Registered Vendor City of Seattle
linux dvr

CCR Registered Federal Government

Seattle Surveillance Systems
4327 Fremont Ave N.
Seattle, WA. 98103

Voice/Fax (206) 528-2582

March 11, 2010

"We keep our customers up to date"

Protect your assets with Confidence
Recommendations for using CCTV Systems

New 43X PTZ cameras, 10 Megapixel H.264 Cameras. Faces and license plates identified 200 feet away,
general activity to 1/2 mile. HDTV Surveillance Cameras, Off-site recording, view live over the internet via PC, or Laptop. Email and Telephone notification on motion detection. Remote control live PTZ Camera over internet.
Built-in motion detection recording. Infra-red up to 400+ foot night vision. Record IP camera video off-site.

CCTV Security Cameras

Dome Camera	Bullet Camera	Infrared Camera	C-Mount Camera

A CCTV Security Camera comes in many different styles including dome, bullet, infrared and c-mount. The security camera that will work best for your application will depend on several factors such as whether you will use the security cameras inside or out, during the day, nighttime, or both.

Dome security cameras protect the lens from dust, dirt and scratching with a "Dome" shaped cover. These cameras are easy to mount in acoustic tile ceiling, and can blend in to most environments with little notice. Click here to to learn more dome security cameras.

Bullet style security cameras are the most popular. They can be used inside or out. These security cameras come in black and white or color and come with all of the required mounting hardware. Most security cameras have a fixed 4mm lens that allows you to see facial features out to about 35 feet and provides a 70 degree angle of view. Click here for more information about bullet security cameras.

Infrared security cameras are also very popular as they allow an image to be seen in little or no lighting conditions. Most infrared security cameras are bullet style and can be used inside or out. The cameras have infrared lighting installed around the outer edge of the lens which allows the security camera to see in no light for up to 25 feet - even further with a little bit of light (like street lighting or an outside light.) Click here for more information about infrared security cameras.

C-mount Box cameras use a universal lens mount which fits all lens sizes( 4mm, 6mm, 22mm - 1500mm). Varifocal camera lenses allow you to adjust the focus from 5 to 60 mm and up without changing leses. C-mount cameras can be seen in many banks , whereas dome cameras can be seen in coffee shops like Starbucks. Click here for more details about C-mount security cameras or camera lenses.

Wide Angle Lenses

wide angle security camera lens for security camera surveillance system and rapid security response

Lens Calculator

Calculate Field of View (FOV)

Enter the CCD Chip Size, Lens Size, and Distance to Object:
Chip CCD Size:	1/2" 1/3" 1/4"
Lens Size:	mm
Distance to Object:	ft.

Angle of View:	deg.
Height:	ft.
Width:	ft.

Calculate Required Lens Size

Enter Chip CCD Size, Distance to Object and either the minimum required Scene Width or Height:
Chip CCD Size:	1/2" 1/3" 1/4"
Distance to Object:	ft.
Minimum Width:	ft.
(Or) Minimum Height:	ft.

Lens Size:	mm

Specialty CCTV Cameras

Megapixel Camera	PTZ Camera	Network Camera	Wireless Camera

Specialty security cameras can come in many different styles including megapixel, ptz, network and wireless. Specialty security camera that will work best for your application will depend on the environment you will use the camera in.

Megapixel Security cameras are great for facial and license plate recognition. These cameras record at 1,2,3, and 5 megapixel image sizes. These cameras require a megapixel lens for the best picture, and offer up to 20X the resolution of analog cameras. The most recent development in Megapixel Cameras is the completion of the H.264 compression standard. Click here to to learn more about megapixel security cameras.

PTZ Security cameras are popular for interactive surveillance. PTZ cameras can be setup using a serial cable, connecting many cameras at once. PTZ cameras range in power from 18X to 36X zoom. Newer model PTZ camera now have an option of Infra Red included for outdoor use. PTZ cameras are popular for interactive surveillance, such as casino monitoring, mall surveillance, prison security, etc. Click here for more information about ptz security cameras.

Network Security Cameras or IP Surveillance Cameras can be defined as the transmission of video utilizing open internet protocols and standards for the purpose of recording and monitoring remotely, typically via the Internet. The most recent development in Network Cameras is the completion of the H.264 compression standard. Many IP Security Cameras provide software that allows the cameras image to viewed in client software or a web browser. Click here for more information about network security cameras.

CCTV Security DVR's

What features should I look for in a CCTV Digital Video Recorder (DVR)?

All DVRs are definitely not made equal!
There are several factors that are critical to consider when purchasing a DVR, especially when comparing price. The most important factors to look at are the number of cameras supported, frames per second (fps), compression technology, hard drive space, network connection / remote viewing capability, motion detection, scheduling, and ability to save video and audio to a CD or flash drive. You should also look for easy and comprehensive search capabilities (check out our 'Smart Search' technology) and audio support. The setup and user interface should be intuitive and easy to operate. The price range varies from as little as $2,499 for a basic 4 camera input DVR up to over $5,000.00 for a 32 camera input real time DVR!

What is frames per second?

The frames per second (fps) relates to how many pictures the DVR will record in a second. Real time recording is about 30 fps on each camera. To calculate the fps per camera take the total fps in the system and divide it by the number of video inputs. For example, a 60 fps digital video recorder with 4 video inputs would result in about 15 fps per camera. The technology has finally gotten to the point now where real time recording is affordable. If you are recording cash registers or something similar then you should definitely invest in real time recording.

How big a hard drive do I need?

The amount of hard drive space is very important because it will limit how many days of recording you can store before the system has to start recording o?er the oldest video. Each DVR will have its storage capacity listed in the specifications. But this calculation is just a rough estimate as there are many factors that affect hard drive use. The most critical factor being the compression format used by the DVR (for more info on compression formats click here). But also the type of cameras that are connected to the DVR make a difference (specifically the chip size and resolution) and also the features that are selected on the DVR. If you use the scheduling or motion detection features or tune down the frame rate that will extend the storage capacity of the unit. Even the field of view (what you are recording) will affect the storage capacity - the more complex the image, the more hard drive space it will take to capture the complexity.

What is the difference between a PC-based DVR and an Embedded DVR?

A PC-based digital video recorder is basically a personal computer that has been modified with hardware and software to work as a DVR. An embedded digital video recorder is a machine that has been manufactured specifically to work as a DVR. In embedded DVRs there is typically one circuit board with software burned into the chip.

Thee used to be significant differences in features between the PC-based and the embedded machines. But with recent advancements in the embedded DVR technologies the differences are becoming less. The advantages of an embedded digital video recorder is that they are extremely stable and reliable since they contain fewer parts. The software is often written in basic machine code or Linux code which tends to be more stable than Windows software. The advantages of the PC-based digital video recorders is that they are easier to interact with because you use the on-screen menus and a mouse (as opposed to embedded which you interact with more like a VCR - via buttons). And you tend to have more features and options on the PC-based machines.

What comes with the DVR?

Most of our DVRs come standard with an 250 gig hard drive (unless otherwise noted). They also include the software (for setup, local, and remote viewing), power cord, and documentation. PC-based machines also come with the mouse and keyboard. You just need to add the cameras, whatever cable you need, and a monitor. For embedded machines you can use a TV set or security monitor. For PC-based machines you need a standard computer monitor. Also, we have on-site technical support available at no additional cost.