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There are normally six things to look at before Selecting a CCTV security systems;

1. Camera Selection

2. Recording Options

3. Detection

4. Time and Date Stamping

5. Cable and Connectors

6. Camera Protection

1.0 Camera Selection

1.1 Location

Is the camera to be located indoors or outdoors? If outdoors then you need to ensure that it is appropriate for the environmental conditions that are likely to be encountered such as rain, snow, sun-glare, low light etc. Outdoor CCTV camera security systems Outdoor cameras should either be classed as weather resistant or mounted in a special enclosure to provide protection. All CCTV outdoor cameras provided by Voltek are weather resistant and the cable entry points are sealed. The leads are of sufficient length to enable connections to be made inside the building.

1.2 Light Levels

Choosing the right camera based on the amount of available light is very important for an effective security system. An ordinary colour or even monochrome camera will not give very good pictures in low light conditions although the monochrome will perform better than an equivalent colour one. Solutions available for low light conditions can include:

* B&W cameras with built in IR illumination

* Colour Day / Night cameras

* Use of additional security lighting

* Use of a separate IR illuminator in conjunction with a monochrome camera. When using IR illumination ensure that the range of the illuminators is adequate for your needs.

Light levels are usually measured in lux and although full daylight can be around 10,000 lux, dusk can be as low as 1-10 lux, complete darkness is 0 lux and side street lighting can also be less than 1 lux in some cases. The closer a camera is rated to 0 lux the better its performance in low light levels.

1.3 Colour, Black and White or Day Night Cameras

B&W cameras generally provide better image quality than colour ones at lower light levels. They are also usually cheaper than colour ones of equivalent specification. Colour cameras require the availability of good lighting and will generally provide better recognition capability. Day Night cameras provide the best of both worlds in an external environment. They operate as colour cameras during the day (or in good light conditions) and automatically change to B&W when the light levels drop. All Voltek Day Night cameras are supplied with built-in Infra-red illuminators which enable the cameras to see in darkness.

1.4 Wired or Wireless

Wireless CCTV cameras are easier to install. There is no cabling to run from the camera to the receiver and they are ideal for temporary applications, rapid deployment or where running cable is not desirable. TheDay Night wireless Security CCTV cameras cameras do however require a power source and whilst most will have the capability to be powered by batteries these do not have a very long life – a matter of hours in some cases. Wherever possible the cameras should be powered by the mains. Typical range for wireless camera systems is 100m free-space but this can reduce significantly to around 20 meters in a typical household environment. In some cases there is also the potential for interference when using wireless systems.

1.5 Visible Deterrence or Covert / Discreet Monitoring

For visible deterrence the use of larger cameras housed in traditional enclosures are ideal. For covert or discreet applications Voltek supplies Discreet or Covert CCTV security cameras that are:

* Very small and can be installed in covert locations, or

* In enclosures designed to disguise the presence of a camera.

Many of the cameras manufactured by Voltek are both stylish and discreet in the design of their enclosures and this makes them very suitable for domestic applications.

1.6 Audio

If the ability to monitor or record sound is important then the camera needs to have a built-in microphone. This enables one-way audio monitoring. Some cameras such as the SuperCam2 from Voltek have a 2-way speech facility that enables you to speak with your visitor without answering the door.

1.7 Camera Viewing Quality

The resolution, size and type of camera sensor will influence the quality of the viewable image.

Resolution – This is expressed as the number of television lines (TVL) that the camera is capable of producing. The higher the TVL value the greater the resolution and hence the quality of the images. A typical entry-level camera will be around 300 TVL with higher resolution cameras having a value of 400+ TVL.

Size – A larger image sensor will give a better image definition than a smaller sensor. For example, a 1/3” image sensor will produce a better image than a 1/4 ” sensor.

Type – There are 2 types of image sensor. CMOS sensors are mass-produced and used in entry-level cameras to provide cost savings. CCD sensors are used in professional CCTV cameras and provide a higher quality image.

It is important to remember that the quality of the recorder also influences the quality of the CCTV footage. For example, if you use a high-resolution camera but a low-resolution recorder then the CCTV footage that is captured will still be of low resolution.

1.8 Single Camera or Multiple Camera Systems

Do you need to protect and view a single area or multiple areas? If you are likely to require protection of additional areas at a future date then consider buying a system that can be expanded as and when required. Voltek has a range of products that will allow you to connect and use up to 4, 8 or even 16 cameras. These include:

Switchers – These are units that enable a multi-camera system to switch between the various cameras. The switching can be done in a number of ways:

* Manually by the user

* Automatic sequential switching between cameras

* Upon detection of movement by a PIR camera.

Multiple Security CCTV cameras with Switchers The cameras are connected to the switcher and the output from the switcher can be viewed on a TV or it can be connected directly to the recording device such as the VCR or DVD recorder. CCTV switchers can typically allow connection of upto 4 or 8 cameras. The Spectrum control units from Voltek also have additional built-in functionality such as automatic video activation and time and date stamp. It is important to remember however that using a switcher will only allow you to view and record one camera at a time.

Standalone DVRs – Use of digital video recorders allows single or multi-camera systems to be viewed and / or recorded simultaneously.

Voltek supplies a range of 4, 8 and 16 channel DVRs allowing you to install a very comprehensive cctv system.

PC-Based Security Systems – These make use of a PCI card that is fitted inside your computer. They will allow connection of upto 4, 8 or 16 cameras and help turn your existing PC into a sophisticated cctv system.

2.0 Recording Options

If you want to be able to record your CCTV footage then the following factors need to be taken into account:

* Maximum length of recording time required

* Quality of recording

* Method of recording:

o Continuous

o Manual

o Event Led – i.e. when your system detects motion

* Recording Equipment

o Analogue

o Digital

* Capability for storage, retrieval and transfer of cctv footage

2.1 Domestic VCR

This is a simple and low cost option that can provide good quality footage recorded in real time. VCRs can be used to provide continuous recording of up-to 8 hours or event led recording when used in conjunction with a PIR camera and a VCR activator. When using PIR cameras to carry out event led recordings you need to consider the start-up time for the VCR. For example, if the recorder takes a few seconds to actually begin recording each time it receives the signal from the camera then the event may have elapsed before it is recorded (a person walking across the camera range may have passed the field of view before the image is captured on tape). In these situations a separate PIR detector could be used to trigger the recording and overcome this problem. The other thing to bear in mind is that you cannot set the VCR to record a TV channel whilst the camera input is selected.

2.2 Domestic DVD Recorder

These operate on a similar principle to the domestic VCR but offer the additional benefits of:

* Higher quality digital recording

* Increased storage capacity

* Improved search and retrieval capability

However, for disk only recorders the start-up time before recording actually commences is generally longer than a VCR. To overcome this it is recommended that recorders with a built-in hard drive are used

2.3 Standalone Digital Video Recorders

These are rapidly becoming the most popular method of recording CCTV footage. Essentially a DVR is a standalone piece of hardware that is designed exclusively for recording CCTV footage. It has a number ofDigital Security camera recorders clear advantages over the traditional analogue systems and these include:

* Storage Capacity – Days, weeks and even months of high resolution recording is possible through use of large capacity hard drives

* Consistent Quality Recording – No deterioration of image quality no matter how many you overwrite onto the recording device or how long you store the images for

* Viewing and Retrieval – Quick and easy access of footage due to digital format

* Transfer and Storage – The digital format allows ease of transfer and storage of footage. Transfer and storage capability is further enhanced by DVRs with built-in CD writers and USB ports.

* Remote Access – Many DVRs have the capability for remote access from anywhere in the world through use of a remote PC

* Multiplexed Recording – Capability to view and record multiple cameras simultaneously.

2.4 PCI Cards

These are digital video capture cards that can be fitted inside your existing PC to allow the connection of multiple CCTV cameras. The functionality and benefits of PCI cards is very similar to that of DVRs.

3.0 Detection

Even with systems that have a very long recording capacity, it is not always desirable to record continuously. Event-led recording is a more efficient means of capturing relevant footage and can be achieved by:

3.1 PIR Movement Detectors

Some cameras have PIR detectors built-in and for those that don’t it is possible to install a separate PIR as part of the overall system. In multiple camera systems with PIRs the footage that is being displayed on screen will automatically change to the area that has detected movement.

3.2 Video Motion Detection

This is used in digital CCTV systems and works by analysing the video signal from a camera. Changes in signal are recognised as movement and subsequently used to trigger recording if required. All Voltek digital systems allow users to mark one or more rectangular areas within the display screen and only when motion is detected within these areas will the system begin recording. Where possible, use of PIR movement detection is preferable rather than video motion detection, as it more reliable particularly for external use.

4.0 Time and Date Stamping

This feature superimposes the time and date onto your CCTV footage. Having this feature can be really useful to identify when an event occurred and was recorded, particularly if the footage is to be used for evidence purposes. For domestic systems Voltek offers a separate time and date generator that can be added to your system. The Spectrum control CCTV securyty cameras has this facility already built-in. The facility is also integral to all the Voltek range of digital CCTV systems.

5.0 Cable and Connectors

Security camera wires connectors Cameras can be connected in a variety of ways. All our domestic cameras are supplied with 20m of cable and scart and / or phono plugs to connect directly into your TV, VCR or DVD recorder. All our professional cameras are supplied with 20m of cable and BNC connectors that will plug into our range of digital recorders. The Voltek camera leads can be extended upto 100m in total by the use of appropriate extension leads. Co-axial cable with a local power supply to the camera can enable the camera to be sited upto 250m away from the monitor or recording device. Detailed information on connectors and cable for each of the Voltek cameras is available on the relevant product page on the website.

6.0 Camera Protection

If your camera is likely to be a target for vandals then consider protecting it with one of Voltel wire cages is a Security camera wire cages

must. This not only saves your Security cameras from Vandalas but protects any evidences collected during the vandal acts.

We at For your Home along with Voltek really hope the following guide will help you in selecting the perfect security cameras for Your Homes and Gardens

Not sure what kind of hidden camera that you need? Hopefully this article will help.

Monitoring a room using video capturing equipment is fairly easy. There is a wide variety of equipment on the market to accomplish this. Listed below are some of the different types of equipment used to covertly capture video.

Miniature Wireless cameras

Hidden wireless cameras

Hidden IP cameras

Miniature Hard wired cameras

Hidden hard wired cameras

Motion activated all-in-one recording systems

Motion activated still shot cameras

Miniature Wireless cameras

Miniature Wireless cameras can be a suitable choice given the right situation. A mini wireless camera will need power to operate the camera, whether it is battery or plugged directly into the wall. Most mini wireless cameras will run on a standard 9 volt battery. The battery will last between 4 and 8 hours depending both on the battery that you choose and the camera specifications. I generally recommend plugging it into the wall when possible.

Some other considerations are where to conceal the camera and where/ what to record on or view the camera on. The camera could be easily hidden in a plant or you could build something to conceal the camera. Most mini wireless cameras have a pin hole lens so you can easily hide them in a box or possibly in a book or anything else that you can think of. You could even set the camera inside of an air vent looking out. Recording is probably the biggest obstacle. The receiver can be plugged into a TV for viewing live. However, If you cannot sit and watch all the time there is a good chance that you will miss all the action. You could also plug the receiver into a VCR to record onto a VHS tape. The problem there is that you have to find a place to hide the VCR and you can only record as long as the VHS tape will allow. For example, you start recording at eight o’clock in the morning when you leave for work. Your partner is due home at Two o’clock. If your tape will only hold six hours you are going to miss what you were trying get catch on tape. You could also you a digital video recorder with motion activation. This is probably a better choice, but still has problems. A Motion activated recorder works great with a hard wired camera, but has problems when it comes to wireless cameras. The way a motion activated DVR works is that it can sense the pixelation change coming through the camera when something moves and knows to record. All wireless cameras have interference. There is nothing you can do about it. It’s just the nature of the beast. When the DVR senses the change in pixels caused by interference it thinks it is motion and ends up recording almost all of the time.

There are better options that I will cover in the paragraphs to follow.

Hidden wireless cameras

Hidden wireless cameras, also know as a nanny cam, makes things a little easier because the camera comes pre hidden. You can get wireless cameras built into just about any thing you can imagine from televisions to air fresheners. While these cameras do make it easier you will still have the same concerns with recording as you would with a standard wireless camera.

Hard wired miniature cameras

Hard wired miniature cameras are definitely more reliable than wireless but still pose some problems. As with the wireless camera you still have to hide the camera and find a way to record or view the camera. The main problem with the hard wired camera is that you have to run a cable from the camera to the recording device. In some situations this may not be a problem, but in most situations it is not practical.

Recording is easier with a hard wired camera because you can use a motion activated DVR effectively. For instance in the example given for wireless cameras you could start recording when you leave for work and the motion activated DVR would not record anything until it saw movement in the cameras range. Most motion activated DVRs can be adjusted to record for a very long time. Pre hidden hard wired cameras can also be purchased.

Hidden IP cameras

Hidden IP cameras are similar to a hidden wireless camera in that they come pre concealed inside of many everyday items and they are also wireless. That is where the similarity ends. With an IP camera the video signal is sent through the electrical system of the house. The receiver is then plugged into a wall outlet near your computer and connected to a USB port on your computer. Using the software that comes with the system you can then view and record the images on your computer. An IP camera will also enable you to view your camera from anywhere in the world with internet access as long as the computer with camera connected to it is also connected to the computer.

The one drawback to an IP camera is that the software is not hidden on the computer. So, if your partner sees the software on the computer you may have some explaining to do.

Hidden still shot cameras

Hidden still shot cameras may be a good option depending on the circumstances. One of the best brands that I have found is the Home Guard. It is motion activated and records pictures at an adjustable frame rate when it senses motion. You can adjust the frame rate from one picture every second when motion is detected to ten pictures every second. I normally suggest setting it to take one picture every second.

There are no wires or cables, it records onto an internal chip and saves the images for future viewing. The Home Guard looks like an air freshener so it will “fit in” in any environment. Most of my clients that use the home Guard will take a sticker off of another air freshener product such as Glade or Air Fresh and place it on the home guard to make it more believable.

Motion activated all-in-one hidden camera

Motion activated all-in-one hidden camera/recording systems are my hidden camera of choice. They come in a very large selection of products making it easy to select one that will work in almost any situation.

These devices are totally self contained. They can be easily deployed and take away all of the worries that you may have with other choices that you may be considering to capture video.

The all-in-one units are motion activated and require no cables, receivers or external recording devices. Simply place the device where you want it and let it go to work. You can then view the video that it recorded right off of the unit itself or remove the SD card and view the video on a computer.

This is by far the easiest and most reliable of the options available to secretly capture video.

There are a number of factors to be considered when you are choosing a drug treatment center for your self or your loved ones. Here are some of the factors to consider in choosing the drug treatment center that meets your requirement the best:

Type of Facility: Residential drug treatment center usually fall under three categories: Adolescent facility for ages 13-17, Young People Facilities for ages 17-25 and Adult Facilities for age over 18 years. Specialized treatments and group activities will vary from category to category and you need to choose the right category that matches your lifestyle and your individual needs.

Level of care: There are five different levels of care available at most treatment centers- Detoxification, Primary Care, Extended Care, Partial Care and Outpatient Care. You will need to choose a drug treatment center which can provide the level of care required by the addict. You need to consider factors like degree of addiction, substance of addiction and the nature of withdrawal from that substance in choosing the level of care required. For instance, prolonged use of substances like heroine and barbiturates can produce severe withdrawal symptoms which can also be fatal. In such cases, all five levels of care may be required to completely cure the addiction and rehabilitate the patient. On the other hand, addiction to substances like marijuana may not require extended or even in-patient treatment.

Duration of treatment: Drug treatment centers are known to offer drug treatment programs which are as short as a week. Considering the varieties of physical and psychological issues involved in drug rehabilitation, a week long treatment can hardly be effective. Experts consider any treatment below 90 days to be ineffective in completely treating a person from drug addiction. Choose a drug treatment center that offers a treatment program of appropriate duration in comparison to the level of drug addiction in a person.

Treatment Services: Different levels of addiction to different drugs require different treatments. Choose a treatment center that can offer you all the services required to overcome your level of drug addiction. Services usually fall under the categories: Clinical, medical and 12 Step treatment services. While some treatment centers offer all three services, most are restricted to only medical and 12 Step treatment services.

Location of the treatment center: You may choose to go to a treatment center in or outside your own city. While the quality of the treatment centers and the services provided by them is a huge factor in making this choice, you may also want to consider if you are more comfortable in an environment that is most familiar to you or if you would prefer to take your treatment away from your routine life.

South Carolina has a lot of treatment options for every kind of addiction and it might definitely become difficult for someone who does not know the addiction treatment program in South Carolina quite well to select the most appropriate kind of program. Here are some tips that can help you to find the right kind of drug treatment program in South Carolina.

1. The first thing that you must look is that you are getting the treatment program that is designed for the kind of addiction the patient is in. For example, if the patient is in a heroin addiction, it is imperative that the treatment program must be a heroin treatment program. In fact, this is one point you have to keep in mind when you are checking the licensing information of these treatment centers. It is not enough that the treatment center has a license for general drug addiction treatment; it should be licensed for that particular form of addiction that you are looking for. Only a treatment center that has a specific license and expertise for a particular kind of addiction will be able to handle the subtleties of the treatment appropriately.

2. Secondly, make sure that you acquaint yourself with the drug treatment program in South Carolina quite well. You need to know what all kinds of treatment programs are permissible within the state. Reading on a website such as the National Clearinghouse, the National Institute of Drug Abuse or the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration will do quite well in this case, because these federal websites have a great deal of information on what programs are qualified for drug addiction treatment in South Carolina. You can find out what works and what doesn’t.

3. Read the program that is conducted by the treatment center that you are considering also. Each treatment center has a different kind of treatment program and the patient may not be comfortable with all of them. In fact, for every level of addiction, there is a different drug treatment program in South Carolina. Hence you have to make sure that the treatment program you are selecting is not above or below the person’s requirements.

4. At the same time, you have to read what kinds of facilities the treatment center will provide. Not all treatment centers have all the facilities that the patient would need for the treatment. Most treatment centers for drug addiction in South Carolina are merely counseling centers and they do not have a detox treatment program, for example. This could be inconvenient for the patient, even if the treatment center sends the patient to an outside center for the treatment. Also, nursing care may not be present round the clock in all centers of drug addiction treatment in South Carolina. There may not be personal attention on each and every patient. Make sure of all these things because they can very significantly influence the way the patient responds to the treatment.

5. You have to see whether the program is a qualified treatment program or not. The qualified treatment programs are those programs that are sanctioned by the state for addiction treatment. Getting into such a treatment program gives you the confidence that you are with a tried and tested treatment program that has more chances of succeeding. Also, these programs will be cheaper because they may have state funding and even the insurance companies will be agreeable to cover the treatment in these centers. On the other hand, the nonqualified treatment programs might be quite expensive for you because they are conducted in private rehab centers and there is no assurance of treatment either.

6. Location is important if you are in an outpatient treatment format. For inpatient treatment, it does not matter much because the patient stays within the center. So if you are agreeable with the drug treatment program in South Carolina of a particular center but it is not within your city, you can still use it if it is an inpatient form of treatment. However, you will need to change the treatment program over to your state when the inpatient phase of the treatment ends and it gets into the aftercare mode which is usually outpatient.

These are some of the points that you need to know when you are planning a drug treatment program in South Carolina. Getting an intervention specialist to help you in planning the program is a very good idea because they will also guide you through the entire treatment process and also let you know what you must do in order to prevent a relapse at the end of the program.

Drug addiction is a progressive disease. The addiction needs to be curbed at the correct time with a correct treatment to save ill effects which could be as bad as death. Hence it is important to know the right kind of treatment program. In a place like Washington, where there are so many treatment centers with their immense treatment programs, it becomes a bit difficult to select the most appropriate treatment program pertaining to a patient’s needs and profile.

Let us look at some of the important things you must know while selecting a drug treatment program in Washington for a patient:

1. The right type of facility:

The first step is to choose the correct facility. The facilities are based on the age namely for adults, young people and adolescents. Therefore depending on the patient’s age you choose the correct facility.

2. The appropriate service:

Choosing the correct service depends on the patient’s file and the level of support that the patient needs. It could be primary or extended care service where a patient needs a full support, the patient stays at the treatment centers and is under a round the clock observations. The service rendered could also be partial care which is for patients who are treated without having to stop their daily routine be it school or work. There is yet another service called the detoxification service, where a patient is being treated by medications.

3. The appropriate treatment:

This is also an important thing to know. There is a difference in the type of drug the patient is using and the correct treatment for that particular drug. Like for a Hallucinogen drug addict, there are treatments solely concentrating on the hallucinogen drug recovery.

4. Customer Service:

You can determine a lot about the treatment centre with the customer service they provide. A simple answer to an enquiry phone, the level of information they impart, the constructive suggestions they give, the emotional support they give in case of anxiety, travel facility all of these could tell you a lot about the treatment centre and the program.

5. The Safety Provisions:

The patient’s safety at the treatment centre can be easily determined by the treatment center’s appropriate license sanctioned with Washington’s health authorities which also includes regular inspections. Also the provisions for on campus medical help, experienced, educated and disciplined staff, a round the clock supervision can also help you evaluate your chosen treatment in the drug treatment program in Washington.

6. Quality treatment facility:

Quality treatment includes different approaches for drug treatment. For the residential treatments, how flexible they are to meet the needs of the patient, how effectively they engage the patients during their stay, how balanced they are in the activities throughout the day, the variety of the therapy, recreation, nutrition and hygiene. The after treatment follow up is a very important feature in a treatment too. At the same time family should be able to judge and compare the various activities and features of the training centers and be able to select the best according to the patient’s need.

7. Counseling for Families:

After the treatment, when a patient returns home a changed man, nothing changes much at home. The family finds it difficult to adjust to this change and the thought that the addiction may relapse, always plays at the back of their minds. This thought may affect their actions in turn affecting their relationship. Therefore counseling sessions with the family are necessary.

8. Cost:

Cost may sometimes be a major hurdle for the people in Washington. Some helpful tips before you enroll in a drug treatment centre. If you need a detoxifying and a primary service for the patient it would help looking for a centre which provides both the service under one hat. This allows you to have two services at one go. It also helps to leave a bout of money for after treatment services.

9. Location:

The drug treatment program in Washington has seen a lot of change in the last few years with respect to location. The initial stereotype with the word “rehab center” that it is some sort of punishment has shifted and more comfortable and home like centers are seen. Also according to the patient’s stage of addiction an outdoor or an indoor form of treatment is selected.

These are some of the tips you can remember while looking for a drug treatment program in Washington. Nowadays there are integration programs and services that make your search smoother from selecting the most appropriate clinic centre to administration paper work to regular update of treatment to discharge and also mentoring.