A customer contacted CCTV camera pros with the following questions / requirements for a new system:

While contracting construction, Cat5 cable was inadvertently used instead of RG59 coaxial cable for the CCTV camera system that we are planning. We are looking for 6 cameras with 600TVL or better and I am strictly a MAC user. We want motion sensing and possibly one or two camera to be wireless (difficult wiring). Can you please make a recommendation?

CCTV Camera Pros response:

Thank You for contacting CCTV Camera Pros. Using CAT-5 is not a problem even with CCTV Cameras. You can use video baluns to leverage the CAT-5 to run both power and video to CCTV cameras. Please take a look at these:

http://www.cctvcamerapros.com/UTP-CAT5-Balun-p/balun-pv5fm.htm

Our iDVR has an excellent Mac DVR client that is included and the recorder also supports motion sensing and recording. I think it is the best Mac DVR client on the market. Please take a look at the iDVR here:

http://www.cctvcamerapros.com/Internet-Video-Surveillance-DVR-s/424.htm

You can see some screen shots and a short video of the Mac DVR viewer software here:

http://www.cctvcamerapros.com/Internet-Video-Surveillance-DVR-s/424.htm#mac-dvr-viewer-software

Here are some 600TVL+ models that you can look at. You did not mention indoor or outdoor so I included links some of each of the best models that we recommend for indoor and outdoor surveillance.

http://www.cctvcamerapros.com/Dome-Infrared-Camera-p/dpro-9620vf.htm
http://www.cctvcamerapros.com/Outdoor-CCTV-Camera-p/bipro-s600vf12.htm
http://www.cctvcamerapros.com/Vandal-Dome-Camera-p/dpro-as700.htm
http://www.cctvcamerapros.com/Night-Vision-CCTV-Camera-p/bipro-s700vf50.htm
http://www.cctvcamerapros.com/Box-Security-Camera-p/pro-680dn.htm

Being that you are able to leverage your CAT-5, please let me know if you still need wireless. It does tend to complicate things and is not as reliable as a hard wired solution. I recommend avoiding wireless if possible, but we do have it as a last resort option.

It differs from broadcast television in that the signal is not openly transmitted, though it may employ point to point (P2P), point to multipurpose, or mesh wireless links. Though almost all video cameras fit this definition, the term is most often applied to those used for surveillance in areas that may need monitoring such as banks, casinos, airports, military installations, and convenience stores. Video telephony is seldom called "CCTV" but the use of video in distance education, where it is an important tool, is often so called.

CCTV Camera Pros recently had a customer contact us with the following question.

Question: BIPRO-S600VF12 looks great, but price 3x higher than I was expecting, compared to web searches. What makes it so great?

CCTV Camera Pros Response: What makes the BIPRO-S600VF12 is it versatility. The BIPRO-S600VF12 can be used in any application with an effective image. Please see key features below.

HIgh resolution 600 TVL Day (Color) & 700 TVL Night (Black and White)

.00004 Lux Rating - This allows the camera to stay in color mode even in limited light applications.

1/3” SONY High Sensitivity SUPER HAD CCD II - This High Sensitivity chip-set allow the camera to absorb more light, thus allowing for more vibrant colors and cleaner images.'

2.8-12mm Varifocal lens - This allows you to adjust the lens anywhere in between a 2.8-12mm lens (109 degrees to 22 degrees). The camera also has an adjustable infrared beam spread to adjust accordingly with lens angle/position. This comes in handy if you are trying to cover a wide area you can spread the infrared beam out or if you are looking at a distance you can have the infrared set to to a narrower angle to help penetrate at further distances.

HLC - High Light Compensation. Great for applications with heavy foreground light. Compresses light so it does effect the iris as it would with a standard CCTV Camera.

BLC - Back Light Compensation. This is used for applications with heavy background light. This helps eliminate shading and weird coloring you may run into due to background light.

DNR - Digital Noise Reduction. This helps eliminate video noise that may occur in night mode. Produces very clean image.

OSD - On Screen Display. The BIPRO-S600VF12 has a built in OSD This allows the installer to adjust settings within the internal software built into the camera. This allows the camera to be used in virtually any application.

Dual Voltage - Camera can accept 12vDC or 24vAC

Adjustable shutter speeds - This allows you to adjust the cameras shutter speed 1/60 - 1/120,000. Great for applications where you may be capturing faster moving objects such as wildlife , cars etc.

Outdoor weatherproof security cameras, including CCTV cameras use an IP Code (or International Protection Rating, to specify the level of weatherproof protection that the camera case provides. Sometimes this code is also referred to as the Ingress Protection Rating. The IP code consists of the letters IP followed by two digits and an optional letter.

Typically, surveillance cameras are rated IP65, IP66, or IP67. Please see the complete definitions below.

IP60-Total dust ingress protection,No protection against liquids.

IP61-Total dust ingress protection,Protected against condensation

IP62-Total dust ingress protection,Protected against water spray < 15 degrees from vertical

IP63-Total dust ingress protection,Protected against water spray < 60 degrees from vertical

IP64-Total dust ingress protection,Protected against water spray from any direction

IP65-Total dust ingress protection,Protected against low pressure water jets from any direction

IP66-Total dust ingress protection,Protected against high pressure water jets from any direction

IP67-Total dust ingress protection,Protected against water immersion between 15cm and 1m depth

IP68-Total dust ingress protection,Protected against long term immersion to a specified pressure

We Recently had a customer contact CCTV Camera Pros with the following question:
What Are the Advantages of IP Cameras? How do you record using IP cameras,will it work with my current CCTV Cameras.

CCTV Camera Pros Response:
The IP Cameras are a bit different than your typical CCTV Surveillance camera in the sense that CCTV Cameras connect directly to the back of your recording device or DVR. Where as the IP Cameras are plugged into your router and are ran over you internal network. The advantage of IP cameras is they can record in a much higher resolution. Depending on the camera up to 8 Mega Pixels. IP Cameras produce a much sharper resolution, great for applications which require details like Facial recognition or the ability to digitally zoom in on a specific object or area live or while reviewing previously recorded events. Another advantage when using IP Cameras is they have built in web server which will allow you to Remotely View and configure your cameras as long as you have internet connection were the camera is located.

In small 1-3 camera setups you can use an existing PC as your NVR (Network Video Recorder) , most IP cameras come with a basic recording software that you can download on a Windows PC . This software can not be used in conjunction with your current CCTV DVR System.

For your case because you want to use your current CCTV Cameras you will need what is know as a Hybrid System which supports IP and CCTV Cameras. Our Hybrid systems can manage up to 32 cameras. Here are the Leading Manufacturers your can use for a Hybrid System. NUUO http://www.cctvcamerapros.com/NUUO-Surveillance-Systems-s/296.htm GeoVision http://www.cctvcamerapros.com/Geovision-DVR-Computers-Geovision-Surveillance-DVRs-s/60.htm and Alnet http://www.cctvcamerapros.com/Alnet-Surveillance-Systems-s/376.htm. We provide fully built custom Hybrid systems to fit your application.

Thank You for watching our videos and for contacting CCTV Camera Pros. Here are answers to your questions:

1. What exactly does a DVR card do? (you don't have to go into detail!)
   A DVR card basically turns a computer into a DVR. The DVR card captures the video from surveillance cameras and the software that is included with the cards controls things like recording schedule, event and alarm detection, playback & search, email alerts, etc. We recommend Geovision and NUUO DVR cards. We really like both lines. If you have not already done so, you can watch our NUUO video here or on our youtube channel:
   http://www.cctvcamerapros.com/NUUO-Surveillance-Systems-s/296.htm#videos
2. How is it connected to cameras (I'm looking at the Geovision GV-600 or GV-800 series cards). Is it just a cable going directly from the card directly to the cameras?
   Yes, you can use either a premade CCTV camera cables as you can see here:
   http://www.cctvcamerapros.com/CCTV-Security-Camera-Cables-s/258.htm

   or you can use a spool of RG59 siamese cable, where you cut the cable to your own custom length:

   http://www.cctvcamerapros.com/RG59-Siamese-CCTV-Cable-s/259.htm

   and attach BNC connectors to the cable yourself like these:

   http://www.cctvcamerapros.com/CCTV-BNC-Crimp-p/bncmalecrim.htm

Do I need a specific type of camera?

You can use any CCTV camera that has a BNC video connector. Any of these will work for example:
http://www.cctvcamerapros.com/Infrared-Security-Cameras-s/29.htm

3. Is there any other equipment I need besides a PC, DVR card and the CCTV cameras?

   No, that is all you need.

4. What are the benefits of recording at a higher frame rate? To me 30fps looks pretty smooth and I can't decide if recording at a higher frame rate will be necessary for me?

   30 frames per second / per channel is the fastest that a surveillance system can record at and is considered real time motion video. Please note that if you are looking at a 4 channel Geovision card like the GV-600 that is 30 FPS, that is divided among the number of cameras recording, so 4 cameras would record at 7.5 frames per second each.

5. I'm trying to decide if the GV-600 will be adequate.

   For 4 cameras, the GV-600 will give you a pretty good experience at 7.5 FPS each, however, the upgrade to the GV-650 or GV-800 is well worth it in my opinion.

Some additional notes for you: Based on the satellite image, either of these cameras will work well for you:
http://www.cctvcamerapros.com/IR-Security-Camera-p/bipro-540l4.htm
http://www.cctvcamerapros.com/Outdoor-IR-CCTV-Camera-p/bipro-ec550vf.htm

For the office that it is difficult to run wires to, you can use a wireless transmitter with an outdoor IP camera. This equipment would work:

http://www.cctvcamerapros.com/Wireless-Security-Camera-System-p/wifi-en95610.htm

http://www.cctvcamerapros.com/Outdoor-IP-Camera-p/zavio-f731e.htm

If you decide that you want to use a wireless camera for the office, then I would recommend looking at NUUO DVR cards instead of Geovision as they are easier to implement a hybrid system with CCTV cameras and IP cameras and it is more affordable also because NUUO supports more types of IP cameras that are lower in cost.

If you would like to discuss your project in more detail, please email me directly at mike@cctvcamerapros.net or call 888-849-2288, ext 86 to reach me.

Sincerely.
-Mike Haldas, CCTV Camera Pros

We received the following question from a customer that watched our CCTV Camera Pros surveillance videos on youtube.

I've been watching your videos on CCTV and have found them very helpful. After an attempted burglary on my premises last week which has been burgled several times now I would like to setup a CCTV system but I'm not exactly sure what equipment would be best for me.
I already have a spare PC so I think a DVR card would probably be best.

I have a few questions that I hope you can help me with.

1. What exactly does a DVR card do? (you don't have to go into detail!)

2. How is it connected to cameras (I'm looking at the Geovision GV-600 or GV-800 series cards). Is it just a cable going directly from the card directly to the cameras? Do I need a specific type of camera?

3. Is there any other equipment I need besides a PC, DVR card and the CCTV cameras?

4. What are the benefits of recording at a higher frame rate? To me 30fps looks pretty smooth and I can't decide if recording at a higher frame rate will be necessary for me? I'm trying to decide if the GV-600 will be adequate.

Here is a satellite image of my premises.

The red blobs are where I think the cameras will be positioned and the lines are the direction they'd be pointing but I haven't fully decided yet. The green blob is where the PC is located and is where all the cameras will be connected to. Ideally I'd like to put a camera on the office which is the building to the far right but I don't know how I'd run a wire to it.

Any help would be appreciated.