Video Recording
Regardless of whether you adopt an analog or IP-based system, you will need to record, store and manage your video footage. Extensive surveillance video is useless if you cannot store it at a reasonable cost and access it efficiently.
Digital Video Recorders
A DVR converts an analog video signal into digital format and compresses it. The video files are then stored on a hard drive. DVRs can add intelligence capabilities to an analog CCTV system -- scheduling, motion detection, and digital zoom, for instance. You can view captured video on monitors directly connected to DVRs, on PCs over your existing computer network or on a web browser connected to the Internet. You can also add password protection and other features. Since video from multiple CCTV cameras is transmitted as one stream, using one IP address, a DVR requires less bandwidth than IP-based cameras for broadcasting over the Internet.
Hybrid Video Recorders
While DVRs digitize analog video feeds, hybrid video recorders provide seamless integration and recording of video from both analog and IP-based cameras. These hybrid devices are intended to operate on an enterprise-wide IP network, allowing you to keep your existing analog system while adding digital devices.
Network Video Recorders
A network video recorder is a software application which records video using a network or IP configuration and stores it on an SD memory card or other mass storage device. Digital video surveillance footage captured, encoded and processed by an IP camera is streamed to the NVR for storage or remote viewing. Typically run on a dedicated device with an embedded operating system, NVRs resemble DVRs, but do not encode or process video. With an NVR, you can set up a video surveillance camera by simply plugging into a standard computer network and entering the security camera's IP address – even if you're halfway around the world.
Video Management Software
Video management software (VMS) allows you to view, manage and record images from multiple security cameras. With all your cameras communicating over a TCP/IP network and demanding 24/7 monitoring, unlimited memory capacity and global access, it is inefficient -- if not impossible -- to assign a single monitor to each camera. With VMS, you can manually select video surveillance cameras for viewing or assign cameras to specific monitors. The software can also automatically switch groups of cameras or a single camera to specified monitors. VMS controls all picture-switching functions 24/7, even during an alarm.
Contact us today to review your security requirements and evaluate which configuration of video surveillance cameras and recorders works best for you.
We have customized solutions to fit any budget. Contact us now to find out how Radius Security can help your business.
