CCTV Systems
By John W. Colley

Grill The CCTV Expert
February, 2004 Issue

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John W. Colley

Our customer has asked what is our company's recommendation for the best quality video-processing format for Digital Video Recording.

The video processing formats are changing rapidly but from my perspective right now are the MPEG4 standard.

Is there a technology in CCTV that may change the industry as the solid state chip did in the 1990's to the vidicon tube?

The answer is yes there is a technology the security industry will be talking about and writing specifications in the very near future. The technology is called Digital Pixel System (DPS), which is a breakthrough in imaging technology. Several of the most famous manufactures in our security industry are developing cameras, applications and pan, tilt zoom mechanisms to benefit from the new technology.

The technology was developed by Stamford University in the 1990's. The technology allows the capture of an image and processes the information at the camera chip. This allows for greater dynamic range were light variations occur. Light variations from my experience are about 100% of the time when you install a CCTV system.

The core of the new technology is an analog to digital converter within each pixel level. Previously this conversion was required by another device and now integrated within the process.

The dynamic range is up to 95db. This is an excellent dynamic range for high quality pictures where previously additional lights needed to be added or the sun needed to be blacked out digitally or physically. A number of option previously supplied by the lens manufacture is now included with imaging system. Important camera controls including electronic iris, automatic white balance, backlight compensation, configurable alarms to name a few are now incorporated in the chip technology.

Many present chips will go the way of the bugging whip and the vidicon tube.

Our Company is searching the CCTV industry for a reliable wireless video product. What are some of the specifications I should look for in a wireless video product?

Similar to all electronics wireless video transmitters are reducing in size. This a good trend because most customers would prefer the camera ensembles to low profile versus a wireless telephone tower.

Look for compact at the same time rugged, reliable transmitters using 5.8 GHZ technologies. The encasement should use material that will stand up to outside temperature variations and resistant to vandalism. Aluminum works well in protecting devices. Always important is the number channels the system will allow in a close proximity. Ten channels should be a minimum. The unit should handle black and white or color video. The 5.8 MHz should allow a picture to be transmitted up to four (4) miles.

Remember even though the video may be wireless you still will be required to provide a 115 volt power source for full operation of the camera ensemble.

We are designing a large video system that has many existing telephone cables throughout this large facility. What is a cost effective solution rather than using labor to install coaxial cable, wireless video, networks or fiber optic cable?

Video transmission products are offered that allow the customer to use existing telephone cable quite effectivly. Some benefits include video up to 8,000 feet; several CCTV manufactures build into their products the transmission option, interference immunity, built in surge suppression. Financial benefits include using existing wire, ease of future expansion, typical structure cable principles and economies, a true alternative to coax and fiber.

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John W. Colley is president of Integrated Security Systems, Ltd. and has been in the security industry for over 25 years, beginning his experience in the CCTV segment of security and gaining knowledge through field experience, manufacturer training and designing systems to meet customer needs. Colley started his security integration firm 18 years ago, providing design, engineering, installation and service to commercial accounts using integrated systems. Send your CCTV/Surveillance questions to jwc@securityiss.com.