oldtimer

The majority of our phone lines are in the air except from the pole to houses are underground. I have Comcast for TV -Phone and Internet. If the power goes off, so goes cable because of their amplifiers that use electric power. To get an idea of our conditions, go to the weather on Yahoo and get the Chicago Radar. We are just inside the Indiana border southeast of Chicago. They don't expect this storm to let up until Wednesday night. We are getting thunder at present. Thunder Snow is very rare and it indicates heavier snow is on the way.. The tail end of the storm is down in Kansas at present and it is moving very slow. I have been checking some of our CCTV locations online and all the business acounts are closed. As you probably know, places like Dunkin Donuts and Mc Donalds never close as a rule. So you can see the intensity of this storm.

Up here in northwest Indiana we are expecting around 20 inches of snow and maybe more. We expect plenty of camera problems. Servicing the equipment is a lot worse than in the Bahamas. Anybody down there want to trade places???

Golly you fellows should be up here. The power is off at our shop, which is around 9 miles north near Lake Michigan and the waves on the lake are 25 feet high. We haven't had conditions like this for years on end. As for the power at my house which is in Highland Indiana, I have a generator that is powered by natural gas. The same stuff we use in the furnace. It should get better by Wednesday night, but then it's going to turn real cold. I hate to think when this snow melts. We should have water everywhere. I can't even think of what this is doing to our outside cameras. We do installations at fast food places mainly and they all have outside cameras at the parking lots and the drive thru's. I figure just in this area, we have over 600 cameras in operation outside.

And what do you call cold down there?

Well our snow is here! We can expect around 24 inches and wind gusts of 51 mile per hour. That means it will start drifting. Snow will pile up to around four or five feet. So if our friend from the Bahamas wants to come up this way, we will teach you how to shovel this stuff. One of our biggest client owns an ambulance service with over 200 ambulances, they will be very busy as that shoveling brings heart attacks. I know you are probably basking in the sun and pleasantly warm or maybe hot.

What ever your beliefs, Happy Holiday. from here,snow covered Indiana. We are experiencing a rather warm Christmas day for us. It's just 30 degrees. My next venture is a family gathering with all the kids and the grandkids and yes great grand kids. At my age, one must cheerish each and every holiday. Once again Happy Holiday.

Carlyle is just one of the investors in Dunkin. The majority holder is Baine Group out of Washington DC. Super Circuits isn't the type of equipment that Dunkin would use. They are leaning towards the March system. There is a lot of politicing going on about this change over to March. March systems are going to hit each store for about 10 grand. They teamed up with Radient Cash Registers to do POS. We mastered the way to do that and Dunkin told us we are OK. Every time they get a new operations chief at Dunkin, they get new Cash Registers and a bundle of ideas. That works until a new guy moves in. Then it's the same old story again. I've been with them for over 30 years. I was the first to give them remote video, I think it was 1994 or maybe 93. DSL wasn't used then. We used 56k. Remember those days. We developed another system before the computer that used the plain phone line.

I haven't been on the board for many months. Glad to be back. Had a little health problem. Doing a lot better now. For those that are not aware of my past, I am now 85 (last Thursday a week ago Dec 9th) Still work in the CCTV business. I have had the business since 1948. I put in the first CCTV system in this country at that time. I hope my background and experience can help others. I am from Indiana USA on the outskirts of Chicago.

It's nice to be back. I missed a lot of friends I made on this board.

Let me dig thru my clippings and see if I can find it. My wife says I save everything, so it must be there. I'll check in the next few days.

What info are you looking for? The Dunkin thing was over 20 years ago.

Do you have any overhang?(eves) Mount your cameras on the overhang and don't expect them to give a long range of coverage. Use IR so you can see at night. Have cameras on all corners and covering the doors and openings. Cover the garage door also. You can get pre made wires with connectors. There is no need for conduit for any installation. You are only running 12 volts for the cameras. Use the small dome outside IR cameras. That cover 50 feet under IR conditions.

Sound recording is a touchy situation. Dunkin Donuts at one time allowed stores to have audio when they video recorded. Well they got their thing in a ringer because of it. They got a judgement against them after two men filed charges against Dunkin. The conversation recorded, botched a sale of some land for a shopping center. I believe the court order given in the judgement was around 55million. You will never find sound recording in any Dunkin. If they find someone doing it. They can expect to be forced to sell the place. For our company, we want to stay clear of any recording. Even though you post the required signs about recording audio, somewhere down the line, you are going to be dragged into court by some hot shot attorney and that is only asking for trouble and expense.

We are borderline with Chicago at one end of our city. (Hammond) From my office, I can walk one block and be in Illinois. In our area it's all Chicago so to say. The TV, Radio, Bears, Cubs and Sox. What news we get includes Indiana from the Chicago stations. Indianapolis our state capital at times do not know we even exist. Until it's time to pay our taxes. As for being a suburb of Chicago,we look at it this way. Chicago is a suburb of Hammond Indiana. Chicago doesn't agree, but it sounds good for us.

For the Bar Owner.. I shall say all owners have a partner. The Bartender! I have never found a honest one yet. In one case I pointed out a real smart one and the owner would not believe me, when I showed him how his bartender was stealing. We installed a POS and then he couldn't believe his eyes. A owner doesn't have to watch everything. Watch a few transactions and call the bar imediately if you see something going over the bar and no money transaction. Or those double drinks to friends. One call could protect you for weeks. Scare the hell out of the thieves. Another thing I might point out. The problem we have around Chicago is bar fights and serious injury to many. Upon reviewing the recording, it helps the police and the owner to get the story correct. In nearly every case we have had like this, the story is changed several times until we show them the recording. We use Infra Red cameras in most bars because of poor lighting. If you want to spend a few bucks more, you can install some extreme low light cameras. They are worth the money in the long run. I laugh at the stores and bars with low lighting, using those cheap junky systems like they sell at Sam's Club and Cotsco. When they need evidence, they get nothing. Best regards to all John. The OLDTIMER.

You are correct on many points, butfirst of all, forget about the money thing. Don't get caught behind the eight ball. Pay for what you recieve. Order small and get it COD. Buy equipment as you need it for a length of time. For that thing of tackling any job, sounds great. But it spreads you thin. Make yourself feal like a pro in one field. Does a Nose Doctor treat feet? Get my message. You may get a tie in job like a sound system when you do camera job, but limit those other jobs. Concentrate on one thing and one thing only. In the long run it will pay off. Be a pro. Attend confrences. Learn about new equipment that hits the market weekly. Soon the word will get around and the business will come your way. Service is a very vital part of the CCTV business. Another trick we use is very simple. If you have a good picture of a crime, make several copies for the police and owner and plainly mark them to be copied or published with credit to your company. If the pictures are good, this will be money in your pocket. I think I'm doing something correct. We will be in business 62 years St. Patricks day. (march17th) I might mention, we have no salesmen on the street. We do have order takers and we are busy.

I have no idea where you reside. If you have cable available, thats the way to go. Your up load speed will out perform normal DSL. We use cable when it's available. I speak of cable when it's fiber optic. Most companies are. Record only with motion. It's a waste of time and storage space to record everything 24/7. In todays market you have to have a good frame rate. Many of our customers, who are fast food places, are being hit by customers claiming they got injured etc. The video in many places has prevented a lawsuit. Everbody seems to be broke and they are resorting to this lawsuit deal to make a buck. A day doesn't go by that we don't hear from a customer with a problem. If it's any thing serious they usually have us make a copy so the don't destroy any evidence. We have seen many people look around to see if anyone is watching and then lay down on the floor and say they slipped on something. However "big brother" is watching. One of our largest customers has thousands of stores. They told us, that to defend the themselves in court and get the claim tossed out, it costs the company around 22 grand. If they have good video, it never goes to court. They show the claimant the video at the peosition and they just walk out. Thats why you need a good fast frame rate. We shoot for 28 to the normal 32.

Starting your own business is a big one today. I notice one poster suggest you start by the way of an alarm company. In my opinion thats the wrong way. I learned from past experience, the alarm and CCTV business shall not meet. Be in one business or the other. I speak from many years of being in the CCTV field. You mention getting a license. Our state(Indiana) doesn't require one. Many cities do. I am situated in Indiana on the border of Illinois. They passed a CCTV license law in Illinois without telling us. They now tell me, we have to work for a licensed company for 2 years and take a lengthy test. What a joke. You see next month, I'll be in business for 62 years. I plan to go into Federal court next week and get their ruling overturned. I should be Grandfathered in. The license deal is to force the little guy out and let the big boys in. In Illinois if you have an alarm license you automatically get a CCTV license. Now for going into the CCTV business, install good quality equipment. You may spend a little more, but in the long run you will save money without having to make repeat service calls. Make yourself a good brochure. If you see a new shopping center "etc" being built, keep close attention if they have any stores ready to open. Nose around and find out who's going to open. The contractor can fill you in. The building owner will have that info also. Start in the small stores and then after you get your feet on the ground, go after larger installs. After you get a few good installs, make sure you have someone design you a attractive door sticker with your company name and phone number on it. I must point out, don't use a generic alarm sticker. They all look the same. It make cost you a few bucks, but it's worth it. At present the business climate is sort of bad for many, so don't expect making big money right off the bat. I wish you luck. I remember My very first installation. Since then I have developed it into over 7500 accounts.

We took down 3 of those cheap Panasonic IP cameras, that have pan and tilt on them. The model numbers are not on them. Where can I get the client platform for them? They also have audio, silver outside color.

Switch the effected cameras over to the power supply. I think those transformers on a power strip may be the problem. Individual power supplies (tramsformers) can cause a lot of goofy things.

We use them all the time. We visit the proposed site during the night hours and put the readings in a proposal. Chances are the other guys will not do this. It shows you are a pro. It usually closes the deal.

You mention one thing. Cheap. Thats not the way to go in equipment buys. Go with a security distributor. It may cost you a few bucks more, but in the long run it's worth it. That China stuff isn't the greatest by the way.

It looks as if your power supply doesn't have good regulation. I believe you are running 12v DC. If this isn't the case. You mention balums. Try reversing the leads at one end. Getting back to the power supply. Check the input voltage and then leave your meter hooked up and turn on this piece of equipment that is causing problems. and see if you get a voltage drop. Speaking of this equipment, is it possible it is sending some RF in the area. Again I have seen ground loops through some of us for a loop ourselves. I stay away from balums and twisted pair if I can. Good quality coax is the best. Always use copper clad only.

On any coax, be careful that you do not crunch the cable. Changing the original cable design, could degenerate your video. It may be small and not notice it, but if you have to make a first generation picture, it may show up. We use clips as much as possible. If you have a long run, do not use staples. Say in a 200 foot run and you crunch the cable 3 or 4 times, you will see a difference, especially if you have the correct video analizing equipment. We use this type of equipment on every job and it pays off. You would be amazed at the signal loss you can get with a poor installation. Other installers wonder why we have so many good reproductions for the papers and this is the answer. (These repos are from holdups) Another tip. Don't make sharp 90 degree bends with your cable.

I'm surprised. I thought you only had honest people down there. I was in Australia one time. What a beautiful sight indeed. What is the weather like down there. You don't have the storms like we have up here. If I remember correctly, you have dust storms. We are expecting our first snow fall today. It's around 30 degrees (F) at present. Back to the camera business we have to be one step ahead of the crooks and they are getting very smart lately. Best regards John the oldtimer.