CCTV Installation
CCTV is massively powerful tool for not just deterring crime, but also capturing the people responsible should you be unfortunate enough to be a victim of crime.
Closed-circuit television (CCTV), now known as VSS , is the use of video cameras to transmit a signal to a specific place, on a limited set of monitors.
It differs from normal household television in that the signal is not openly transmitted, though it may employ point to point wireless links.
Although almost all video cameras fit this definition, the term is most often applied to those used for surveillance in areas that require monitoring such as bars, banks, casinos, schools, hotels, airports, hospitals, restaurants, military installations, convenience stores and other areas where security is a requirement.
In industrial plants, CCTV equipment may be used to observe parts of a process from a central control room, for example when the environment is not suitable for humans. CCTV systems may operate continuously or only as required to monitor a particular event.
A more advanced form of CCTV, utilizing digital video recorders (DVR/NVR), provides recording for possibly many years, with a variety of quality and performance options and extra features (such as motion detection and email alerts).
More recently, decentralized IP cameras, some equipped with megapixel sensors, support recording directly to network-attached storage devices, or internal flash for completely stand-alone operation.
There are about 350 million surveillance cameras worldwide as of 2016. About 65% of these cameras are installed in Asia.
CCTV use is widespread in the UK. According to newspaper reports (Telegraph, Guardian) there is a surveillance camera for every 11 people.
Cameras are widely and overtly deployed every day, they are sited within both over-ground and underground train carriages, above supermarket checkout points almost any place you can think of.
Whatever our own personal views, the irrefutable benefit of CCTV systems are its crime prevention and detection capabilities.
Like it or not, monitored camera surveillance is essential in many businesses, not just for the safety of staff and customers, but also for the security of the premises, property & cash.
CCTV PROPERTIES WE COVER
DOMESTIC – From a small 2 camera system
COMMERCIAL – To a 400x camera system
FARMS – To pan and tilt cameras able to help farmers stay on top of the calving season from the comfort of their home
System Technologies
When investing in a CCTV solution you are presented with an almost overwhelming number of choices. However, the real consideration will be to make sure the correct camera is used, we use the latest IP CCTV equipment which is full HD from a budget 2 megapixel camera system up to ultra 4K HD 12 megapixel systems.
These cameras are so clear that we are only now using tvs (4k) that will produce the picture quality they record.
The camera have LEDs which will come on when the light level drops too low for a colour image and produce the white light needed for a superb black and white image in total darkness, there are also cameras that will stay in full colour even at night so give us a call to discuss your requirements.
Recording & Monitoring
CCTV recording cameras are linked to recording devices (DVRs / NVRs) either locally or onto an internet network.
Recorded images can then be monitored efficiently and safely from a remote point, password login can give access even to hand-held devices such as tablets or mobile phones connected to the internet.
Technology has evolved a long way forward since its first use by Siemens back in the 1940s.
Analogue HD
We are currently upgrading existing CCTV systems which are cabled with coaxial cable (traditional analogue wiring) with HD cameras as a good upgrade solution which removes the added cost or re-cabling.
Our CCTV supplier has a large range of high quality HD-CVI cameras, recorders and accessories available. HD-CVI unites the high quality images of IP with the point to point configuration of analogue systems.
This technology is a great way to upgrade an existing analogue system to digital. (*Subject to cable quality)
Similar to your HD TV at home HD-CVI can offer impeccable picture quality for your CCTV system giving 720p TO 4K resolution in real time (25fps). This broadcast quality does not have bandwidth issues since it is connected directly to the DVR from point-to-point.
IP Camera Overview
“IP” stands for Internet Protocol which is the low-level programming language used to transmit data between computers in your home and the Internet.
This means that an IP camera is like a little computer that you connect to, to access your video and as such you do not require a direct connection to a PC to operate meaning they can be placed anywhere within a network and accessed remotely at any time.
Consequently they do not require a DVR; instead they operate with a NVR (network video recorder), which in most cases is just software that runs on a computer or server as it doesn’t need to convert analogue video to digital.
The video footage can then be stored on new or existing network RAID (redundant array of independent disks) drives as directed by the NVR software.
In contrast to an Analogue camera, an IP camera excels in capturing high definition, megapixel images as captured data is digitized directly from the sensor, and because of their increased computing power they can perform more advanced functions such as detecting motion to trigger recording or tampering and act on it by emailing, uploading or recording images or video to an internal storage card external storage device
Wireless systems
Analogue: DVR costs are fairly simple to understand. A DVR is a single unit, and has a single cost. However, they have a fixed number of inputs that cannot be expanded upon.
IP: NVR software is typically licensed on a per camera basis and must be installed on a networked computer. The storage requirements for megapixel cameras are significant, and may require additional network points.
Expansion & Storage
Hardwired systems are fully cabled installations which are our favourites and are able to meet whatever system design is required due to their total flexibility.
Whether it is a small residential property with 5 of 6 detection devices, or a palatial new build with 60 detectors plus hardwired systems can be adapted to suit all needs.
Hardwired systems really come into their own within large residential and commercial properties where an alarm needs to protect a number of individual areas which in turn require the flexibility to enable individual areas to be armed & disarmed separately from within one main system.
We have the experience and the knowledge and can supply and install a system for you with the necessary equipment to protect any property from 1 to 640 zones.
Contact us to see how we can help you.
CCTV MAINTENANCE
As the term implies, CCTV preventative maintenance involves regularly testing the functionality of CCTV surveillance equipment to reduce the probability of a malfunction or failure.
Maintaining systems regularly will ensure CCTV systems are working to their optimum performance and that images recorded and stored are fit for purpose, and are of evidence quality and could be used as admissible evidence for purposes of investigation or for use in courts of law.
Preventative maintenance is an essential part of ensuring continuous surveillance and helps to deter break-ins, theft and the overall security of the area(s) being monitored.
To avoid any lapses in surveillance monitoring, CCTV system maintenance is usually carried out whilst all devices are still in operation.
This regular inspection should be planned as part of the overall security system maintenance checklist requirements of the business or household.
It is also a good idea to organise the inspection date so that any spare parts that may be needed are readily available.
In summary, preventative maintenance increases confidence in the entire security system, and is often a written requirement as well as a condition of commercial building insurance.
The owners or operators of a CCTV system should normally be able to keep CCTV cameras free of everyday dust and obstructions, but any technical scheduled maintenance must be carried out by trained service engineers.
Watson Alarms offer a totally flexible CCTV maintenance solution which ensures your CCTV system is kept in optimum condition.
Our Standard Service Care Package is based upon a 4 camera system and includes 1 service visit per year for domestic installation and 2 service visits per year for commercial systems (one in the spring & one in the autumn), all cameras will be cleaned and adjusted as required.
Where additional cameras are installed these will be added to the service agreement at additional cost.
The maintenance contract is inclusive of standard emergency call out Monday to Friday 9.00 – 17.30 (Additional Options Available).
During the service visit our engineers will:
Once the camera is shown to be working as it should, the next step is to check the audio and recording equipment.
Most insurance companies will insist on this as a condition of the insurance, and the service will require the growth to be regularly cut back.
Where the CCTV cameras are linked to the security and fire alarm system as such that the CCTV preventative checklist needs to ensure that the correct alarms are triggered.
Related to this test is ensuring that the ambient lighting does not affect the view from the cameras in the device.
The engineer is also required to check any log books or computer held data pertaining to the CCTV system and advise on any necessary updates relating to such data.
Please Contact Us for further information.
CCTV SYSTEM INSTALLATION CASE STUDY
Aberdeen and District Angling Association contacted Watson Alarms with a general enquiry relating to what considerations should be made if installing a CCTV System to protect a commercial building which is surrounded by public areas. The Client was advised on the necessary measures to comply with the Data Protection Act (GDPR) 2018 which would allow the system to be installed.
Based on our knowledge and capabilities on successfully answering the Clients original queries we were then asked to make arrangements for our surveyor, Andrew Watson, to attend site and carryout out a survey for the CCTV System.
The IP CCTV System specification provided the Client with a system which would act as a deterrent for a site with a history of graffiti attacks and allow monitoring of river water levels thus providing early warning for flooding whilst also piece of mind for security protection for a standalone building when unmanned. The network of 5MP CCTV cameras could be viewed live or reviewed later in high-definition images both onsite or remotely, via a 4G router, on a PC/Laptop or mobile device with the appropriate software/app and user credentials. The system was also set up with smart motion detection which in the event of human activity automatically switches the camera white lights on and registers the event on the network video recorder log. After an incident the Client does not need to sift through hours of footage and can simply review each event from the log until the necessary footage is identified.
Once our full system specifications and commercial proposals were received these were very quickly approved and an installation date was agreed.
The Engineers attended site on the agreed dates and the installation of the CCTV system was completed within the agreed timescale with minimum disruption to the business and to the Customer representative who had been asked to provide access. Once the commissioning was completed a full handover and demonstration/training session was held with the Client to ensure they were completely satisfied and fully conversant with the systems functionality and operation.
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