Components of a CCTV System
There’s a lot that goes into a successful CCTV installation. While the cameras get most of the attention in the beginning, you also have other concerns, such as viewing, recording, and archiving the video footage, and the equipment required for carrying out those tasks. Here’s a look at the basic components of a typical CCTV system.
Cameras:
Security cameras are the starting point for most CCTV systems. There are endless possibilities when choosing CCTV cameras and lenses – everything from fixed models designed for monitoring very specific locations, to day/night cameras, and powerful PTZ domes for patrolling large areas.
Types of CCTV Security Cameras
Fixed box camera
Fixed CCTV cameras point in a single direction, which makes them perfect for monitoring very specific areas of interest. They’re also preferred for applications where it’s beneficial to install cameras in clearly visible locations. For this reason, fixed cameras are quite effective not only for capturing footage of suspicious activity, but also for deterring criminals and vandals from carrying out their acts in the first place. The direction of the camera is set during installation. Many cameras also accept interchangeable lenses and housings, so you have the flexibility to meet a wide variety of surveillance needs.
Fixed dome camera
We offer a wide range of high resolution dome cameras. The cameras are covered with a doom shaped covering to protect the in-built camera from damage. They are widely used for keeping surveillance in all major corporate offices and public places for security purposes.
PTZ cameras
PTZ cameras are ideal for wide-area surveillance. They give operators the ability to remotely control pan, tilt, and zoom functions to follow activity and to zoom in for detailed monitoring.
IR Camera
These infrared closed circuit TV cameras provide one of the best options for monitoring your premises and capturing images in areas with low light.
That is because these infrared closed circuit security cameras actually calculate the brightness of a room or particular area. They are able to do this because they have a special LED lighting feature which is positioned on the outside lens. These LED lights are capable of capturing light from the regions of electromagnetic spectrum that allow an image to be created even if there is almost no visible light.
it is very important for you to note that even some of the absolute best CCTV security options do not automatically include this infrared (IR) capability, so you will need to double check the features and specifications of the specific model that you are considering for purchase to make sure it does indeed have IR functionality.
Monitor
In a traditional CCTV setup, operators view footage from a central location on a monitor very much like a TV, but with higher lines of resolution for better picture quality. Monitors can be dedicated (meaning they display video from a single camera), or call-up (meaning operators can access multiple cameras at the same time).
DVR
Most modern CCTV systems incorporate DVRs (digital video recorders) which enable operators to reap some of the benefits of a network-based surveillance setup. DVRs convert the analogue footage to digital, which helps to extend storage capacity, makes it much easier to search archived footage, and also allows users to stream video over a network for remote viewing from multiple locations.
Hybrid DVRs
Hybrid DVRs are unique in that they can support both analogue CCTV cameras and IP network cameras. This level of flexibility isn’t available with traditional DVRs, which only connect to analogue cameras. Hybrid DVRs ease the transition from analogue to IP surveillance. Since they support both camera types, you don’t have to restrict your camera options. This makes it easy to move towards an IP-based solution while still using lower-cost analogue cameras when necessary.