This article explains how to use a IP security camera and free open source video editing software to create a time-lapse movie. Please note that this process is not completely automated and does require some manual processing, but not much. Also, if you are going to do this project, I assume that you have a…
Send Security Camera Photos from Raspberry Pi via MMS Text Message
This project demonstrates how to setup Raspberry Pi as a security camera system that can take a photo snapshot send the image to mobile phones using MMS text messages. The action is triggered by an GPIO alarm input. I use a magnetic door sensor to trigger the alarm in the Python application that I wrote, but…
CCTV DVR Push Notifications using Raspberry Pi
This goal of this article is to document how to enable mobile push notifications on any CCTV DVR using Raspberry Pi. The problem that this project aims to solves is this: many surveillance DVRs that are currently installed around the world were manufactured before the invention of push notifications for iOS and Android mobile devices….
How to Send Push Notifications from Raspberry Pi
This project demonstrates how to send push notifications from Raspberry Pi to iOS and Android devices using a free push app. The idea is to trigger the event of sending the push message with a magnetic door sensor. When the door opens, the Raspberry Pi sends the message.
What is the best BNC connector type?
What is the best BNC connector type? This article will discuss some of the most popular options that are available and present videos on how to connect different types of BNC connectors to RG6 and RG59 coax cable.
The Best iPhone Apps to View CCTV Cameras
What is the best iPhone app to view CCTV cameras remotely over the Internet? Mike Haldas, co-founder of CCTV Camera Pros, reviews the apps that he most recommends to iOS users that enable remote security camera viewing and video playback.
Android CCTV App with PTZ Camera Controls
The Android app for iDVR-PRO CCTV DVRs supports pan tilt zoom controls for PTZ cameras. The PTZ controls from the mobile app work over WIFI and cellular connections (3G, 4G, LTE). The app supports all iDVR-PRO model surveillance DVRs, which currently come in 4, 8, and 16 channel models. The app allows users to view the cameras connected to the DVR in single, four, nine, and sixteen camera grid view on one screen. To control a PTZ camera, the user must switch to that camera in single camera mode, then tap on the screen and select the PTZ controls. Once selected, the PTZ controls for up, down, left right, zoom in, and zoom out appear.
iPhone App with PTZ Camera Controls
The iPhone app that is included with iDVR-PRO surveillance DVRs from CCTV Camera Pros has outstanding support for PTZ cameras. Users can control PTZ cameras from the iOS app, which works with iPhone, iPad, and iTouch devices from Apple. The Android app also supports controlling PTZ cameras. The pan tilt zoom controls work over WIFI and cellular networks (3G, 4G, LTE, etc.), so users can access their camera and control movement on the local network where the camera and DVR is located or from remotely over the Internet.
What is 960H video?
960H is the latest video resolution used by analog CCTV camera surveillance systems. The “H” in 960H stands for “horizontal” and 960 is the number of horizontal pixels in the video resolution. 960H is 960 x 480 video resolution. Unlike the generation of CCTV cameras and DVRs before 960H became a standard, 960H uses the 16:9 widescreen aspect ration which makes it more suitable for use with modern monitors and HDTV, almost all of which use a 16:9 aspect ratio.
View Security Cameras from Android App
The iDVR-PRO Viewer App for Android lets uses view all of the security cameras connected to any iDVR-PRO surveillance DVR from any Android mobile or tablet device. Users can view their security cameras in single, four, eight, nine, and sixteen camera grid views. The app works in landscape mode to take advantage of the 960H widescreen CCTV format supported by the latest iDVR-PRO models.
View CCTV Security Cameras from Mac Software with iDVR-PRO
The Mac software for iDVR-PRO lets users view the CCTV cameras connected to iDVR-PRO surveillance DVRs from any Macintosh computer. All iDVR-PRO model recorders works with this viewer software and users can configure multiple DVR locations to be monitored. If you are a business owners with multiple locations, the iDVR-PRO software lets you view cameras from multiple locations on a single screen.
Remote Digital Input / Output Sensor Controls using iCamViewer Mobile App
I recently finished a project where I integrated the digital output / sensor controls of Zavio IP cameras with the iCamViewer mobile app for iOS and Android. In the project, I tested turning a light on and off from remotely over the Internet using the app.
Android CCTV Camera App Live View
The images in this photo gallery show the live remote camera viewing capability of the Android Mobile CMS app for iDVR. This Android app allows users to connect to one of more iDVR surveillance DVRs and view live streaming video from the CCTV cameras that are connected. The app supports single, four camera, eight camera,…
CCTV Push Notification Messages to Android DVR Viewer App
The Mobile CMS DVR viewer app for Android now supports push notifications based on motion detection from CCTV cameras and other triggered alarms. Business owners and homeowners using iDVR-E and iDVR-RT16 surveillance DVRs can now get push notifications in real time sent directly to their Android phone or tablet device. Here is how it works….
Push Notification Alert from IP Camera to Google Glass
My first Google Glass app is almost ready for public beta testing. I am integrating Zavio IP cameras with the Google Mirror API so that alarms will trigger a push notification alerts to Google Glass that include a snapshot image of the event that caused the alarm (captured by the IP camera). There is more…
Wireless Camera System Alternative: Power Line Ethernet Adapters
CCTV Camera Pros has been testing the use of power line Ethernet adapters as an alternative solution to wireless IP camera systems. For those that have never head of them before, power-line adapters allow standard electrical power outlets and cable to be used to connect devices to a network. The diagram in the picture below…
How-to Adjust a Varifocal CCTV Security Camera Lens
Here is a quick video that Mike made to demonstrate how to adjust a varifocal CCTV security camera lens. The video is filmed with dual screen. One video is captured through Google Glass while Mike is making the adjustments to a HD-BX7-5 HD-SDI CCTV camera. This particular camera has a 5-50mm varifocal lens. The other…
View Comparison of CCTV Camera Lens Sizes
CCTV Camera Pros created this image gallery for customers to compare the angle of view (zoom level) of different CCTV lens sizes. We used four different varifocal lenses attached to the same PRO-680DN box security camera to capture all images. The camera was positioned at the same location for all images captured, which was 20…
Can a CCTV camera zoom in close enough to see details on money?
Here is the question A customer contacted CCTV Camera Pros sales team today and asked if it was possible to place a camera on a ceiling 10 feet above a cash register at a point of sale counter and be able to see clearly enough to identify the type of bill that was being passed…
Viewtron HD-SDI CCTV DVR Viewer App for iPad
Here is an image gallery that shows the high definition video surveillance quality of the Viewtron DVR viewer app for iPad. At CCTV Camera Pros, we have a Viewtron VT-HD404 DVR connected to 4 HD-SDI CCTV cameras and 4 traditional CCTV cameras. HD Security Camera Systems Update! CCTV Camera Pros now recommends these HD…
BPRO-OL952 Bullet CCTV Camera Video Demo and Image Gallery
CCTV Camera Pros recently performed a video test using the latest generation DPRO-OL952 bullet CCTV camera. Some noteworthy improvements to this model are the smaller size, just 2.25 inches long and .75 inch circumference, the higher resolution at 700 TVL, and greater low light performance. Mike captured surveillance video clips in normal office lighting conditions…
What is the Best IP Camera to use as a Baby Monitor Cam?
As the co-founder of CCTV Camera Pros, I have been asked the following question quite often over the past 7 years: what is the best IP camera to use as a baby monitor cam? As a recent father of twin girls, I have been given the opportunity to ask this question myself based on my…
Surveillance System, IP Camera, Burglar Alarm, and iPhone App Integration
CCTV Camera Pros research and development team has recently been working on testing and documenting how to integrate burglar alarm devices with video surveillance systems using network IP cameras, CCTV DVRs, and mobile apps. You can find another post about digital IO tests here. Today, I finished building a pretty useful alarm IO test panel…
Cloud Surveillance Video Recording Backup for Zavio IP Cameras
Some Zavio IP cameras now support the ability to backup recorded surveillance video footage to the cloud using Google Drive. Here is how it works. These Zavio cameras all have internal SD card slots and can be configured to record video to an SD card continuously, on a schedule, or triggered by an event. The…
Zavio IP Security Cameras Support Push Video Notification to Mobile App
Some Zavio IP cameras now support the ability to send push video notifications to the iPhone, iPad, and Android mobile app. Users can choose to have a photo snapshot captured instead of video if they choose. Users can also configure how the alerts are triggered. One of the most popular ways is to send a…
Network IP Camera Digital IO Alarm Input / Output Setup
I have been wanting to work on a project for sometime now that involves using the digital IO ports (alarm input / output) of a network IP camera. Ditial IO is also referred to as burglar alarm in / alarm out and is one of the most underutilized and coolest functions that some IP cameras…
CCTV Camera Pros Offers 6 Months No Payment No Interest Financing
CCTV Camera Pros now offers 6 months no payments and no interest equipment financing through BillMeLater from Paypal. Homeowners and business owners can use BillMeLater on purchases over $99 including CCTV and network IP security cameras, complete surveillance systems, and individual system components / accessories. Customers that want to take advantage of this program to…
What is smart IR for security cameras?
A common question that CCTV Camera Pros sales engineers are asked is “What is smart IR”? Smart IR is a technology built into some security cameras that adjusts the intensity of the camera’s infrared LEDs to compensate for the distance of an object so that the infrared does not overexpose the object. Smart IR technology…
HD-SDI High Definition CCTV vs Traditional CCTV Cameras
HD-SDI CCTV cameras, also known as HD security cameras, are quickly gaining popularity as a high definition video surveillance solution. Until a few years ago, the only available option for high definition surveillance systems was to use network IP cameras which are typically more expensive and almost always more difficult to setup. With the advent…
CCTV Camera Pros Mobile App for iPhone, iPad, Android Update
CCTV Camera Pros has launched a major update their video surveillance mobile app for Android and iOS devices. A complete redesign for the iPhone and Android versions of the app, as well as support in an HD optimized iPad version is now available to download in the Apple and Google play app stores. Mike Haldas,…