Toy vs Professional CCTV

by Germán Cortés

In the first installment of this article, we present an analysis of the different situations that arise when choosing and buying a camera, in this edition we will talk about the sale of equipment and what its marketers are looking for.

Companies from other sectors

We also find companies that without being bad (in fact I know some very successful), come from a different market: that of computing and communications (ICT), where boxes are effectively sold and what the user does with them does not concern them. This is what happens many times, when computers, routers, parts of equipment, monitors, televisions, appliances, cell phones and other electronic elements whose market is massive are sold.

These companies have seen how video signals were transformed into "ones and zeros", that is, data and therefore consider that a video camera or a video capture card is an accessory more than a PC. Therefore, they entered to sell them in the same way, in a showcase, without much technical knowledge, where the element that sells the most is simply the cheapest. They were not used to carrying out large-scale installations, therefore some do not even know that there are rules in this regard, they do not know about industrial security and therefore they do what they can, they install in the worst way because everything is very cheap, they sell the worst cameras because they believe that if it is not cheap it is not sold, they use the worst DVRs (digital video recorders), because otherwise people don't buy them. And finally they live at the expense of the lowest technological level, that manufactured in the East, which is discarded in many markets such as the North American or European, for not meeting the minimum standards and that surprisingly through simple deceptions, in our environment is sold as the elements that are fashionable.

Do you begin to understand now, dear reader, the degree of dissatisfaction and frustration of many people in leaving their safety in the wrong hands?

Harsh reality

It is incredible that in the sector there are companies that sell complete CCTV kits, which include four IR cameras, with lens and support included, a capture card and the software on a CD, all for $ 250 dollars. Some also contain 30 meters of cable for each camera and others do not include it because they recommend that everything be wireless. With all due respect, these are nothing more than simple toys that should not be used in the safety guild.

Cameras, lenses and accessories, as well as professional video image viewing, management and recording equipment, are very different and are never marketed in these "combos". They are high performance systems, made to last 24 hours on for seven or more years continuously, with very robust and special technical characteristics, with the ability to make adjustments that allow you to get the best out of the equipment according to the external conditions where it is going to be installed. They are not plug and play equipment, nor do they come pre-assembled with all inclusive (although in this sense there are exceptions).
Professional teams are put together as a huge puzzle, where each part must be carefully chosen after a series of analyses, calculations and recommendations resulting from experience.

So in order to have professional systems, two things are required:
a) Acquire professional products, not toys. These, of course, are not the cheapest b) Perform an analysis, following a professional methodology that mathematically calculates the variables and recommends in great detail the technical characteristics, as well as the way to integrate all the professional devices purchased at point a.

What should we ask?

Do not be confused: the vast majority of people in the guild can disguise themselves as real professionals, when in reality they are nothing but simple apprentices. I recommend that whenever you want to have a professional video surveillance installation, ask for the following aspects, analyze, compare and decide who is in the group of good companies and who is not:

1.Risk analysis.
2.Design criteria, professional drawings that determine the location and coverage of areas,
3.Layout of pipelines, leaving maintenance and interconnection sites.
4.Calculations of the lenses, depending on the actual use that is recommended in the design.
5.Voltage attenuation calculations to determine the gauge of the wire used and the voltage to be sent.
6.Luminosity measurements to determine the sensitivity of each camera.
7.Conditions that were taken into account with respect to the dynamic range, the color temperature, the signal-to-noise ratio and the temperature or humidity range it must withstand.
8.Level of protection against liquids and solids (IP) that the protective cover must have.
9.Calculations of weight, speed, and specifications of mobile cameras.
10.Scheme of automation of movements (preset, tour, patterns, alarms) of mobile cameras.
11.Type of lighting (visible, infrared or mixed) for the night?
12.Design of the control center from where everything is going to be operated?
13.Type of image management items to be had. Womb?
14.Selection criteria to determine the resolution (CIF, VGA, HDTV, etc.) of the images and the speed (FPS) of the video?
15.Activity calculations in each scene expected in each camera, taking into account the different hours and days of the week.
16.Calculations of main hard drive capacity vs. cost vs. storage time.
17.Recommendations for external backup of video information.
18.Type of important specifications of the Video Server at the level of processor, memory, speed of its buses, speed of disks, redundancy in its critical parts and expandability.
19.Security criteria and equipment to prevent video information, locally and remotely from being vulnerable.
20.Calculations and recommendations for monitors to make the most of the resolution of cameras and DVRs.
21.Local and remote transmission channel channel and bandwidth calculations.
22.Criteria for determining the appropriate image compression algorithm or possible adjustments.
23.Calculations of attenuation of the video signal, data and power, to choose the best means of transmission in each case vs. availability and cost.
24.Criteria for defining whether analog or IP cameras are used.
25.Exclusive and secure network design for video.
26.Calculations of the capacity and autonomy of the necessary UPS OnLine.
27.Design of the protections at the level of transients, earth and lightning rods.
28.Design of the consoles and furniture for the control center.
29.Plans, instructions in Spanish, installation manuals and other documents necessary to leave a mission-critical system running.
30.Recommendations for operation and regulations so that operators and the head of security make the best use of their video surveillance system.
31.Video of the training given to system operators and owners?
32.Stock of Spare Parts, schedule, technical service, guarantees, tools, training, experience...

And so we could fill three more sheets with all the concerns and calculations that must be solved before choosing a suitable professional CCTV system. As you can see there are many details that are required to have a truly professional system.

Learn to differentiate toys and know how to choose your equipment supplier very well, because almost always you will be engaged in a long-term relationship.

In the next installments, we will gradually learn details of each part of a CCTV system.