TriStar Security Systems CCTV Blog

Embracing New Technology

admin — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 18:25:27 +0000

Its been a while since our last post, and a lot has happened!

The purpose of today’s post is to inform our readers about IP cameras. This new (or not so new) technology has been floating around for quite some time now, but it has always been either too expensive to integrate or not reliable enough (when going with a cost effective IP camera solution). Well, not anymore.

We at TriStar are testing new ways to integrate Mega-Pixel IP cameras into our existing DVR systems. Up until now, we have been taking regular CCD cameras (with a proven track record of many, many years) and integrating them with our DVR systems - Turning it from analog to digital and enabling our customers to view these cameras online from anywhere on the internet, while not compromising quality. What we’re trying to do now is find a way to integrate (customize our DVRs) IP (wired PoE and wireless) cameras into our current DVRs, running parallel along with analog cameras. The reason being that IP Mega-Pixel cameras offer way too much to not take advantage of the technology. To give you an idea, a Mega-Pixel camera can record video at 1024 x 768 in raw format while an analog camera can only record at 420 x 300 without losing quality. Of course, as always, there are many variables involved. Keep checking back for updates and more information on our new systems.

Access Control

Mbadri — Wed, 16 May 2007 20:41:15 +0000

Tristar Surveillance has added access control products to their list of services. After successfully finishing several access control projects throughout the Houston Area, VP of Operations Juzer Yamani says: “we are now ready to begin marketing access control products as a part of our permanent product line”.

for more information go to www.tristarsurveillancesystems.com

Motion Detection with Security Cameras

admin — Sat, 14 Apr 2007 04:39:24 +0000

What good is it to have security cameras installed all over your building, office, or house, if you can’t get alerts of when someone is breaking into the location? Its true, security camera DVR will record everything that takes place. But what if its too late? What if the perpetrator has already stolen your valuables and gone far, far away? What IF?

With TriStar, there’s a solution. With our security camera installation (and an active internet connection), you can be notified of motion alerts AS THEY HAPPEN. Say its 8:00PM on a Thursday night, and you’re sitting on the couch with your loved one, or ones (you sleeze!), watching “30 Rock” on NBC (I wish they were paying us for this), and all of a sudden you get an alert on your phone via SMS, or your BlackBerry via email that someone has broken into your office or warehouse! Not only will the message state what camera, but also a picture of the break-in along with it.

What you do from there is completely up to you! Call the police. Log in online to view your cameras live to see if this was a false alarm, or to see the criminal being caught on our DVR.

A lot more to come!

TriStar Security Systems
Houston’s Most Affordable CCTV Security Camera Installation Solution

Selecting the Right DVR

sburhani — Wed, 11 Apr 2007 05:53:18 +0000

Originally, CCTV surveillance equipment involved what is known as a time lapse tape recorder. This has obvious disadvantages - tapes often wear out and can break, which defeats the purpose of the system. Worn out tapes produce low quality, blurred pictures, or images that are unrecognizable. This prompted the development of CCTV DVR systems. A DVR, or Digital Video Recorder provides better picture quality since it’s digital, and more reliability than a VCR. A CCTV digital video recorder is also less susceptible to the malfunctions that contemporary VCR systems can encounter.

PC based DVR’s

A PC-based DVR is a DVR Card built inside a computer. You use your typical computer case, either a tower or a rack mount. Inside you have your usual motherboard, network card, CPU, hard drive and memory. And of course a PCI DVR Card. The capture cards usually have 4, 8, or 16 video and/or audio inputs. PC Based systems receive an analog signal from all the cameras, then converts the signal to a digital signal and uses video compression to store the data on the hard drive for archiving and playback. The DVR software provides all the necessary functions like recording, playback, searching and archiving. More advanced systems also allow camera controls and remote access.

PC based DVR’s are easier to use and are more flexible than standalone DVR’s. These units are available as kits which you install on your PC or as complete factory built recorders and provide you with all the functionality you need for your surveillance system. Because it operates on a PC platform, you can customize it to suit your individual needs and add different hardware for different applications, including larger hard drives, more advanced processors, CPU’s and memory.

Standalone DVR Systems

Standalone DVR’s are computer based machines which run on Linux, Unix or other proprietary operating systems that are designed to run only one application, which makes the standalone unit a reliable one that does one thing only. Because of that, standalone DVR’s are said to be more reliable, but they are limited in functionality and customization.

Questions?

sburhani — Sat, 07 Apr 2007 15:10:00 +0000

Got questions about CCTV and Video Surveillance? Ask them here, and one of our surveillance advisers will answer them for you!

Selecting the Right Security Camera

sburhani — Sat, 07 Apr 2007 04:42:59 +0000

Application-

First thing to ask yourself is what you intend to use a security camera or camera system for. Are you interested in real-time viewing, store surveillance (which means recording and storing video footage), one particular room in a house, access doors for an office building, etc.

Color vs. B&W-

How important is it to have camera images in color? Black-and-white security cameras generally have greater sensitivity at low light levels and thus are cheaper than equivalent color cameras. Nowadays though, you can get cameras that have infra-red LED’s that will record in color during the day, and switch to black and white at night under infra red lighting. Not to mention that with the advent of new technology and sensors, it really isn’t much of a price gap between color and B&W cameras.

Indoor vs. Outdoor-

If the camera is mounted outdoors, be sure and get an appropriate enclosure for the environmental conditions likely to be encountered. This can include rain, snow, heat, cold, sun glare, humidity and corrosive atmosphere. There are also a few cameras that don’t require a separate housing to protect them against most climate situations, including the ones used most commonly by companies like TriStar.

Fixed Lens vs. Zoom Lens-

Fixed-lens cameras are much cheaper than zoom lenses. Ask yourself how important it is to be able to remotely zoom in or out on a scene. Also, keep in mind that you have to zoom in real time to get the image you want with the best quality. Zooming in in real time is called using optical zoom. Zooming in on a scene from a recorded image is called digital zoom, and that is available in certain software packages with digital recorders. Ask your adviser if that is something you would be able to do.

Fixed Mount vs. Pan-Tilt Camera/Mount-

Similar to the zoom lens issue, ask yourself how important it is to be able to move the camera up, down, or side to side. Also remember that when you pan and tilt a camera, you are sacrificing blind spots to catch certain areas. Ever seen one of those movies where a spy or ninja or thief watches a camera move around and times his movements to that of the camera? Exactly.

Note: One pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) camera can replace the job of several fixed mount, fixed lens security cameras, but each has its benefits and downsides. And while the Zoom Lens has to be built into the camera itself, you can get cameras that have pan-tilt function, or just buy a mount that will pan and tilt with a regular camera inside it.

Open vs. hidden camera-

Do you care if the security camera is visible or is it important that the camera not be seen, i.e. is ‘covert’ operation important?

Real-time vs. later viewing-

Do you need to be able to view camera images in real-time (live) or is storing images on a digital video recorder for later viewing acceptable? Or maybe you want both? This isn’t so much related to the camera as it is to the video processor/recording unit. Maybe next time we can go into more detail about DVR’s and Time Lapse VCR’s.

Local viewing vs. remote viewing-

Do you want to be able to view images from anywhere, anytime? This would mean getting a network IP camera that can be accessed over the Internet. Or you can get a Digital Video Recorder that ties in to a remote server that you can access. You would need to get a high-speed internet connection at your location too. Once again, one of the many functions of those DVR’s I want to get into later on!

Brief History Lesson on CCTV

admin — Sat, 07 Apr 2007 04:12:54 +0000

Surveillance System

Analog History

Video surveillance began as early as 1965 with closed circuit television monitoring. There were reports in the U.S. suggesting police use of surveillance cameras in public places. In 1969, police cameras were installed in the New York City Municipal Building near City Hall. The practice soon spread to other cities, with closed circuit television (CCTV) systems watched by officers at all times.

Video Surveillance System

Analog beginnings spur

With the introduction to video cassette, video surveillance really was pushed further. Video cassette recordings meant surveillance could be used on tape as evidence. By the 1970s the world exploded with the use of video surveillance everywhere; from law enforcement to traffic control.

Businesses that were prone to theft, including banks, mini-marts and gas stations, began mounting video surveillance systems as a deterrent and in hopes of apprehending thieves, particularly in high crime areas.

The insurance industry also found video surveillance compelling workers compensation fraud, bogus accident claims and a variety of other cases began to turn in the industries favor when they could provide tapes of supposedly disabled workers doing the limbo at a family reunion.

– Article from CCTV Specialty Company Knowledge Base

Oi, talking CCTV cameras coming to London

admin — Thu, 05 Apr 2007 02:19:30 +0000

Despite growing concerns over the UK sleep-walking into a surveillance society, 20 more English towns (including London) have signed on for talking CCTV cameras. Already, an estimated 4.2 million CCTV cameras already installed across Britain. The new talkies are expected to cost about £500,000 (nearly $1 million) and target those who “litter our streets, vandalize our communities and damage our properties,” according to Home Secretary John Reid. He goes on to state that the original trials in Middlesbrough were “hugely popular” where the local councilor says they’ve prevented fights, criminal damage, and cut litter levels. Is that enough? Cue the Orwellian dystopia chatter… now.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/6524495.stm for more information!

What is CCTV?

admin — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 06:30:31 +0000

CCTV is an acronym that stands for Closed Circuit Television. It is defined as the use of one or more cameras used for surveillance purposes. It was initially developed to increase bank security and has since spread to every corner of the security industry. Home security systems, businesses, corporations, organizations, and schools are several examples of locations that implement CCTV Security Systems.

When CCTV cameras first appeared in the public sphere, they were crude, low-definition cameras that only recorded in black and white. They were completely simple and lacked even the ability to pan or zoom. CCTV cameras today are smaller, sleeker, and far more technologically advanced than the cameras of yesterday.

They produce high quality, exceptionally sharp color images, and have motion sensors that track movement across an area. They can pick a person out of a crowd and lock on them, tracing their movements; they can run at night because of infrared technology. The possibilities are endless for CCTV, especially as the technology continues to develop.

Closed-circuit cameras are often used to discourage and deter crime. While they don’t necessarily eliminate crime, closed-circuit cameras do make it possible to identify events and suspects, making is easier to detect and prosecute those involved in a crime.

Another function that closed-circuit cameras serve is that of traffic monitors. Speed cameras are installed in various locations, taking a picture of your license plate and with the help of radar technology, recording your speed. In many cities in the US, you may receive a speeding ticket with a picture of your car and its clocked speed, or a picture of the exact moment you ran a red light.

They come in all shapes and sizes and can be installed anywhere, from your car and your handbag to police surveillance vans and taxis. They are ideal for purposes of security as they have the ability to recall events in real time at an accurate date and provide information that may lead to the detection and persecution of criminal activities.

Emerging technologies will make faster, quicker cameras that will be able to pick a face out of the crowd on command. They could be programmed to identify ‘criminal’ behavior by body movement that might signify a troublemaker, and zoom up on your face in an instant. Banks, hospitals, institutions that deal in large sums of money, government buildings, and schools are several areas of the public sector where closed-circuit television cameras work well. The CCTV System is moving towards a completely computerized monitoring system that will eventually replace the current need for a CCTV operator and become a fully automated system.

– Article from CCTV Specialty Company Knowledge Base

ISC West 2007

admin — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 04:08:09 +0000

TriStar, for the first time, participated as an exhibitor in the ISC West 2007 trade show, hosted in Las Vegas, NV in March, 2007. We were very proud to debut our made-in-USA DVRs in booth # 5401. The two kinds of DVRs on display at the show were:

1] TriStar’s 8 Channel DVR, 240 FPS Viewing, 240 FPS Recording, 160GB Hard Drive — $1,649.95

2] TriStar’s 16 Channel DVR, 480 FPS Viewing, 480 FPS Recording, 250GB Hard Drive — $2,649.95

The show was a great success, to say the least. Resellers and distributors from various parts of the world showed a very keen interest in our products.

To find out more on our DVRs, please visit our products page at: http://www.tristarsecuritysystems.com/products.html