Introduction to Video Surveillance.

Purpose of Video Surveillance.

Indoor or outdoor CCTV Camera.

Features of CCTV Camera.

Difference between HD or IP camera.

Benefits of Video Surveillance.

Types of CCTV camera.

What is a Wireless Camera?

Benefits of Wireless Security Camera:

Difference between wired and wireless camera.

Hidden Camera or Spy Camera

Introduction to Video Surveillance or What is CCTV Camera ?

CCTV Camera or close circuit television camera (Video Surveillance) is ubiquitous nowadays. Video surveillance refers to the use of electronic devices to real-time monitor the activities, territory, behavior or situations generally of people live on a network or record the footage at a central location in a Hard Disc or cloud with retrieval capabilities to distribute the recorded video over a LAN, WAN, Internet or wirelessly. It is a complex of hardware and software usually called Close Circuit Television Cameras (CCTV Camera) which can be connected with any computer monitor, television, tablet or mobile for display. With the advent of technology, apart from video surveillance, these CCTV cameras are also available with features like night vision, sound recording, video motion detection, mobile notifications, color view, artificial intelligence, etc. allowing the owners to feel more secure than ever before.

Purpose of Video Surveillance/CCTV Camera

Video Surveillance (CCTV Camera) is a critical sub-system for any comprehensive security plan. It is a great psychological deterrent against potential crimes that proved its effectiveness conspicuously and cost recovery owing to the significant reduction of risk.

It serves remote eyes for and provides the security personal the advance notice of breaches in security, including hostile activities, Crime can be established by evidence and it helps not only to prevent crimes due to vidual control but to charge criminals using the information recorded by video cameras. Ease of deployment, small size, flexibility in transmission means over short and long distances has made its rapid deployment for portable personnel protection. Besides video surveillance its integration with other sub-systems of security systems: access control, intrusion alarm, fire, and two-way communications making CCTV cameras a preferred choice. This facility can be used in several places for example school, train platforms, airports, offices, homes, and various industries.

Indoor or Outdoor Cameras –

When considering the safety of your home and business, security cameras can add an extra level of comfort. With all the choices out there, it can be difficult to know which cameras best suit your needs. Generally, Bullet, PTZ and fisheye cameras come under the outdoor category and Dome and majority of wireless cameras come under the indoor category. Selecting the wrong one won’t provide the proper coverage of your needs. Let’s understand is the difference between indoor and outdoor cameras.

Features of CCTV Camera

Appearance - The primary advantage of indoor cameras is that they are much smaller than outdoor cameras. They can be placed in unobtrusive spots so that they do not interfere with your interior décor. On the other hand, outdoor cameras tend to be bigger and bulkier This can act as a deterrent for intruders who might otherwise attempt to gain entry to your home.

Weatherproof - The major distinction between indoor and outdoor CCTV cameras is the ability to withstand harsher external elements. Though both indoor or outdoor cameras are available with similar features, outdoor CCTV cameras are well-equipped to transition easily to sunlight, rainwater or extremely cold conditions along with different light levels.

Durability - An indoor security camera is not durable enough to withstand external conditions; on the other hand, outdoor CCTV cameras are more vulnerable to being tampered with, therefore, they are made from durable materials that discourage easy break-ins or removal. An outdoor security camera not only has to provide surveillance but also resist a wide range of outdoor weather conditions.

Privacy - Outdoor security cameras record outdoor activities without recording more private moments inside your home. If your main concern is deterring and recording intruders, an outdoor system should suffice. However, if you have a maid, cleaning crew, or pets or teenagers you want to keep an eye on, indoor security cameras are the best as they monitor activity within your home from your desktop, tablet or smartphone giving you complete peace of mind.

Adaptation to Light Levels - Modern security cameras whether High Definition (HD) or Internet Protocol (IP) are well-equipped to transition effortlessly to different light levels. The infrared feature records a clear picture even in extreme low-light conditions, and the cameras can adapt to quick changes in illumination. Outdoor CCTV cameras are better fit to changes in light levels.

Costs - Indoor cameras are relatively cheaper than their outdoor counterparts. While labor costs for outdoor CCTV cameras are almost the same as for an indoor system, the larger size and weatherproofing required for outdoor cameras increases the price. But the cost is not the only factor to consider when it doesn’t serve your purpose.

Difference between IP or HD Camera

Difference between IP Camera or HD Analog Camera. IP stands for Internet Protocol and High Definition is the term used for HD cameras. IP cameras convert the video signal into IP packets to be transmitted over the data network or internet to a network storage device such as a server, NAS, or by storing onboard the camera. The IP system has the added benefit of using the network devices which can expand the range of the IP cameras beyond that of a CCTV system. IP cameras are the modern version of analog cameras and offer several additional features that analog cameras do not possess. So let's take a look at some of the interesting contrasts between these two.

Resolution - Resolution in cameras just keeps getting better and better; IP cameras are more powerful cameras having superior image quality and larger field of vision to that of analogs. You can get cameras with different resolutions and aspect ratios customized to your needs.

Flexibility and Scalability - To supply power to traditional HD-TVI cameras, you'll have to use separate electrical coax cable along with power cable connected to Digital Video Recorder (DVR) whereas IP cameras circumvent this through the use of POE (Power over Ethernet) switches which passes electrical power along with data on an Ethernet cable, and doesn't need any additional wiring, a single cable cat 5e or Cat 6 connecting the IP Camera to the NVR (Network Video Recorder) can supply the power as well as transmit the footage from the camera.

Intelligence and analytics - IP cameras are small computers that compress and store video, plus they can be programmed to provide all sorts of analytics. They can detect motion or smoke, count people, track certain colors, sense when something disappears, and set off alarms.

Maintenance and Security - Cybersecurity is a major concern for businesses today, particularly when they’re choosing a new security system. It could be argued that HD analog cameras are more secure since they run on a closed circuit and don’t have an IP address. IP cameras, on the other hand, can be accessed directly via the Internet so they are more susceptible to security vulnerabilities.

Camera Storage - Both HD and IP cameras can store the data locally on hard disc or cloud but only IP cameras can store the data on NAS (network-attached storage). Most IP cameras offer onboard storage through SD cards for added redundancy in the event of a network outage. The following formula can be used to get the exact storage space requirement.

Storage = ( (cam_bitrate/8) * 3600 * 24 * Qty_cam * Qty_days ) /1G

• Storage = amount of space in GB (Gigabytes)
• cam_bitrate = Camera bandwidth
• 8 = to convert from bits to Bytes
• 3600 = to convert from seconds do hour
• 24 = to convert from hour to day
• Qty_cam = Total number of cameras
• Qty_days =Total number of days
• 1G = Divide by 1 Gig (1,000,000,000) to convert from KB to GB

4 camera with bitrate of 1024 Kbps recording for 7 day

Storage = ( (1,024/8) * 3600 * 24 * 4 * 7) / 1,000,000,000

Storage = 310 GB

Cost - IP cameras are generally more expensive as compared to HD analog cameras. This, of course, depends on the type of camera you choose. Whether you end up going the DIY route or hiring a professional, an initial consultation will help you understand your exact needs based on the requirements of your home which is provided free of cost by the professional integrators. Other factors affecting the cost of IP camera are -

The Size of Your Location - The more area, the more cameras needed. You'll also need higher quality with better resolution and field of vision for larger areas. For big industrial or commercial establishments, PTZ cameras or fisheye cameras which can cover 360 degrees are recommended.

• Security Needs - Ranging from a couple of cameras to monitor your children to 360-degree coverage both inside and outside your home to deter criminal activity.
• External or Internal - Internal cameras DOME don't need to be weatherproof and are often less expensive than an external bullet or PTZ cameras.
• Wired or Wireless - Wired systems are less for parts but more for installation compared to their wireless counterparts. Wires make for a much tougher installation and professional help is recommended.
• Monitored or Unmonitored - A security service adds to installation complexities but provides 24-hour monitoring and other upgrades at a monthly fee.

Benefits of Video Surveillance or Benefits of CCTV Camera

Today we are living in a world that demands increased safety and security in every area whether it is commercial or residential. The advantage of having a video surveillance facility makes any business more transparent. With the installation of a video camera, you and your customers feel more safe and secure. When security cameras are properly placed in an area, it can help to prevent various criminal activities such as robbery, housebreaking, etc.

The use of video surveillance is found to be cost-effective as you don’t require paying high amounts to your security officers. These cameras can help to identify anyone who might be involved in any illegal activity and proves to be a source of visual evidence during any investigation process. Every activity can be recorded on these surveillance cameras and you are provided with the whole video of any incident. Additionally, you will be able to record the footage digitally which is the most convenient way to find it anytime you want. That’s why experts at CEKYOR offer video surveillance security solutions to provide real-time remote monitoring to keep an eye over your place of business or property while you are away. Our Video surveillance technology always ensures protection, safety and increased productivity every time.

Types of CCTV Cameras :-

Why bullet cameras?

There are certain advantages of bullet cameras :

• Installation : Bullet cameras are easy to install and can be mounted to a wall, ceiling with a mounting handle attached to it. Bullet cameras have flexible positioning from the mounting from where the camera can easily be moved to a specific direction, and the same can be repositioned as and when needed.
• Nightvision : Modern bullet cameras are equipped with Infrared (IR) illuminators, which enhance the night vision surveillance even in complete darkness. Technology has evolved so much that there are cameras available that can provide a colored view of the objects in the dark.
• Décor : Although bullet cameras can be used for both indoor or outdoor purposes but they are ideally meant for outdoor purposes and even if you place them at an indoor location they will not commensurate with the ambiance as their wires will always be slightly exposed at the back.
• Durability : Bullet cameras are generally weatherproof but can be easily vandalized by the passers-by. Durability/Environmental protection of a camera is judged by its Ingress Protection (IP) Rating or international protection ratings. IP66 enclosures are protected against dust and high-pressure water jets and IP67 enclosures offer protection from solid ingress, for example, water immersion 1.5 meters for up to 30 minutes. A Vandalproof bullet camera can withstand landslide impact as the outer housing can protect them from shaking to vandalism.
• Location : Both bullet and dome cameras can be used for indoor purposes but dome ones are more common and more suitable because of their low intrusiveness. If you are looking for something more sleek and elegant; something that will match the décor of the building or household without many adjustments, a dome camera would be a wiser choice.
• Visibility : Bullet cameras are more visible and obvious to onlookers which may, therefore, discourage theft or vandalism, hence it is considered to be a great deterrent against theft or vandalism.
• IR Range : The range of bullet cameras depends on certain factors such as type of lens, resolution, wide dynamic range, sensor chip, and backlight compensation. (Infrared) IR range starts from 20 meters to 50 meters depending upon the requirement. Bullet camera shape accommodates small lense which makes them suitable for long-distance purposes. Choosing the right one, in this case, is mainly a matter of preference.

Domed cameras can be a better choice for close quarters but not much effective for wider or longer ranges and not ideal for distance and exterior views. Dome cameras are usually tinted to obscure the camera itself so that it is impossible to see in which direction the camera is pointed.

There are certain advantages of Dome cameras :

• Installation: Dome cameras are not as easy to install as Bullet cameras but don’t require many efforts. Dome cameras don’t have flexible positioning for change in direction of a camera and for repositioning it has to be dismantled completely which a technical expert can do better. They are particularly suitable if mounted on accessible places such as low ceilings.
• Nightvision: Modern dome cameras are equipped with Infrared (IR) illuminators, which enhance the night vision surveillance even in complete darkness. With the evolution of technology, cameras are equipped to provide a colored view of the objects even in dark.
• Location: Dome cameras are more common and more suitable for indoor surveillance because of their low intrusiveness. Dome cameras are installed on the 10 feet corner height which is the opposite of the entry point which provides the best coverage and also captures the image of the person who tried to access/tamper the camera.
• Durability: Durability/Environmental protection of a camera is judged by its Ingress Protection (IP) Rating or international protection ratings. IP66 enclosures dome cameras are protected against dust and high-pressure water jets and IP67 enclosures dome cameras offer protection from solid ingress, for example, water immersion 1.5 meters for up to 30 minutes.
• A vandalproof dome camera can withstand landslide impact as the outer housing can protect them from shaking to vandalism.
• Visibility: Dome cameras are a little bit harder to spot, and that makes them a better choice if you are looking for something more secret but dome cameras are not a great deterrent for theft.
• Décor: Dome cameras shape is less intrusive and elegant than bullet cameras. Their shape makes them look cleaner and seamless due to their ability to hide wiring therefore they fit best at indoor locations.
• IR Range: The range of dome cameras depends on certain factors such as type of lens, resolution, wide dynamic range, sensor chip, and backlight compensation. Infrared (IR) range starts from 20 meters to 50 meters depending upon the requirement. Bullet camera shape accommodates small lense which makes them suitable for long-distance purposes. Choosing the right one, in this case, is mainly a matter of preference.

The most notable feature of the turret camera is night vision. These cameras have better image quality because of infrared (IR) LED and EXIR night vision compared with other CCTV cameras, makes them perfect for indoor/outdoor dark environments.

EXIR technology makes the illumination pattern rectangular and more evenly dispersed. Unlike other traditional rings of LEDs, EXIR is a single Infrared (IR) glass to the side of the lens which can offer higher illuminant efficiency and longer night vision distance than infrared turret cameras. Most high-end turret cameras also support the thermal vision and two-way audio. Because of this reason, the price of this type of turret camera is typically higher than the IR type.

How does PTZ works?

Pan, Tilt and Zoom is a functionality of a camera to remotely control the monitoring by adjusting the optical lens zoom in and zoom out, through monitoring software, a joy-stick, or by programming the camera to an object of interest. Pan, tilt and zoom movements require a little extra power, so most PTZ cameras are equipped with a 24 Volt AC power input or additionally power over Ethernet (POE).

PAN – the PTZ camera can swivel to the left or right direction in order to have a wide area of coverage. PAN circle can range from 0 to 360 degree to small area

Tilt – The PTZ camera can tilt vertically (up and down) which can goes upto 180 degree depending upon the model of the camera.

Zoom – Optical zoom expresses as 20x, 30x or 40x represents the maximum focal length divided minimum focul length that how much the camera can zoom. Optical zoom manually adjusts the camera lens to maintain image quality. Digital zoom blows up the image using software, often resulting in piliate image when zoomed too far and is not recommended. A PTZ camera with 4.3mm-129 mm lens has 30X optical zoom and the formula for calculation is (129/4.3= 30 x).

Other features which the modern PTZ camera are :

• Auto tracking – Auto tracking technology in PTZ cameras has evolved in such a way that now you can configure your camera’s auto tracking for objects of different sizes – small, medium and large. You can also set the camera’s tracking region, and the zoom you want, all of which helps with tracking accuracy.
• High dynamic Range (HDR) – Capturing surveillance video in areas with both bright sunlight and dark shadows is challenging. HDR extends the dynamic range of the camera by taking two separate frames – one with a short exposure and one with a long exposure – and combining them in real-time into one image with the best balance of lighting possible. In essence, HDR combines the highest-quality parts of two exposures into one image.
• HD sensors – HD sensors are helpful in capturing a sharp video of objects from a distance. HD sensors with long-range PTZ lenses can provide amazing clarity, even from hundreds of meters away. For example a 3 megapixel HD sensor with a 40X optical lens can capture a registration number of a vehicle at a distance of 198 meters
• High powered IR LEDs – High-powered IR LEDs are used to capture images/videos at dark or night, these IR LEDs can illuminate objects in total darkness from a considerable distance away.
• Electronic Image Stabilization (EIS) – Electronic Image Stabilization (EIS) is a feature which can stabilize the camera while reducing vibrations especially in windy areas.

ANPR/ALPR = Automatic Number Plate Recognition Camera is also known as Automatic Licence plate recognition (ANPR). It's an integrated system consist of CCTV cameras, Video Management Software (VMS), display screen and storage system. VMS is the hi-tech integrated vehicle detection algorithm software that performs optical character recognition (OCR) and guarantees the recognition of reflective non-reflective number plates instantly of a moving vehicle.

ANPR or LPR cameras are exhaustively used for traffic and speed enforcement by traffic police, toll collection, vehicle access control, parking management, large scale industries, and investigation agencies.

Box security cameras are generally used in indoor environments and can be upgraded to weatherproof by placing it in an outdoor-rated housing to protect it from the outer elements. Box cameras allow easy replacement/up-gradation of camera/lens/enclosures combination to change the angle of view, weatherproofing without having to replace the whole camera. In the long run box security cameras also outlive their counterparts dome or bullet type cameras, which makes them an ideal choice for large scale business or government installations.

Some of the greatest benefits of thermal imaging come in the domain of security. The following are the reasons for choosing thermal cameras.

• Low-light Sensitivity: Unlike HD or IP CCTV cameras, thermal cameras do not require any light to capture the high-quality images or videos, they can see through the visual obscurants such as dust, fog, smoke or foliage.
• Visual limitations: Thermal cameras are immune to visual limitations and thermal radiation can penetrate visual barriers.
• False alarm control: Integration of thermal cameras with intrusion detection security systems can provide a multitude of benefits, better analytics with false alarm control to a large extent.
• Return on investment: Thermal imaging cameras minimizes the need for cameras and mounting poles and also eliminate the requirement of additional lighting.
• Camouflage foliage: Regular cameras can be tricked by landscapes, where analogous colors or patterns hide objects and possibly leave something important going undetected. Thermal imaging cameras work well for surveillance involving natural scene camouflage.
• Challenging conditions: Thermal cameras offer superior protection in challenging conditions wherein normal CCTV cameras can not perform.

Benefits of Wireless Security Camera:

• Wireless cameras are DIY (do-it-yourself) products no need to hire a professional for installation. Also, there are no obtrusive or shabby looking long wires required which goes across floorboards or walls.
• Easy to move or transport, ideal for people relocating regularly.
• For a single camera unit, it is less expensive rather than than a wired camera setup.
• Wireless cameras are equipped with a built-in microphone, two-way bi-directional audio, push notifications or email alerts straight to your mailbox or mobile phone.
• Motion sensor can also be enabled which gets active upon detecting motion at a specific area and alerts with high decibel siren to avert the theft.
• Few cameras have Pan, Tilt and Zoom features that can be operated from the mobile phone, tablet or laptop where the VMS (software) is installed.

Difference between Wired or Wireless Security Camera.

• Limited storage option 128 GB to 254 GB SD which can record only for 6-7 days data.
• Wireless cameras rely on Wi-Fi for live viewing, If the connection is disrupted it will not send video signals to the connected device laptop, tab or mobile phone.
• Wireless camera catch Wi-FI signals at a very limited range in open/direct area or glass up to 150 meters or within the house 50 meters due to various obstacles like a concrete wall, brick wall, concrete floor, etc.
• In case of only storage option SD c ard without Network Video Recorder (NVR) option, if the entire camera is uprooted and stolen purpose of the camera will be defeated.

Over and above spy camera manufactures are making products with in-built spy cameras such as:

USB flash Drive camera

Mobile phone charger camera

Wi-fi AC adopter camera

Light bulb camera

Wall or table clock camera

Table radio camera

Smoke detector camera

Shower Gel camera

Bathroom Tissue box camera

Toothbrush camera

Sport Shoes camera

CEKYOR professionals takes the time to talk to the customer to determine their requirements and then designs the system around those needs. By listening to our customers, we can provide you with a system that meets or exceeds expectations, is easily expanded, and is easy to use.

We look forward to learning more about your business and helping with your electronic security - video surveillance needs!