Closed-circuit TV, or as it is often called CCTV, uses closed-circuit cameras to transmit an electric signal to a specified location, usually a monitor. The monitor will display a live image that the surveillance equipment is monitoring, and the camera is generally placed near the monitor to record what it sees.
Closed-circuit TV has become quite popular in various areas of the globe, especially in places where they require a lot of surveillance equipment for security purposes. Not only are closed-circuit video surveillance systems used to protect property or people, but for the detection of crimes, to locate lost persons, and to monitor the activities of animals. However, there is some controversy about the effects of CCTV in some circumstances. The concerns have led to the development of more sophisticated technologies and equipment.
Open-circuit television, on the other hand, has the same advantages and the same drawbacks. Closed-circuit TV equipment can be set up anywhere, even on mobile phone towers and airplanes, which provides surveillance in remote locations. Closed-circuits offer a clear picture, which is not possible with open-circuits. Also, closed-circuit TV cameras are relatively costly compared to open-circuits. If you buy an open-circuit TV set, you will likely need to purchase another set of closed-circuit TV cameras to supplement the open-circuit equipment.
In closed-circuit cameras, they transmit images via one wire, either run through the wall or via a cable. It is essential to protect the wires running through the wall against interference. That’s because the images transmitted through the wires are not entirely encrypted, and hackers could compromise them. As long as the wires are kept separate from each other, the problem can be solved.
Closed-circuit cameras have their disadvantages, like the fact that the quality of images produced by them is not as good as closed-circuit TV images. Closed-circuit cameras can transmit images in black and white and lower resolution, making them less effective than the high definition cameras used in open-circuits. The images also tend to fade at the edges as they pass through the lighting and air.
There are two types of closed-circuit systems, namely, full-motion closed-circuit cameras and closed-circuit systems with a monochromatic display. These cameras have a single color screen and only send an image when the light hits it, making it difficult to distinguish between different colors. Other closed-circuit cameras have a combination of monochromatic and color displays, to give the images a more natural look.
There are two main types of closed-circuit cameras: hard-wired and wireless. A hard-wired system has to be wired to the property’s electrical supplies, while the wireless ones have to connect to a personal computer, which must link to the surveillance equipment itself. The wireless cameras are easy to move around.
A digital video recorder (DVR) is a computerized recorder, which records both video and audio streams. It has a large capacity and is more expensive than traditional closed-circuit cameras. However, experts recommend monitoring the movement of vehicles in large parking lots and for business owners concerned about their customers’ safety.
The closed-circuit cameras are also known as closed-circuit security cameras, as they can monitor motion, rather than an image. They work on the principle of a magnetic field. The concept found its first use in surveillance cameras, which are capable of recording moving objects, which are then read by the camera’s processor. The closed-circuit cameras have a variety of features, including panning, zooming, anti-shake, panning lock, time-delay time, focus, and auto-record.
Video recording requires a unique set of cables, which are attached to the DVRs. In closed-circuit systems, the cables can either run through walls or in a bundle. Many people refer to them as DVR cables, a trademark of Sony. The DVR cables carry digital video data and pass through a circuit board. Digital signals pass through a series of memory chips and to the processor and processed into an image.
Most cameras have a VGA-compatible monitor attached to them, which allows the DVR to display video. The monitor is required, as the images produced by the DVR are not clear if they are transmitted directly from the DVR to the video screen. The monitor is mounted at the DVR’s side and controlled using a remote control. The motion detected by the video monitor is transferred to and displayed on the monitor.
The Possible Consequences of Not Using CCTV
Crime is on the rise across our nation, and business owners need to take security seriously. Installing and using closed-circuit TV security systems not only acts as a powerful deterrent from crime, but in the event of an actual crime, the recording is a useful piece of evidence. Consider the difficulty of proving a crime without video evidence.
Law enforcement today needs all the help they can get solving crimes. If a closed-circuit TV camera captures an image of a criminal in the act, police can appeal to the public to identify the person and make an arrest. Without a picture of the criminal, police are hamstrung in their efforts to solve the case, making their work more difficult.
Depending on the type of business you’re protecting, a camera aimed at entrances and exits and other areas susceptible to employee theft can deter or minimize that and other related crimes. Also, security cameras can announce to employees they’re being watched.
Some people will decry the video security systems, and they could be the same people who would otherwise cause problems. With video proof, it’s unlikely they would cause trouble on the premises. The money and hassle saved are incalculable.
Click here to learn about Advantages of a CCTVs.
Learn more about A1 Key & Security Solutions and our products.