ExacqVision software update

Taken from the Exacq Blog:

Version 3.6 of exacqVision Video Management Software has just been released. This latest release, compatible with all exacqVision Hybrid and IP video surveillance systems, incorporates new features and enhancements, and continues our quest for rapid, incremental updates.

Version 3.6 is available for download here. Key features in the 3.6 Release:

• Enhanced Smart Search
• Multi-System User Configuration
• Basler IP camera support
• IQeye 4-series IP camera support
• PCSC Access Control integration

CCTV Installation Rules of Thumb

Camera Positioning

-To reduce reflections, always position the camera/lens as forward as possible inside the housing.

-Always position fixed cameras below the horizon to eliminate sunlight glare.

-Always be aware of true east and west when designing outdoor camera systems. If cameras are facing east or west, there is a good chance you will see unwanted glare from these directions. Proper placement of cameras in relation to east and west is critical to a properly designed CCTV surveillance system.

Dome Types

-The use of tinted domes will reduce the available light to the camera. Typically, a normal tinting will reduce the light by a factor of 1 f-stop. This is equivalent to dividing the available light by 2.

-The use of mirrored domes will greatly reduce the available light to the camera. Typically a mirrored dome will reduce the light by a factor of 2 f-stops or more. This is equivalent to dividing the available light by 4.

PTZ Cameras vs. Fixed

-If a guard is available 24/7 to monitor, PTZ cameras are a practical solution.

-If searching “after the fact” is the norm, then PTZ cameras are not as practical as fixed with the proper field of view.

Megapixel vs. Analog Cameras

-Digital pan/tilt/zoom is very popular among security directors when searching for video after an incident has occurred. Megapixel cameras will give you the ability to perform digital pan/tilt and zoom features when searching for video. Megapixel camera will give you better resolution than analog cameras, but will require more hard drive capacity for storage.

Video Motion Detectors

-REMEMBER: If you can’t see it, you can’t detect it.

-Use the correct camera/lens for the desired field of view

Wiring runs with fixed mounts

-Many mounts now have accommodations for running the wiring inside the mounts and exiting just below the cameras. Make sure you utilize this feature if your mount has it to improve the aesthetics of the installation.

Should IP cameras be UL Listed?

Occasionally, customers ask me about "Underwriters Laboratories"-listed IP cameras (devices tested and approved by the nonprofit product safety organization). They wonder whether or not a non-UL-listed IP camera can cause a life-safety issue during any life-threatening emergency. All IP cameras should be powered up using a UL-listed power supply, whether a POE switch or a power injector. I am not sure if you can even find a non-UL-listed POE switch and injector, so for all practical purposes, it should be a non-issue. Since all Power Over Ethernet IP cameras lack their own power supplies, they wouldn't be listed with UL. If someone has a good reason to use a non-UL-listed camera, I would love to hear it.

Q&A #1

A question from a local building and grounds director:

Q: I am currently recording video with DVRs. This gives me the retention I need but my cameras are not giving me the quality I need to identify students. Some of my DVRs are now going “End of Life”. My analog cameras are still working properly even though they are not giving me the proper resolution so I can identify people. What is the best way to correct this problem?

A: This isn't uncommon. Your first issue is the video quality. One way to correct this is to check the camera's lens type. If it's a varifocal lens, then try zooming in closer to obtain the required field of view (so you're able to identify students).

Alternatively, replace the lens with a telephoto lens. Instead of using an 8 mm lens, use a 25 mm lens instead. This will give you a more close-up view of the scene and maybe allow the operator to identify students. Many of the camera manufacturers now offer a lens field of view calculator, which indicates what mm lens will offer you the best field of view based upon your requirements.

As for your DVRs' end of life, try hybrid DVRs. Ensure that the hybrid DVR is compatible with the Video Management Software being considered for future.

Power over Ethernet for IP Surveillance Systems

You've probably seen advertisements for POE switches and POE-compatible IP cameras. Here's what this all means, at least as far as IP cameras and other devices that are installed over an Ethernet network.

POE is an established technology that provides low-voltage direct current (DC) power delivery to network devices over the same wires that currently carry data. This means you can now run only one cable and still be able to both power the device and transfer data. The specifications come from the IEEE standard 802.af. This allows the powering device to use a voltage from 36-57 VCD. The most common voltage found is 48 volts.

Here are the different classes of POE devices.
Class Usage Maximum Power Levels at Input of Powered Device [Watt]
0 Default 0.44 - 12.94
1 Optional 0.44 - 3.84
2 Optional 3.84 - 6.49
3 Optional 6.49 - 12.95
4 Reserved (PSEs classify as Class 0)

One of the problems with CCTV IP cameras is that sometimes a heater, blower and a PTZ device are needed in some applications. The current standard only provides a maximum of 15.4 watts. Most PTZ devices and heaters and blower exceed this maximum.

There is good news on the horizon. A future standard, commonly referred to as POE+, is being developed by the IEEE 802.3at task force. There is still debate on the maximum wattage, but it is typically between 24 and 30 watts. This will allow many manufacturers to design their PTZ cameras with heaters and blowers around this new standard and still only run one cable to the camera location from the network switch.

Understanding IP Megapixel Resolution

Many end users will specify a mega pixel resolution camera but not consider what they will actually see with the cameras themselves. Many manufacturers have their own numbers for the ability to identify people and license plates. This number is called the pixel density (how many pixels are available in a given space) and is stated as pixels per foot. We will use one manufacturer’s number of 45 pixels per foot to be able to read a license plate.

Let’s say we have a three megapixel camera and we want to know if we will be able to have license plate recognition (LPR). The formula for determining this is as follows:
Pixel Density (PD) = Pixels (camera resolution)/ Field of View.
For our example, our field of view is 30 feet.
The horizontal pixel count for a 3 mega pixel camera is 2048 pixels.

PD = 2048 / 30
PD = 68.2 pixels per foot

The answer is yes, we will be able to read the license plate with a field of view of 30 feet, using a 3 megapixel camera.

We can look at this from another perspective. What would my field of view be if I have a 5 megapixel camera and I still want to have the ability to view license plates?
The horizontal pixel count for a 5 mega pixel camera is 2592 pixels.
Field of View (FOV) = Pixels / Pixel Density

FOV = 2592 / 45
FOV = 57.6 feet

Before the camera system is installed, examine what exactly you want to view and don't just blindly install cameras in all locations.

Success in Flushing Community School District

Between top education priorities and the Fourth of July weekend, we didn't have time to put together a new tip for you. Fortunately, our friends at Exacq have a success story to share.

The Flushing Community School District covers 65 square miles, with a population of approximately 25,000. K-12 enrollment is approximately 4,277 students, with 8 school buildings serving the educational needs of the students.

exacqVision video management software (VMS) was installed to help Flushing administration "monitor student behavior after the fact." exacqVision is installed on two industry standard servers with video recording to a 30TB iSCSI disk array. ExacqVision manages 149 IP cameras and encoders located throughout 8 school buildings to provide a safe and orderly environment in which all student have an opportunity to realize their potential.

Each school has the exacqVision client software installed on the principals' and secretaries' PCs, giving them access to only those cameras located in their buildings. When an incident is reported, staff will search digital video recorded on the servers to investigate and support their findings. Video can be easily exported to a DVD or USB flash drive and may be shown to students, parents or police as per board policy. Video evidence helps Flushing reduce repeat offenses.

The complete success story can be found at http://www.exacq.com/downloads/exacqvision-education-fcs.pdf.

Designing your networks for IP video

So you've made the decision to go with an IP Video Management system. How do you design your network to handle all of the video from the IP cameras? Here's what to think about:

A. Bandwidth available: If you're installing the new camera system on an existing network (not recommended), how much overhead do you have to devote to the new system?
Some common guidelines include:
1. A maximum of 5 Mbps on each network port
2. Not more than 100 Mbps per uplink
3. Not more than 500 Mbps per NVR server port
Remember that to transmit IP video images that are measured in bytes per second across networks that are measured in bits per second, you have to multiply by 8.

B. Power and signal feeds: CAT 5e and CAT6 cabling, already installed in the building, has distinct advantages. Connecting a Power over Ethernet (POE) switch port to an IP camera allows both the signal and the power to be transmitted across the cable. This can result in saving thousands of installation dollars since the additional power cable does not have to be run. Next, determine what the powered device will require from the switch. This is referred to as a POE class, and there are four classes, zero through three, each requiring a different amount of power draw in watts. The design engineer can also figure in uninterrupted power supplies (UPS) back in the data room. When the power is lost, the camera is still recording and video is still available from PCs with UPS backup. It is now easy to figure the power budget by using the following formula:
Number of cameras x power class (in watts) = power budget

C. Traffic Segmentation: There are two different ways to divide or segment traffic on an Ethernet network. One is to physically separate the IP camera network from the company’s production network by running separate network cables and installing new switches. This is by far the most expensive way to segment traffic. The other way is to program Virtual Local Area Networks (VLANs). This method utilizes the existing switch and separates specific ports into their own smaller networks.

CCD vs CMOS

The image sensor is the camera component which captures light and begins the process of turning it into a digital image. There are two types of security camera sensors: CCD (charge coupled device) and CMOS (complementary metal oxide semiconductor). Which of the two you choose depends on your application.

With a CCD sensor, every individual pixel's charge is transferred through an output node, which is converted into an electrical signal. The signal is then buffered and sent as an analog signal. Because the pixels are devoted to light capture, the image quality is usually pretty high.

With a CMOS sensor, every individual pixel performs its own charge-to-voltage conversion, and the sensor performs amplification and noise-correction. The sensor also includes digitization circuits, which allow the component to output information in a digital format. Because of the complexity of this design, the area devoted to light capture is reduced. And because each pixel must perform its own conversion, uniformity (image quality) is lower.

Both technologies have their place in the marketplace. If your goal is to have good low-light-level surveillance, then a CCD camera is the best. If there is little to no light, CCD sensors used with IR illuminators produce an excellent picture. If indoor lighting is adequate, and megapixel quality is your goal, then CMOS technology may be your best bet.

Make sure you test your camera with the lighting that will actually be present in the field of view. Do not rely on manufacturer’s data sheets for the minimum useable picture. This figure is often subjective, and your customer may not find the results acceptable. CMOS cameras are more prevalent in the IP network world. These cameras are typically equipped with built-in Web Servers, which enable remote viewing of video from other locations, by using IP network protocol.

In conclusion, CCD sensors are the best for outdoor applications, low light scenarios or when a higher quality image is required. CMOS sensor cameras should mostly be considered for indoor applications, though with adequate lighting conditions, they may also work well outdoors.

School Visitor Management Software

Your secretaries might be getting tired of issuing paper badges to visitors and signing them in with pen-and-paper logs. Do they want an easier way to track who is inside the school and make sure everyone is evacuated during an emergency? Are you sure you aren't giving access to suspect individuals?

There's a system to address this. It's called Secure Visitor Management Software (SVMS). SAGE isn't an approved vendor, but the technology is definitely interesting enough to highlight here.

It's very simple to operate. A visitor comes into the lobby and has his or her driver’s license scanned. The SVMS converts the information on the driver’s license to a defined format and prints out a temporary badge allowing access to certain areas of the building, using your existing access control software. The software can even check a national database to ensure visitors aren't on a convicted offender list. (If they are, it sends an email and alerts administrators that he or she is attempting to gain access to the school.) It can even track ongoing custody battles between parents.

Read more about SVMS

Designing Access Control

In a traditional wired access control deployment, a door controller is connected back to either a (non-IP) network controller or a building controller. The door controller typically handles two card readers, so it can regulate one or two doors, depending on whether one door is using a card reader for both entrance and exit. It would typically control three devices: a door contact (which tells the system if the door is opened or closed), the door lock and a card reader. Above the door frame would be a powered junction box, which powers each of the devices.

Security systems are now being designed across networks, and are using TCP/IP protocol to communicate to remote devices. Access control is no exception.

In IP-based systems, there is a direct network connection to either the door controller or the card reader, with the network connection providing low-voltage power, typically called Power Over Ethernet (POE). POE powers the door contact, the lock, the card reader and the request to exit (REX) device.

One of the most critical issues in designing access control or any network infrastructure is ensuring the right power source equipment is selected for the job. Many POE network switches do not have full POE capability to every port. When specifying a certain POE switch, make sure it provides the maximum POE wattage of out every port. The current standard is 15.4 watts; however, a new standard of POE plus is being developed, which will provide a maximum wattage of 30 watts.

One excellent example of an IP-based access control system is MAXxess’ netEDGE door controller. The NetEDGE is a high-performance, single-door controller that features a Linux operating system. The Linux OS is embedded in the netEDGE and greatly enhances the reliability and capability of the security management system. In addition, it provides several features to improve performance in any size application.

Because the netEDGE utilizes POE, separate power supplies and multi-door controllers are no longer needed. When utilizing POE for the controllers, readers, lock and REX power, a reduction in installation costs of at least 25% can be realized.
For more information on MAXxess’ netEDGE products, go to http://www.maxxess-systems.com/ or email me at ddamron@sagetechs.com.

Lighting for CCTV surveillance

When capturing video in CCTV surveillance applications, there are three essential elements involved.

Camera:

Make sure the camera has the correct sensitivity for the application.
Sensitivity measures how the camera will respond to a certain level of light to obtain an acceptable picture. Sensitivity is typically measured in lux (1 lux = 1 lumen per square meter), with all camera manufacturers stating the minimum lux level needed to produce acceptable images. Camera manufacturers rarely explain where the minimum LUX level should be measured. Is it the minimum light on the scene, at the front of the lens, or on the camera image chip?

Lens:

The lens must match the camera for the proper amount of light to pass through it.
The lens aperture, or f-stop, determines how much light passes through it to the camera chip. The lower the f-stop, the more light the lens will pass. Many manufacturers will specify a certain f-stop lens with a specific camera. Using the lens specified will guarantee that the proper amount of light will pass through the lens, providing an adequate picture at a certain light level.

Illumination:

Unless we have light, we will have no video images from the camera. There are many sources of light. Some are good and some are not so good for CCTV surveillance.

1. Incandescent lamps - The bulb life is limited and these lights are very inefficient. The maintenance costs on this source of lighting are very high.

2. Fluorescent lamps - These lamps are more efficient than incandescent but still waste up to 60 % of the input energy to heat. These are commonly used indoors and are not used in outdoor applications.

3. High Intensity Discharge (HID) lamps - These are very good for CCTV applications due to their 60 – 80% efficiency and their ability to provide excellent color rendition. Low-pressure sodium is a form of HID lamp but is unsuitable for CCTV applications due to its yellow tinge. The best HID source in use today is metal halide. Metal halide bulbs provide cool white light and have excellent color rendition.

4. LEDs - LEDs are now considered to be the green solution to outdoor lighting. They are extremely efficient, and their reliability cannot be matched.

Is H.264 Compression Becoming the Standard for Security Manufacturers?

Product managers and engineers constantly look for technologies that will shape the future security industry. We all agree that we need better image quality, faster transmission speeds, quicker emergency response times and improved storage efficiency. Most CCTV camera and DVR manufacturers now look to H.264 for the solution. Many of their data sheets now mention compression of H.264 as well as MPEG-4 and JPEG.

H.264 is simply an improved version of MPEG-4 with more efficient video compression technology. H.264 requires roughly half the storage space as MPEG-4. So what benefit does this provide for the end user? Since it is more efficient than MPEG-4, H.264 gives better image quality per bit of data. The system needs less bandwidth to transmit the video from IP camera to the network video recorder. That means it can be used on existing networks, cutting upgrade expenses. The end user can store more information on less hard drive capacity and lower installation costs.

As with any new technology, there may be some drawbacks. H.264 does require more processing power to decode the video. Manufacturers may utilize multiple processors to improve performance. Consider the cost versus the benefit.

When should you upgrade to H.264 technology? If a current system is only handling 6-7 cameras at 4-5 frames per second, 24 hours per day, H.264 may not be needed. If the existing system is not taking up much of its available storage space and the installed cameras are not streaming large amounts of data, H.264 is unnecessary. However, in systems with IP cameras, megapixel cameras or cameras requiring high framerates (like banking and casino applications), H.264 would definitely be a viable solution.

Sample security maintenance schedules

Daily maintenance:

1. Confirm there are no errors displaying on any of the DVRs.
2. Verify proper PTZ control on all movable cameras.
3. Create an operational log and make entries daily of any issues/problems which need to be addressed by on site personnel or the installing company.

Weekly maintenance:

1. Check all cameras for normal video.
2. Verify video is being recorded by performing a search for a specific period of time. Archive video from the DVR to a CD or DVD using the management software.
3. Check the satisfactory transmission of images to remote center (where applicable).

Monthly maintenance:

1. Clean all system monitor screens with appropriate glass cleaner.
2. Wipe down all head-end equipment with a dry, lint-free cloth to keep the equipment clean.
3. Ensure that the camera has a proper field of view and that fixed cameras have not been repositioned.
4. Verify the required retention rate by checking the oldest video saved on the DVRs.

Semiannual Maintenance Schedule:

1. Visually inspect all major CCTV components (including cabling and connections, where accessible) for signs of deterioration or damage.

2. Check and clean cameras, lenses and housings as necessary.

3. Clean (vacuum and dust) internal workings of DVR.

4. Check hard drives on all DVRs.

5. Perform software upgrades when available.

6. Test UPS.

Video Analytics

In today’s world, many schools and corporate accounts simply do not have the staff to monitor security screens 24/7. Some end users want to prevent crime before it happens. This is extremely difficult without constant human monitoring.

This is where video analytics enters the picture. If you want to keep people out of certain areas, or you want to know if students are loitering in the hallways instead of going to class, or you want to know if someone leaves an object behind, video analytics can provide this information.

Video analytics technology examines the video for specific behavior patterns. It can have a specific time period available to determine if someone is in a specific area too long, or it can tell if a car is going too fast in a speed zone. Some manufacturers have the analytics built into the encoder. Others have developed software to run on PCs to do the processing.

Video analytics has many names. One may hear it called smart CCTV, Intelligent Video Software (IVS), Video Content Analysis (VCA) or Intelligent Video Analysis (IVA). (It should not be confused with Video Motion Detection, which is mostly used to reduce data storage, but can alert operators of human presence in an unauthorized area.)

Having video analytics added to a system is like adding another security guard on staff. Some systems can send emails if certain behaviors are detected, and other systems will send out text messages to cell phones. The recording rate can be increased if a certain behavior is detected, and can trigger bringing up certain cameras to full screen view and other cameras playing back video seconds before the incident occurred.

The following link details one school application:

http://secprodonline.com/Articles/2009/01/06/Intelligence-helps-squeeze.aspx

The proper field of view

When designing CCTV camera systems, many people fail to consider what they want to see in the camera’s field of view. John Johnson, in his foundational work for the United States Army, developed what he called DCRI surveillance levels.

Detection: A target is determined to be in the camera’s field of view. Detection applications typically require wide-angle lenses. The lower the lens number, the wider the field of view. For example, a 4mm lens would have a wider field of view than a 12mm lens.

Classification: A target can be distinguished between an animal and an upright human.

Recognition: A human target is determined to be a threat based on the type of clothing and/or the equipment being carried.

Identification: A human target can be identified as a specific individual.

In order to obtain the proper field of view, the correct lens must be installed on the camera.

The best type of lens to use to ensure the proper field of view is obtained is the varifocal lens. There are many different types of varifocal lenses. Some are manual iris, and some are auto-iris lenses. A typical varifocal lens would be 5 to 50mm. For more information on lenses, visit different manufacturer’s Web sites. For example, try Bosch’s Web site at http://products.boschsecurity.us/en/TAMS/products/bxp/CATM40b8fcf5b76c79e176c117fb36cba772.

Why you should switch to megapixel cameras

I get a lot of people asking me, “Why should I switch to megapixel cameras?” If the camera/lens combination is configured properly, you may not need megapixel cameras. But they have some significant advantages. For example:

1. Dramatic forensic improvements over analog and IP VGA (more pixels equals more detail).
2. Instantaneous electronic Pan, Tilt and Zoom (PTZ with no mechanical moving parts).
3. Reduced camera counts on new installations (Some mega pixel camera manufacturers claim that one megapixel camera can sometimes replace up to 24 analog cameras).
4. Lower bandwidth requirements than VGA IP cameras when utilizing image-cropping feature.

Most manufacturers’ cameras have the ability to throttle back on the bandwidth demand. These cameras allow the same video quality but reduce the load on the network by limiting the bit rate. Another way to reduce the bandwidth demand is to utilize “edge recording.” The encoder has storage capacity built in and will only transmit across the network if an alarm is activated.

For the long run, you should plan on megapixel IP cameras. Maximize existing analog camera systems by using hybrid DVRs.

Placing CCTV cameras

Whether you use conventional analog cameras or IP megapixel cameras, you will not get your desired results unless you consider proper placement.

So how do you know where to place your cameras? Depending upon your particular industry or market, they should generally monitor two types of areas:

1. Choke points: These are spots where people or vehicles are traveling to get to places within a secure area. A camera strategically placed to cover a choke point will be able to capture either the vehicle type in a parking lot or identify a person who enters a building or room. Choke points can include hallways, doorways, driveways and parking garage exits.

2. Valuable assets: An asset is anything of value within your facility. This could be a drug closet in a school, a safe, a cash register or a swimming pool where liability issues are a factor. Any asset should be considered for camera placement. Other examples of assets could be trophy cases, valuable pictures, laptops and petty cash drawers.

Advantages of hybrid digital video recorders

Many people ask, “Why should I go with a hybrid DVR instead of keeping my conventional DVR?”

If your goal is to plan for the future, and you have a limited budget, there are many benefits to a hybrid digital video recorder (DVR). Upgrading may make sense even if your current DVR is only a few years old and everything seems to be working just fine:

Benefit # 1: Most cameras are analog, and they have many years of service left in them. If you upgrade to a hybrid DVR, you can still use your existing cameras and then migrate to IP cameras slowly as your budget allows. Eventually, you can take advantage of the new technology by purchasing a new IP camera and installing it on your hybrid DVR system.

Benefit #2: Many schools have multiple buildings with unlimited bandwidth inside the building but limited bandwidth between buildings. The cost of adding additional bandwidth between buildings can exceed thousands of dollars per month. With a hybrid DVR, you can deploy the unit at a remote site close to the existing cameras and without bandwidth concerns between buildings.

Benefit #3: Hybrid DVRs have minimal setup and configuration time. Consequently, getting the system up with live video and recording is relatively quick and painless.

Benefit #4: Hybrid DVRs lower initial equipment cost and subsequently lower maintenance costs. Their total cost of ownership is less than that of systems using servers.

Benefit #5: Necessary training time is less than that of a pure IP solution. Most integrators will provide on-site training for administrators and operators. Usually, most end users will be able to operate and configure the system in a few hours, depending upon the manufacturer.

Switching to an IP CCTV surveillance solution

Most companies want the best technology for their school districts. Unfortunately, budgets are strained from our current economy, and there is not enough money to upgrade to the latest devices. So do you plan for the future? When should you switch to a new IP solution?

One must answer some questions to see if you are a good candidate.

1. Are your existing cameras working properly?
2. Are your power and coaxial cables in good condition?
3. Are you satisfied with your coverage of existing cameras?
4. Are you looking to “future-proof” your security?

If you answered yes to all the questions above, then you should consider upgrading to a hybrid system. This will give you the benefits of “future-proofing” your security system by using your existing network with your existing cameras.

If you want to switch to an IP solution, consider these additional elements:

1. Do you have the IT staff available to support an IP solution?
2. What bandwidth is available for IP cameras?
3. Do you need better resolution in order to identify someone?
4. Are you satisfied with your coverage of existing cameras?
5. Do you want to improve your productivity and reduce the time required to investigate security issues?

Okay, you want to upgrade to the latest technology and you want to install an IP camera solution. However, you simply cannot afford to do it. What can you do to plan for the future?

Since most new technology evolves around the Ethernet standard, the key to planning for the future of your cameras (and all A/V equipment) is designing new construction around this standard. Develop a good relationship with your school district’s engineering firm and make sure they are on board with designing future buildings within the Ethernet standard. Eventually, when you are ready to make the switch, your buildings will be equipped to support your new IP camera solution.

Getting more storage out of your existing surveillance system

Sometimes, your job sites aren't storing as many days of video as they should be.

Maybe the system was never designed properly to give the required number of days of storage. Designing CCTV surveillance can be very complicated, but it doesn’t have to be. When you first consider adding a CCTV surveillance system, consider how much storage you need before the system overwrites itself.

Don’t forget to look at future expansion, too. Plan on adding cameras? Factor in hard drives at the required retention rate for the additional devices. Look at desired compression, frames per second (FPS) and video quality: these all affect your storage. Your salesman will do all this for you, but be aware that with MPEG-4 or H.264 compression engines, this will be a best-guess estimate most of the time. The best way to determine your retention rate is to look at actual file sizes within the video management software.

Let's assume you already have a system up and running, and bottom line, you aren't getting the retention you need. What do you do? Do you add hard drive capacity? Other, less-expensive tricks can noticeably improve your retention rate:

-Reconfigure your system so you are recording during motion detection only.

-Lower your pre- and post-motion recording time.

-Lower your FPS recording rate. The FBI standard is 1 FPS. Note, however, that if your cameras are monitoring cash transactions, you may not be able to lower this figure.

-Lower your quality setting for your cameras. As good as it looks, you probably don't need the highest quality.

-Lower your saturation, contrast and hue for your cameras.

-Limit the bit rate coming from the camera encoder.

Only after you have performed all these tweaks is it time to add some actual hard drive capacity.


Dave Damron
Security Systems Specialist
717-653-3372
ddamron@sagetechs.com