Your Source for Security Cameras & Other Security Equipment

Monthly Archives: February 2015

Should I Upgrade To Network IP Cameras?

As times change, so does technology. Analog security cameras are slowly fading away, being replaced with much more advanced and efficient solutions. In particular, network IP cameras offer numerous benefits and are a welcome upgrade from analog cameras.

These benefits include easy installation, transition, expansion, and management. Installation for network IP cameras has become easier as plug-and-play options are more readily available. New technologies have allowed analog and IP cameras to coexist within the same system, allowing a slow and smooth transition to an all IP system. Because work is done over a network, expanding and upgrading your security system can be done in house, saving you time and money. Managing your security camera system becomes effortless as you can access your feed remotely through apps on your mobile devices, tablets, or PCs.

There are many reasons to consider upgrading to network IP cameras, and many cost-effective options are out there. Here are a few of our top-selling network IP cameras:

SCE CMPS330 720P Wireless Night Vision IP Camera

This wireless IP camera offers plug-and-play installation, along with cloud storage service and remote viewing through mobile devices. This night vision camera possesses 12 LEDS, 1/4” CMOS image sensor, and 720p real-time video coding (with H.264 stream support). Delivering quality picture and performance for a low price, this camera is a steal!

Grandstream GXV3672-FHD-36 Outdoor Day/Night FHD 3.6MM IP Camera

With this Grandstream outdoor security camera, you’ll get quality and reliability. Boasting a 3.1 Megapixel CMOS sensor and HD Lens, H.264 stream support, and a pre/post event recording buffer, you won’t miss a thing. This camera also has embedded video analytics as well as support for SIP/VoIP, motion detection, and notifications on PC Client. There’s not much this security camera can’t do.

SCE 7184A 2MP HD IP Network PTZ Camera

Offering excellent pan, tilt, and zoom abilities, our IP network PTZ camera provides the best features for a smart price. Our PTZ camera has 1080P full HD resolution, 30x/20x optical zoom and 16x digital zoom, with up to 328FT IR distance for comprehensive, quality surveillance. With an appealing design and price, this IP network PTZ camera will be a great addition to your security camera system.

You can browse the rest of our stock of network IP cameras and NVRs (network video recorders) online at SecurityCamExpert.com. To speak with us directly, you can call us Monday-Friday 8:00am-5:00pm at 1-888-203-6294.

Want to connect with us through social media? Like us, Plus 1 us, Tweet us, or Pin with us today!

What’s New In Video Surveillance Technology

It’s amazing to look back on how security camera technology has changed and evolved for the better. We once only knew of grainy, black and white footage, and now we can record in color in near complete darkness, and access live feeds through our devices. This year, our technology is improving clarity, storage, and overall performance to bring you the best. Let’s take a look at the big video surveillance trends coming this year.

VSaaS / Cloud Computing

Video Surveillance-as-a-Service (VSaaS) provides remote management and archiving through the cloud. When combined with the cloud and cloud computing, managing your system is easier, whether done in house or outsourced to a third party. Upgrades and updates are more easily accessible, more storage space is available, and additional services can be added.

Analytics, Business Intelligence (BI), & Big Data

The amount of structured and unstructured data (big data) from video surveillance is ripe with valuable insights for businesses. When paired with surveillance footage, analytics technology can produce fruitful information thanks to high resolution and constant connection. Because of network connections, video footage can produce beneficial timelines for crimes and identify shopping patterns at retail stores, allowing for improved safety for the public and a more personalized shopping experience. This gives businesses better insight on all levels, proving that an enhanced security camera system can aid in business success.

Video Compression & Bandwidth Usage

Compression technology plays a large part in efficiency and performance. Advancement in this area will allow significant file size reduction with minimal to no compromising of picture quality. There are several video compression standards, with H.264 being the latest and most efficient. However, H.265 technology is on the horizon, which can reduce bandwidth and storage demands. As with most new technology, H.265 will slowly be introduced in more high-end products before becoming the standard, along with H.264.

With such great trends to come, we are excited to see what will unfold. What are your thoughts and expectations for the surveillance industry in 2015? Share your opinions with us – Facebook, Google+, Twitter, and Pinterest.

Visit us online at SecurityCamExpert.com and shop our stock of security cameras, DVRs, NVRs, camera packages, and more. If you have any questions, please call us at 1-888-293-6294 and our sales team will be happy to assist you.

Valentine’s Day Fun Facts

With Valentine’s Day fast approaching, the stress may be setting in for the procrastinators out there. To lighten the mood, we’ve decided to share ten fun facts about the love-filled holiday.

1.    In 1537, England’s King Henry VII officially declared Feb. 14 the holiday of St. Valentine’s Day.

2.    In the Middle Ages, young men and women drew names from a bowl to see who would be their Valentine. They would wear this name pinned onto their sleeves for one week for everyone to see. This was the origin of the expression “to wear your heart on your sleeve.”

3.    The Italian city of Verona, where Shakespeare’s lovers Romeo and Juliet lived, receives about 1,000 letters addressed to Juliet every Valentine’s Day.

4.    The red rose was the favorite flower of Venus, the Roman goddess of love.

5.    Each year, over 50 million roses are given for Valentine’s Day worldwide.

6.    In order of popularity, Valentine’s Day cards are given to teachers, children, mothers, wives, sweethearts and pets.

7.    220,000 is the average number of wedding proposals on Valentine’s Day each year.

8.    Richard Cadbury created the first Valentine’s Day candy box in the 1800s.

9.    About 8 billion candy hearts will be produced this year; that’s enough candy to stretch from Rome, Italy to Valentine, Arizona 20 times and back again.

10.    Over $1 billion worth of chocolate is purchased for Valentine’s Day in the U.S.

Bonus Fact: Were having a sale! Starting on Monday, February 9, 2015 until Valentine’s Day, when you spend $300 or more at SecurityCamExpert.com, you’ll receive a complimentary box of chocolates. Consider it our way of showing our adoration for you; a little Valentine’s Day gift from us to you.

This offer applies to both phone orders and online orders, however, you must mention the promotion when ordering. For online orders, please use the Order Comments box to note the promotion. This offer applies to website pricing only, and orders of at least $300 or more. This offer may not be combined with other offers; limit one per customer. Offer valid February 9-14, 2015.

Which facts were surprising to you? Do you have any facts to share? You can reach us on our social networks  – Facebook, Google+, Twitter, and Pinterest. And be sure to act fast – our special offer ends on Valentine’s Day!

Choosing A Security Camera System

Choosing a security camera system properly equipped to suit your needs is ever important. When choosing a system, you should understand your wants and needs before you proceed to shop. Here, we’ll break down some basics to get you started.

Placement

There are many factors to consider when it comes to placement. Which areas would you like to monitor? Whether the security camera will be used indoors or outdoors will dictate which type of camera you use. Security cameras are usually identified as indoor or outdoor cameras, with outdoor cameras being built a bit more sturdy and, likely, weatherproof and/or waterproof.

Wired vs. Wireless

Placement may also determine whether you choose wired or wireless cameras. Wired cameras usually provide a more secure, constant connection. The downfall is that a simple cut or disconnection of wire and equipment can take down your system. Also, depending on its location, wiring may not be feasible. Wireless cameras make it a bit simpler, allowing connection through a local network, and letting you install them virtually anywhere. Connection may be an issue, depending on the distance between cameras and servers. Luckily, as technology improves, this problem will likely be eliminated.

Lighting

The lighting in the environment you will be monitoring plays a vital role in determining which features will produce the best results. For an area in which lighting will be relatively ample and constant, most cameras will work beautifully. However, in dimly lit areas, or areas where the light source will be intermittently available, you’ll want to invest in cameras with day/night vision and possibly infrared LEDs for better night vision.

Fixed vs. PTZ

Another thing to consider is the question of a fixed or PTZ camera. Ultimately, this depends on how you would like to survey your grounds. Fixed cameras are set on a fixed area, needing manual adjustment to view other areas, whereas PTZ cameras afford a more flexible range. With PTZ cameras, you can remotely adjust the lens to move left and right (pan), up and down (tilt), and zoom in and out as needed.

Viewing

As far as recording and viewing goes, you’ll want to choose the appropriate DVR (digital video recorder) or NVR (network video recorder). If you want to monitor your feed at home or in an office, a DVR and CCTV monitor will do just fine. If, however, you would like to view your live feed from your smart phone while on the go, you’ll want to find a DVR or NVR which supports mobile viewing and your mobile device.

At SecurityCamExpert.com, we carry a wide variety of security cameras and camera systems to match different needs. Shop our selection online or give us a call at 1-888-203-6294. You can also connect with us on our social networks – Facebook, Google+, Twitter, and Pinterest.

Recent Comments