Re: CCTV Solution required

["Simon Rafferty" <simonr@xxxxxxx>]

Well we use cheap Adeva B&W cameras at work for covert surveilance. We
are =
now 2/2 on  prosecutions. Even though adeva dont exist anymore they are
fai=
rly standard 1/3 ccd cameras tripped by a pir, lighting was sodium. Take
no=
te that if u use sodium lighting, due to metamerism, colours will mean
noth=
ing. Bare this in mind if you choose sodium lights with colour cameras.
Cri=
tical things are placing cameras where you think you may get good images
of=
vehicles, particularly licence plates. Burglars rarely burgle houses witho=
ut vehicles. Pretty hard to carry a 50kg TV down the road on your own. And
=
good lighting, nothing scares a burglar off more than suddenly finding
hims=
elf bathed in 200w of light when he thought he was somewhere secluded.
Also=
remember 80% of burglaries occur in the day. So locks, locks , locks. I ha=
ve been to too many burglaries where the front or back door was just
kicked=
in. Make sure all doors lock at least 2 points and that UPVC doors have st=
eel reinforcing bars / plates in there plastic pannels ( 1 kick is
generall=
y enough to remove one)
----- Original Message -----=20
From: Simon Coates=20
To: ukha_d@yahoogroups.com=20
Sent: Wednesday, January 21, 2004 9:24 PM
Subject: Re: [ukha_d] CCTV Solution required


Graham,

Firstly I'd recommend good external security lighting - prevention is bet=
ter
than watching your house being burgled later on your CCTV!  That's if the=
y
didn't nick your PC with the capture card in ;o)

As for cameras I'd definitely recommend colour (with good lighting) rathe=
r
than B&W cameras.  Although B&W cameras have much better low light
performance they don't (obviously) give any colour info - ie. colour of a
car, clothing etc... and they also tend to misinform you about 'colours'
since they are sensitive to IR.  For example, a prowler might be dressed =
all
in black - but on a B&W system they might appear to have a light
coloured
jacket, black jeans and grey trainers etc... very misleading.

One important thing is to choose the correct focal ratio - ie. the field =
of
view.  With a large field of view (say f4.3 with a 1/3" CCD) the
chances =
are
that you won't capture a good image of the prowler, unless they are very
close to the camera.  A narrow field of view (say f12.0 with a 1/3"
CCD)
will 'zoom-in' on an area and might capture the image you need, but cover=
age
will be poor.

It's surprising how many fixed cameras you need to get good coverage of a
property.  Usually twice as many as what you think.

BTW I've bought cameras from RF Concepts in the past and always been happ=
y
with the products and service.

Regards

Simon

----- Original Message -----
From: Graham Howe <graham@solarfish.com>
To: <ukha_d@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: 21 January 2004 20:57
Subject: [ukha_d] CCTV Solution required


Due to the unfortunate burglary of a colleague, SWMBO is now interested i=
n
beefing up our security. We have had Comfort installed for years and I'm
happy with my ability to detect a break in. However we are concerned abou=
t
our lack of ability to identify someone 'casing the joint' or if the wors=
t
happens, video evidence of intruders. I know that there was recent
discussion here about the Geovision cards and some cameras available from
rfconcepts, but I'm not sure that there was any final recommendations on
models and overall solutions.

My budget is up to =A3500, but I would rather keep it down to =A3400 (the=
se
prices are ex-vat). I need to have 2 outdoor cameras, 2 indoor cameras, a=
ll
black and white, audio not required. I also need a card capable of
processing the feeds from the 4 cameras and probably capable of adding
another 2 cameras later on. Of course I also want a software solution to
deliver the feeds to the internet/intranet but I assume that will come wi=
th
the cards.

As far as cabling is concerned, I already have CAT5e and CT100 to every
location I need, so either type of connection will be fine.

I'd really like to buy in the next day or two before the 'enthusiasm' fro=
m
SWMBO evaporates, so what can you guys suggest?

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