Weatherproof Security Cameras

Winter is here, the freakishly freezing temperatures, the harsh icy cold winds, massive snow storms, wet sleet and slush storms are all examples of the type of weather conditions that we now face on a daily basis. These extreme weather conditions can have a tremendously negative impact on your exterior security surveillance equipment. The damp air, below freezing temperatures and storms can disconnect the signal of your camera or even destroy it completely. Because security cameras are both a monetary investment and an investment in the safety of your property or family it is very important that if your exterior security camera be weatherproofed.
Weatherproof security surveillance cameras are a great way to provide security surveillance in extreme winter weather elements. Weatherproof cameras are housed inside an all-weather and waterproof casing. This casing guards the camera from the external weather conditions while at the same time allowing it to maintain its ability to record security footage. The casing is sealed and protects against the destruction that is often caused by dampness, water, wind, condensation and snow. Weatherproof security cameras offer fantastic security protection for homes or businesses. A weatherproof camera may also be useful in some interior locations. However areas such as workshops and warehouses that have a lot of dust and debris flying around could also implement a weatherproof security camera indoors to prevent any damage to the unit.
Weatherproof security cameras can be easily synced up with most security alarm systems to significantly add to your level of protection. Recent statistics indicate that the amount of loss can be reduced by 50% with the proper installation of security cameras, when coupled with an alarm system these stats can be reduced even further. Weatherproof security cameras or weatherproof casings are available wherever you can buy security cameras.

CCTV Cameras

The first component to any security surveillance system is a Closed Circuit Television of CCTV security camera. A CCTV camera is what shoots and records the images of the locations you want to secure, therefore the level of your security surveillance is dependent on the CCTV cameras you choose to install. At SafeTech we offer a wide variety of CCTV cameras that can meet the security specifications or budget of any customer. Every CCTV security system that we carry can be synced up with a SafeTech DVR and/or a SafeTech alarm system to provide you with advanced security and protection.

Types of Security CCTV Cameras

There is a wide selection of CCTV cameras available on the market, each ranging in price depending on their level of technological advances. When selecting a CCTV camera, one of the first choices you must make is whether it is a black and white or colour feed. Black and white have often been implemented in environments with low light, however advances in colour CCTV camera technology have made them equally as efficient in low light as well as lest costly. Many customers elect to go with a colour CCTV camera because it provides a greater chance of producing a positive identification of any individuals attempting to steal or break into the secure area. There are also a few types of CCTV cameras themselves that you can choose from, a fixed, non moveable camera or a pan, tilt, zoom, (PTZ) security camera.

Fixed CCTV Cameras

A fixed camera is mounted in a location and provides a constant CCTV feed of that one particular area. Unlike PTZ cameras it can not move to get different angles. Fixed cameras function best when placed over a certain area that needs constant monitoring, like near entry ways, exits or over a specific object that needs constant protection. If you choose a fixed camera you still have a few options. The first is to install a camera body that allows for multiple lenses to be attached suiting certain environments or situations, these cameras are often used in industrial or commercial settings. The second option is a mounted camera with a fixed lens. These CCTV cameras are typically smaller and housed in small casings like a dome or tube. These cameras are significantly less expensive and are popular in home and retail settings.

Pan, Tilt, Zoom (PTZ) CCTV Cameras

The difference between fixed CCTV cameras and PTZ CCTV cameras is that the latter has the ability to rotate 360° horizontally and 90° vertically. This allows the CCTV camera to provide security surveillance for a larger area as the cameras can be programmed to do sweeps. Another interesting feature of a PTZ camera is that they can be paired with motion sensors to pan, tilt and zoom to a certain area when motion is detected. This attribute significantly improves the security of any area. PTZ cameras are usually mounted in dome housings, with smoked glass so that individuals can not determine where the camera is facing. For more information on SafeTech’s CCTV cameras contact us today.

DVR Systems

After you purchase and install a CCTV security camera the next step you need to take in assembling your security system is installing a DVR (digital video recorder). A DVR is one of the most important components of any video surveillance system. While your CCTV camera shoots the digital video, the DVR is the device that actually records the video in a digital format, storing it in electronic memory in a hard drive. The DVR is a technological advancement that offers tremendous advantages over the old system of recording security feeds on DVD’s or VHS cassettes. Therefore it can be stated that a security surveillance camera is not being used to its full capacity if it is not synced with a DVR as it is the backbone of any video surveillance system.

A security camera that is linked with a DVR allows you to digitally record and store the surveillance footage from the camera on a hard drive. There is a great deal of advantages to installing a DVR system. The first advantage is that storing security footage on a hard drive is much more efficient and compact than storing hours worth of DVD’s and VHS cassettes. Secondly a DVR allows you to recall and search for footage of a specific date or time in a far more efficient and accessible manner than past options. A simple search of the date and time in the hard drive will bring up your results. Once this footage is brought up it is easy to reproduce by burning it to a DVD. This way you can send copies to the police, insurance companies or any other authorities without compromising the original, which stays on your DVR. One of the most innovative features of a DVR is that it allows you to view footage during playback in ways not possible with past technologies. With a DVR you can fast forward or rewind through a video recording even as it continues to record, similar to the DVR you may have attached to your television cable system at home. The last advantage of a DVR is that it can easily be linked with a PC or Mac computer to allow you to control your settings and increase the hard drive space in which you can store video.

DVR security systems can be linked up with any of SafeTech’s CCTV security cameras. Some of the models that work well with a DVR system are dome cameras, bullet cameras etc. The overall effectiveness of any security system can be increased with the aid of a security alarm. At SafeTech we are capable of linking all of our cameras and DVR with a security alarm system. Whether you are looking to improve the security of your home or business SafeTech has the solution for you. Contact us today to learn more about or products and services.

Benefits of Security Cameras

Installing a security camera is one of the best tactics you can implement to increase the level of security and safety in your home or business. Aside from the additional safety and security there are a few other reasons to consider installing security cameras. Some of the benefits of a security camera include theft prevention, statistical calculations, employee management, reductions in insurance premiums and of course safety and security.

One of the most obvious benefits of installing security cameras is that it helps prevent, theft, break-ins and property damage. There is no greater threat to a potential criminal than that of being videotaped at the scene of a crime. A security camera can place an individual at an exact place at an exact time and provide solid video evidence of a criminal engaged in a crime. One of the first questions police act when they arrive at the scene of a crime is if there is any video footage of the location the crime took place. The police know that in most cases a security camera can act as an unbiased eye witness to a crime. Whether placed in a commercial, retail, office, industrial or home setting a well placed security camera can prevent theft and vandalism and protect your business, home and family.

Another less obvious benefit of installing a security camera is that it can be a useful tool in employee management. An installed security camera in an office can be used to ensure employees are arriving and leaving on time. It can also prevent office theft which a main reason for inventory shrinkage. Purchasing a security camera can also prevent any damage to office or company property. Finally a security camera can help protect your employees; a security camera set up to pick up both visual and audio surveillance of an office can be a powerful deterrent to workplace harassment.

A security camera can help track valuable statistics of your business or workplace. A security camera placed at the entry way of a retail store can pick up the traffic that enters. In addition security cameras placed throughout the store can provide information on how customers navigate through your store, it can show you what catches their attention and what doesn’t. After reviewing the security footage you can gain considerable market research information.

The final benefit of installing a security camera is that it can significantly reduce the amount of insurance premiums you pay. On top of that the purchase of a security camera for your business may be tax deductable. There are countless reasons to outfit your home or business with a SafeTech security Camera, to learn more contact us today.

The Advantages of Security Surveillance Systems

Installing a security surveillance system is one the best ways to protect your home or business from theft, break-ins, property damage and much more. In the last few years there have been amazing leaps and bounds in the security technology available to the everyday consumer. These technological advances have not only made security surveillances system more efficient, they have also made the high-tech systems more affordable. These days a high end security surveillance system is accessible to any individual regardless of budget. In addition to the price there are a number of reasons to invest in a security surveillance system, most relate to the technological advances that are now available.

One of the many advances that have taken place with security surveillance systems in the past few years is the switch from film to digital video. Aside from providing far superior picture quality when compared to the older analog security surveillance systems the new digital systems are also able to store a lot more data. By hooking up your digital security surveillance system to a DVR you are able to digitally record all of your security camera footage to a hard drive. This system allows you to store your security footage far more efficiently than in the past. Another excellent advantage of new security surveillance systems is that digital video can be replayed over and over again without jeopardizing the quality of the video. In addition a digital video saved on a hard drive can easily be recorded onto a DVD and sent to the police or insurance companies should you experience a break-in or property damage.

According to Sean O’Leary, the President of SafeTech Alarms Systems in Toronto, another great advantage of modern security surveillance systems is their ability to sync up with other technological devices, such as smart phones. Smart phones are one of the most innovative pieces of technology available on the market today. Through the development of mobile applications designed to do everything from receive e-mails to track global positioning, our cellular phones have evolved to essentially become mobile computers. “A few companies have developed mobile applications that can connect your mobile smart phone to your home security surveillance system through a wireless internet connection” says O’Leary, “these remarkable smart phone applications enable you to view your security camera feeds from the palm of your hand while you are anywhere in the world. As long as you have a sufficient internet connection you can monitor your home or business in real time”. Some applications will even notify you if your security surveillance system notices activity so you can ensure everything is alright. What’s more impressive is that most of these applications allow for you to view the feeds from multiple security surveillance system cameras at the same time in a split screen or quartered screen format.

There certainly have been some significant gains in the technology of security surveillance systems in the past few years. As previously mentioned at the outset of this article these advances have helped make these systems much more affordable and accessible to the average home or business owner.

PTZ Cameras – Point, Tilt and Zoom to Provide Security Surveillance

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One of the most popular and effective types of security cameras that SafeTech offers are PTZ cameras. PTZ stands for Pan, Tilt, and Zoom. Most PTZ cameras are housed in dome casings and have the capacity to pan which means move left to right and tilt which means move up and down. A PTZ camera also has the capacity to zoom in and out. PTZ cameras combine digital zoom with optical zoom to provide video surveillance. The digital zoom is used to zoom in and out while the optical zoom uses lens motion. In order to determine the total zoom of a PTZ camera multiply the digital zoom by the optical zoom. Due to all of these features a PTZ camera is one of the best and most secure cameras that can be installed at a home or business to provide added security protection.

The functions of a PTZ camera are controlled by an external keyboard. The external keyboard allows for PTZ cameras to be programmed to view a certain area, they can also be used to sync a PTZ camera with a security alarm system. When an alarm is triggered the camera can be programmed to pan or tilt to the area where the alarm was set off. The motion of the panning and tilting can also be programmed into the camera using the keyboard. For example a PTZ camera can be programmed to pan a hallway every 5 mins. In addition the panning and tilting can be triggered by motion. For example if movement is detected in the hallway the camera will interrupt its schedule to view the area where the motion was detected.

The movements of a PTZ camera are often hidden within the dome casing of the camera. The domes are often smoked or darkened so individuals can not determine the direction the camera is pointing. This factor adds to the security elements of the cameras because individuals must assume that the camera is focussed on them at all times. PTZ cameras come in a variety of configurations including but not limited to weatherproof and day and night. Day and Night cameras provide a colour feed in the day time but a black and white feed at night for optimal viewing. Some of the more impressive features of a PTZ dome camera are the fact that it can move in all directions including 360 degree rotation as well as viewing straight down or straight up.

There are a few ways that PTZ cameras can be installed. They can be mounted in a variety of locations using different mounting techniques such as pendant and recessed mounts. Both forms allow the camera to be hidden while at the same time enabling the camera to get the best view possible of the area targeted for protection. The protection of a PTZ camera can be significantly increased when it is paired with a security alarm system. The chance of a break-in, theft or damage when a PTZ camera and a security system are installed is dramatically reduced. At SafeTech we are happy to provide both PTZ dome cameras and security systems. For more information contact us today.