Do You Need Visual Monitoring for Your Business?
We can help you find the right system. The most important question we’ll ask you before putting together your CCTV system is: “Do you need to be able to recognize a known person, or do you need to identify an unknown person?” For example, if you are a bank manager you may need to identify an unknown person who robs a teller. If you are a clothing retailer who suspects employee theft, you may just need to be able to identify which employee (known person) is doing the stealing.
This distinction will determine the final cost and complexity of your CCTV system.
Some basic CCTV Options:
Computer based systems consist of a PC with a card in it which hooks up to the cameras. The computer hard drive then stores the images digitally.
NVR or network video is a device that sits on your network like a router, with an IP address. The cameras also have IP addresses and the system uses your existing network to record motion. This type of system provides more recording time for your money and storage space.
Motion-based recording systems “memorize” the layout of the area being monitored and only record when there is movement. This saves dramatic amounts of space on a hard drive and reduces the size of the system you will need. Motion based systems can be programmed to “mask out” certain areas, such as a busy street in front of a business, so that constant motion isn’t detected and recorded.
Digital Video Recorders (DVR) are similar to a Tivo box with hard drive that records the number of channels/cameras in the CCTV system.
Infrared Light Sources may be needed if monitoring is needed in complete darkness.
CCTV Applications:
- Monitor your business when you are away.
- Deter theft
- Watch break rooms, back doors, inventory, public areas, cash registers
- Monitor manufacturing machinery, gauges or sensitive areas where contamination could be a problem.
- Unmanned storefronts, laundry, car wash
- Areas where there has been vandalization,
- Dumpsters, water mains, drive up windows
- Car lots, hospitals, banks, airports
- Locations that could be targets for terrorism