floordog

Many CCTV surveillance applications and solutions require the use of so-called Server and Client locations. Applications include remotely viewing a business, residence or other security function. There are two ways to record the video: At the server (camera location) or at another location, usually called the "client". These systems encourage the use of all camera technologies from composite cameras, USB cameras and ip cameras such as the low-priced and excellent value, Arecont. Several advances in motion detection software allow cameras or Video Motion Detection devices (VMD's) to do the hard work of descrimination of moving targets. VMD is the first stage of video analytics. So we now have excellent cameras that use all of the above technologies (Arecont, Mobotix, IQinvision, Avigilon, Lumenara) and excellent video recording solutions from PC based DVR's (hardware and software (Lux Riot, Milestone), or low priced Network servers in U1, U2 and U3 form factors. What is the problem? The problem is and has always been the problems with the video alarm notification. False alarms produce a lot of "ghost chasing" and don't give our industry a good name. The solution is NOT more advances in video analytics. Video analytics is fine, but HOW IS THIS INFORMATION transmitted? So the problem then becomes the "notification" process in unattended or unmanaged systems (no security guard watching the videos). One solution is by the use of so-called Short Message Service (SMS). The video motion detection feature of the camera (Arecont) or software (Milestone) transmits an SMS message that motion is detected that would be a start. Presently IQinvision has both SMTP (email) and FTP servers built in to their 750 and Sentinel model ip cameras. Milestone has an SMTP (email) server but this is not fast enough. CCTV security video and alarm notification is competing with SPAM for bandwidth if it is ever deployed on a larger commercial network like the internet. Email can be fast or take days. A technical solution was developed by INTERTRAFF in Italy with their Intertraff-DVR video recording software. This software automatically sends SMS (Short Message Service also called text messages) as well as MMS (Multimedia Message Service---images or photos) as well as SMTP (email) to anyone on a callout list. Free demos of the MMS-DVR software are on their website. Well if the software has been invented, why can't we use it? The problem, is that European cellphone networks are transparent to this technology. The most common system in Europe is GSM. In the US we have several competing systems. In Europe, the cell phone companies don't charge for useage on both ends of the transaction like in the US. Recently, American cell carriers have been publishing gateways to their SMS services. So if you want to send an SMS mesage to someone wioth a Verizon phone, go to a PC connected to the internet, visit the Verizon site and send the SMS message. Only recently the major US carriers are supporting interoperability with their SMS systems. Now for the interesting stuff. The MMS gateways are not so easy to find. ]If some really smart software company talked with the carriers to get gateway support it would be awesome.Imagine unattended CCTV cameras recording events as defined and automatically sending images eiothjer when requested or in the event of a VMD event, or better yet, a panic alarm.[/color] Police would not have to wait for larm verification and reverification. One city in Florida has a new 911 system that allows for text messaging of emergencies --it saves money on the dispatch side and speed up response. In the US, one company claims to have this MMS capability. Memocam and their Memocam D Vcop product will automatically send images upon VMD detection via the AT&T (Cingular) network. But the Memocams leave lot to be desired. You must use their cameras. What we need in the US is a recording software that has "client" and "server" as well as SMS and MMS notification via VMD similar to the Intertraff software or memocam. If this software is developed there will be a tide of new cctv installations. Customers always ask: "How do I know if there is a crime?" You have to wait for the crime to be over, or watch the action on monitors "live" , but this costs lots of money to staff. Millions can be saved by not being forced to pay people to stare at monitors all day. Let the technology handle the "stupid stuff". Save the human monitoring for the important security requirements where it is needed. Please someone out there, we need SMS and MMS servers in our VMD software. Intertraff and MEMOCAM--Hooray for you ---but your software only works on Europe GSM networks or with a dedicated camera (Memocam).

Well, If you read my post, you will realize that NO NVR software manufacturer produces software that meets ALL the needs of the cctv profession. I got tired of waiting for the software development, so I hired software engineers to design it for me. FROM SCRATCH! The first design runs on Windows---I am beta testing it now. I love the excellent refresh rates on MP cameras! Here are the features: It can handle CCTV Megapixel ip cameras to 8 MP for each camera. It has the full complement of features such as I/O interface for alarm sensors, SMTP, MMS and SMS servers for alarm notification/verification. The remote client can use ANY OS including Windows, Macintosh, many Linux distributions and Unix. It is designed to use minimal microprocessor requirements. As a result you won't need a quad core running at 110%!! That means I can use very small lightweight PC's as an NVR server. Currently my server was written for Windows machines but I am also having it designed for the other OS's. The key feature is to save microprocessor cycles by utilizing - whenever possible- the camera's own firmware motion detection. This means that this feature which at present is not utilized by most NVR's will be a major factor in deciding which MFG/model camera to use. Motion detection will now be a required part of the mission application camera decision matrix. The only feature lacking will be POS. The system is designed to handle up to 30fps in MPEG4, MJPEG, D-JPEG and H264. The client software is by using the browser only. A port will open at the NVR server to automatically upload the required software to the client location. I am also working on a multiple streaming capability so that an enterprise ip (and MP) CCTV system can be done completely via a remote NVR. The rate limiting steps include the CCTV local LAN properties at the location of the cameras and bandwidth connecting to the "cloud". My goal is 256 cameras on the server side. My engineers say this can be done. In my application, you can run ip cameras at several different locations from a remote NVR. This can save a huge amount of costs in the intsallation. The ultimate goal is complete "PLUG AND PLAY" type of performance. Emphasis is on using managed POE network switches at the install location. As long as the camera/camera housings can be limited to 14.5 watts per POE port, my goal can be achieved. I plan on a per camera headroom of 900ma= 15.4 watts. Analysis of most ip outdoor housings is that they have NOT BEEN optimized for POE. The simpler the better. We have modified some outdoor housings so they draw less than 10 watts. The remaining power (4.5 watts) can be dedicated to the POE ip camera, so that it can meet the current 802.3 A-F specification. The newer POE spec will include up to 30 watts for full function PTZ ip cameras with heating and cooling features. One version of the software is designed to be written to an EEPROM. Please contact me if you would like to test a beta of this software. We intend to have no annual fees or licenses and no MAC address fees/licenses. I am planning on a single user fee based on using a single MAC address for the life of the product. Additional fees for updates may be applied after the first year to defray development costs. The first ip cameras to be supported include the most popular MP ip cameras. Arecont, Acti AND Axis. Full PTZ operation is also planned. Our first version of PTZ has been developed. The software may also be available for Unix based FREE BSD. Full duplex audio is also a feature for selected camera models such as Mobotix, Axis and Acti. When my software is available it will have an immediate affect on NVR pricing. That means prices must come down to planet earth!!! Price should NOT be the reason a family can not be protected with the latest CCTV ip MP security technology. Yes, FAMILY. My marketing target is the low end consumer, not the enterprise. All cameras an equipment will be "enterprise" quality. Yes, "installed prices" are coming down. I have recently completed two "megapixel only" ip cctv installations at 1/4 to 1/3 the cost of typical System Integrator prices. Please let me know what features you need while my first WIN based NVR is being developed. If you can think of it, let me now. We don't plan on extensive video analytics until the camera MFG analytics standards are developed. I speculate we will be using some type of h 264 codec. My NVR software works well on a Core 2 Duo Megarecorder with 8 mp ip channels. We will optimize to use low powered microprocessors. I have one working on a Geode! FD

I recommend 2-3 Arecont 2100M AI cameras that have been modded by removing the hot mirror. Add a fast PC ans Luxriot a few MP lenses out to maybe 13 mm and you have a good package. Add a 300 LED array for 60 degree flood and a 16 LED 3 degree pointed at tour high value interest. They will lught up the place like noonday in the hot sun. Try DERWENT UF 500 - 940nm at 60 deg and Microlight M-16 at 3 degrees.

I have been using Stardot, IQ Recorder, Milestone, and Arecont AV 100. I am now using LuxRiot. It has excellent customer support. There are a few features I am waiting for which includes and SMTP, SMS or MMS server for alarm notification on the video motion detection. I would also like to see a LuxRiot version for Linux OS distributions. Windows has lots of overhead. I know that Directshow is a component which is owned by Microsoft so I don't know if that will happen. One thing that we could use is an autoiris autofocus zoom MP lens so we can tweak the focus when switching from Day mode to IR illumination at night. Computar can you read this?

Why use the AR 3130, when you can use two AR 2100M's at less cost? You will have useable IR sensitive cameras at two POV's at the same cost as one camera. Also they are equivalent to 4.2 MP Day and Night instead of 1.3 day and 3.1 night. Also the best bang for the buck for daytime is the AR 5100M AI. If you look carefully at how the images are created by the cameras there is only a small difference in USEABLE image between the 2100M and the 3100M, plus the 3100 M is 1/2 as sensitive at VIS. Look at the specs. I think its mostly marketing hype. If you want BIG images, go with the 5100. If you want day and night, modify the 2100 and you have it. I haven't yet tried the 1305,2105,5105 D/N versions but will soon. I understand they don't support AI lenses and don't know why. If you run them at "prefer motion" during the day an AI lens works better. If you have them "wide open" wth no filter in a dark area, what happens when a light from a headlight high beam hits the lens? when a perp is on the frame? You won't capture the image, because of the BLOOMING or white out. Its always a compromise. I am thinking of evaluating some of the new Arecint D/N's in this situation. If I need AI, I will just use my own modification for the AI I aleready have it "good to go". If the PCB traces are still on the board from the old xxxxM ai version I am good to go. I also modified the camera housing to make it look REALLY distinct. I made castings of the existing bodies (they are all the same) and filled in the notched liners on the sides. I cast new Aluminum housings and hit them with Plastic Media Blast- PMB. After I cleaned them up, I polished them up and anodized them in different decorative colors. Some are shiny some are subdued. They don't have the "cheapo" look anymore. I left the front and back plates on with the Arecont logos. Yes I have "chrome" looking ip MP cameras in colors including red, green blue, purple and black. Very kewl. I use silcon clear sealant inside and pop a few packets of Silica gel inside first to keep the REL HUM down. YOU NEVER WANT THESE TO GO UNDER WATER. The same is true for most IP MP cameras EXCEPT for tthe MOBOTIX. They glue in their lenses and they are pretty well sealed for air pressure changes and water vapor. I make my own enclosures from steel tubing and pressurize them using a stem valve, so no water gets inside. I use optical flats with appropriate coatings for housing windows. They are powder coated and are VANDAL resistant. Instead of 1/4 bolts I use 1/4 20 SS bolts with a SS framed N50 magnet 2 inches in Diameter. The fixture is on an SS knuckle. The magnet can hold 150#, and has rubber coating. Once in place, you can't remove it. Just use the coupler o the knuckle to change lenses or camera. Forget the magnet, it won't budge. They are cheap enough, so you dont need to drill holes or waste time on the camera install. It also looks very clean and does not damage any customer property.

It depends on what you are looking for. I like the IQ 753 over the Arecont 3100M, but I have to tell you I prefer he 2100M do to other reasons. The IQ753's have some squirrely software/firmware. The manual for the 753 is over 180 pages. What does that tell you. It is almost three times the cost of the AR 2100M! Simply make a small modification to the 2100M and use two ip MP cameras and get the equivalent of 4.2 MP camera with two POV's compared to only one POV with 3 megapixels---FOR ALMOST THE SAME PRICE! The Modification of the AR2100M is simple. Remove the IR filter, there is a little trick to it (easy and simple) replace with another 2mm by 15x15 dichroic filter with the specs as follows. (450-750nm) visible transmission and (840-920nm) NIR transmission. Now the visible bandpass looks like the ACTIVE filter network function called the Chebyshev pattern (function). This has steep sides at the LP and HP sides of the curve an dis relatively flat at the top. The NIR curve looks like a typical 40db/octave notch filter, only its a pass band for NIR. This can be done for less then $40. So you have TWO MP cameras with higher data colection at both VIS and NIR, and for less money! I would use a megarecorder for the recording functions embedded woth LuxRiot software. For NIR I would use my own LED ARRAYS or if you want to buy one try the BlackDiamond or DERWENT UF500. You can build them for 1/5th the cost, but its up to you. BTW the IQ753 does not have autoiris. You can get the AI version of the 2100M for an extra $50. Also, I would use XAVEE MP lenses for inside or short -medium distance ourtoors or maybe the SENKO IR DC-AUTO lenses for outddors at long range. These are good lenses for the money.

Almost all of the IP Megapixel cameras manufactrured today for the CCTV industry use the same sensors manufactured by Micron. Dr. Kaplinsky the CEO of Arecont, has several inventions some of which were licensed by Micron sensors. The 1/2 inch Micron ip sensors have many features that are useful for designing ip cctv cameras, but one of the weak points is the poor Quantum Efficiency for visual (400-790nm) and Near IR (800-1200nm). Getting back to the AR 3130. The 3130 is actually two separate cameras in one box. It includes the 1300M and the 3100 M. But these cameras have different features. The 3100 sensor has only 0.3 Lux visible, and the 1300M has 0.1 Lux visible. They removed the Hot Mirror from the 1300M, so it runs straight through. So if you want BOTH low light and IR sensitivity for a 1.2 MP camera, just remove the IR filter of the 1300M. The color is not accurate in the day, OUTSIDE, but it works great at night. This is about 1/2 the cost of the 3130 and you only need one lens not two. Actually I prefer removing the HOT Mirror on the 2100M, since it has the same Visible ligjht sensitivity as the 2100 and replace the mirror with one that transmits both visible (450-750nm) and NIR (860-930nm). This combination produces excellent color indoors, and outside daylight colors are HOTTER on the pink side. But at night, with a little IR illumination from 840 all the way to 950nm yoiu can get excellent results as long as you know what you are doing wi5tht he pahses relationships and wavelength relationships at NIR.