Value of Video Verification

The Value of Video Verification

Alarm systems have been a part of security since the beginning. We all know that when an alarm goes off, police are called to respond, but how many of those alarms are false? To just one person or business it seems reasonable for police to respond to even the false alarms, but multiply that by hundreds and thousands of businesses in each city and imagine all the false alarms police are required to respond to each day. Unfortunately, police cannot respond to every alarm call within a fair amount of time. Staffing, policies, and priorities often conflict with these calls. With no way of knowing whether the alarm is real or fake, police have to make a best effort, which sometimes results in the real crimes remaining unsolved.

Today systems are being designed to allow video verification of alarms. This means that when an alarm is tripped a monitoring company is alerted and begins remote viewing the facility through installed CCTV security cameras. The monitoring company can then verify if a crime is occurring. Police departments respond faster to a crime in progress rather than an unknown situation. What does this mean to security customers? Well, it will require a higher monthly premium for monitoring your alarm system. With the higher price comes a quicker response rate from local police. In additional, customers with video verification systems will also have the peace of mind in knowing that even when they are unable to, there is someone watching over their property.

Many cities require fees to be paid for false alarm calls. Recently in Glendale, Arizona the city passed an ordinance that requires citizens to pay steep fines when police respond to false alarms. These fines range from $100 to $400 depending on the amount of previous false alarm calls received.

The equipment for a video verification system can be costly, but for some customers the price is worth the result. When you compare the potential loss of property if police are unable to respond in time to a real call or the increased risk of fines for false alarm calls, the setup and maintenance fees are well worth the investment.

How Video Verification Works

To those who are unfamiliar, video verification documents a change in local conditions. When a sensor goes into alarm, cameras record clips or open a feed to live video at the premise. The video and/or notification to view the live feed are sent to a central station where operators survey the situation.

With video evidence and other means of verification, such as audio or cross-zoning, central station operators can tell dispatchers more about what is happening at a property. As such, the quality of the process improves, raising the priority for dispatch and hastening response. This is in line with the protocol followed by most law enforcement agencies across the United States.

This is the procedure that the Central Station Alarm Association’s (CSAA) existing ANSI standard for video verification prescribes and it is an excellent starting point from which the industry can advance with input from law enforcement and the insurance industry. It is important for installing security companies to know that video verification is completely dependent on central station service.

Road to Making Gains

For video verification to truly gain acceptance by all ancillary industry stakeholders — from end users, police and the insurance industry — there must be uniformity in how it is applied. With several years of field experience gained by industry stakeholders, some of the advancements for the next generation of verification are being implemented.

Differentiations can be made for residential, commercial and high-value commercial, as well as interior and exterior applications. Within the commercial realm, there are different risk levels to be accounted for, such as the potential loss at a big-box electronics store compared with a sporting goods store that has a stock of weapons and ammunition.

Fortunately, one distinction everyone agrees upon is that professionally installed and monitored systems will garner prioritized response that DIY, self-monitored systems will not enjoy. That alone gives alarm contractors a tremendous selling point to current and prospective customers, especially as some of the largest technology companies enter into the smart-home market with automation systems and smoke/CO detector devices.

While the industry works on these issues, whatever the final form of this standard ends up being, video verification will deliver value for every stakeholder in the battle against property crime. Alarm system owners will get a fast police response and installing contractors will benefit from satisfied customers. At the same time, police remove criminals from the streets and the insurance industry cuts down on claims they have to pay out now and in the future.

The new video verification standard will be a win for everyone involved.

Security Cameras in Our Growing Technological Society

Security Cameras in Our Growing Technological Society

Within our rapidly-growing technological society, CCTV Cameras are gradually becoming a larger part of our lives. As security concerns grow in a post-9/11 world, and as affordable security cameras become more prevalent, we are beginning to see the implementation of security cameras not just in homes and businesses, but also out on public streets.

As the prevalence of security cameras becomes greater, privacy concerns also grow: Is it worth sacrificing our personal privacy for the sake of ultimate security? In many areas, you can’t walk a couple blocks without being recorded by a camera. With the increase in public security, many questions have arisen. Although public footage is kept only in the case of an emergency, many people still fear the “big brother” concept detailed in 1984, George Orwell’s famous novel about a paranoid society controlled and monitored by an oppressive government.

But when looking at vast amount of cases where killers, rapists, burglars, etc. have been discovered and apprehended thanks to CCTV camera footage, it’s hard to dismiss public surveillance cameras as invasive. Innocent footage is most likely never seen, and even if someone were to watch you whistling while walking down the street, would it really matter? As long as footage is never abused in any way, security cameras should remain an integral part of our landscape.

45% of End User Security Budgets Increasing

With much talk of budget cuts, many US-based organizations are still willing to pour dollars into their physical security initiatives, at least according to a recent study from by IMS Research. In fact, 45 percent of end users say that their security budget increased in 2012, the study found.

"It's clear that end users are still feeling the risk to their facilities -- and that means there's plenty of opportunity for manufacturers of physical security equipment," said Niall Jenkins, manager for video surveillance and security services research at IMS, in a press statement. "Just having a budget available was actually one of the top two reasons for end users paying to replace or upgrade their systems as well."

The survey, which polled 200 end users of physical security equipment across North America, found that the majority of these organizations are dedicating large amounts of resources to physical security. In fact, 44 percent reported that their organization's annual budget exceeded Rs. 5000K.

"Budgets either stayed the same or increased last year for those that spent approximately Rs. 1Cr and also for 85 percent of the overall market," Jenkins noted. "I wouldn't say that the security boom is over just yet."

Even with bigger budgets, users report concerns. Despite investing in new equipment, buyers say that their biggest worry is that vendors will suspend support for newly-acquired security products while they are still being productively used within the organization, the survey found.

Especially as the market in the US transitions from analog to network-based video surveillance, vendors are shifting their product mixes and ending support for products, said Jenkins in an interview with IFSEC Global. "There's also a transition to the use of video analytics, PSIM, and wireless infrastructure," he added. "In the fire market, you don't see that pace of development, while intruder alarm and access control are probably somewhere in the middle."

In addition, some vertical markets feel better served by security vendors. "The majority of end user markets, when asked about whether security meet their needs, were positive, but the transportation industry overall jumped out as one vertical that said the security industry wasn't meet their needs," Jenkins told us.

So, let us know. Is your budget on the rise? Where do you plan to invest?

Indian Company also increase there Security Budgets in 2013.

We hope that you have found this resource page to be helpful.  

 
If you have any questions about this page or anything related to CCTV or surveillance systems, please contact us at bhadra_1980@yahoo.com

FCC Part 15

The Federal Code Of Regulation (CFR) FCC Part 15 is a common testing standard for most electronic equipment. FCC Part 15 covers the regulations under which an intentional, unintentional, or incidental radiator that can be operated without an individual license. FCC Part 15 covers as well the technical specifications, administrative requirements and other conditions relating to the marketing of FCC Part 15 devices. Depending on the type of the equipment, verification, declaration of conformity, or certification is the process for FCC Part 15 compliance.

Verification is a procedure where the manufacturer makes measurements or takes the necessary steps to insure that the equipment complies with the appropriate technical standards. Submittal of a sample unit or representative data to the Commission demonstrating compliance is not required unless specifically requested the Commission. Verification attached to the equipment a label showing that compliance is met.

Declaration of Conformity is a procedure where the responsible party makes measurements or takes other necessary steps to ensure that the equipment complies with the appropriate technical standards. Submittal of a sample unit or representative data to the Commissions demonstrating compliance is not required unless specifically requested. The Declaration of Conformity attaches to the equipment a label showing that the sample has been tested and found acceptable by the responsible party.

Certification is an equipment authorization issued by the Commission, based on representations and test data submitted by eh applicant. Certification attaches to the units subsequently marketed by the grantee which are identical to the sample tested an FCC ID number to show compliance.

FCC Part 15 Subpart A contains specific information regarding testing and certification. Information like, scope of the rules and legal implications, definitions, prohibition against eavesdropping, labeling, and other sections.

Some more interesting descriptions used in the FCC Part 15 as listed in Subpart A.

Digital Device. “An unintentional radiator (device or system) that generates and uses timing signals or pulses at a rate in excess of 9,000 pulses (cycles) per second and uses digital techniques; inclusive of telephone equipment that uses digital techniques or any device or system that generates and uses radio frequency energy for the purpose of performing data processing functions such as electronics computations, operations, transformations, recording, filing, sorting, storage, retrieval, or transfer. A radio frequency device that is specifically subject to an emanation requirement in any other FCC Rule part or an intentional radiator subject to Subpart C of this part that contains a digital device is not subject to the standards for digital devices, provided the digital device is used only the enable operation of the radio frequency device and the digital device does not control additional functions or capabilities.”

Intentional radiator. “A device that intentionally generates and emits radio frequency energy by radiation or induction.”

Class A Digital Device. “A digital device that is marketed for use in a commercial, industrial or business environment, exclusive of a device which is marketed for use by the general public or is intended to be used in the home.”

Class B Digital Device. “A digital device that is marketed for use in a residential environment notwithstanding use in commercial, business and industrial environments. Examples of such devices included, but are not limited to, personal computers, calculators, and similar electronics devices that are marketed for use by the general public.

FCC Part 15 Subpart B is for unintentional radiators. The category of unintentional radiators includes a wide variety of devices that contain clocks or oscillators and logic circuitry but that do not deliberately generate radio frequencies emissions. Among the common unintentional radiators are personal computers, peripherals, receivers, radios, TV sets, and cable TV home terminals. FCC Part 15 Section 15.101 has a very informative table for unintentional radiators. Two levels of radiation and conducted emissions limits for unintentional radiators are specified in FCC Part 15 Subpart B. The two levels are Class A digital devices, the higher less strict limits, and Class B digital devices, the lower more strict limits. Manufacturers are encouraged to meet the Class B digital device limits.

FCC Part 15 Subpart C is for intentional radiators. The carious types of intentional radiators covered by Subpart C include cable-locating equipment, cordless telephones, remote control and alarm transmitters, field-disturbance sensors for opening doors, and spread-spectrum systems for wideband data transmission. Intentional radiators governed by FCC Part 15 Subpart C must either have a permanently attached antenna or provide a unique coupler to prevent the use of unauthorized antennas. The FCC Part 15 Subpart C rules for operation of radio transmitters for the most part are very detailed regarding fundamental field strength, power and/or power density, frequency accuracy, and permitted harmonic and spurious emissions.

FCC Part 15 Subpart D outlines the regulations for unlicensed personal communication service (UPCS) devices operating in the 1910 – 1930 MHz frequencies bands.

FCC Part 15 Subpart E sets out the regulations for unlicensed National Information Infrastructure (U-NII) devices operating in the 5.15 – 5.35 GHz, 5.47 – 5.725 GHz, and 5.725 – 5.825 GHz bands.

FCC Part 15 Subpart G sets out the regulations for Access Broadband over Power Line (Access BPL) devices operating in the 1.705-80 MHz band over medium or low voltage lines. This section outlines the geographical area within which Access BPS operations are not permitted in certain frequencies bands.

What the Difference between IP Cameras and CCTV Cameras ?

Many have speculated that the area of CCTV (closed-circuit television) cameras is coming to an end. These multi-purpose video cassette recorders and all their T-160 tapes are quickly being replaced by capture cards, embedded processors, codec, and more advanced devices. IP cameras have played a major role in phasing out CCTV cameras, as they offer many of the same benefits, yet provide much more. What’s the difference? Plenty! Let’s delve into some of the details and find out how IP cameras tower over their analog CCTV counterparts.

Remote Viewing

The major benefit of IP cameras is the luxury to view live video via the internet from any location in the world. While CCTV cameras can enable viewing over the internet, they require additional software and hardware components to function properly. An IP camera is integrated with all the necessary tools and doesn’t require any additional installations. Some of the newer models are even able to view live video on a cell phone or other mobile device over a 3G network.

Remote Recording

The primary function of a surveillance camera is to monitor a certain area when security and staff are unable to do so. While it serves its purpose for the most part, CCTV cameras are susceptible to security breaches, and the tapes they contain can be stolen. IP cameras enable recording to remote locations, which virtually eliminates such a scenario. Even if security is breached, the intruder will not be able to steal the tape or recording device because it is physically stationed at a remote location.

Wireless Capability

Because IP cameras leverage standard IP (Internet Protocol) networks, many of them are available in wireless variations to provide the ultimate in portability. All the device requires is a single cable for a power supply, which results in less work when installing the camera in the recording location.

Video Analytic

More IP cameras are being implemented with video analytics to provide advanced tracking and motion detection capability. This technology is so sophisticated that it has the ability to distinguish between the movement of a person, a car driving down the road, or a tree merely swaying in the wind.

More Advancements to Come

CCTV cameras aren’t completely obsolete, but are light-years behind in comparison to IP cameras. IP technology allows individuals and businesses to effectively monitor their home or office premises with little to no security risks. Evolving rapidly, it’s almost certain that you will be able to do much more with an IP camera in the very near future.

Three Common Mistakes made with Security Company Websites

Find out the three biggest mistakes you can make with your security company website.

I’ve visited a lot of Security and Investigation websites over the years, more so than most people ever will. I’ve also built 100’s of websites over the last decade, so I have an idea of what works and what doesn’t. Some sites are fantastic promotional tools for the company. Many in the security industry though leave a lot to be desired.

Below I’ll cover some of the biggest mistakes I’ve seen on Security Company Websites and give you an insight into why.

1. We are the leading security company
Really? Are you sure? Did you know that the potential client just visited 10 of your competitors and 8 of them said exactly the same thing. Who are they to believe? In a world where information is fast and quick at hand, where your competitors are only a few clicks away, sprouting to the world that you are the leading company does not inspire confidence. In fact it can have a negative effect when everyone else is saying exactly the same thing.

Find ways of inspiring confidence in your product or services that don’t require you to make claims without validation.

2. We offer Security Services Melbourne, Guards Melbourne, CCTV Melbourne, Alarms Melbourne
We get the point, you offer services in Melbourne. But who exactly do you think will be reading the words on your website? Potential clients? Existing clients? What are they going to think when you repeat words over and over to the point where it becomes painful to read? It’s not like you’d ever use a sentence like that when talking to them face to face, but that’s what your website is doing.

Now some of you reading this may be thing why on earth would anyone do that. Well some web designers, so called search engine optimisation experts and some people that just read the wrong things online think that if you repeat words over and over that you’ll get better search engine rankings. To an extent this is somewhat true. I mean the search engines are just programs and need to figure out what your page is about. So including on-topic keywords “within reason” helps the search engines get a better picture of what your company is all about.

The biggest problem with this though lies in the fact that the page will be read by humans, your potential clients. Even if you get the better rankings, what are those potential clients going to think when they read that? You may also find yourself penalized and lose your rankings in the search engines, but that’s another story. There are a lot of factors that go into search engine rankings, so focus on things that don’t require making a mockery of the English language. So to keep it simple, write for humans first, search engines second.

3. Last updated 2007
Do you still exist? You must since you paid your webhosting and domain name fees all this time, but do potential clients know that? A website built in the style of the last millennium also doesn’t inspire much trust or professionalism.

Now not everyone that set-up their website a long time ago believes the internet holds any value for their business. It probably didn’t work for them then and hence forth it probably won’t work now. The website though is a reflection of your business and speaks volumes about your attitude towards potential clients.

A quick update is in store and you don’t even have to break open the piggy bank to do so. With all the how-to websites around, with kids these days learning to build websites in school, I’m sure most companies could find a way to upload at least a one page site to replace that dinosaur. Keep it simple, present it neatly and include all relevant information. It should be a pretty quick thing.

How much is one new client that finds you on the net worth to your security business over a number of years anyway?

Products Designed to Provide Home Security

When it comes to protecting your home and your loved ones, you really can't be too cautious. To help homeowners protect the things they cherish, manufacturers of home security products have made a variety of different systems available for use.

Home Alarm SystemsProbably the most used systems for home security are those which come with alarms. The most basic alarm system is a simple device which attaches to an entrance. This economical alarm is usually placed on the front entrance to the home along with a warning sticker informing any would be intruders of the home's protection. On a larger scale, alarm systems can include multiple alarms wired to several entrances as well as first floor windows.

Home security systems with alarms can also include other devices for monitoring the area. Motion sensor cameras and outdoor security lights can be connected to an alarm systems so when they detect motion in the area, the alarms will sound. Some indoor systems use infrared lights to detect motion in the area, which in turn will sound the interior alarm. Alarms are available with different decibel levels making them audible for different ranges. An inexpensive front door alarm will usually be audible to everyone inside the house and possibly to the next door neighbors.

Fake Security DevicesSome people want the security of having deluxe systems installed, but do not have the funds available to invest in these systems. One way to scare off possible intruders is to purchase fake security equipment. Most of the fake items are designed to look like real security cameras. The outer casing is identical to all of the most common types of security cameras, but the inside is empty. These fake cameras come with mounting hardware so they can be attached to any outside wall.

Homeowners can also purchase signs and stickers indicating there are security devices installed on the premises when in fact, there is not. Many people purchase these signs and stickers and place them in their yards and on their doors and windows to deter any potential intruders.

Home Improvements for SecurityIn addition to the alarm and home automation system homeowners can purchase for security, there are also home improvements which can help make a home harder to break into. Replacing screen or service doors on entrances with wrought iron doors will make it much harder for intruders to enter. These doors are made with wrought iron bars designed in attractive styles so they add appeal to the outside of the home.

Installing windows that have interior latch locks can also make them harder to open from the outside. Front doors and garage door sensor can have electronic keypads installed to replace traditional key locks. Keypads require the person to enter their special code number in order to unlock the door. Installing outdoor lights around entrances and on garages will also add protection to a home when the lights are connected to an automatic timer designed to turn them on in the evenings whether you are home or away.

Your cell phone to home wi-fi network Connection

Connect your cell phone to home WIFI network ( BSNL Broadband) & Watch your Office

Requirements :

* Wifi enabled Handset

* Active Internet Connection with WIFI router modem

Configure your router modem to use the PPPPoE connection type

Restore your router to factory settings (Preferred & recommended). See your router manual. Type in   192.168.1.1 in your url address bar and hit enter.  You will be prompted for a username and password which generally is admin and admin respectively unless you have not configured it manually. Also, the default username password could be different if you have a different model. Refer your router manual.

192.168.1.1 is an IP address in the private IP address range 192.168.0.0 – 192.168.255.255. Many network devices, such as LinkSys routers, use 192.168.1.1 as their default IP address.

Now follow these steps :

Configure your Wireless Security :

TCP/IP Settings:

Now, Configure your phone:  ( I  AM USING NOKIA 5800 XM )

Here we are !  Now Browse wireless @ great speed without 3G hassle ( at least when you are in WIFI hotspots ! )