On the tube
Q: Can you tell me of any companies that sell a ptz camera that moves on a tube /track? I’m sure I saw one at last year’s IFSEC.
Matt Allen
A: It could well be our stand at IFSEC 2003 that your reader recalls seeing the Tracam system in action. Tracam is an advanced mobile video security system that offers operators the opportunity to benefit from greater and faster controllable ground coverage.
It has a fully programmable high resolution pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) camera mounted on a preci-sion engineered Video Transport Unit (VTU) travel-ling along a track – ceiling or wall-mounted – hidden inside a protective housing for discreet observation.
The high speed dome camera on the VTU has 360 degree pan and 240 degree tilt and can be controlled to move to pre-defined settings – so the unit can patrol an entire area under manual or automatic control.
An Image Orientation Correction facility provides a constant upright image as the camera tilts through the vertical when following people who walk directly underneath the camera’s location.
We will be at IFSEC 2004, but in the meantime if your readers require any further information please call us on 01296 611488 or email enquiries@[email protected]
John Powell, Director, Tracam (Europe) Ltd
Monitoring queries
Q: I operate a CCTV company and I have a customer that wants his system to be linked to a monitoring station. Can you advise on what sort of questions I should ask to ensure I get the customer with a good monitoring station?
Justin Thompson
A: The one piece of advice I would offer is to stay well away from those Alarm Receiving Centres that say “Yes” to everything. It has long been our belief that traditional ARCs are not well suited to providing the degree of service required to effectively monitor remote CCTV systems.
With this in mind Group 4 Monitoring Services will only accept into our ARC, those CCTV systems specifically installed for the purpose of providing visual verification to an existing intruder alarm.
For installers wishing to offer their customers the full range of facilities available through Remotely Monitored CCTV, Group 4’s subsidiary company Wackenhut, operates a dedicated Remote Video Response Centre (RVRC).
This is a state-of-the-art CCTV Monitoring Centre providing coverage throughout the UK.
I can be contacted at +44 (0) 116 2789158 or [email protected]
Steve Cooper, Business Development Manager, Group 4 Monitoring Services
Shipshape system
Q: I s there any product on the market that could be used for boats that doesn’t need mains power and could send either a text message or call a mobile phone to inform the owner that their boat is being tampered with?
Keith Fryer
A: Yes there is a product on the market designed for that application.
The Wanderer is manufactured by Castle Care-Tech in a number of guises, including the Marine version. Capable of accepting hardwired or wireless detectors, it uses a standard lead-acid battery, and can run for months between charges, whilst providing SMS text messages to up to four mobile numbers.
Further information: phone + 44 (0) 1344 886446
Brian Harrington, Customer Service Manager, Castle Care-Tech
Any more answers?
Although our Ask the Expert feature on our website (www.security-installer.co.uk) has finished its run, we are still getting questions in … So can anyone answer the following? If you have answers to any of the following questions email them to [email protected] (We haven’t included the enquirers’ email addresses as some of these problems may have already been solved … Ed)
Volts wrong with it?
Q: My house security alarm doesn’t appear to be active when the electricity has gone off. I’ve checked the 12v battery and it appears to be at 7volts. Is it faulty or is it not being charged?
Andy Richards
All keyed up
Q: I am looking for a company that runs courses for locks. I would like to learn the trade to start my own business. Can you recommend a company?
Les Goodall
Cam you help me?
Q: I need to cover the following … any advice? A street with an entrance and exit with two cams that can be situated in the middle of the street with appropriate structure. These must capture each vehicle with enough resolution to see the vehicle number plate and must adapt to different lighting conditions. Images must be transmitted to a pc with appropriate storage indicating day and hour.
Eduardo de la Barrera
Panel beats me
Q: Has anyone got information on an ‘Airtech CD95’ control panel that I have come across, ie programming?
Martin Harris
Just spec-ulation
Q: I recently installed a high speed dome (day/ night) camera spec 1/6inch lens 3.0lux at f1.4. 0.08lux at .25 sec doesn’t perform too well in low light. Is there much difference with another model spec at .25 lens 0.7lux at f.4, 0.01lux at .25 sec?
Ken Brocklehurst
Tabs on sales
Q: We manage a South African based burglar alarm installation company. What software is available to manage and report on the sales process including costing, quoting, variance reporting, contact management etc?
Gary Atlas
Faulty powers
Q: On some control panels I service the voltage is as low as 12.5 instead of the recommended voltage of 13.5 and 13.8 and the battery is only 12 months old. What would you suggest is the best way to rectify this problem?
Leigh Marshall
Moving in
Q: I am a C&G qualified structured cabling engineer who is considering moving into the alarm installation area. Where would I find the details for installation to NACOSS standards?
Jeffrey Gartland
Just a remote chance
Q: Years ago I purchased a DSC PC 1565 alarm system., It was programmed by the installer to call by phone to the monitoring centre in my town. Years ago I cancelled my monitoring contract so now my system only sounds the siren. My question is how can I, by myself, reprogram my panel to change the destination monitoring phone number to my own cellular phone in order to catch any intrusion. I have searched all over the internet to get an installer manual without any success.
Andres Carvallo
Theoretically speaking
Q: How does an sab and scb bell work?
James Killeen
Long ranger
Q: What equipment do you recommend for a long range wireless CCTV, 1km to 4 km range, 1 to 4 camera system?
Martin Rowan
TV or not TV
Q: We recently had a CCTV camera system installed (hard disk recorder, four cameras and splitter module) at our new sculpture studio in London. However, viewing the recorded images has not been solved yet, ie no monitor. Would you recommend just getting a traditional TV monitor or is there a way to monitor the footage over a small computer network. The CCTV appli-ances are housed next to our main server which has a computer monitor with it. Is there any way in which we could plug the hard disk recorder up to the computer and view the CCTV footage?
Balint
Starting over
Q: I have an ADE Accenta fitted with a remote keypad. If you accidently key in the wrong number or are not sure whether the system accepted a number, how do you start again without the alarm sounding? ‘Reset’ doesn’t appear to do the necessary
Phil Dent
Making the jump
Q: Being a qualified electrician for many years, I was interested in learning about the security installation side and wondered if you could recommend a suitable generic part time course?
Terry Coan
Quad piece
Q: Does it make any difference if I install a b&w quad (compatible with ccir/eia) to a colour monitor. Is there any need for an adaptor?
Philip Woolley
Coverting customer
Q: A customer wants a covert (wireless) IP camera that runs over ethernet. Can you help?
Mike Moran
