| There are normally six things to look at before | | | | important to remember however that using a |
| Selecting a CCTV security systems; | | | | switcher will only allow you to view and record |
| 1. Camera Selection | | | | one camera at a time. |
| 2. Recording Options | | | | Standalone DVRs - Use of digital video recorders |
| 3. Detection | | | | allows single or multi-camera systems to be |
| 4. Time and Date Stamping | | | | viewed and / or recorded simultaneously. |
| 5. Cable and Connectors | | | | Voltek supplies a range of 4, 8 and 16 channel |
| 6. Camera Protection | | | | DVRs allowing you to install a very |
| 1.0 Camera Selection | | | | comprehensive cctv system. |
| 1.1 Location | | | | PC-Based Security Systems - These make use |
| Is the camera to be located indoors or outdoors? | | | | of a PCI card that is fitted inside your computer. |
| If outdoors then you need to ensure that it is | | | | They will allow connection of upto 4, 8 or 16 |
| appropriate for the environmental conditions that | | | | cameras and help turn your existing PC into a |
| are likely to be encountered such as rain, snow, | | | | sophisticated cctv system. |
| sun-glare, low light etc. Outdoor CCTV camera | | | | 2.0 Recording Options |
| security systems Outdoor cameras should either | | | | If you want to be able to record your CCTV |
| be classed as weather resistant or mounted in a | | | | footage then the following factors need to be |
| special enclosure to provide protection. All CCTV | | | | taken into account: |
| outdoor cameras provided by Voltek are weather | | | | * Maximum length of recording time required |
| resistant and the cable entry points are sealed. | | | | * Quality of recording |
| The leads are of sufficient length to enable | | | | * Method of recording:o Continuouso Manualo |
| connections to be made inside the building. | | | | Event Led - i.e. when your system detects |
| 1.2 Light Levels | | | | motion |
| Choosing the right camera based on the amount | | | | * Recording Equipmento Analogueo Digital |
| of available light is very important for an effective | | | | * Capability for storage, retrieval and transfer of |
| security system. An ordinary colour or even | | | | cctv footage |
| monochrome camera will not give very good | | | | 2.1 Domestic VCR |
| pictures in low light conditions although the | | | | This is a simple and low cost option that can |
| monochrome will perform better than an | | | | provide good quality footage recorded in real time. |
| equivalent colour one. Solutions available for low | | | | VCRs can be used to provide continuous |
| light conditions can include: | | | | recording of up-to 8 hours or event led recording |
| * B&W cameras with built in IR illumination | | | | when used in conjunction with a PIR camera and |
| * Colour Day / Night cameras | | | | a VCR activator. When using PIR cameras to |
| * Use of additional security lighting | | | | carry out event led recordings you need to |
| * Use of a separate IR illuminator in conjunction | | | | consider the start-up time for the VCR. For |
| with a monochrome camera. When using IR | | | | example, if the recorder takes a few seconds to |
| illumination ensure that the range of the | | | | actually begin recording each time it receives the |
| illuminators is adequate for your needs. | | | | signal from the camera then the event may have |
| Light levels are usually measured in lux and | | | | elapsed before it is recorded (a person walking |
| although full daylight can be around 10,000 lux, | | | | across the camera range may have passed the |
| dusk can be as low as 1-10 lux, complete | | | | field of view before the image is captured on |
| darkness is 0 lux and side street lighting can also | | | | tape). In these situations a separate PIR detector |
| be less than 1 lux in some cases. The closer a | | | | could be used to trigger the recording and |
| camera is rated to 0 lux the better its | | | | overcome this problem. The other thing to bear in |
| performance in low light levels. | | | | mind is that you cannot set the VCR to record a |
| 1.3 Colour, Black and White or Day Night Cameras | | | | TV channel whilst the camera input is selected. |
| B&W cameras generally provide better image | | | | 2.2 Domestic DVD Recorder |
| quality than colour ones at lower light levels. They | | | | These operate on a similar principle to the |
| are also usually cheaper than colour ones of | | | | domestic VCR but offer the additional benefits of: |
| equivalent specification. Colour cameras require | | | | * Higher quality digital recording |
| the availability of good lighting and will generally | | | | * Increased storage capacity |
| provide better recognition capability. Day Night | | | | * Improved search and retrieval capability |
| cameras provide the best of both worlds in an | | | | However, for disk only recorders the start-up |
| external environment. They operate as colour | | | | time before recording actually commences is |
| cameras during the day (or in good light | | | | generally longer than a VCR. To overcome this it |
| conditions) and automatically change to B&W | | | | is recommended that recorders with a built-in |
| when the light levels drop. All Voltek Day Night | | | | hard drive are used |
| cameras are supplied with built-in Infra-red | | | | 2.3 Standalone Digital Video Recorders |
| illuminators which enable the cameras to see in | | | | These are rapidly becoming the most popular |
| darkness. | | | | method of recording CCTV footage. Essentially a |
| 1.4 Wired or Wireless | | | | DVR is a standalone piece of hardware that is |
| Wireless CCTV cameras are easier to install. | | | | designed exclusively for recording CCTV footage. |
| There is no cabling to run from the camera to | | | | It has a number ofDigital Security camera |
| the receiver and they are ideal for temporary | | | | recorders clear advantages over the traditional |
| applications, rapid deployment or where running | | | | analogue systems and these include: |
| cable is not desirable. TheDay Night wireless | | | | * Storage Capacity - Days, weeks and even |
| Security CCTV cameras cameras do however | | | | months of high resolution recording is possible |
| require a power source and whilst most will have | | | | through use of large capacity hard drives |
| the capability to be powered by batteries these | | | | * Consistent Quality Recording - No deterioration |
| do not have a very long life - a matter of hours | | | | of image quality no matter how many you |
| in some cases. Wherever possible the cameras | | | | overwrite onto the recording device or how long |
| should be powered by the mains. Typical range | | | | you store the images for |
| for wireless camera systems is 100m free-space | | | | * Viewing and Retrieval - Quick and easy access |
| but this can reduce significantly to around 20 | | | | of footage due to digital format |
| meters in a typical household environment. In | | | | * Transfer and Storage - The digital format |
| some cases there is also the potential for | | | | allows ease of transfer and storage of footage. |
| interference when using wireless systems. | | | | Transfer and storage capability is further |
| 1.5 Visible Deterrence or Covert / Discreet | | | | enhanced by DVRs with built-in CD writers and |
| Monitoring | | | | USB ports. |
| For visible deterrence the use of larger cameras | | | | * Remote Access - Many DVRs have the |
| housed in traditional enclosures are ideal. For | | | | capability for remote access from anywhere in |
| covert or discreet applications Voltek supplies | | | | the world through use of a remote PC |
| Discreet or Covert CCTV security cameras that | | | | * Multiplexed Recording - Capability to view and |
| are: | | | | record multiple cameras simultaneously. |
| * Very small and can be installed in covert | | | | 2.4 PCI Cards |
| locations, or | | | | These are digital video capture cards that can be |
| * In enclosures designed to disguise the presence | | | | fitted inside your existing PC to allow the |
| of a camera. | | | | connection of multiple CCTV cameras. The |
| Many of the cameras manufactured by Voltek | | | | functionality and benefits of PCI cards is very |
| are both stylish and discreet in the design of their | | | | similar to that of DVRs. |
| enclosures and this makes them very suitable for | | | | 3.0 Detection |
| domestic applications. | | | | Even with systems that have a very long |
| 1.6 Audio | | | | recording capacity, it is not always desirable to |
| If the ability to monitor or record sound is | | | | record continuously. Event-led recording is a more |
| important then the camera needs to have a | | | | efficient means of capturing relevant footage and |
| built-in microphone. This enables one-way audio | | | | can be achieved by: |
| monitoring. Some cameras such as the | | | | 3.1 PIR Movement Detectors |
| SuperCam2 from Voltek have a 2-way speech | | | | Some cameras have PIR detectors built-in and for |
| facility that enables you to speak with your visitor | | | | those that don't it is possible to install a separate |
| without answering the door. | | | | PIR as part of the overall system. In multiple |
| 1.7 Camera Viewing Quality | | | | camera systems with PIRs the footage that is |
| The resolution, size and type of camera sensor | | | | being displayed on screen will automatically change |
| will influence the quality of the viewable image. | | | | to the area that has detected movement. |
| Resolution - This is expressed as the number of | | | | 3.2 Video Motion Detection |
| television lines (TVL) that the camera is capable | | | | This is used in digital CCTV systems and works |
| of producing. The higher the TVL value the | | | | by analysing the video signal from a camera. |
| greater the resolution and hence the quality of | | | | Changes in signal are recognised as movement |
| the images. A typical entry-level camera will be | | | | and subsequently used to trigger recording if |
| around 300 TVL with higher resolution cameras | | | | required. All Voltek digital systems allow users to |
| having a value of 400+ TVL. | | | | mark one or more rectangular areas within the |
| Size - A larger image sensor will give a better | | | | display screen and only when motion is detected |
| image definition than a smaller sensor. For | | | | within these areas will the system begin recording. |
| example, a 1/3" image sensor will produce a | | | | Where possible, use of PIR movement detection |
| better image than a 1/4 " sensor. | | | | is preferable rather than video motion detection, |
| Type - There are 2 types of image sensor. | | | | as it more reliable particularly for external use. |
| CMOS sensors are mass-produced and used in | | | | 4.0 Time and Date Stamping |
| entry-level cameras to provide cost savings. CCD | | | | This feature superimposes the time and date |
| sensors are used in professional CCTV cameras | | | | onto your CCTV footage. Having this feature can |
| and provide a higher quality image. | | | | be really useful to identify when an event |
| It is important to remember that the quality of | | | | occurred and was recorded, particularly if the |
| the recorder also influences the quality of the | | | | footage is to be used for evidence purposes. For |
| CCTV footage. For example, if you use a | | | | domestic systems Voltek offers a separate time |
| high-resolution camera but a low-resolution | | | | and date generator that can be added to your |
| recorder then the CCTV footage that is captured | | | | system. The Spectrum control CCTV securyty |
| will still be of low resolution. | | | | cameras has this facility already built-in. The facility |
| 1.8 Single Camera or Multiple Camera Systems | | | | is also integral to all the Voltek range of digital |
| Do you need to protect and view a single area or | | | | CCTV systems. |
| multiple areas? If you are likely to require | | | | 5.0 Cable and Connectors |
| protection of additional areas at a future date | | | | Security camera wires connectors Cameras can |
| then consider buying a system that can be | | | | be connected in a variety of ways. All our |
| expanded as and when required. Voltek has a | | | | domestic cameras are supplied with 20m of cable |
| range of products that will allow you to connect | | | | and scart and / or phono plugs to connect directly |
| and use up to 4, 8 or even 16 cameras. These | | | | into your TV, VCR or DVD recorder. All our |
| include: | | | | professional cameras are supplied with 20m of |
| Switchers - These are units that enable a | | | | cable and BNC connectors that will plug into our |
| multi-camera system to switch between the | | | | range of digital recorders. The Voltek camera |
| various cameras. The switching can be done in a | | | | leads can be extended upto 100m in total by the |
| number of ways: | | | | use of appropriate extension leads. Co-axial cable |
| * Manually by the user | | | | with a local power supply to the camera can |
| * Automatic sequential switching between | | | | enable the camera to be sited upto 250m away |
| cameras | | | | from the monitor or recording device. Detailed |
| * Upon detection of movement by a PIR camera. | | | | information on connectors and cable for each of |
| Multiple Security CCTV cameras with Switchers | | | | the Voltek cameras is available on the relevant |
| The cameras are connected to the switcher and | | | | product page on the website. |
| the output from the switcher can be viewed on a | | | | 6.0 Camera Protection |
| TV or it can be connected directly to the | | | | If your camera is likely to be a target for vandals |
| recording device such as the VCR or DVD | | | | then consider protecting it with one of Voltel wire |
| recorder. CCTV switchers can typically allow | | | | cages is a Security camera wire cagesmust. This |
| connection of upto 4 or 8 cameras. The | | | | not only saves your Security cameras from |
| Spectrum control units from Voltek also have | | | | Vandalas but protects any evidences collected |
| additional built-in functionality such as automatic | | | | during the vandal acts. |
| video activation and time and date stamp. It is | | | | |