Rip and replace is so much simpler
September 2009, CCTV, Surveillance & Remote Monitoring
The problem with convergence is that it makes a mess. Once upon a time, there were analogue CCTV cameras wired to video recorders and everyone was happy.
Well, happy as far as a neat solution included being tied into your favourite, which would soon become your least favourite vendor. Happy as long as you were not the person who had to find a specific piece of video evidence that 'happened sometime last night'. And very happy as long as you did not have to find the tape from last month when someone scratched the CEO’s car.
Convergence changed all that. With digital video and the much touted Internet protocol (IP), storage was simpler, finding stuff these days is also much simpler – providing you have the right software – and your cameras can even be hooked up via a wireless network.
The problem is that while digital is the answer to many problems, even some most companies have not thought of yet, to get the full benefit requires organisations to replace their old cameras with new IP cameras and the associated NVRs – network video recorders. You will also need to ensure that your hard drives are in some type of RAID configuration so that a drive failure or two does not turn out to be catastrophic.
Naturally, most business people would not be all that keen to rip and replace working equipment that cost a fortune. So then the option is to opt for DVRs to record digitally from your existing analogue cameras, but that limits future growth and opens the door to hardware failure – although that could be NVR sellers’ opinions.
What seems to be a popular option is to buy hybrid DVRs that allow for the simultaneous recording and remote access of live video streams from digital or analogue video sources. Although convenient, some vendors will tell you this is an expensive option as you will be pressured to buy NVRs to replace your hybrids in no time at all.
The reality is that you, the buyers need to have your ducks in a row because each vendor out there will sell you what works for them. You may even find one vendor’s DVR is another’s NVR or another’s hybrid. Some insist an NVR is a piece of software running on a server, others offer the box with software installed.
With that in mind, we bring you this year’s DVR Round-Up, a listing of the latest products from leading companies in South Africa. For the sake of simplicity we still call it the DVR round-up.
The 2009 review will provide readers with an overview of the technology available in the market today, allowing you to make the optimal recording decisions suited to your company’s needs. Due to space restrictions we can only offer the basic specifications for the products, but we include the vendor’s contact details in case you want to delve further into the features and functionality of these devices. As always, comments are welcome.
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Further reading:
- SMB security solutions from Hikvision
September 2018, Hikvision South Africa, CCTV, Surveillance & Remote Monitoring
The latest-generation of SMB surveillance solutions support enhanced site security for end-users, while providing significant revenue opportunities for Hikvision’s resellers.
- Cameras in the control room
September 2018, Leaderware, This Week's Editor's Pick, CCTV, Surveillance & Remote Monitoring
CCTV operators find themselves in a pivotal position regarding society, technology, security strategy, and the welfare of people. But who watches the watchers?
- Making the right security decisions
September 2018, Technews Publishing, This Week's Editor's Pick, CCTV, Surveillance & Remote Monitoring, Access Control & Identity Management, Perimeter Security, Alarms & Intruder Detection, Integrated Solutions, Conferences & Events, Training & Education
The Residential Estate Security Conference 2018 took place in Johannesburg in August, covering a range of topics pertinent to the estate market.
- The most important features of a management platform
September 2018, Technews Publishing, This Week's Editor's Pick, CCTV, Surveillance & Remote Monitoring, Access Control & Identity Management, Cyber Security, Integrated Solutions
Hi-Tech Security Solutions asks the industry for the top three features you should be looking for in a security management platform.
- Improve efficiency and security
September 2018, Johnson Controls, Transport (Industry), CCTV, Surveillance & Remote Monitoring
Security technology plays a larger role than ever before in the logistics sector, for security and operational reasons.
- BMW dealer chooses Uniview
September 2018, CCTV, Surveillance & Remote Monitoring
An integrated Uniview solution was selected to provide comprehensive security for a large automotive dealership.
- Keeping the airfield safe
September 2018, Dallmeier Electronic Southern Africa , Transport (Industry), CCTV, Surveillance & Remote Monitoring
One of the paramount concerns for airports is perimeter protection; an issue, which was highlighted by a number of recent incidents involving unauthorised access onto airfields.
- A port in a security storm
September 2018, Pelco by Schneider Electric, Transport (Industry), CCTV, Surveillance & Remote Monitoring
Seaport security leaders should seek partners and platforms that help grant peace-of-mind that security awareness is maximised across infrastructures and perimeters.
- Priority Response to improve armed reaction
September 2018, Videofied SA, CCTV, Surveillance & Remote Monitoring, Perimeter Security, Alarms & Intruder Detection, Security Services & Risk Management, Products
Videofied has introduced Priority Response, a way to change the way professional armed reaction calls are being handled in the industry by making use of video verification products and service.
- Intelligent surveillance in the cloud
September 2018, Secutel Technologies, CCTV, Surveillance & Remote Monitoring, Integrated Solutions
Secuvue allows virtually any business to monitor their offices, warehouses, plants or stores remotely, from any part of the world.
- Threats to control rooms
September 2018, Contract Surveillance Services, CCTV, Surveillance & Remote Monitoring, Cyber Security
CSS offers advice for protecting remote control rooms from criminal attacks and interference.
- Network provisioning for surveillance
September 2018, Technews Publishing, This Week's Editor's Pick, CCTV, Surveillance & Remote Monitoring, IT infrastructure
While high-speed data networks make it easier than ever to transmit video feeds, bandwidth requirements can far exceed what would be expected of a typical office IT network.
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