Digital Electronics Computers & Video Security

A forum for recording my findings and discussion of matters related to electronics, computers, security and other technical subjects.

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Location: Queensland, Australia

Automation and Integration Architect

Saturday, September 23, 2006

Premises security (part 2) Local vs Monitored also Use of Video Survellience

Local Security - continued from yesterday

With a "local" security system it may be possible to completely disable it, simply by removing the power for several hours !

If you're serious about electronic security, you really need to consider having a monitored system and/or some form of extended power supply. (More about power supply later)

The sad reality of unmonitored security systems is that by-and-large, audible and visible alerts will be ignored by the majority of people.
In Australia this problem is compounded by insufficient law enforcement officers for their timely attendance at any premises which may have an audible/visible alarm activated.

Before we move on in the topics, I'd like to share a little of my experience of "local alarm" security.

In one of my past lives, I was a registered security consultant and so got to see a wide variety of installations, ranging from the 'el-cheap-o' to the 'no-expense-spared' solutions.

In my opinion the best sort of "local" electronic security is made up of a mix of 'perimeter breach' and 'recorded digital video'.

Maybe at this juncture I should clarify what I mean by 'perimeter security', for those who are unfamiliar with these terms.

This first category, Perimeter Detection is often made up of some form of electronic security device(s) placed in the path of likely points of entry.

These devices are many and varied in today's digital security world, but some of the long-time favorites include:
  • Door and window closure detectors which send a signal back to the control panel when the access-point is opened.
  • Glass breakage detection
  • Pressure mats in passageways
  • Infra-red (invisible light) beams across access-ways.
These devices all detect a physical breach of the premises.
Damage has been done, (break-in) and someone has actually entered the premises.

The second category of devices can be classified as 'state-change' detectors and may include electronic sensors which either monitor and record events, and/or send alerts about the movement of a body or change of state within a monitored area.

These devices may include the likes-of:
  • Passive infra-red movement detectors
  • Proximity detectors
  • Infra-red beams may also fall into this category
  • In specialised installations, even things like moisture or noise detection may be used to monitor the security of the premises.
  • Digital Electronic Security Cameras
Security Cameras
One of the technologies which has become affordable to the masses in recent times, is the use of digital electronic video recording.
The potential advantage of this type of security is that even if property is lost or damaged, with possible visual identification of the perpetrators, there is an increased likelihood of both recovering stolen goods, and of damages recovery.
As I said at the start of todays page,
The sad reality of unmonitored security systems is that by-and-large, audible and visible alerts will be ignored by the majority of people.

Recording Methods for Digital Security Cameras

With the minimal cost of large volume disk storage, this is probably the most common media for storing recorded security video.

Prior to the decreased costs and increased capacities of disks, the most common medium was the digital video tape, mainly because of the volume of data which could be stored on a single tape. The emerging option is to write the data directly to DVD.

Although I may dedicate more detail to it in a later blog, I'll just touch on it in this bit about cameras.
SWANN make a couple of quite reasonable little indoor/outdoor cameras for around the A$230~$250 mark
At the time I write this Dick Smith is selling them as shown on these links:
Wireless: L5980
Wired: L5981
ZTV make quite a robust indoor/outdoor wireless security camera range and matched receiver.
ZTV are now associated with AEE who market their products.
In Aust dollars these sell for around $250 each, so for a couple of cameras and receiver you'll only have to spend around $750. (That's pretty cheap for video security)
At the time I write this Jaycar is selling them as shown on these links:
CAT. NO. QC3564
As I said, I'll talk more about the pros and cons of wireless security in a later blog.
In future installments, I'll cover off setting up video security using your home computer and also the ability to remote-monitor your site via the internet.
I also want to mention the potential risks of doing that (remote monitoring).
Enough for tonight.
Hope you'll join me again for the next installment.

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