Surveillance Camera Systems

Closed-circuit television (CCTV) is the use of video cameras to transmit a signal to a specific place, on a limited set of monitors. It differs from broadcast television in that the signal is not openly transmitted, though it may employ point to point (P2P), point to multipoint, or mesh wireless links. Though almost all video cameras fit this definition, the term is most often applied to those used for surveillance in areas that may need monitoring such as banks, casinos, airports, military installations, and convenience stores. Videotelephony is seldom called “CCTV” but the use of video in distance education, where it is an important tool, is often so called.

Megapixel Cameras

In order to identify persons or objects in a video, a specialized camera is required called megapixel cameras. Its one of a kind camera designed specifically for identifying images in high resolution. Megapixel cameras are primarily used in casinos, parking areas which requires face recognition and license plates identification respectively. Compared to analog cameras with 400000 pixels, megapixel cameras have 1000000 pixels making images captured clear and crisp.

IP Cameras

AAn Internet protocol camera, or IP camera, is a type of digital video camera commonly employed for surveillance, and which unlike analog closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras can send and receive data via a computer network and the Internet. Although most cameras that do this are webcams, the term “IP camera” or “netcam” is usually applied only to those used for surveillance.

Infrared Cameras

Infrared cameras also called night vision cameras are designed to capture videos in dark or low light areas. To achived this effect infrared leds are placed around the edges of the camera to allow it to capture in areas when there is no light. Typical applications includes cameras at the backward at home, office parking areas and other areas with low or no ambient lights. Other cameras can also switch from IR mode to day mode to and capture colored non infrared videos.

PTZ Cameras

Cameras that allows you to move horizontally called panning and move vertically also called tilt and allows zooming of video images are also called PTZ cameras. These are special cameras that can take up a large area to cover. Some cameras includes a joystick to help control the camera. Just like any other camera PTZ cameras may also include infrared leds to see at night.

Hidden Cameras

Hidden cameras are tiny cameras designed to conceil from the naked eyes. Most hidden cameras are wireless and disguised as natural objects or hidden inside objects such as toys, smoke detectors, lamp shades, clothes hook, and other inconspicuous objects. Most hidden cameras have lower resolution videos to compensate for its portability and size.

Digital Video Recorders

DVRs or digital video recorders allow you to record camera captures for later viewing or for backup. These devices includes a harddisk designed to store large videos from the camera. DVRs most includes a software to playback through videos by date and by camera. Storage duration depends on the camera resolution, megapixel cameras will require larger storage space and the number of cameras connected to the DVR. In most cases, a 500MB harddisk can store up to a month full of recoreded video with up 16 connected cameras.