First and foremost, we'd like to state that any and all of what we're about to discuss can be harmful to your camera if done improperly. Having said that, you should not attempt any of the following repairs unless you are confident in your ability to properly do so. Also, It should go without saying […]
It’s a fairly frequent occurrence for people to ask which type of cameras, or systems, are the best. As long as you’re talking to someone with experience with them, IP/network cameras is always going to be the unanimous answer. There is virtually nothing that an IP camera can’t do that another type of camera can; […]
Today, almost everyone is walking around with a digital camera on a smart phone. These cameras utilize either CCD (Charge-Coupled Device) or CMOS (Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor) chip technology to capture images. While they may have different resolutions and features, the bottom line is that they all function in a similar matter. Digital cameras allow people to […]
If you're not familiar with Infrared, it's what grants CCTV security cameras the ability to see in the dark. Unlike true "night vision", Infrared LEDs emit their own source of light instead of using existing sources; these LEDs essentially become a spotlight for your camera. While this is a magnificent feature to have in a […]
We've been pleading people for as long as we've been around to commit to changing their usernames and passwords and not to use the default accounts. Why? TechCrunch, among many others now, has recently published an article that demonstrates exactly why.
Glare is a very common problem for security cameras. Due to the environments in which they are commonly installed, it’s a frequent occurrence to be dealing with or adjusting for glare. Regardless of the surface or source that’s causing the glare, the fix to the problem lies in a particular feature that not all security […]
Standard definition (SD) and High definition (HD) systems that run over coaxial cable have already had their cameras measured by frame rate. Once we understood what it was, it provided us with a good idea of what kind of capabilities a camera may have. Network camera, or IP cameras, are measured differently; instead of a […]
Where more traditional standard definition (SD) analog CCTV cameras wouldn't do the job, people needed to start looking to high definition (HD) security cameras. With HDSDI being a flop for the industry, IP cameras have been almost unopposed in the HD market since it began. HDCVI cameras are becoming much more commonly known about and […]
There a lot of things that can go wrong with security cameras. The most noticeable are going to be problems with the image itself. The good news is that identifying the problem isn't as difficult as you may think. For as many things that can potentially going wrong, each one of those problems presents themselves […]
Simply put and as it pertains to security cameras, a lux rating is a way of determining a cameras ability to see in various degrees of darkness. It’s very important to note that lux ratings for IR cameras are rated differently from cameras without that Infrared capability; be careful not to compare these two side […]
Tribrid video recorders are very new to the market. If you're not already familiar with them, we encourage you to read our previous article first outlining what Tribrid DVRs are all about. From here on out, it's essentially going to be a grudge match between Tribrids and Hybrids to see which one will come out […]
“Tribrid” digital video recorders (DVR), as they've come to be known, aren't exactly a new thing. Previous to the release of Tribrid DVRs, there were Hybrid DVRs. If you recall from previous articles, Hybrid’s are capable of streaming and recording both standard analog and IP/network cameras. The Tribrid simply introduces the ability to now have […]
We saw High Definition Serial Digital Interface (HDSDI) hit the market in 2012. With it finally came the possibility of high definition (HD) over coax. The only option in the past had been IP/network cameras via network cable. While IP camera systems are a fantastic direction to go in, they require a whole new knowledge […]
Consultations are quickly becoming a lost art form in the CCTV security camera industry. There is an ever widening gap in our understanding of what a consultation in this industry actually means. In the spirit of educating ourselves, let’s begin.
The type of cable you're either able to or should be using has been under debate since HDCVI cameras hit the market. While it was originally stated that solid copper RG59 should be used, there have been more than a few people to state that it's not required; installers and retailers alike. We're going to […]
Having a sales person prompting you to spend more on another product is nothing new, but have you ever considered that they might be trying to save you? Admittedly, not every product that a company sells performs and incredible as you’d like. In defense of those companies, it’s what the market and consumer demands. If […]
Welcome to part three of CCTV Myths. Don't forget to check out part one and part two if you haven't already. We credit this installment of myths to some of the more ridiculous things we've heard over the years. As usual, let us know what you think, tell us your ideas, and enjoy!
Welcome back for part two of CCTV Myths. We didn't mention it in part one, but if you have any ideas or myths of your own, leave them in the comments section below. For those of you who may have missed part one, be sure to check it out. We said it once but we'll […]
Welcome to the first installment of CCTV Myths. The premise of this series is to debunk as many of the misconceptions people have about security camera systems as we can come up with. Whether or not you've had a couple or many of these thoughts yourself, it's all in good fun, so sit back and […]
You'll usually hear us recommend opting for a wired system over wireless. Most of this stuff is all about speed, and hard wiring your system is just always going to be faster. What happens when running cable isn't an option? Whether it be structurally impossible, or can't work without creating an eyesore, sometimes wireless is […]
