Eli the Computer Guy

Info

• Level: Beginner
• Presenter: Eli the Computer Guy
• Date Created: February 11, 2012
• Length of Class: 95 Minutes

Tracks

• Digital Surveillance

Prerequisites

• None

Purpose of Class

• This class introduces students to the basic concepts that are required to install and implement Digital Surveillance Systems.

Chapters

1. Introduction (00:00)
2. Types of Systems (06:18)
3. Types of Cameras (39:12)
4. PTZ Cameras (53:32)
5. Networking (01:04:03)
6. Client Expectations (01:10:01)
7. Legal Considerations (01:13:46)
8. Buying Parts (01:16:59)
9. Final Thoughts (01:20:25)

Class Notes

1. Introduction
1. Digital Surveillance systems are very easy to learn, but you have to make sure you plan properly.
2. Types of Systems
1. Analog DVR Systems – Use Siamese Cable to connect cameras.
1. All cameras are directly connected to the system.
2. PC Based Systems are simply PC’s with a DVR card installed.
3. DVR Appliances are specially built computers that are cheaper then PC Based systems, but are generally impossible to repair.
4. Video quality will never be better then DVD quality (Which is not actually very good)
2. IP NVR Systems – Use Ethernet and TCP/IP to Transmit Video
1. These systems support very high resolution cameras
3. FPS – Frames Per Second – How smooth the video viewing is
1. 30 FPS = Real Time, 15 FPS = Perceived Real Time, 7 FPS shows Jerky Video
2. FPS can be measured: Real Time Viewing and Recorded Video, It can be per card/ system and/ or per Channel
4. Resolution
1. IP Cameras use standard resolution measurement for any digital camera.  Pixels are measured
2. Analog cameras are measured by TVL, Television Lines.  600 TVL is the Best, 320 TVL is the lowest quality.
5. Motion Recording
1. Systems and cameras can be configured so that video is only recorded when there is movement
3. Types of Cameras
1. Bullet – are self contained and easy to aim.
2. Dome – are covered with a plexiglas dome so that they cannot be tampered with
3. Vandal Proof Dome – are hardened so that they can be hit with a bat/ hammer and not be damaged.
4. Box – Are just the camera unit.  You then add an appropriate Lens and Mount
5. Cameras are built to be used inside, or outside.
6. Low Light cameras can see in Low Lux. (Lux is a measurement of light)
7. No Light cameras use Infrared lights to illuminate an area and the camera can see the Infrared light.
8. Wide Dynamic Range Cameras can view in a wide range of lighting conditions
9. Auto-iris lenses automatically open and close the iris based on lighting conditions.
4. PTZ  Cameras – Pan, Tilt, Zoom
1. Not all PTZ Cameras do everything.  Some only Pan, Some only Zoom.
2. Eli HATES Analog PTZ Camera Installation
3. PTZ Camera is connected to a Controller on the DVR/ NVR.  Generally PTZ Cameras are wired in a loop configuration.
4. PTZ Cameras use protocols to communicate.  Pelco D and Pelco P are widely used.
5. PTZ Cameras can have built in intelligence so that they can follow movements, or perform a preprogrammed pattern.
5. Networking
1. WAN Connection for remote viewing should be a minimum of 2Mbps upload speed
2. Mega Pixel Cameras can bog down a LAN.
3. Parallel networks are many times used to separate the Surveillance Network from the Computer Network.
4. Don’t use an NVR/DVR for any other service then surveillance.
6. Client Expectations
1. Clients will think their system will do everything they see in Mission Impossible.  Make sure to do a good job on Expectations Management
7. Legal Considerations
1. Surveillance systems are regulated by local laws.  In Maryland taping Video is easy, but taping audio can run into legal issues. Talk to a lawyer!
8. Buying Parts
1. Network Cameras are built by reputable manufacturers and can be purchased like any other computer equipment.
2. Analog cameras are built by thousands of no name Chinese manufacturers.  Be careful to know what you are buying.
3. SuperCircuits.com is a good vendor.
9. Final Thoughts
1. Digital Surveillance is a high profit and relatively easy to do business.
2. It requires a high materials cost
3. Make sure you plan properly, and buy good product.  You don’t want $6000 of equipment installed and have the project fail.

Resources

• SuperCircuits.com

Eli the Computer Guy (429 Posts)

Eli the Computer Guy has 16 years experience in technology being the guy to fix "it". From the Army, to building out new satellite offices for the enterprise, to running his own shop with 9 full time employees Eli has real world experience with almost all systems that technicians will be working with. Eli has 1600 hours of formal technical beyond his Bachelors Degree in Criminal Justice on technologies ranging from Avaya PBX/ Audix to Microsoft, Red Hat Linux, MySQL, Cisco and much more.