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No. 9/2011 (Feb. 28, 2011)
- Wireless video surveillance in cities
Quick and easy installation, low cost, high reliability, possibility of quick change of location - these advantages of wireless transmission make it an increasingly popular means of connecting city cameras to city surveillance systems.
- 2011 - a good year for HDCCTV
High-resolution video surveillance systems are normally associated with IP cameras and video transmission in computer networks (IP CCTV). HDCCTV is a high-resolution CCTV transmitted via coaxial cables - existing popular cabling, utilized for connecting megapixel devices equipped with serial digital interfaces (SDI). It allows for transmission of uncompressed HDTV signal without any latency, just like analog. The two major suppliers of the equipment - Speco Technologies and EverFocus Electronics - will have to compete with a number of companies announcing the launch of similar devices.
- Video Surveillance as a Service (VSaaS)
Video Surveillance as a Service (VSaaS) or Managed/hosted video - these are the names of the concepts that outsource the whole organization of security systems (designing, installation, management, operation, intervention, and maintenance). The investor expects implementation of the latest hardware, software, and organizational solutions.
- From HD to 3D
The main advantage of 3D image is that it creates perception of depth. The 3rd dimension also allows to use more complex algorithms for image analysis. In 2011, 3D technology in CCTV should be one of the fields for applied research.
- IP cameras
While analog cameras are still the majority in CCTV systems, IP cameras become standard in larger ones.
- Thermal imaging cameras
Until recently, thermal cameras were beyond the reach of the majority of security consumers, due to very high prices. The introduction of uncooled detectors led to a significant reduction in prices of these devices, which may significantly increase the number of implementations.
Thermal cameras can be used for detection of people with increased body temperature
- Growth of megapixel network cameras It is estimated that 30% of all IP cameras shipped in 2011 will be megapixel cameras.
TERRA MMH-3000 headend in a new hotel chain.
Focus is a dynamically developing hotel chain with branches in several cities in Poland.The investor has decided to equip all the hotels in TV systems based on QPSK/PAL transmodulators. Due to the proven reliability and flexibility (multiple configuration options), the best choice has been TERRA MMH-3000 headend. Each hotel is equipped with nearly 100 outlets, which required an appropriate strategy at the design stage and careful selection of active equipment for each installation.
Focus Hotel in Lodz
Innex from Wroclaw was contracted to install the system and configure the headends. The company has many years of experience in designing and implementing television and computer networks.
Each hotel system distributes a total of 39 television channels. The programming includes 31 satellite channels, 7 terrestrial channels, and one channel with commercials chosen by the hotels. Additionally, each antenna outlet provides FM radio channels.
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TERRA MMH-3000 headend and set of Alcad channel amplifiers in one of the Focus hotels.
The hotel provides a variety of channels for Polish and foreign guests.
Aside from FTA satellite programs, the guests can watch a number of paid satellite channels. They are received using RDC-313 R81710 and DM-313 R81712 modules. The use of "master-slave" concept allows to reduce the cost of each headend. The rack cabinet in each hotel houses 3 base units UC-380 R81700.
The systems are currently operating in all the hotels, offering a wide range of programming to all guests.
Finally it is done! Client application for accessing TREND DVRs on PDAs/smartphones with Android system.
The latest KWeye application was just released in February 2011. It allows for remote management of TREND DVRs using mobile phones/PDAs with different operating systems. At the moment, it supports Symbian, Android, BlackBerry, iPhone and WindowsMobile systems.
TREND recorders are based on stable, multitasking operating system, designed for continuous operation. Multiple configuration options and powerful features make them ideal devices for many CCTV systems. H.264 compression and support for large hard disks ensure that the material may be stored for a long time. Intuitive menu (GUI) makes the operation very simple, the user gets easy access to all functions. The DVRs provide efficient archiving, the configuration process and all operations can be carried out remotely.
An example of network with TREND DVR
How to monitor a disco.
Every day the "Long Night" disco is visited by over a hundred people. Up to now, there were frequent problems with pickpockets and incidents provoked by some guests. To curb this practice, the owner decided to install video monitoring system covering the whole space available for customers, as well as the storeroom and the part of the street close to the entrance.The entrance to the disco is monitored by vandal proof camera V-CAM 515 M10751. Thanks to high sensitivity, the camera provides color images even in poor light. Its built-in IR illuminator turns on in low light, ensuring correct operation even in total darkness.
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The rooms of the disco are monitored by cameras Sunell SN-468C M11202. They provide clear images in twilight conditions (sensitivity 0.008 lx) which are normal in discos. High resolution of 540 TVL allows recording of image detail. The application of Tokina M2315 lenses with auto iris has significantly improved the quality of recorded material under conditions of variable lighting. To ensure the visibility of people in low or rapidly changing light, the ceiling of the main room has been equipped with infrared illuminators Redbeam M1642 (coverage of 60 m2) and Redbeam M1643 (coverage of 120 m2) uniformly illuminating the whole area. The video is recorded by HIKVISION/ULTIMAX DS-8108HDI-S M76080 digital video recorder. The DVR will shortly be connected to the Internet, allowing presentation of images from selected cameras on the disco's website (just under construction).
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Since installing the monitoring system (the guests are informed about it by appropriate stickers at the entrance) there were no thefts, and the number of incidents between customers fell sharply. Additionally, there are new customers who prefer safe fun.
H.264 or MJPEG?
The answer seems deceptively simple: with similar image quality H.264 generates less bandwidth than MJPEG, so it should be better. However, to determine the winner, we must take into account not only the general belief, but also some practical aspects. MJPEG sends each frame separately, whereas H.264 analyzes the video stream, sends the main frame, and then subsequent frames transmitting only differences (using advanced multi-picture inter-picture prediction). Thus, the devices utilizing H.264 compression require much more computing power, and hence are more expensive.In practice, there are situations when MJPEG is definitely a better compression method:
- A lot of movement in the scene - many moving people, passing cars etc. (monitoring of streets, roads, mass events).
- Variable lighting conditions - quickly changing light intensity or wavelength spectrum is interpreted by the H.264 algorithms as a major change in the scene, so the compression rate is very low (mass events with dynamic lighting, factory halls with welding equipment, discos etc.)
- Camera exposed to vibration - when located on high poles (wind), mounted on walls near the rail tracks (vibration from moving cars/trucks) etc.
- Camera situated on a vehicle - as the result of the movement, each subsequent frame is practically completely different from the previous one.
No more range problems - GSM repeater.
After replacing windows (with panes covered with metallic layers) in the office, the staff of Implus company had problems with cellular calls. The signal strength was reduced to a level inadequate for stable connections (breaks). Since the company specializes (among other things) in installation of GSM repeaters, they have installed the equipment on their own. Due to the size of the office, they have chosen Signal GSM-305 A6765.
The system with the GSM repeater has significantly improved the comfort of work (seamless connections). The clients can also use their mobile phones without any problems, in several cellular networks available in the area (including EGSM).
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Views of the TRANS-DATA antennas installed outside and inside the office
Half-power beamwidth of an antenna.
The half-power beamwidth is the angle between the half-power (-3 dB) points of the main lobe, referenced to the peak power of the lobe (in the main axis, for the analyzed plane).A common mistake is the assumption that the radiation outside this angle can be neglected. For example, in the case of two client stations at an angle distance of 30 deg, the installer usually looks for an antenna with half-power beamwidth well above this value, whereas it is enough to employ a device with the beamwidth about 30 deg.
In practice, to optimize a wireless network it is important to know radiation patterns of the antennas. Various types of antennas can have identical half-beams (e.g. 28 deg), but different patterns, so they may behave differently in the system. For example (see the figures below), one antenna can have -6 dB points at the angle distance of 64 degrees, while another one of 36 deg. So the first one covers a wider area. It is sometimes favorable (in the case of base station), and sometimes should be avoided (such client antenna would be more susceptible to interference from unwanted directions).
An example of antennas with the same half-power beamwidth (28 deg.)
However, the antenna on the right covers much wider area (within angle of 64 deg.)
However, the antenna on the right covers much wider area (within angle of 64 deg.)
New products offered by DIPOL:
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