Specialist IP Camera Store since 2004
Public Sector & Education • Business & Enterprise • Home Security
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0151 633 2111
How can you make your CCTV system greener?
In a recent blog we explored how easy it was to find the green credentials of the major IP camera brands we supply, in an aim to see “how green your IP camera really is”. It’s clear that most manufacturers are continuously looking at ways that they can be “greener” – from the materials they use through to their transportation options, but the end-user can make a difference too.
Recognising the impact your CCTV system can have on the environment is a challenge for everyone, but it’s worth remembering the additional benefit of reducing the energy consumption of your video surveillance system is a potential saving for your organisation.
Choosing the right camera for live streaming your next event
When it comes to choosing a camera for live streaming, there are plenty of options out there from high-end HDMI cameras to cheap USB webcams, but if you’re looking for that best-value balance between quality, versatility and price, we recommend that an IP camera is the way to go.
But which one is right for you? And what features should you be looking for?
If you’ve read our recent blog post – 5 mistakes to avoid when live streaming an event, you’ll know it’s important that the camera you choose has great image quality and supports high quality audio but there are some other features worth considering to ensure you get the best results.
We’ve picked out a few of the main attributes that you should look for when choosing a camera for live streaming your next event.
5 mistakes to avoid when live streaming an event
So you’ve decided to stream your next live event. You already know there are plenty of benefits to live streaming, but how can you ensure you make it a real success and get the most from your setup?
Picking the right equipment for the job, using a suitable hosting service and a little preparation goes a long way to ensuring your live stream looks and sounds great for all of your audience, but if you’re not sure where to begin, this can seem a little daunting.
To help get you started, we’ve got some practical tips that will help you avoid 5 common mistakes made when streaming a live event.
The phenomenon of Viewer Creep in IP video systems
A well-known form of ‘Creep’ many of you will have heard of is Mission Creep linked to humanitarian interventions in war-torn countries which escalate into, initially unintended, long-lasting military campaigns.
In the world of software coding, programmers talk about Feature Creep as system features or capabilities are extended mid-way through projects. Meanwhile, project managers frequently bemoan Scope Creep, the process by which a project grows beyond its originally anticipated size or complexity.
Axis launch own mobile app for Axis Camera Companion
With quick and easy access to IP video systems from mobile devices being ever more important, Axis has launched its own mobile app for Axis Camera Companion (ACC). Mobile surveillance apps allow access to an IP video system using the internet, and provide handy remote live viewing and management of recorded video whilst away from a site. Until now, only third party mobile apps were available to access Axis cameras, but this is no longer the case…
HOWTO add your network camera to Internet Explorer’s Compatibility View
When you’re setting up an IP camera or NVR, some devices require a browser to pre-configure your camera. For many devices this means using Internet Explorer and the ActiveX plugin.
This setup can be frustrating if you can only see a white screen.
Using a video recording and management system can allow you to view and configure devices in some situations. There are still occasions when you can only change your settings through Internet Explorer (IE), especially with the lower-end cameras on the market.
CCTV frame rate comparison – which is right for me?
IP cameras come with a range of frame rates with most offering 30 frames per second (FPS) but an increasing number offering 60 FPS or more. If you’re new to the technology it’s tempting to use the highest setting, as the higher the better? Right?
Well no, this is not the case for most applications.
Apart from considering the right frame rate for the scene being monitored, also bear in mind that increasing the frame rate will increase storage requirements and CPU use. This may not be such a big deal when you only operate a few cameras but the cost of hardware may ramp up quickly if you operate a larger camera estate.
How to use the Focus Assistant on Axis IP Cameras
A useful, but often overlooked feature on Axis model network cameras P1311/P1343/P1344/P1346/P1347 is the Focus Assistant. Focusing security cameras via the lens levers can be a tricky business and any installer welcomes a neat trick or device that makes this vital step of the installation process easier and more accurate.
Using this tool it is possible to focus the camera accurately without looking at the video image output from the camera, but to adjust the focus and get visual feedback from the camera itself when the view is nearing and has hit that focus sweet spot.
HOWTO set azimuth on a Sony SNC-EP550
A useful and unique feature on Sony’s keenly priced HD PTZ dome the SNC-EP550 is its azimuth, or ‘compass point’ setting. This howto also applies to other PTZ cameras in Sony’s latest range.
Calibrating the camera’s azimuth allows you to display the camera’s compass point orientation on the on-screen display (OSD) via the camera’s ‘superimpose’ setting. This can be especially handy for anyone orienting the view against a map or a set of site drawings.
The process to set azimuth is very simple:
What’s IPv6 and Why Should I Care?
IPv6 (Internet Protocol version 6) is the latest version of the Internet Protocol – the method by which devices (including those which are available publicly as websites) link together and communicate with each other. It also enables Smartphones, laptops, tablets and other mobile devices to connect to Wi-Fi hotspots and use mobile data. That little router blinking in the corner of your living room supplied by your Internet Service Provider (ISP) wouldn’t connect to the ISP exchange circuits without using the Internet Protocol.
2013 is likely to be the biggest year yet in the switch to IPv6 for homes, business and internet providers alike.
