What is a DVR?
A (DVR) Digital Video Recorder is a system that takes data from cameras and records it in a digital format on a storage device which is most commonly the hard drive.

What does a DVR look like?
There are two different types of DVR systems. The first type of DVR is VCR based, and all the recording is done to tapes. The second type of DVR, which is the one we use, is PC based. All the cameras link to a PC that records the images to hard drives. By using the latest technology, the PC allows extra features that are not available when using the VCR system. Some examples would be: remote monitoring/playback, quick scanning of files to locate an event, adjusting camera settings via the software, etc.

What are the main components of the DVR?
The DVR's primary components are the video capture card, server, cameras, and local/remote viewing software.

How does a DVR store video that I want to save?
Our systems record video to the hard drive for a specific number of days that you feel is adequate for your needs. The software uses a method called FIFO (First In First Out). If we set the server to record for seven days, on the eighth day, the first day will be deleted. On the ninth day, the second day will be deleted, and so on. The software, however, will also allow you to move video to another folder where it will not be deleted until you delete it.

How many cameras can I plug into a video capture card?
It depends on the DVR system you are interested in, but typically anywhere from 1 to 32 cameras. The cameras plug into RCA inputs on the capture boards.

Are there differences among DVR software?
Yes. The software and the hardware work hand-in-hand with each other. One slight tweak of the software can mean the difference between a reliable system, or a system crash. Our software is constantly being tested and updated to accommodate newer technology. For example, if you have a new cell phone or PDA that can connect to the web, you can check your cameras.

How many days of recording can I expect the DVR to store?
This is a very hard question to answer, because the answer relies on many variables. The amount of days that can be recorded depends on the following:
. Hard drive space (This is the key to the amount of days that can be stored.)
. Video compression method (MPEG, MJPEG, wavelet, etc.)
. Video compression rate
. Number of frames per second being recorded on each camera
. Resolution of frames being recorded (320 x 240, 640 x 480, etc.)
. Full time video recording vs motion detected recording
. How many cameras are being recorded

A DVR stores the video images on hard drives. Storage capacity is dependent upon the amount of hard drive space. Hard drives come in a variety of sizes. A DVR may have from a single to multiple hard drives built-in. At one time hard drive space was very limited, but today hard drives can go up to 800 GB in size.

The file size of the video images varies significantly from one video compression method to another. To further confuse the issue, there are different levels of the same video compression methods with each level taking up different amounts of space.

The video compression rates can be adjusted by our DVR system. The more you compress the video, the poorer the quality of the video, but the faster the transmission speed since the packet is smaller. Video can be compressed as many as 300 times.

Our system allows you to adjust the frames per second (fps) during recording. If you do not need to record motion at the camera's full fps (frames per second), you can save hard drive space.

Images are made up of little dots (pixels). The pixels in an image make up what is known as the resolution. The more pixels in an image, the higher resolution and quality. The trade-off is that more hard drive space will be required.

If video is being recorded only when motion is detected (a feature that is available with our system), then you reduce the amount of storage requirements.

If you are recording on multiple cameras, then you are proportionately increasing the amount of data being stored to the hard drive.

Do I need any other PC's to operate the DVR?
The DVR will operate on its own. If you would like to view the DVR in another location away from the DVR, you will need an additional PC.

Can I view the DVR from somewhere other than the physical DVR location?
Yes. Our software allows you to view the camera from any PC, PDA, or cell phone with internet capabilities.

Do I need a special PC or monitor to view and operate the DVR from a remote location?
No. The remote DVR software works with any Microsoft Windows Operating system.

How do I view the camera images from my PC, laptop or PDA?
The images are viewed remotely using Internet Explorer or Netscape. By using these standard components of Windows, the user has no need to carry a disk in order to view their cameras.

Do I have to download software in order to view the DVR from a remote location?
When you first link to the server via the internet, the server will send and install the software needed for remote viewing. This provides ease of use for our customers.

Can I record the images on a remote PC other than the DVR?
Our system allows for remote recording. Be aware that there are many DVR systems being sold that do not support this feature.

Do I need any special power requirements for the DVR?
DVR systems are basically a PC, so they would consume as much power as your home PC does. We do recommend that you attach an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) to the DVR system to protect the hardware against power spikes, reductions, or outages.

Where should I locate a DVR?
You can put your DVR system anywhere you would typically put a PC.

How do I protect the DVR from someone tampering with it?
As far as software security, we create accounts to the DVR software that are password protected by 128-bit encryption. For physical security, we sell locking devices to secure the system. The best physical protection for the system would be to lock it in a room that has limited access.

What is meant by frame rate?
The frame rate is the number of images that are being displayed or recorded over a set period of time. Typically, frames per second (fps) are the wording most often used in the industry. Keep in mind that frame rate record and frame rate display are two different settings of the system.

What is bandwidth?
The amount of data that is able to be sent over a network, measured in Kilobytes and Megabytes per second (Kbps and Mbps). Modern low bandwidth communications include dial-up modems and ISDN, ranging from 56Kbps to 128Kbps, but actual downloading times are closer to 1/10th of this speed. High-speed cable modems, DSL, T-1, and Satellite are much faster, by factors of as little as 10 or even higher than 100.

What is video compression?
Video compression is the reduction of the size of files containing video images stored in digital form. If no compression were done, one minute of recording would require one Gigabyte of storage space. There are many types of compression, and our system utilizes the most advanced compression techniques to allow for optimized quality while using minimal storage space.

What are real-time images?
Real time images are those images that are being transmitted to a remote viewing system as they happen.

What is real motion?
Real motion is video that has a natural look to it when played back. There is no choppy movement or skipping in the video. Don't be confused by real motion vs. real time.

How many frames does it take to give a "real motion" look?
Typically, 30 images per second is considered the standard as real motion video. Think of frames per second in terms of how a cartoon is made with cells, or even think of the projector in a movie theater where multiple frames pass in front of the lamp to give the appearance of "real motion."

Can I view and record, real time/real-motion video on each and every camera?
Doing real time recording remotely is unlikely, because the internet connection, even with DSL or cable, is not fast enough to support real-motion video on a real-time basis. The server that is at the site, on the other hand, is capable of real time recording. A major pitfall of other DVR systems is the compression that is used when storing the video as a file. Our system uses a special compression algorithm to optimize storage space.

How come when I view a DVR remotely over the Internet the pictures don't have the same quality or speed as when I view it at the DVR location?
The reason the quality and speed do not look the same is because of the bandwidth. When you are viewing the DVR locally, you are viewing the video right from the DVR to your monitor. When you view the video remotely, the signal is compressed, transmitted, uncompressed, and displayed on your monitor at home. To ensure that the speed of video is adequate for viewing, some of the image quality is sacrificed. One nice feature of our system is the ability to raise the quality of the transmission at the server. If having higher quality is more important to you than speed of the video, we can accommodate this request.

Are there really differences between cameras and lenses?
Camera and lens selection depends upon the requirements of your place of business: indoor or outdoor, day or night, area to be viewed, environmental conditions, etc. Cameras can cost from hundreds to thousands of dollars and lenses can cost from $20 to several hundred dollars. In order to help you with the confusing task of selecting a camera, we will find out your needs for the site and present you with several options for cameras.

How does the PC monitor connect to my cameras?
The cameras connect to the DVR, and the DVR then outputs the signal to the PC monitor.

Can I zoom in with a camera?
Yes, and we sell indoor/outdoor models that support this feature. These are more expensive than fixed cameras, and there necessity is based upon your individual requirements.

How do I control a camera with Pan/Tilt and Zoom functions?
Our DVR system's software has a joystick-looking control that allows you to control these features either at the server or remotely.

Do surveillance cameras work in the dark?
It depends on the camera you purchase. We sell several models that are capable of operating in low light environments and we also sell cameras that work off of infra-red (IR). Please keep in mind that when viewing an IR image, you will only be able to see the outline of any heat source. You will not be able to see an actual person using this technology.

How can you protect the cameras from vandalism or being tampered with?
We sell camera that are incased in a special protective housing.

What happens in the event of a power outage?
To protect the DVR system, you may want to use a power backup (UPS), which serves as a surge protection device and a power source for a limited period of time in the event of a power loss. If the power failure continues for an extended period of time, the DVR will intelligently shut itself down. When the power returns, it will return to its mode immediately prior to the interruption of power.


 

Return to top ▲