Monitor Resolution of your Security Camera Recorder

Set the Monitor Resolution of your Security Camera Recorder

It’s very crucial to review the entire CCTV footage via monitor. If you are having issues with using a monitor or TV to view your security camera system it usually relates to the resolution that the system is trying to display. It's important to take the necessary troubleshooting steps to gather information on why the display is not working. Often times it's easy to assume that the port is no longer working though it can be remedied by double checking settings. If you know the recorder is receiving power and you can see lights in front of it, but you don't see the menu screen or camera grid on your monitor connected to it, then you most likely have an incorrect display resolution set that is not compatible with your monitor or TV. Remember, you need to “see” what camera “saw”. 

If you have an older or inexpensive computer monitor or TV, chances are that it may not support all the different resolution outputs available on our security DVRs and NVR. Selecting a resolution unsupported by your monitor may leave you locked out of your video recorder unless you either connect it to a 21.5" or larger computer monitor from a reputable manufacturer like Acer or Asus. Depending on the model of your NVR, you can also adjust the resolution of the Display using your web browser. The latter allows setting the Display output resolution over your local network or over the internet. This requires that you have connected our DVR to your router and properly configured it to work with your network by setting its IP address, if necessary. In a world where technology is advancing at breakneck speed, terms like AI, ML, and automation dominate the conversation, especially in video surveillance. But amidst this tech frenzy, one fundamental process remains underappreciated: ‘PLAYBACK’!

Types of monitor outputs on DVRs

To ensure you understand the correct monitor connector terminology please take a look at the image below. Surveillance camera recorders by CCTV Camera World have HDMI and VGA video outputs. VGA supports a maximum output of 1080P resolution, while HDMI can support up to 4K depending on the model of the recorder that you purchased.

How to troubleshoot

Here is a list of troubleshooting steps on how to resolve monitor issues you may be having with your DVR.

1.   Find the make and model of your monitor(s)

2.   Google the make and model and determine what is the max resolution support by each monitor

3.   You cannot set your DVR or NVR display resolution to be higher than the highest resolution your monitor will support. We recommend selecting 1920x1080 as the display resolution to be sure. The following section explains in detail the different way to set the monitor resolution on a security camera recorder.

 

How to set the monitor resolution on a security camera recorder

Method 1

How you change the resolution on your recorder will depend on whether you can still see a display output and menu screens on any of your current displays. If you have no video then you will need to connect your recorder to your local network and access the recorder using a web browser on a Windows PC to set the correct display output. Note that older recorders require Internet Explorer for web access, while newer recorders are compatible with Chrome, Safari, and Firefox.

First place the recorder on the network if you already have not. If you are unfamiliar with how to connect the recorder to the network, below are quick and easy to follow videos on how wire the recorder to your network, and enable DHCP to get a dynamic IP address from your router.

The first step is to connect the NVR to the main router in your network. This would be the router your PC is connected to so you can access the recorder over the LAN (Local Area Network). It is imperative that you are on the local network to follow this method.

Next enable DHCP inside the recorder's menu interface using the menu interface shown on your monitor. We usually enable DHCP already on recorders we ship. You may find it already enabled. Note the IP address of the recorder as shown in the last step in the video below. You will need that IP address to access the recorder over the network.

Once you have the recorder on the network, use the IP address assigned to the recorder over the local network by your router to access the recorder using a web browser such as Firefox, Chrome, or Edge.

If you purchased from CCTV Camera World, the video below provides comprehensive instructions on how to change your DVR recorder's resolution using Firefox. You can Chrome or Edge as well. If you have any questions, please email our support team on ssaintegrate@gmail.com

Method 2

If you still have video output being displayed by one of the monitors on the digital video recorder or network video recorder, then it's simple to change the display resolution using the menu interface on the recorder. Depending on whether you have a DVR or NVR, the steps to change the display resolution are slightly different.

Changing the monitor resolution on a DVR or XVR

Keep in mind that 4K DVR recorders are capable of 4K display output over HDMI, but the VGA port cannot display 4K video. VGA technology maxes out at 1080P. Once you set the main HDMI output to 4K, the VGA port will automatically become disabled. The process to have either or both the HDMI or VGA port working is explained in the video below.

Changing the monitor resolution on a NVR

Similar to the DVR and XVR recorders we carry, the NVR recorders offer both HDMI and VGA output. Some NVR models even have second HDMI port that is a spot monitor, and that is limited to 1080P just like the VGA port.

Video Analytics Help Your Business

How Video Analytics in CCTV Help Your Business

CCTV cameras are used for security monitoring and surveillance in any facility. CCTV stands for Closed-Circuit Television because security camera systems transmit video footage over a single channel, creating a closed circuit. This means CCTV footage is displayed on limited personal monitors and screens, not publicly broadcasted.

CCTV cameras are a staple in crime prevention because they help ward off criminals, monitor building premises, and record valuable footage of events.

Whether you’re looking to reduce theft and loitering in your business or provide a haven for your residents, you must know the basics of video surveillance CCTV systems.

Security cameras have come a long way from the large, square bricks feeding you a grainy black-and-white image. Today’s cameras are smaller, sleeker, and far more advanced internally, too. The cutting-edge surveillance network of the day has motion-activated Infra-Red night-vision cameras, 4k quality, Pan-Tilt-Zoom functions, and remote viewing capabilities. The most advanced surveillance systems are also equipped with video analytics in CCTV software, turning your security cameras into a powerful business tool.

Auto-Tracking Security Cameras

The fundamental principle behind video analytics is people counting. This can be done a variety of ways, most commonly from an overhead camera. Some use thermal imaging to identify individual heat signatures – people – and track them as they cross a virtual line. Others distinguish people visually by using advanced recognition algorithms or by tracking motion.

However they do it, the accuracy of people counting cameras is dependent on their placement, field of view, and quality. Ceiling-mounted cameras with multiple sensors are generally most accurate for positional data because they compare two images to triangulate position. A single-lens camera has no true depth perception, but can still detect objects crossing a line or entering an area. For wider fields of view – and therefore more data to analyze – multiple cameras facing many directions might be used.

Line-crossing and object detection are common on-board software for cameras today. Full analysis was initially only available on a centralized server, requiring all footage to be transmitted before analysis. While still a viable solution, this limits bandwidth availability and storage space. Running the analysis on the camera side – “on the edge” – lessens the load on the server, freeing up processing power and storage by only sending the analysis and a small clip of an incident. The full recording is stored temporarily on the camera, ready to be transmitted and stored at request.

Video Analysis Applications

Video Analytics in CCTV is a valuable asset for your security staff, highlighting important events and flagging potential problems while ignoring irrelevant data. Your security cameras become a preventative measure in addition to an investigative one. Getting a series of alerts on suspicious behaviour lets you intervene before an issue arises. Remember that while video analytics is a helpful security tool, it doesn’t replace your security guards or monitoring centre – you still need people to respond to and analyse gathered data.

Security for Retail

In retail applications, video analytics can tell you a lot about your business. Store-wide people counting can give you a heat map of your building, showing you high- and low-traffic areas. You’ll also be able to see how long people stay in one area – useful for determining problems with checkout lines or finding out which products aren’t grabbing your shoppers’ attention.

It won’t just show you where people went and stayed, though – the report can give you the directional paths as well, so you’ll know what areas your customers visit in which order. Lastly, facial and shape recognition gives you demographic data like gender and age group with ever-increasing accuracy. With this data, you’ll be able to tell what marketing, advertising, or layout strategies are working and which ones you need to rethink.

Industrial Security Solutions

Video analytics in industrial, manufacturing, and warehouse applications tend to work more in real-time to secure your business operations. Object detection allows a camera to alert you when problem occurs, like equipment failure or merchandise winding up somewhere it shouldn’t. Cameras can detect when a person or vehicle crosses a virtual line and sound an alarm. They can also let you know when you have a shipment coming in or out by watching for trucks on the loading dock.

Installation & Integration

As with all security systems, professional installation is the best choice for a CCTV system with video analytics. A professional consultation lets you customize a unique, flexible security solution for your business, and hiring a company to install and set up your cameras gives you a guaranteed warranty and maintenance. Whether you want to explore video analytics in CCTV for your business or are curious about commercial security in general, contact SPRINKLER FIRE SAFTEY AWARENESS AND WELFARE FOUNDATION for more information.

Ref:
James Eldred - VMS for CCTV

H.264 vs H.265 vs H.266

 H.264 vs H.265 vs H.266

The most popular video codec right now is the H.264 standard since almost all media devices support it. Even video platforms on the web can’t help but add support for this codec, and for good reasons. YouTube, despite having its own, is beholden to H.264, and this won’t change for years to come.

Now, we do not expect it to be the top dog forever as more competitors come on the scene in hopes to replace it. The most notable would likely be the upgraded version, H.265, also known as HEVC (High-Efficiency Video Coding).

There is also the H.266 codec, but it differs a great deal when compared to the others we’ve just mentioned. Worry not, however, because we are going to explain each for your deeper understanding.

1] What is H.264 codec

This codec has been around since 2009, and for quite some time, it has been the standard. The codec is also known as AVC, MPEG-4 Part 10, and VC-1.

It’s a video compression standard that is designed to playback high-quality video at a small size than RAW and previous standards. We understand the compression ratio is twice that of MPEG-2, which is quite astonishing. It promises to provide high-quality content with no quality loss when compared to other standards. H.264 is used by most modern mobiles and 2K cameras.

Basically, if your file size is 88GB, H.264 compression can bring it down to a little over 800MB. Additionally, when compared to other compression technologies, low-bit rate plays an important role. In the end, users will save time when having to download or stream video content at any time.

2] What is H.265/HEVC codec

As you might be able to tell from the name, H.265/HEVC is the upgraded version of the previous, and it is designed to replace it at some time in the future. The new standard was released back in 2013, but only now has been getting huge support due to the rise of 4K. HEVC is promising a massive 50% bandwidth reduction compared to H.264 for the same video quality.

This will no doubt continue in the years to come as 4K televisions and monitors become more affordable. However, the big question right now, is, what makes H.265 the future?

Well, if you watch 4K content on YouTube, you should realize that it doesn’t hold a candle to the same video on a Bu-Ray disc. That is due to H.264 compression for the most part, and that is something the newer codec wants to solve.

From what we’ve come to understand, HEVC uses more efficient compression methods, therefore, the end content will showcase more detail and fewer artifacts. We all want this, which is why we cannot wait for more hardware manufacturers to support the future standard. H.265 is used by most modern mobiles and 4K cameras, and almost all new hardware now provides HEVC GPU acceleration.

Now, there is one big problem with H.265/HEVC right now. You see, it is quite slow if Hardware Acceleration is not in play. If you want to decode in HEVC, then a powerful computer is required. Intel 6th generation or newer, and AMD 6th generation or newer, are the CPUs you should consider when purchasing a computer for HEVC.

3] What is H.266 codec

In 2020, Fraunhofer HHI (together with partners like Apple, Ericsson, Intel, Huawei, Microsoft, Qualcomm, and Sony) developed. The world has yet to fully accept H.265 as the new standard where video codecs are concerned, but already H.266 is being touted Fraunhofer HHI, the company behind all three codecs.

At the moment, we understand that this new codec, also known as Versatile Video Coding (VVC), won’t improve video quality over its predecessor, but is expected to reduce the size. So in a sense, it is the same as H.265, but with a smaller footprint. H.266 is promising a massive 50% bandwidth reduction compared to H.265 for the same video quality.

When the H.266 codec is adopted in the future, people from around the world may have little problems with streaming 8K content on their favourite platforms. H.266 is used by most modern mobiles and 8K cameras

H.266/VVC is supposed to support: 

• Picture resolutions from 4K to 16K as well as 360° videos
• YCbCr color spaces with 4:2:0 sampling, 10-bit
• YCbCr/RGB 4:4:4 and YCbCr 4:2:2
• Auxiliary channels (transparency, depth, etc.) 
• High dynamic range (HDR) and wide color gamut
• Bit depths up to 16 bits per component 
• Fixed and variable frame rates
• Progressive scanning