The Five Monumental Improvements in Video Surveillance and Video Entry Systems

I have been installing some very reliable video entry systems over the years, however in the last few years I have settled down with just one manufacturer. That is not to say that there are not multiple manufacturers with commendable features, it is just that I came to favor one particular company. Two of the primary reasons I favor them is that they are on the leading edge of research and improvement and their professional support is dynamite. Once you have all the wiring installed, properly installed your connectors and mounted the components, they can smoothly tweak the settings and have you up and running with your surveillance video system.

Surveillance Systems

There was a time when these networks were routinely referred to as security surveillance systems. That time has long sense lapsed as many of a home's video cameras are trained in on locations dealing only with family matters. A few examples of these types of locations are:

* Front gate or front door for video entry capability

* Swimming pool area to keep an eye on children

* Monitoring the babies' room

* Family room area

* Back yard around the BBQ pit

Typical System

So now a conventional system has video cameras focused in on areas of security while other cameras are there largely to improve the family lifestyle. In any case the technology today is state-of-the-art and very reliable. In fact, the images from all the cameras on one screen, or one camera image shown full screen are available on a local monitor, local computer monitor, or any computer monitor in the world.

Achient News

Now that I have informed you what I have been doing let me just say frankly all that is old news. The system has taken a mighty leap forward in the last six months and the manufacturer I chose is out in front in my opinion. Of course, Internet Protocol cameras have been around for a few years now, but many video installation companies like mine have steered away from installing digital systems for a number of technical reasons. I won't go into all the technical difficulties at this time, but the biggest one in my opinion was the difficulty in having the main unit be able to identify the Internet address of each IP camera. This was especially true if the main frame and the camera manufacturers were different.

Innovative Technology

Like I say, all that is old news because innovative technology has been established into the marketplace which is an Internet Protocol Video Management System that takes the aggravation out of networking. It does this by deliberately detecting and configuring video cameras and devices, making installation and use simpler than it's ever been.

The appliance includes pre-installed software that is licensed for up to 8 video cameras. Each system has a three-year warranty that includes extensive protection on all electronic components and telephone technical support. A three-year software service plan additionally protects the investment by including unlimited software technical support and free feature upgrades. This new technology solution is designed to reduce installation time and maintenance costs of IP video systems.

How State-of-the-Art Is This New Technology?

OK, I have clarified that this is the latest trustworthy technology available in local/remote video surveillance systems, but let me go farther and clarify why and to what degree it is developed. Well, first of all it is much simpler to install than classical video surveillance systems. There is no more need for running additional power cables to each video camera because now the system allows for video camera power to run on the same Cat5e wire which carries data. These systems don't demand coaxial cable anymore.

The second, and arguably the most developed degree of improvement, is the much greater clarity in the camera video image. In traditional color analog video cameras about the best available is 550 lines of resolution. Now the resolution is over 1000. In addition, now you can also purchase megapixel video cameras which are out of this world in how far out they can reach to provide you a fabulous picture.


Bug's Hind Quarters at 100 Yards

So before I get too far down the road in all this new technology I should say that this is not your momma's video surveillance system. The system is more expensive and the video cameras, especially the megapixel cameras, are also costly. If I did list old style equipment and cameras, the prices would be about 20 to 25% less. However, with the difference in wire cost and labor, that 25% doesn't seem nearly as great. The megapixel video cameras are reasonably more expensive, but they can see a bug's behind at 100 yards.

24-7 Digital Recording

In addition, the typical system these days is recording twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. Each camera's images are recorded every second, or to save on hard drive space some are set in a motion detection mode. In other words, when armed in this mode, the images are not being recorded except in the case of movement where movement is not expected. A good example of that would be a video camera in the garage. During the night no movement is expected in the garage. If and when the camera picks up movement the images are recorded for a specified amount of time.

Control The Expense

The keys to expenses to this and any other security video system are capability and cost. The absolute best way to rein in these issues is to install the system yourself. To install one of these security video surveillance systems you will need to procure a book on installing a specific system. Believe it or not, it's not all that hard to install the system. You simply need to know exactly what equipment to buy, what connectors to install, how to mount the unit and how to power it up and program the main components. If you did not comprehend the importance of what I said earlier, now is the time to grasp the moment. Once you physically run the wiring and install the electronics, the software does the configuration setup for you. That is what I am trying to say. Even though this is state-of-the-art technology, it is really easy to install.

Installing Multiple Systems

It has been my experience that when people are considering one technology for their new or remodeled home, they are likely considering other systems as well. It would be in your best interest to have installation books on each system you would like to include in your project. Read them all then purchase your equipment, along with your special tools and cabling so that they are all on the job site ahead of your proposed start date.

My purpose for this educational and informatory review was to properly and suitably explain the contrast between the old and the new surveillance video technology. Hopefully I have realized my objective so that you take away the knowledge that the new systems are easier to install and once installed provide a much higher degree of video clarity. Yes they cost a little more, but that only matters if you completely and entirely shrug off the value of your time.


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You can get Glenn Bell's FREE 10 Video Mini Course on Surveillance Video and how to install electronics in homes. Glenn also provides a free eBook about Video Entry.