Visitors to IFSEC these past few YEARS will have noticed that the really interesting developments systems-wise have emanated from the digital video recording solutions providers, all of whom are really upping the stakes in terms of image clarity, transfer of images for evidential use, network connectivity and out-of-hours remote monitoring (to name but a few areas exhibiting great progress).
That being the case, Security Management Today has decided to cast a pre-IFSEC 2007 eye over some of the latest solutions for end users, devised by companies including Acam Technology, Sanyo, Dedicated Micros, MEL Secure Systems, Video Domain Technologies, Visimetrics (UK), Bewator, deView and the Vista brand from Norbain.
As a relative newcomer to the marketplace, Acam Technology works with its customers to develop tailor-made, cost-effective CCTV solutions using high specification products. The company has certainly been busy of late, introducing its Cathexis Serval range of high specification, low cost digital video recorders (DVRs) as well as a portable surveillance solution. The Serval range – which, for all you fact fans, has been named after the South African wildcat – is available in 12, 24 and 36 channel options. Every system is based on the stable Linux operating platform, and includes an integrated CD-RW and smart video motion detection with tracking.
Using JPEG compression, each system delivers 100 images per second. Each recorder, meanwhile, is supplied with Cathexis’ catLite software plus free remote viewing application. catLite includes remote diagnostics and proactive, preventative maintenance, customised screen layouts and a number of configurable event triggers and actions.
The company has also just launched a portable surveillance system for crime reduction teams that’s already attracting the attention of local councils, police services, A&E Departments, public transport operators, retailers and logistics operators. Available in single or four-camera versions, the portable set-up is a DVR with built-in screen mounted in a lockable briefcase. Camera selection includes miniature cameras for covert operations, long-range motorised zoom cameras, wide-angle variants and low light day/night use options. Cameras are connected to the DVR via one multi-core cable.
The single camera version provides 100 hours of real-time video on the built-in 100 Gb hard drive. The four-camera version, though, offers end users up to one week of multiplexed images on a 120 Gb hard drive.
Big performance recording systems
Sanyo’s new four-channel DVR – designated the DSR-2004 – has been introduced to the UK market to offer end users who require a CCTV system with just a few cameras the most cost-effective solution to suit their budget.
Although competitively priced, the DSR-2004 is able to use MPEG-4 compression and simultaneously record high quality video images and audio in real-time on all four channels. The system offers network connectivity over a LAN or WAN. Three separate search functions – event, time/date and timeline – ensure that recorded images can be easily retrieved or displayed locally on a standard CCTV or VGA monitor. A USB 2.0 flash drive output allows the end user to back-up still images in JPEG and video in AVI format.
For its part, Video Domain Technologies has just announced the immediate availability of the D-V58-Cell – a covert, GPRS-based, event-driven DVR. This compact, single-channel system uses standard SD memory cards to record up to 384 hours of high quality video. It’s suitable for a wide range of security, surveillance and video recording applications, particularly in remote locations covered by cellular networks.
The D-V58 connects to any standard analogue CCTV camera, and takes a programmable series of digitised still photographs when triggered by an event. Using existing cellular wireless infrastructures, it then sends an immediate SMS notification of an alarm event/video loss to any GPRS-enabled mobile phone. JPEG images may be e-mailed as attachments for access using any Internet-enabled computer or PDA. All images are time and date-stamped for integrity and use as evidence. They can be transmitted in a range of resolutions, including 320×240 for optimum speed across cellular networks.
A built-in scheduler enables event-driven recordings to start and stop at predetermined times regardless of any linked PIRs or other detectors. Software included with the system has a player function that allows the recorded images to be replayed in sequence at multiple speeds. Individual images may be quickly located by date and time using thumbnails or a detailed file listing.
For archiving or distribution, the memory card’s contents can be exported to CD.
EPoS and DVR: two into one
DVR manufacturer Visimetrics (UK) has only just teamed up with leading EPoS provider NISYST to produce a combined EPoS/DVR system – named PoSDVR – which enables users to combine digital recording and EPoS in the one unit.
Based on the highly successful Epson IR700 touch-screen EPoS unit running the acclaimed NPoS software from NISYST, the combination can record from up to eight standard CCTV cameras. Recording takes place regardless of whether or not the EPoS is in use, thereby affording true 24-hour peace of mind. As the EPoS and DVR solutions are linked, end users can pinpoint CCTV recordings relating to individual transactions in a matter of seconds.
Integrated security specialist Bewator has launched Eventys Pro Net, a powerful DVR and combined digital matrix. On top of supporting IP and analogue cameras simultaneously, Pro Net offers 4CIF/D1 resolution at real-time recording on 4, 8 and 16 channels. It also has the capacity to record up to 32 cameras for larger applications. A combination of the latest processor power and MPEG-4 compression with an “unprecedented” storage capacity of 3 Terabytes allows the system to store high quality images for more than 60 days. In fact, Pro Net is capable of providing a high performance, flexible solution for audio, video and alarm management systems.
It’s a scalable system operating from a single DVR to five networked DVRs, permitting up to 160 cameras to be viewed, recorded and controlled from one point. The distributed nature of the system allows easy implementation of remote monitoring.
Other functions and features of the Eventys Pro Net include advanced motion detection to minimise false triggers, alarm management functions, event search and bookmark options to search for alarm events, one-click media export (to deliver images to any computer such that they may be viewed) and the capacity to swap from RAID0 to RAID5 for critical storage.
Quantum leap in technology
Vista – one of the UK’s premier CCTV brands – introduced 8 and 16-channel versions of its popular Quantum DVR with built-in DVD drive last year, and the product is proving popular with end users. With its MPEG-4 compression, choice of hard disk sizes, advanced alarm and recording options, the Quantum allows the export of images to flash drive or DVD.
Simultaneous record, playback, background image archiving and remote viewing is available with no loss of record performance. Models are supplied with up to 50 GB of storage in a single unit. Those units can display either a full-screen picture or quad, nine-way or 16-way displays.
The DVR has variable recording functionality at up to 200 images per second, normal and time-lapse modes, alarm inputs, motion detection and time schedule events.
Due to the fact that the Quantum uses conditional MPEG-4 and not full-frame compression, it records a greater amount of information onto a smaller disk space (yielding up to 100 frames per second). Image quality is a superior 2CIF for the price range, meaning that quality does not have to be sacrificed when working to a tight budget (which, of course, is often the case for many security managers).
As you might expect, Dedicated Micros has been busy of late in the DVR arena. At IIPSEC, the company unveiled the Compact 4 – an entry level DVR offering MPEG-4 compression. This “provides the user with high quality video images, thus minimising storage requirements compared to larger JPEG files”.
Significantly, the elimination of tape management issues and VCR maintenance costs associated with older analogue solutions means that the Compact 4 offers a ‘fit-and-forget’ solution as well as ready access to recorded images if and when video needs to be reviewed.
Designed for ease of use, the Compact 4 incorporates a USB 2.0 port as standard to allow simple and quick copies of incident video to be made and exported to flash or CD/DVD media. Also included is a multi-way display, out-of-hours remote monitoring and friendly interfaces to keep operator training needs to a minimum. 80 Gb, 160 Gb and 320 Gb storage options are all available.
The company has also unveiled its SD range. Targeted at SME single-site businesses, the system allows all DVR operations to be supported via a user-friendly infrared (IR) remote controller and its associated Graphical User Interface. The IR remote is able to deliver all the functionality that would traditionally have been accessed through the front panel of a DVR. This includes telemetry control of up to 16 connected PTZ cameras and domes, the searching through of recorded material, copying data to external media, panic button operation and viewing configurations.
Digital video on the move
Of late, deView has been showcasing its automotive range applications, with the range offering eight-channel mobile DVRs, the Professional Monitors Series and vandal-resistant cameras and housings.
The DVRs have been specifically designed for all mobile applications, and are engineered to endure extreme shock and vibration in the harshest of environments. The recorders are said to be easy to install and support multiple types of connection including Ethernet (RJ45), USB (x2) and PS2 (x2).
MEL Secure Systems, meanwhile, has launched a four-channel, IP-based DVR. It offers up to 1,300 hours of recording capacity in a single, compact package. Each of the DVR’s four channels can support a fully-functional PTZ camera through the on-board RS-485 communications port. MPEG-4 compression is used to provide high quality recordings.
Live and recorded views may be accessed by operators using mobile control systems or remotely via Ethernet networking or the Internet. This will deliver significant savings to users as it eliminates the need for costly dedicated lines. Specific events or recordings can be archived to storage via the video output to a conventional video recorder or through the Ethernet network interface to a CD or DVD. Food for thought for end users.