| Frequently
Asked Questions
Important
Information
In the past, surveillance equipment
was mostly used by the government, private investigators, and law
enforcement
agencies, but now more and more people are finding a need for this
specialized
equipment.
Millions of people are using nanny
cams to check on their babysitters, surveillance cameras to keep an eye
on
their homes and businesses, and hidden cameras to catch theft, abuse,
and
infidelity. No
other method can give you
the proof or evidence that a surveillance camera can.
We want to help you find the
surveillance system that’s right for you but before you get started,
there are
3 important benefits, besides the fact that our hidden cameras are hand
crafted, that set our cameras apart from others . . .
2.4 GHz transmitters: We use only high
powered 2.4 GHz
transmitters that can send video signals up to three times further than
other
transmitters.
Battery
Packs: You have to supply
power to wireless surveillance and hidden cameras. This is usually done
with a
battery pack. Most battery packs can only supply power for up to 5
hours, then
you have to throw that pack away and get a new one.
Our 12 volt battery pack lasts up to 12
hours
. . . and it’s rechargeable!
Lens Technology: Sony CCD (Charged
Coupled Device) are the
lenses we use in our cameras. There are cheaper lenses on the market
but none
of them produce the high quality images that CCD lenses do. CCD lenses are high
resolution and highly
sensitive to light, allowing them to record in outdoor and low light
conditions.
Now a word of
warning! There
are many cameras out
there that use 1.2 GHz transmitters and receivers.
We have been asked why we don’t sell 1.2
GHz transmitters & receivers.
The reason is that the 1.2
GHz range is not
approved by the FCC for transmitting wireless video.
The FCC is aware of the situation and is
conducting ongoing investigations into the production and distribution
of 1.2
GHz surveillance products. All
our
wireless cameras are FCC approved and operate in the 2.4 GHz range.
Definitions:
AGC
–
Automatic Gain Control
is
an electronic system found in many types of devices.
It’s purpose is to automatically control
the input
signal levels over a broad range to maintain adequate performance.
Especially
useful on cameras working in low light conditions.
AI
– Auto
iris is and electronic circuit that controls the
shuttering of the CCD sensor. It automatically control the aperature to
respond
to changes in illumination.
AWB
–
Auto White Balance is an electronic process used in color video
cameras to retain true colors.
CCD
– Charged
coupled Device; It is analog technology that has a
higher resoluytion than CMOS.
CCD
lenses also perform better in low light.
CMOS
–
Complementary Metal
Oxide Semiconductor;
Lower resolution than a CCD camera but has the advantage of using less
operating current and batteries will last longer.
HAD
CCD – Hole Accumulation
Diode CCD is a sensor with a layer that is
designed to accumulate holes (in the electronic sense), thus reducing
noise
level and improving overall image quality.
S
to N Ratio – All radio
frequencies carry a certain
amount of noise. The
signal to noise
ratio is the strength of the signal vs. the strength of the noise. The higher the signal to
noise ratio, the
better.
BLC – Balance Light
Control is a method to
compensate for bright spots in a picture. Natural lighting, glare, and
artificial light all can effect a video image and the BLC helps to compensate
for these variables.
OSD
– On
Screen Display displays set-up information on the display
monitor so that adjustments can be made.
Resolution – Resolution measures
the camera’s ability to reproduce an
image. The higher
the resolution, the
better the image quality.
LUX – Lux is the
measurement of the minimum
light needed for a camera to view and record efficiently.
IR
–
Infrared; IR LED’s (light emitting diodes) are used on day/night
cameras. The
infrared LED’s actually
illuminate a scene with light invisible to the human eye but which the
camera
can detect and thus reproduce detailed images in very low light
conditions.
Focal
Length – The distance between
the surface of the
lens and it’s focal point.
Questions –
I just want to set up a
basic system. What do
I need? A surveillance
system consist of a single camera or multiple wired or wireless cameras. To view the images
captured by the camera, all
that is necessary is a monitor or a modern day television with A/V
inputs. To record
the video you need a video recorder.
Any standard VCR will record the images
from our
cameras. Add a Quad
to your system and
record up to 4 cameras to a standard VCR.
Add
a DVR and record up to 16 cameras and take advantage of today’s digital
technology. DVR’s
come in all types and sizes. Some with
minimal features and others that do everything but wash your dishes.
How do hidden cameras work? A small board camera is
built into an
everyday item. The
camera can be wired
or wireless. Wired
cameras require a
cable be run between the camera and the recording device and wireless
cameras
transmit the video signal via radio frequencies without wires.
Can I get audio in my
hidden camera? Yes and No. . Most of
our cameras are not
equipped with microphones and there are Federal & State Laws
against
surreptitious interception so before you record someone’s conversations
you
should make sure that you are not violating any laws.
Many of our DVR’s are capable of
capturing
audio along with video and external microphones are available.
What are the benefits
of Wired Cameras vs.
Wireless Cameras? Wired
cameras are just that. Wired. They require a cable be run between the
camera
and the recorder or monitor. In some cases running wires can be a task
especially if you have to fish them through attics or crawl spaces. Wired cameras receive
their power through the
cable so there is no need for battery packs. Wireless cameras are
easier to
install but many will need a battery pack or AC power adapter. Wireless cameras also
require a built in
transmitter and a receiver which make them more expensive than wired
cameras.
How far do wireless
cameras transmit? Our standard wireless
cameras transmit up to
1000 feet or more. Our high power option on our wireless cameras
increase the
range to 2000 to 2500 feet.
How many wireless
cameras can I have in one
location? You can have up
to 4 wireless cameras in one location.
We have systems that can handle up to 16
cameras at once, but only 4 of
them can be wireless because the frequency of each camera must be set
far
enough away from the others to not cause interference with each other.
If you
want to install multiple wireless cameras it is best that you order
them all at
the same time so we can set them to different channels.
Will a cordless phone
interfere with
wireless video signals? Cordless
phones that operate in the 2.4 GHz range can cause interference with 2.4 GHz cameras. This usually is minimal
and only occurs when
the phone is in use and directly between the camera and the receiver.
What is a Quad? A quad
splits your monitor into 4 sections
allowing you to view and record all 4 cameras at once.
Do wireless
transmitters & receivers
work through thick concrete walls? Yes,
providing there isn’t an excessive amount of metal or steel in the wall
construction.
Do the plug and play
connections require
additional wire between the camera and recorder? Yes, you will need to
purchase a cable to
run between the camera and the recorder/monitor.
We offer 25’ (CA-25),
50’ (CA-50),
100’
(CA-100),
and 150’ (CA-150)
lengths. For
runs over 150’ we recommend using an active passive balun,
available in our webstore.
What is the difference
between a DVR and a VCR?
A digital video
recorder (DVR) system
records high resolution digital images to a hard disc drive (HDD) and eliminates the
requirement of changing
and maintaining VHS tapes. Images stored digitally will not degrade
over time. Many of
our DVR’s
have high powered functions
such as motion detection recording, remote control of Pan, Tilt, Zoom
cameras. VCR’s are still very
useful, especially for recording
from a single camera. For instance, you want to set up an inexpensive
hidden
camera surveillance to watch your baby sitter or an employee that you
suspect
isn’t being honest. We
still offer 9
hour VHS tapes.
What is a DVR card? DVR
cards enable the user to convert their
computer into a digital video recorder.
The DVR card is typically installed in
any available PCI slot. DVR
cards are bundled with software which
allow the user to record and display multiple cameras simultaneously.
With a
high speed internet connection your system can be accessed by you from
anywhere
for real time and event monitoring.
These images can also be stored remotely
as a backup in the event that
your burglar thought he’d also steal the DVR to prevent the recording
from
being used as evidence against him.
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