Faulty CCTV system – do you repair, or replace it?
If you’re current CCTV system suddenly develops a fault, you might be wondering what to do next; should I pay my local CCTV engineer to come out and repair it, or should I replace it with a brand new one?
For homeowners who’ve not long had their CCTV system installed, a repair carried out by a professional CCTV engineer is the best option – call NOW on 0800 611 8230.
However, if your CCTV system is now a number of years old, it might be worth considering replacing it with a brand new one – it could be more cost effective in the long run and a more modern, up-to-date CCTV system will provide you with better quality images.
For those of you with a faulty old analogue CCTV system, it can be easily and cheaply upgraded to a HD system.
The process for a fully qualified CCTV installer is quick and easy and due to the fact that the cables belonging to your analogue system can be reused, it’s a cheap and affordable way of upgrading your CCTV security system – to find out more about CCTV system upgrades, please call us TODAY on 0800 611 8230.
By simply upgrading to a new HD CCTV security system, you’ll benefit from having a smart, up-to-date system, providing HD quality recordings and the ability to add extra features as and when they’re needed.
For more information regarding our CCTV installation, repairs and maintenance services here in Nottingham please click here, or call 0800 611 8230 NOW to speak with one of our local CCTV installers about your home or business security needs.
A guide to Bullet Cameras from CCTV Nottingham
There’s a wide range of security cameras on the market today to choose from as part of your CCTV system package, such as bullet, dome, c-mount and Infrared cameras.
The difficulty comes in knowing which CCTV camera is going to the best one for your specific needs. That’s why we recommend calling in the professionals, who will design and install you the right system depending on your home or business security needs – call us NOW on 0800 611 8230.
An expert CCTV installer has the knowledge and experience needed to ensure that the right style of CCTV cameras are chosen, based on the surveillance required and the type of property or business premises you need to protect.
One type of CCTV security camera that’s a popular choice for both residential and commercial surveillance, is the bullet camera, which is suitable for both indoor and outdoor use and available in colour and black & white.
Most bullet cameras on the market include weather resistant features, which means there’s no extra costs involved to ensure it’s protected from the elements.
Bullet cameras generally come with a 3.6mm fixed lens, which allows for an 80 degree viewing angle, the widest angle you can have without distorting the image.
Many bullet cameras on the market today, have the ability to capture the images in colour, which is perfect for daytime monitoring, however nearly all colour cameras revert to black & white viewing once the level of light starts to dim.
Infrared bullet cameras are the perfect choice for night time monitoring, capturing images/footage in black & white.
Bullet cameras are normally used as part of a full CCTV system package and work in a similar way to c-mount cameras but have been modified for outdoor use in a weatherproof casing.
They are suitable for both indoor and outdoor surveillance and can be fixed to a wall or ceiling.
For help and advice regarding bullet cameras, or for more information about our CCTV installation, repairs and maintenance services, please click here, or call 0800 611 8230 to speak to one of our local CCTV installers covering Nottingham and the surrounding areas.
Alternatively, fill in our simple form below for a free no-obligation home or business CCTV quote within the hour.
Dome Cameras for Home or Business Security
A dome security camera provides total surveillance around your home, or in a business environment. They are small, neat, compact cameras that have the ability to view from many directions.
Many dome cameras on the market today are also great for outdoor surveillance, as well as being the perfect choice for the home, or a business. Some dome security cameras are even vandal proof.
Dome cameras all send the footage/images over the network, directly onto the customer’s computer for viewing via a screen/monitor.
There’s a wide choice of dome security cameras to pick from, which all vary in price and include features which range from simple to the more complex.
They are ideal for use within a business environment, as they are small, discreet and incredibly durable.
Dome cameras are shaped like a dome and perfect for indoor surveillance, often going unnoticed. The way they work makes it really hard to know exactly in which direction they are pointing.
They are a popular choice for indoor use around the home and can be positioned neatly in the corner of a room, or placed in a large area such as the hallway.
To provide maximum coverage, dome cameras tend to swivel and are available in a wide range of styles with numerous features such as indoor, outdoor, Infrared, Pan, Tilt & Zoom (PTZ), Internet Protocol (IP) and vandal proof for outdoor use.
Not only are dome cameras small and compact, they are easy to install and come in a variety of colour choices too.
They really are a smart little camera, with their tinted glass, or plastic coverings and rotation features, they stop people from knowing exactly which way they are pointing.
With so many dome security cameras to choose from, knowing which one is right for your surveillance needs can make purchasing a CCTV camera system difficult.
Our advice would be to speak to the experts – fully qualified CCTV installers know exactly what type of camera is best suited to your specific needs and requirements, not to mention your budget.
For further help and advice regarding dome security cameras, or any other type of security camera, CCTV installation, CCTV systems, repairs and maintenance, please call and speak to one of our local CCTV installers here in Nottingham on 0800 611 8230.
Alternatively, fill in the form below for a free CCTV quote within the hour.
What does a complete CCTV System consist of?
Most people believe that CCTV is simply a camera, or lots of cameras pointing in different directions looking for suspicious activity, but there’s much more to CCTV than the obvious.
There’s a few more elements that are required to ensure you have a fully working CCTV system.
Firstly, as we’ve already mentioned, the most obvious part of a CCTV system is the camera.
It’s the camera, or cameras job to monitor and capture the images, however, they do also act as a strong visual deterrent in the fight against crime.
There’s a wide range of cameras available on the market today, which are all suitable for surveillance but offer varying degrees of features etc.. something for every kind of monitoring need and budget.
The Cameras
Dome cameras – these are a popular choice today for indoor surveillance due to their small, neat size. They are easy to install and some of them have infrared capabilities and can be purchased to include vandal-proof features. Their distinctive shape makes it hard for onlookers to be able to tell which way the camera is pointing, so as a design they are very clever as they create an air of uncertainty which can help to deter criminals.
Bullet cameras – perfect for outdoor surveillance and shaped like a bullet, long and cylindrical. They are good for long distance viewing and feature a protective casing which protects them from the elements. They can be fitted with either fixed or varifocal lenses, depending on the customer’s intended use.
C-Mount cameras – their main advantage is the fact that the lenses can be detached to allow for different applications. Great for outdoor use in extreme weather conditions.
Day/night cameras – these are capable of monitoring in both normal daylight and poorly lit times of the day. They can capture clear images even in the dark of night.
PTZ cameras – PTZ stands for pan, tilt and zoom, which basically means that the camera can pan (move) left or right, tilt up and down and the lens can be zoomed in for closer viewing, or out for distance monitoring.
The Cables
The cables also play a vital role in a CCTV system, running from the cameras to the DVR. They not only provide the power, they ensure that live images can be transferred back to the DVR.
The DVR
Lastly but very importantly, the DVR (digital video recorder). This piece of equipment takes all of the images from the camera and sends them to the viewing screen, or monitor, storing the images/footage as well for viewing at a later date.
To find out more about CCTV systems and what the best set up will be for your home or business security requirements, please click here, or call and speak to one of our local CCTV installers in the Midlands on 0800 611 8230.
Alternatively, you can fill in our quick form below for a free no-obligation CCTV quote within the hour.
Outdoor CCTV security cameras for your business
Outdoor CCTV surveillance for a business is vital; CCTV cameras act as a strong visual deterrent in the fight against crime.
Business CCTV cameras don’t hide the fact they are there, with large cameras on view and signs up telling people that CCTV is in operation, criminals are left in no doubt that if they do attempt some sort of criminal activity, they will be caught on camera and the evidence used against them in court.
Outdoor business CCTV cameras allow members of staff to monitor the outside of the building and its perimeters 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Any threat to security is picked up immediately, ensuring a rapid response by staff, who can if necessary contact the police.
Entrance and exits points are used by criminals too, so these need to be monitored constantly, along with all windows and fire exits, so any attempted break-ins are picked up by the cameras.
CCTV cameras covering car parks are essential not only for employees but for customers using large retail car parks etc..
Wide angle lenses are normally used for outdoor car park monitoring as they can cover large areas. Pan, tilt and zoom cameras are a common choice when it comes to business car park surveillance. They are capable of moving in and focusing on a specific incident.
Vehicle identification is paramount, not only to check for potential car theives or vandals but to keep an eye on suspicious vehicle activity.
Loading bays within a business need constant monitoring, to ensure that safety measures are adhered to and the vehicles loading up are the ones authorised to to so.
Any machinery left outside should be monitored by CCTV cameras, as they are at risk of theft or vandalism, plus the perimeter of your business premises may also benefit from proper CCTV coverage. Cameras positioned on walls and fences will enable early identification of intruders.
To find out more about our CCTV installation, repairs and maintenance services in Nottingham, please click here, or call 0800 611 8230 to speak to one of our expert CCTV installers about your home or business security needs.
Alternatively, you can fill in our quick and easy form below for a free no-obligation quote within the hour.
Why do we need home CCTV cameras?
The installation of CCTV at home is becoming more and more popular throughout the UK. CCTV cameras help to protect your property from theft and anti-social behaviour and act as a strong deterrent in the fight against crime.
With an increase in cases of anti-social behaviour across certain parts of the country, CCTV cameras play a vital role in evidence gathering, which could lead to a conviction and much safer communities for everyone.
Many families now see CCTV as a very important safety measure and a strong visual deterrent that will help to protect the home and family.
Being broken into is a very unpleasant and upsetting experience, so what better way of avoiding becoming a target for these criminals – the sight of a CCTV camera. Thieves tend to be opportunists and will more than likely avoid a home that has CCTV cameras and signs installed – no one wants to be caught on camera!
CCTV systems come with a wide range of options and can be tailor-made to suit your specific requirements – call free on 0800 611 8230 to speak to a CCTV expert.
As they increase in popularity, the price for a high quality CCTV security system has fallen drastically and become more accessible to all.
Not only do CCTV cameras deter criminals, they also provide peace of mind for you, when vulnerable family members are left alone at home.
Modern CCTV systems now allow for remote monitoring via an internet connection, which enables you to live view your property whilst you are away from home, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The images can be viewed via your handeheld device, or laptop, with the option to record.
Remote monitoring also allows for alert messages to be sent to you via a text message, or email in the event of an incident occurring at your property whilst you are away.
For more advice regarding CCTV security systems and what cameras are best suited to your needs, please click here, or fill in the quote form below and receive a free no-obligation quotation within the hour.
All our local engineers are fully qualified CCTV installers covering the whole of Nottingham – call NOW on 0800 611 8230.
What is a CCTV Digital Video Recorder (DVR)?
How a CCTV Digital Video Recorder (DVR) works and what it does
Security is hugely important for businesses and residential properties and one of the best forms of security is CCTV cameras. However, they aren’t much use without something to record the images onto and for this purpose, you need a good quality CCTV digital video recorder (DVR).
There are numerous DVR’s on the market and selecting the right one for your tailor-made CCTV system is essential. Our expert CCTV installers will ensure you have the best CCTV recorder for your needs in terms of quality, features and cost – call NOW for friendly advice from the professionals – 0800 611 8230 .
A CCTV Digital Video Recorder (DVR for short), is essentially a computer that saves an incoming (analog) security video image, converts it to digital, compresses it and then stores it to a hard drive.
Multiple cameras can be connected to a single DVR, usually with a choice of 4, 8, 16, or 32 camera inputs. Your digital video recorder (DVR) will then enable you to view all of the images at once, or one at a time if you prefer. All of the images will be converted, compressed and saved onto the hard drive.
DVR’s are available with 1, 4, 8, 9 and 16 channels. The channel basically serves as a video feed.
To sum up, a DVR is the smart technology that captures the images and saves them onto the hard drive. They are a lot more flexible than the old VCR’s that required VHS tapes, providing more storage capacity based on the size of the hard drive. You have the ability to search through the recordings by date, time or incident and as the recording is digital, there will be no loss of quality or signal.
For help and advice on DVR’s, CCTV cameras and what the right CCTV system is for your home or business security needs, please call 0800 611 8230, or simply fill in the free Quote form below.
Colour v Black & White Security Cameras
A simple guide from cctvnottingham.co.uk on the advantages and disadvantages of both
Colour surveillance cameras have now become the favoured option in the UK over black and white security cameras, providing excellent image quality in situations where there’s good lighting, such as in well-lit stores, or for day-time viewing.
Colour security cameras are particularly useful in providing more detailed information, such as the colour of a vehicle, or for picking out the colour of clothing that a suspect is wearing.
However, to be sure of good colour information, there has to be good lighting with visible white light to achieve good colour video images.
And when it comes to night time viewing, almost all high-quality colour security cameras see in black and white only, adjusting themselves depending on the level of light.
Black & white security cameras generally cost less than colour cameras as they are cheaper and easier to manufacture. In some instances this may not be the case, as there are superior quality black and white security cameras on the market that cost more due to their ability to be able to provide good lighting images in low-light situations.
Black and white security cameras do achieve brighter images in low-light conditions, however some top quality colour cameras could produce better results than a cheap black & white camera.
There are colour cameras on the market that produce brighter images than black & white cameras but they do cost more. On comparing a colour camera aginst a black & white one of exactly the same quality, the black and white camera will always be brighter in the darkness.
Finally, black & white security cameras tend to have a higher resolution, resulting in sharper quality images compared to those from a colour camera of the same quality.
To conclude, colour cameras are great for day time viewing or in well-lit areas, however when it comes to night time, colour cameras only see in black and white anyway, so you could save yourself a few pounds by purchasing a black and white camera, it all depends on what your particular requirements and budget are.
For more help and advice on which cameras are best suited to your requirements, please call 0800 611 8230, or simply fill in the cctvnottingham.co.uk free CCTV quote below.
ANPR Cameras for your business
The benefits of ANPR cameras and how they work to protect your business
You can increase the security of your business premises with the addition of Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras, which provide 24 hour number plate monitoring for extra piece of mind.
You can track when and what time vehicles are entering and leaving your business premises and if anything looks suspicious, or some type of criminal activity occurs on your premises, you’ll have all the information you need on hand.
An ANPR security system has the ability to record every vehicle that visits your premises, even if the weather is bad or the lighting conditions are poor, or if the vehicle drives in too fast – in the event of a crime taking place, the ANPR cameras will have recorded the vehicles number plates.
How can ANPR cameras protect your business?
ANPR cameras are suitable for all types of businesses, large or small. Industrial estates, petrol stations and businesses with car parks can benefit hugely from an ANPR camera system, ensuring their premises, entrances and exits are monitored for criminal activity on a daily basis.
With vehicles coming and going every day at different times, having the ability to monitor and observe activity around your business premises can be very useful.
ANPR Cameras can:
- Identify vehicles entering and leaving the premises
- Identify and record regular visitors to your business
- Prevent criminal activity from taking place
- Identify ‘black-listed’ vehicles and prevent them from entering the premises
- Identify vehicles that stay too long on the premises
ANPR uses the latest technology providing you with super clear, high quality images. ANPR cameras capture multiple images of a vehicle entering the designated area and stores them on a database. The registration number plate is then converted by the system software and stored.
To find out more about our CCTV installation services in Nottingham, please click here.
What are PTZ CCTV security cameras?
The cctvnottingham.co.uk guide to PTZ cameras
What are PTZ Cameras?
PTZ stands for pan, tilt and zoom – meaning they can literally pan out, tilt to cover multiple areas and zoom in on a specific point of interest.
PTZ cameras allow you to remotely monitor larger areas that would potentially require several fixed cameras to do the same job. The pan, tilt and zoom features enable the camera to move up & down and zoom in for more area coverage and much greater detail.
How Does A PTZ Camera Work
They are fitted with mechanical parts to allow for movement of the lens and camera. Depending on the PTZ camera you have installed, the camera or software enables the position of the camera to move to a set program. You can, for example, set the camera to automatically react and move when suspicious activity is detected, allowing for the camera to follow the action as it moves along.
Range of movement on the camera depends on the model and its capabilities. 360 degree pan cameras have the ability to turn full circle, which eliminates blind spots. PTZ cameras with 180 degree tilt means the camera can see in all directions; above, below and straight ahead. The tilt and pan features enable the camera to view action taking place right next to or behind it.
The more flexible the cameras abilities, the better the results will be, so full movement PTZ cameras are recommended. A number of PTZ camera models also feature digital pan and tilt, which means that the video can be removed after recording has finished.
Surveillance cameras come with a choice of two zoom types – optical and digital. Optical means that the lens can actually move to zoom in, which enlarges the field of activity by moving in closer. The image quality is retained, meaning the cameras carry on recording perfect video.
With digital zoom, you have the ability to zoom in on a specific area after the video has finished recording. Digital zoom basically just enlarges a current image, so the quality of the video could be reduced if you zoom in too far, causing pixelation to the image.
To find out more about CCTV installation in Nottingham, please click here.