Do you seek out the cameras just because?

[shockwave199 0]

I find myself doing this all the time inside businesses. I'm always curious where the cameras are, how they are layed out, and best yet, what kind of cameras are in use if possible! I always feel kinda conspicuos doing it. I mean, I'm some guy eyeing the cameras- even getting a little close for a better look! I'm sure lots of times I look suspicious. But I can't help it. If you're into it, it's hard not to look at all the design installs that are everywhere these days and admire or even take stock of how it was done. Not for casing! Just for interest! I'll swear to it!

[SEANHAWG 1]

Oh yeah! I am sure McDonalds has my picture posted in every store because I always look at their CNB cameras at all their locations.

[Soundy 1]

All the freakin' time. It's some kind of compulsion.

[EarlT 0]

What, there are camera's in stores??? I find myself looking at the eves of homes trying to spot cameras. It's a frikin driving hazard.

[mike_va 0]

Absolutely. Here is the local Costco, pic I took with my cell phone. I really wanted to take a pic of the credit union (they have a cam behind each teller) but know better as I know they flag people for that...

[nDAlk90 0]

Wow.

 

That Costco has 7 cameras just for the gas station alone.

 

I wonder if they are using IP?

[rory 0]

Wow.

 

That Costco has 7 cameras just for the gas station alone.

 

I wonder if they are using IP?

Looks like cheap generic cctv domes.

[Soundy 1]

Wonder if they bought their cameras from Costco??

[Birdman Adam 0]

Yep, I am doing this all the freaking time. It is like compulsive...

 

I didn't know McDonalds used CNB. Haven't noticed at the one around here... I will be checking them out next time I go!

 

I always have a good laugh at the hack installs or the 30+ year old cameras.

[mike_va 0]

That Costco has 7 cameras just for the gas station alone.

Actually that is less than 1/2. It was the most I could fit in the picture with my cell phone.

[nDAlk90 0]

Wow... This is the application where having 4 IP cameras makes sense and having 14 analog cameras is overkill.

 

 

Actually that is less than 1/2. It was the most I could fit in the picture with my cell phone.

[shockwave199 0]

Wonder if they bought their cameras from Costco??

 

I always have a good laugh at the hack installs or the 30+ year old cameras

Yeah, we have an ihop here that always makes me laugh with their install. I'd be willing to bet the system isn't even really on. Pretty sure the cams can't see through the bacon grease any longer.

[nDAlk90 0]

Wonder if they bought their cameras from Costco??

 

The funny think is that my local Costco has few cameras except those on the perimeter of the outside exterior emergency exit doors.

 

They are renovating now so I wonder if they will add to their system.

[mike_va 0]

Wow... This is the application where having 4 IP cameras makes sense and having 14 analog cameras is overkill.

I was back there today and got some gas. Was talking to the guy there and he said it was for coverage on each pump, for liability. With the number of lanes and pumps I think you'd need more cameras than that for that goal, since the cars and the pumps block views.

 

The brand on the dome cameras was focusmicro, which via google is an installer so maybe they relabel cameras. The box cameras at the end are in pelco enclosures.

[Numb-nuts 1]

I used to clock all the supermarket and bank CCTV cameras but the novelty has worn off a bit now. I do occasionally look around for cameras depending on my mood and if I'm in a hurry. The one's that intrigue me the most are those city center traditional PTZs made from a zoom camera on a P&T head. They look so sinister when they start to move. I like to see if I can work out if they are being attended or if they have person tracking. I have waved at the and once or twice they have nodded back by tilting up and down but it depends I suppose if the operator has a sense of humour.

 

They are absolutely HUGE and as I have never assembled / or wired one, I am intrigued how they operate. I am sure they must have seriously powerful zoom lenses like in the £100s or even £1000's way more than the actual camera and housing. Some of those PT head motors cost several hundred pounds just for the motor. The transmission equipment must also cost a small fortune, considering the distances they probably need to cover.

[mike_va 0]

Got this cellphone pic today from my girlfriend. Downtown DC.

[Soundy 1]

They are absolutely HUGE and as I have never assembled / or wired one, I am intrigued how they operate. I am sure they must have seriously powerful zoom lenses like in the £100s or even £1000's way more than the actual camera and housing.

 

Typical dome PTZs tend to be fairly homogeneous devices, with a couple lens or motor options available from the factory, but ultimately with few variations. The style you're talking about are designed to take a wide range of factory- or customer-designated cameras and lenses - regular cameras, IP cameras, thermal cameras, wide-zoom-range lenses, mondo National Enquirer telephoto lenses...

 

Some of those PT head motors cost several hundred pounds just for the motor.

Yup - they tend to be high-torque, high-current motors. Dome PTZs tend to be smaller, lighter, more compact camera assemblies that can move faster with smaller motors... this type not only has a larger, heavier housing, it may also have a heavier camera, as well as badly off-center weight balance, all of which require a lot more torque to move with any kind of decent speed. When you need the camera to respond fast, you need a beefy motor

 

The transmission equipment must also cost a small fortune, considering the distances they probably need to cover.

Not necessarily. Some I've seen are using pretty cost-effective wireless (Ubiquiti or similar)... some may use active baluns over UTP... depends on the surrounding infrastructure, I suppose.

[Soundy 1]

Got this cellphone pic today from my girlfriend. Downtown DC.

 

When I was in Edmonton, I was at a bus loop right beside the RCMP K9 training facility... one pole there, they had something like 8 or 9 cameras of various types clustered on one pole. I think I managed to snap a picture with my phone, I should check...

[shockwave199 0]

Here on the island we have an elaberate traffic camera system covering many spots on the major roads. On the local traffic/weather channel, when they do the traffic they jump around to all the cameras for a visual as well. That is one hell of an expansive system. How do they get all that feeding to a central station for broadcasting? Here I am contemplating how much power for a 100' run! And some of those cameras are better than others, that's for sure.

[the keifer 0]

I know when I was in Vegas last summer, the one lounge over looking the casino where I stayed had like 50 cameras within a 100 sq ft space in the ceiling.

[fa chris 0]

Here on the island we have an elaberate traffic camera system covering many spots on the major roads. On the local traffic/weather channel, when they do the traffic they jump around to all the cameras for a visual as well. That is one hell of an expansive system. How do they get all that feeding to a central station for broadcasting? Here I am contemplating how much power for a 100' run! And some of those cameras are better than others, that's for sure.

 

Typically the camera goes on a light pole or near one, so you can pull power from it, mount a power supply in a service box on the pole or buried below it. For transmission back to a central station you use wireless or trench fiber in. You just need to get the fiber back to a nearby city building or a telco box then it'll ride on some type of network back to the head end.

 

We've done a few campus's and it's really not a big deal, you utilize a lot of existing infrastructure and just distribute everything. It's not like you start from scratch and start pulling cable from 5th & main to 150th & oak or whatever. It's not cheap by most peoples standards, but it's usually not cost prohibitively expensive either, just takes some creativity.