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Answer
1.
The trends are using color system
these days. The color cameras make
clearer identification than B/W
ones. But, in a low light condition
like in 0.1 lux, you may need B/W
cameras because they generally
require lower illumination. Some
expensive color cameras to have low
lux illumination. Back-to-Top
Answer
2.
Camera body, lens, mounting bracket,
cable, AC Adapter are the basic
parts to produce video and many of
recently developed economic mini
camera packages come with all of
them (but you should check carefully
if they really do or not). You may
add CCTV monitor (if you don’t use
your own TV), quad splitter or
switcher to combine more than one
camera (you might want to consider
an observation system which includes
all the parts mentioned above), Time
Lapse VCR, outdoor housing case and
other accessories. Or, you may
choose wireless systems to avoid
cabling. Network based Web Camera
Servers are popular these days for
remote surveillance on the Internet
and for convenience in LAN or WAN
system. Back-to-Top
Answer
3.
If you need 4, you have many choices
in the market. You can use quad
splitter or 4 channel switcher to
combine up to 4 cameras into one
monitor or TV. Or, many
“observation systems” come with
all in one package, including quad
or switcher built-in monitor and 4
cameras. If you need only 2 or 3
cameras, switching system would be
all right. If you need one camera,
try to use standard TV rather than
special monitor so that you can save
a lot. You may need an 8 channel
switcher or multiplexer to see more
than four cameras on one monitor.
Back-to-Top
Answer
4.
You can build one with mini or
ultra-mini camera. Some ultra-mini
cameras are only a quarter size so
that you can easily hide. Hidden
camera built-in clocks, radios or
smoke detectors are also available
but they are generally quite
expensive. One thing you should
remember is that, in most US states,
hidden cameras with audio are
prohibited. Back-to-Top
Answer
5.
You may use outdoor housing case,
with or without heater and/or
blower. The heater and/or blower
built-in housing cases generally
require separate power supply. Some
cameras are made water resistant and
don’t need separate housing cases.
Some of them also have removable
sunvisor covers. Hi-tech cameras
like web camera servers, which have
built-in computer system, are not
recommended for outdoor unless
properly protected by heater and/or
blower built-in housing case. Back-to-Top
Answer
6.
Economically commercialized infrared
cameras, some of them are also
water- resistant to be installed
outdoor, can see up to 30ft distance
in total darkness. If you need to
see farther, you may need
professional infrared illuminators
but they are usually expensive and
complicated to install due to its
emission of heat. Infrared cameras
work as ordinary video camera during
daytime. Most color infrared cameras
work as B/W ones at night. Minimum
illumination for most B/W cameras is
0.1 lux
so you do not necessarily need
infrared cameras or illuminators if
there is some kind of lighting.
Back-to-Top
Answer
7.
Wireless system is convenient to
avoid cabling works, but is
limitedly affected
by high voltage power
lines nearby, unseen razor waves,
huge machines like lathe, metal
walls and others. Some wireless
system goes up to 300ft and others
up to 700ft.(It
varies depending on the booster
inside the transmitter and you can
not change it without permission
from FCC.) Coaxial cable is
conventional in this field and
proper for professional cameras. It
goes up to 450ft without losing the
picture quality. Multiple
wires like DIN carries not only
video but also audio and power.
It can be extended up to 250ft.
Back-to-Top
Answer
8.
Widely
used and recommended angle
of view of the lens for surveillance
purpose is 72° to 78°. Narrower
will give you clearer pictures. Wide
angles like
92° can cover more area but it may
show a little distorted pictures.
You can use our lens calculator to
find the right lens for application.
Lens
Calculator Back-to-Top
Answer
9.
A
manual zoom lens of, for example,
3.5 ‘‘
8.0mm
is what you manually adjust angle of
view from 3.5mm to 8.0mm. 3.5mm
means about 90° of diagonal view
angle on 1/3 “
sensor
camera and 8.0mm sees about 38°.
Auto zoom lens can be adjusted at
the control center or from your
computer. Back-to-Top
Answer 10.
A little of auto iris
functions are built-in in most of
cameras included in the observation
system. But, when you use
professional cameras you may need
separate DC drive auto iris, a
motorized device to meet the changes
of lighting condition of the sun.
Generally, auto iris device is not
necessary for indoor application
with artificial lightings. Back-to-Top
Answer
11.
If you use 1 camera, TV (which
has RCA video input) is definitely
recommended. Even for more than 1
camera, if you use combiner like
quad splitter or switcher, TV would
be fine. But, for special features
like slave video output
(to be connected to
additional monitor), alarm systems
or for packaged observation system,
you may need professional CCTV
monitors. if you are buying a
digital video recorder (DVR) with an
VGA out. It is highly
recommend to use a 15" or
17" LCD monitor for better
picture display. Back-to-Top
Answer
12.
Budget conscience buyer,
14" CCTV monitor will be fine,
15" LCD and 17" LCD
are highly recommend. Or, 4” LCD
monitor to place on the desk is
another choice. Back-to-Top
Answer
13.
For professional cameras, the power
source is better located close
to the camera. You may use 12VDC AC
adapter if the camera is installed
indoor and if the power outlet is
within 5ft. If the professional
camera is installed outdoor or the
power outlet is located far, you
should use 24VAC AC Adapter. For DIN
cables, which come with the
observation system or mini camera
package, the power source can be
close to the monitoring site, but
the distance from the power source
to the camera should be less than
250ft.
Back-to-Top
Answer
14.
Many CCD video cameras work with
12VDC and if you can connect correct
16 polarity,
you can use a battery pack which
produce 12VDC. Some wireless cameras
have a battery compartment. Or, if
you want use it in a car, you may
use a “power cord” (easily found
at any auto parts shop) which can
draw 12VDC through the car cigarette
lighter .
Again,
you should match the polarity.
Back-to-Top
Answer
15.
When you need to send the video
image more than 250ft on mini DIN or
RCA 17 cable, or 450ft on coaxial
cable, you need to use video
amplifier. But system cables like
large DIN cables cannot be connected
to video amplifier because
amplifiers usually have RCA in and
out connectors. You can also use
video amplifier when you want to
connect one camera to 2 monitors.
Back-to-Top
Answer
16.
Almost all Digital Video Recorder (DVR)
and Time Lapse VCR usually has
built-in time/date generator. Many
observation systems, which come with
full package of professional monitor
and multiple cameras with DIN
cables, have built-in time &
date 18 generator.
But, most mini cameras don’t have
them and you need one if you want
the time & date shown on the
monitor. It is to be connected
between the camera and the monitor
with RCA in and out jacks.
Back-to-Top
Answer
17.
Conventional Time Lapse VCR, even
though inconvenient to review the
recorded pictures, is surely
economical than DVR
(Diciital
Video Recorder). DVR is
getting more and more popular for
its convenience to search video
clips and export files and picture
quality. Back-to-Top
Answer
18.
Better, let professional installers
do the work for motion detection and
alarm because, in many cases, the
motion sensors are trouble makers.
But, in digital video recording
system, where the motion detectable
area can be assigned over the
computer monitor, motion detection
is simple and easy. Back-to-Top
Answer
19.
A lot of investment and
professional installers will be
needed for Pan, Tilt and/or Zoom
control function. But, Speed
Dome cameras cost over a thousand
with built-in PTZ function. it is
much easier to install, maintain and
control. (You can control it with
mouse from your computer.) Back-to-Top
Answer
20.
A standalone DVR is usually less
expensive, less built-in features
and lower frame rate second (FPS),
which translated to poorer images
quality then the PC-Based DVR
system. the positive side is that
standalone DVR is easy to use like a
tranditional VCR recorder. For
power user, PC-Based DVR gives you
better display/recording pictures
quality and a lot more features and
usually expandable. Back-to-Top
Answer
21
Most
professional installers prefer
Linux-Base DVR because it is not
subject to all the Viruses and
security issues like its window
counter part. Linux-based DVR does
not require patching, maintenance
free and zero downtime. It is
100% dedicated for video
surveillance and recording
application only. On the other hand,
Window-base required update and
patching if there is new virus out
there. Back-to-Top
Answer
22.
Most of the computer based systems
have login and password with
multi-level access control.
Back-to-Top
Answer
23.
You need to make sure your DVR has a
built-in network capability and able
to connect either via
intranet/internet with remote client
software for remote monitoring. Some
DVR do not need remote client
software to do remote monitoring, it
require Internet access with IE
browser only. You need to install a
network line like DSL or T-1 with a
dedicated IP address for your DVR
system. Some better DVRs do
support dynamic IP address. Back-to-Top
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