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More bang for your security buck

Christmas comes but once a year and so does the CCTV Handbook. If you have not already noticed, the CCTV Handbook 2013 has been completed and bundled with your March issue. If your copy of this prized possession has been nationalised by persons unknown, please send me an e-mail and we will make sure you have the ultimate in CCTV intelligence at your fingertips.

You can also download the digital version from the Hi-Tech Security Solutions website ( securitysa.com) by clicking on the 'E-Book/PDF' link (or simply go to http://www.securitysa.com/archives.aspx). We have both PDF and Flash versions (with cool page-turning sounds) available. The Flash version even allows you to print selected pages for your bedtime reading (assuming you do not have a tablet).

As we were putting the handbook together, I saw a notice that the H.265 compression codec has been officially standardised and promises to deliver the same image quality over half the bandwidth. (H.264 is the most common compression technology used in the surveillance world at the moment.) That would be something if it turns out to be true, but I guess we need to wait and see what happens in the real world. We also need to see if the industry is prepared to dump H.264 after only four years in which it has become the de facto standard in surveillance compression technology.

If the reports of a 50% improvement in bandwidth are true and it is as reliable and stable as H.264, I do not see how the industry can ignore H.265. It would have a significant impact on bandwidth usage. For now, however, we are just hearing how fabulous it is in the lab, the reality may be a bit different when the standard is tested in cameras deployed in the real world.

It also depends on whether existing cameras can be upgraded to H.265 and how long the makers of management software take to include it in their systems. Another red light is the increased processing requirements. If reports that users will see anywhere from 50% to a massive 300% increase in processing demands are true, there will be a delay before it sees the light of day. Imagine the increase in processing demands in a busy control room and in the cameras themselves.

In other news, IFSEC has announced that this year will be the last time the show is held in Birmingham. In future we will only have to travel to London to get our international security fix. Personally I think this is a great idea, the drive to Birmingham from Heathrow is a bit of a drag.

But there again, there is a lot more to do in London and you may see more people skipping the show to see the sights. Not that I would ever do something like that, but some people might.

Do enjoy the March issue as well as the CCTV Handbook. If you have any comments, please let me know at andrew@technews.co.za.

Andrew Seldon, Editor

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