WEBCO SECURITY (SURVEILLANCE DIVISION)
COMMON SENSE ABOUT SURVEILLANCE SYSTEMS
CAMERAS/DIGITAL VIDEO RECORDERS
The camera is the eye. The DVR is the brain… or in electronic terms the central processing unit (CPU). The DVR has instant recall and relatively long range memory. Less than effective vision from the camera, obviously results in less than satisfactory recorded images. This is why the process of recording images is referred to as a surveillance system.
Let’s discuss the rest of the elements needed to produce acceptable event images. Attached to the camera is a lens. 
The surveillance camera is similar to a photographic camera. The fixed lens of an inexpensive camera, under good conditions, produces pictures of remarkable quality. However most of us realize that an adjustable iris or an automatic adjustable iris can dramatically improve the quality of photos. In addition, the type of lens, (wide-angle, micro, telephoto) can produce pictures even beyond that which is seen by our own eyes.
In the Midwest we have extreme temperatures and the camera and lens may need to be protected. Some inexpensive cameras are touted as all-weather, but in reality are protected only by a small metal shield affixed to the top of the camera. Perhaps there are some circumstance when this might be an adequate solution, but usually these cameras are fixed lens or inexpensive infra red cameras with extremely limited range of vision. A much better alternative is to house your good camera in an all-weather sealed housing that has a built-in automatic heater-blower
that protects your equipment from extremes of heat, cold, rain and snow.
Webco Security, generally speaking, (with the exception of certain covert cameras) installs either box cameras or dome cameras with at least 540 TV lines of resolution. In most instances Day-Night Cameras are installed. In some instances where no light exists the use of an infra red camera is implemented. Viewing range with infra red cameras is limited to a smaller width of view and desired distance has to be a consideration in the determination of the camera used. 
The camera is connected to the DVR by some type of covered cable. For longer runs of cable, which can diminish the video signal, the use of baluns are utilized that enhance the signal.
The Standalone is Linux based.
Each of them is capable of “remote viewing.” Within this web-site you will see Features and Benefits of both types. In general terms, we definitely recommend the Standalone DVR for up to 8 cameras.
The PC's (personal computer) is Windows based.
If your situation requires a few more than 8 cameras or may require the addition of just a few more cameras at a later date, we still recommend a Standalone. If, you absolutely require 14-16 cameras, in your initial installation, we recommend a PC based unit. There are exceptions to this generalized recommendation, but those exceptions could only be recommendations made after a site survey.
The break-out electronic invention that makes digital recording possible is Compression! This is the process of transmitting video data. The H.264 compression method used in our Standalones has techniques of compression that allow the DVR to perform significantly better than any prior standard and under a wide variety of circumstances, and in a wide variety of application environments. (great pictures…. longer storage capability.) There is ample information available about this newest remarkable compression technique available on the internet. Just Google “Video Compression.”
The operation of the Standalone requires no computer training. The included mouse (no upgrade) allows you to enlarge the picture, make fine adjustments, search data in seconds, and is password protected.
One important bit of information you need to know is the acronym FPS (frames per second). This is sometimes referred to as IPS (images per second.) They mean the same thing. Movies are recorded at 24 FPS and shown at 24 FPS. There is very little flicker in the replaying of the 24 FPS film. To achieve best results in digital recording, 30 FPS is the goal. If you have a 4 channel DVR it means you have four available connections on the back of the DVR. Thus you can connect up to 4 cameras! DVRs are manufactured in increments that are available in 4 channel, 8 channel, 16 channel, 32 channel, 64 channel, 128 channel, etc. What one looks for is the Recorded FPS. The maximum in a 4 channel system would be 120 FPS (120 FPS divided by 4 cameras result in 30 FPS per camera.) Don’t confuse viewing FPS and recording FPS. We have seen DVRs advertised at 30 FPS only to discover, that was the total FPS possible. Divided by 4 cameras, it only had the capability of producing 7.5 FPS per camera and there was no camera rate adjustment availability either.
Our installing technicians analyze each camera location and determine the most suitable lens to use, the best distance adjustment of that lens, and finally the frames per second needed to allow for the most practical recording time.
*Webco Security offers 100% service coverage on both product and installation for 90 days. After 90 days for a period of 2 years from time of sale, customers within 25 miles of Omaha, pay only a $25.00 trip fee to have service issues resolved. If your business is located more than 25 miles from Omaha, a $1.00 per mile trip fee surcharge will apply. After 2 years, if a product cannot be repaired and needs replacement, a 27% discount from retail will be offered for an exact or similar replacement, plus the $25.00 trip fee. (E.g. $50.00 outdoor housing… replacement cost $35.00) Guarantees do NOT cover losses due to theft, wind, hail, vandalism or flagrant misuse.
Webco Security offers package prices which all include full installation costs, including cables, connectors, brackets, and final instructions for use as well as software to enable off-site viewing.
Note: Off-site viewing requires high speed internet connections at both sending and receiving sites and a dedicated I.P. address at recording site.
CCTV TERMS YOU SHOULD KNOW
Backlight compensation: A feature that compensates for bright background so foreground so foreground objects aren't silhouetted.
CCD: Charged Coupled Device. A sensor that collects light and turns it into an electrical signal.
CCD format: The active imaging area of a CCD sensor, measured corner to corner.
CCTV: Closed-Circuit Television.
Coaxial cable: The type of cable most commonly used to transmit video.
Digital recording: Technology that enables images from a camera to be stored on a hard drive. A digital recorder provides clearer images than video tape and faster access to them.
Electronic shutter: A camera feature that compensates for changes in light conditions, from bright sunlight to dim outdoor lighting.
Field of view: The images area produced by any camera and lens combination.
Focal length: The distance from the center of a lens to the point where it focuses light. The combination of focal length and CCD format determines a camera's field of view. The shorter the focal length, the wider the field of view.
Lux: A unit measuring the intensity of light. The light of a full moon is about 0.1 lux, while bright sunlight is about 100,000 lux.
Multiplexer: A device that accepts video signals from a number of cameras and encodes them into one signal that is recorded on a digital recorder or VCR. The multiplexer also decodes the recording, so it can play back motion video from one camera at a time or several cameras all at once on one monitor. Many multiplexers can also display several camera views at a time on a monitor while sending images to a recorder.
Noise: Electrical energy or inference that appears on the screen as a grainy picture or "snow."
PIR: Passive infrared. A motion detector that senses body heat to detect motion.
Resolution: A measure of the ability of a camera or monitor to reproduce detail.
Switcher: A device that switches views from several cameras to one or more monitors.
S/N (Signal-to-noise) ratio: The ratio between useful video signal and unwanted noise. The higher the number is. the better.
Twisted pair: A cable composed of two small, insulated conductors twisted together since both wires have nearly equal exposure to any interference, unwanted noise is substantially reduced.
Vari-focal lens: A lens you can adjust manually for the desired magnification and field of view.
White Balance: A process used in video cameras to retain true color.
Webco Security has installed over 6000 security systems in the Omaha-Lincoln, Nebraska Trade area.
