when installed outdoors with a clear line of site and little interference from outside sources. Analog video signals do not penetrate walls, ceilings or floors very well so the relative transmission distance is greatly reduced when installed in the typical office or home with some lower end analog systems typically providing about 50 feet or less.

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.

There are other types of wireless security camera systems out there that might meet your needs such as wireless Ethernet cameras or microwave transceivers. For more information on wireless security cameras read our Wireless Camera Guide.

SPY& HIDDEN CAMERAS

Spy and hidden cameras provide a necessary and valuable tool in your surveillance system and they have been used to convict thousands of criminals. It is difficult to contradict evidence of a crime when it has been recorded on a tiny hidden spy camera and there is nothing like a confession that has been recorded on a hidden camera to insure a conviction.

Advances in circuit board technology have allowed the production of security cameras that are about the size of a coin. Cameras are now so small now they can be hidden in almost anything. Hidden cameras are commonly placed in pictures, clocks, radios, motion detectors, smoke detectors, books, pencil sharpeners and just about anything else we you can dream up.

Hidden cameras provide you with knowledge. The knowledge that your employees are stealing, knowledge that your husband is cheating, knowledge that people are visiting your open house and the knowledge that your neighbors are selling drugs.

Spy cams provide you with evidence. The evidence to convict a vandal, the evidence to fire a thief, the evidence to increase your advertising, the evidence to make your case in court and the evidence to file for a divorce.

Are you apprehensive about leaving your kids at home with a babysitter? Installing a hidden nanny camera is a cost effective way to make sure your kids are receiving the care they need and deserve. A nanny camera is an excellent investment for any concerned parent.

Do you have a sickening feeling in your gut? Confirm your suspicions and install a tiny hidden spy camera in your home or business. It might be the best investment you have ever made.

Most spy cameras will require a hardwired connection to some type recording device, but recent innovations have produced a series of all in one spy cameras that have built in digital recorders. Some are designed to look like air fresheners, computer speakers or clock radios and they can be the perfect surveillance tool for a variety of situations. These tiny little spy cameras can be hidden just about anywhere they will record for hours on built in hard drives or removable memory cards. The pinhole lens makes them the perfect tool for covert surveillance and the fact that many of them will run on batteries makes them very versatile.

Another innovative system is the wireless pinhole spy camera and receiver combinations with a built-in DVR. Although they offer a very limited range, they allow you to quickly place the pinhole camera in a remote location and plug in the digital recorder in another room. As long as you are not transmitting very far, you can literally be in and out in a matter of minutes.

Whether it is for commercial, industrial or home use, there is a spy cam to fit your specific application; from clock radio spy cameras, hidden cameras in motion detectors or tiny cameras hidden in a sprinkler heads, your imagination is the limit.

Covert surveillance cameras have been used by people you would never imagine to solve all kinds of problems. From book stores to universities, tiny hidden spy cameras are an excellent management tool.

Large software companies use hidden cameras to guard against internal theft and industrial espionage. Real estate agents use our micro DVR’s to record who has visited their listed homes when they are not there. Apartment dwellers use our all in one spy cameras to catch sneaky landlords. Landlords use hidden cameras to watch entry doors, stairwells and hallways and catch vandals. Many extra marital affairs have been documented with one of our spy cameras.

Tiny pinhole cameras have been used to gauge the reaction to movie posters and advertising and they are very popular for scale modelers who want to record the action from their radio controlled airplane or monster truck.

From police stakeouts to corporate boardrooms, hidden spy cameras are everywhere and they have become an important tool in the fight against crime and infidelity.

IP Based Security Cameras

Hailed as the future of video surveillance, today’s modern IP addressable network security cameras and digital video recorders provide you with the ability to monitor security cameras located all over the world from a single location. IP network security cameras offer added versatility by broadcasting multiple streams of security camera video over your LAN, WAN or the internet. By broadcasting multiple streams, your security director can view the CCTV video in Los Angeles and digitally record the video in New York.

Are you trying to establish a web presence? Perhaps there is no better way than to install a digital network IP addressable security camera and add a live video link to your web page. Now your customers can gain an unmatched level of confidence by viewing your store or office live on an IP security camera system. Maybe you need to set up an audio video teleconferencing system to save on travel to and from your corporate office. A network ready PTZ security camera can help you close deals and present reports like never before.

IP based video surveillance systems also offer the benefit of being non-centralized. Traditional CCTV installations require a home run video path from each security camera to the head end switching and recording systems. If you ever need to move the front end, you are stuck with re-routing all of the existing video cables. With an IP video surveillance system, you simply move the network DVR’s and head end monitoring stations wherever you want.

Megapixel Security Cameras

Network Megapixel IP security cameras are revolutionizing the security industry by offering internet based security cameras with up to 20 megapixel video imagers. These new mega-pixel security surveillance cameras can view and record very large areas with wide angle imagers and still allow you to zoom in within the recorded image for detailed surveillance of objects of interest. A single mega-pixel security camera can cover and record the same area as 6 or more traditional CCTV security cameras.

A typical use for a mega-pixel security camera would be in a performing theater or a sports stadium. If you are using a traditional PTZ security camera and you are zoomed in on an area of interest, you are missing anything that occurs outside of the cameras field of view. With a PTZ mega-pixel camera, you can digitally zoom in on an area of interest while continuing to record the entire wide angle image.

Why Install Security Cameras?

Sometimes just the site of security camera is enough to deter criminal activity. A shoplifter would probably not steal in a store full of security cameras; he would go to another store where he or she is less likely to be caught by a CCTV security camera system.

In addition to the deterrent to all types of crime, digital video security cameras can expand your eyes and ears by allowing you to view many multiple security cameras from a central location. A Security camera can be a wise investment for any home or business owner who is looking to add or upgrade their security system.

Security cameras offer the modern equivalent of posting sentries in watchtowers around the perimeter of a castle. They can make a huge difference in the effectiveness of any security system.

Besides the obvious benefit of deterring crime, security cameras can be used to prevent and document inventory shrinkage, monitor employee productivity, secure airports and monitor and control traffic. Some of the more interesting uses for our security cameras include wildlife monitoring, calf birthing, weather watching, process control, people counting, vacation homes and underwater photography.