Importance Of Acquiring CCTV Cameras

Crime does not pay!  With the rise of crime and terrorism in our country, security is now a top priority.  Locking your doors and securing your windows or just simply locking the vault would not solve the problem.  You have to have a CCTV camera that will document everything and eventually put a stop on those lawbreakers.  A high quality and dependable camera with a video balun will definitely come in handy.

But it doesn’t end with just having a security camera and a video balun.  You should also have the right cables, security camera systems, DVR surveillance and capture cards and a lot more.  Browsing through the World Wide Web will give you a better view of what you will need in order to have an effective and a top quality CCTV camera.

You will need to record what’s happening in your surroundings,thus a need for a DVR Surveillance System.  This will allow you to use more than 1 surveillance camera simultaneously and record whatever is happening at a given time.  This is where high quality video baluns come in handy.  It extends your security camera setup to a maximum of 6000 feet.

Security is a high priority and so is purchasing the right equipment.  Don’t look at price but check the supplier’s credibility in the industry.  Join forums or subscribe to newsletters to get the most up to date industry news that will help you in deciding what to get.

Acquiring CCTV cameras is without a doubt very important to any business, house or even in schools.  These security cameras will put a stop on any illegal activities or any acts of terrorism.  It reduces disorder and restores peace and order in a community.  Its value is indeed immeasurable.

Why You Should Invest in a DVR Surveillance System

If you own a business establishment or a small home office and currently use the VHS to record your CCTV system, maybe it’s time to take it up a notch. DVR surveillance systems, equipped with video baluns and other equipment, is the latest technology when it comes to CCTV. In case you haven’t noticed, using VHS CCTV systems require you to change the tapes twice a day and that may cost a lot for your business, especially if you just starting up. While it’s true that the initial cost of standard VHS CCTV systems is cheaper, investing in DVR surveillance systems are actually more advantageous in the long run.

Aside from the huge quality difference, switching to DVRs also saves you time and storage because you no longer have to spend countless hours changing tapes and storing them in your basement or storage area. Going digital is simply the way to go and here are more reasons why:

As mentioned earlier, getting started with digital video recorders may cost a little bit more expensive than using standard VHS tapes but in the long run, it will actually save you tons of money. As long as you have passive or active video balun, 1-4 security cameras, and a DVR unit, you are good to go. If you can’t install the surveillance system yourself, you can always ask for technical support from the people you purchased the equipment from.

Compared to a VHS tape which you would need to change every day, perhaps even twice a day if the need arises, a DVR can store data for up to 180 days. It is stored digitally, which means that there is no need to keep stacks of VHS tapes in your storage room anymore. If you need to review a certain time or day, all it takes is one click. Controlling a DVR Surveillance system is also easy. You don’t have to be physically present and you are guaranteed to record data even if you are away.

Secure your business with a DVR surveillance system today. PIMFG.com offers a wide selection of video baluns, security cameras, and DVR surveillance products at affordable prices.

CCTV Camera: Back to Basics

If by now you have noticed how we’ve been going on and on about CCTV cameras without actually offering an introduction to what it really is, then we do apologize sincerely. This week, we shift our focus to CCTV cameras as we share interesting facts about one of the most useful tools for businesses and residential locations. Of course, CCTV cameras work best if you have video baluns and other necessary parts available. CCTV video baluns are also available in the market today. Before we delve deeper, first let us discuss the importance of a CCTV camera.

Aside from commercial and residential establishments, major cities are now investing heavily on CCTV cameras to keep close watch on what goes on in the streets when citizens think no one is looking. Of course, as you all know, the primary purpose of a CCTV camera is to provide surveillance. Crimes are so much easier to solve with evidence from a CCTV camera. Aside from being a watchful eye, a CCTV camera can also prevent an individual from doing a crime. Imagine planning something evil only to find out that the store or house actually has a CCTV camera. Nope, those plans will be thwarted soon enough.

CCTVs, when it first developed in 1970s, were actually analog in nature. In today’s world, there are rare technologies that are still on the analog type and CCTVs have evolved to keep up with digital evolution. With digital CCTV systems, they become easier to manage as there is no longer the need for large cable systems to transmit and encode data.

Of the 25 million CCTVs in the world today, 2.5million of those are found in the United Kingdom. According to the numbers, the average citizen is caught on CCTV cameras at a rate of 300 times a day, and that is just in major cities like London.

Today, CCTVs play a large role in preventing theft, robbery, and other major crimes. In fact, it has been a useful tool in identifying the perpetrators of the July 2005 bombing in London. Setting up a CCTV camera system for your home is a wise idea. With the right tools and parts such as video baluns, it won’t be long until your home or business is protected from evildoers.

Install CCTV Systems Successfully with These Tips (PART II)

Earlier, we taught you how successfully install CCTV systems by sharing a few tips. Of course, installing CCTV systems mean that you have to purchase the necessary parts such as security cameras and video baluns for the system to even function properly. With good planning, CCTV system installation should prevent future problems though troubleshooting is inevitable with years-old security systems.

While the first part of our series discussed the importance of doing proper research, canvassing the area, and checking for nearby power sources, we now conclude by detailing why security lighting, camera considerations, and choosing between cabled or wireless camera is a crucial part in successfully installing CCTV systems.

The reason why you want to install a CCTV system is to make sure you are always safe and that no intruders will come into your home, especially during at night. Having enough security lighting is important if you want the system to be turned on at night. This means that you either have to make extra lighting available or choose a security camera with low lux ratings or Infrared capability.

As CCTV systems are traditionally installed outdoors, they have to be enclosed in a weather-proof protective casing to safeguard them from external elements that could potentially damage the system. Additionally, it is necessary to choose the right security camera for the type of climate in your region because there are certain security cameras that cannot withstand extreme temperature changes.

Finally, cables are necessary parts of any CCTV installation system. Some CCTV installers find it time-consuming to run cables from the camera to the control point. Wireless systems now eliminate the necessity of extensive cabling; however, the camera has to be within range and minimum obstacles should block the signal between the camera and receiver. Video baluns make long distances possible without loss of signal and transmission.

Quick Tutorial: Active Video Balun Installation

PIMFG.com teaches you how to install an active video balun and to strip Cat5e cables.

Video Balun Transceivers: The Latest in Balun Technology

Video baluns, particularly active video baluns, come in two forms: receivers and transmitters. Active video baluns can easily transmit signal for long distances using Cat5e cables. Whereas passive video baluns are transceivers, active baluns are either a receiver or a transmitter. 

From the names themselves, transmitters send video signals from the source, one example of which is a transmitter going to the end of a CCTV camera. With active video baluns that function as transmitters, you will find that they all have a gain control toggle to compensate for distances (Low, Medium, or High). Receivers, on the other hand, accept the video signal such as when they are located at the DVR side of the cable. Active receiver video baluns have brightness adjustment pots, dip switches for sharpness, and built-in ground isolation.

The latest technology in video baluns are transceivers, which offer a hybrid solution to running cable. When Cat5e cables run through the video baluns, the transceiver strengthens the video signal as it runs through the RG59 cable down to the cable for the security cameras. Transceivers function whether the signal is incoming or outgoing so you wouldn’t have to worry about the quality of signal that passes through your security camera or DVR. With video balun transceivers, you are allowed to have more complex security camera installations since these transceivers can run cable up to 5000 feet.

Video baluns, whether active or passive, are very cost-efficient in extending the distance of your security cameras. These are the perfect solutions to large corporations who need to monitor several floors for security purposes, making sure that employees are doing their jobs and visitors are supervised as soon as they are on the premises. 

PIMFG.com offers a wide selection of video baluns for your needs. Each product comes with an installation guide to guarantee a safe and easy task.

The Many Video Baluns Available in the Market Today

Any video balun talk would automatically translate to security cameras, CCTV systems, and Cat5e cables. While it is true that video baluns are often associated with these, video baluns can also be used with phones and phone cables. The standard video baluns sold today are active and passive video baluns. 

By now, you already know what active and passive video baluns are and how they differentiate from each other. As a review, passive baluns do not really change the signal they receive as they merely transfer the signal from coaxial to Cat5 connectivity or vice versa. Active video baluns come into place for longer distances as signal tends to become more distorted for long range applications. To prevent this from happening, active baluns are used to intensify the signal, transmitting a stronger signal to the receiving balun. If applied inversely, a weak signal received by an active balun will automatically converted into a stronger one before it is sent to the video surveillance appliance.

Power-transferring video baluns are also available in the market nowadays. These video baluns can support power up to 18V-24V DC from the wall. From the power to the camera, there are instances when the signal degrades. What happens is that the 18V signal will be converted into a higher current of 12V DC by a power regulator before it is fed to the camera. There also video baluns that can transmit AC power to the camera. 

Purchased video baluns often come with a wiring guide so the consumer can safely connect the baluns to the wires where they have to be attached to. This is because wires first have to be stripped before being connected to the video balun. While there are fancy baluns that do not require wires to be stripped first since they offer easy connection directly from a cable, the more economical ones would require that wires be stripped first before connection.

PIMFG.com offers tutorials on wire stripping and video balun installation which you should probably watch first before doing it on your own. This guarantees a safe and easy task to accomplish.

Troubleshooting Video Baluns: How to Verify Connections (Part II)

Previously, you learned about the first few steps in troubleshooting video baluns. Today, we conclude our two part series on how to repair video baluns if you start experiencing problems with them. Before testing the video baluns themselves, it is important to verify and test the interconnections first. There are several ways to do this.

First, you have to make sure that you are only using a single pair. A single pair of video balun consists of one positive wire and one negative wire only. Use this pair to connect the video balun over the Cat5e. If you use multiple pairs, you may experience ghost images or distorted pictures. Additionally, multiple pairs may cause noise and interference vulnerability. The effectiveness of multiple pairs also decreases with distance which is why you should use only a single pair to test the interconnections first.

Double check the polarity and maximum distance for the configuration that you are using. If the polarities are incorrect, you may experience distorted signal. Exceeding the maximum distance, on the other hand, you may not get the best out of your video balun either. Use a different configuration with longer distance if you think that you are nearing the maximum distance.

To give you an idea, the maximum distance for a passive-passive balun is 1200ft; 3000ft for passive-active video balun; and 9000ft for active-active balun.

Aside from double-checking the polarity and maximum distance of the video balun, don’t forget to check all the RG59 connections. RG59 connection problems can also bring about video distortion and intermittent video, just to name a few.

If you are using active video baluns, make sure that they are attached to these specific locations otherwise they won’t function at all:

The active transmitter should be located near the camera and not the DVR.

The active receiver should be located near the DVR and the camera.

Avoid confusing the locations of these two ends.

Finally, active baluns require 12V of power supply. This can be achieved by using an individual transformer that is local to the video balun.

With these helpful tips, you should be able to solve the common problems associated with video baluns. Safety is always a must so secure the area first to avoid accidents that could happen to you and the people around you.

Determining What Video Baluns to Based on Distance

Find out what is the best combination for active and passive video baluns to use based on the distance required for your CCTV system.

Troubleshooting Video Baluns (Part I)

Video baluns come in two types: passive and active video baluns. There are times when they don’t function properly so it’s important to know how to solve common video balun problems. Here’s how to troubleshoot active and passive video baluns.

1.       The first step to troubleshooting video baluns is to double check the cable configuration. This means that you are not using a Shielded Twisted Pair (STP) wire. Video baluns work best with Cat5e cables or UTP or Unshielded Twisted Pair wires. 

2.       Checking the cable configuration also means that they should be far away from AC power, fluorescent lighting, high EMI equipment, and high current equipment. Noises may be generated from these systems, causing distortion to the images.

3.       Noise can also come from splice connections, which is done when splitting UTP wires. To prevent this, use RJ45 connectors or make sure that there is at least an inch of untwisted wire when you solder or twist the pairs together.

4.       Verifying the camera connection should first be done before testing the video baluns themselves. The video output should work correctly which can be done with the use of an individual transformer then powering the camera locally as a means to verify that the power section of the cable is good.

5.       Another way to verify cable connection by power supply is to place the transformer on the DVR side of the cable, which should only be done if the cable power section is confirmed to function properly.

6.       A video test kit can also be purchased to test the video output of the camera and make sure that the camera is indeed working as it should be. 

These are just the first things to accomplish to verify video balun functionality. Wait for the second part as we finish our two-part series on troubleshooting video baluns.