Surveillance Definitions
AGC- Automatic Gain Control is an electronic system found in many types of devices. Its purpose is to control the gain of a system in order to maintain adequate performance over a range of input signal levels, or, an electronic circuit that tries to keep the video signal at a constant level (1volt peak-peak). Useful on cameras working at low light levels.
AWB- Auto White Balance is an electronic process used in video cameras to retain true colors. It is performed electronically on the basis of a white object in the picture.
CCD- Charged Coupled Device: It is analog technology. The CCD camera has a little bit higher resolution than CMOS. The camera also functions better in low light. A CCD camera drains a little bit more power than the CMOS cameras. It uses 12v instead of 9v. CMOS cameras are smaller than a CCD camera and work longer with the 9v battery.
CMOS- Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor: a lower resolution camera compared to a CCD model. The advantage of a CMOS camera is that it uses lower operation current.
S to N Ratio- Signal to Noise Ratio is simply the ratio of the signal power and noise power, expressed in decibels (dB), or, measure of noise on a video signal. It is represented in Decibels as the level of the video signal compared to the level of noise present on that signal. The higher the signal to noise ratio the better.
BLC- Balance Light Control is a method to compensate for bright spots in a picture. It is also important to consider whether there are bright spots in the picture such as car headlights which can make identification of the vehicle registration or model impossible. This can also be a major problem where it is necessary to identify a person who is moving from bright daylight into artificial light. This could result in the subject becoming an unidentifiable silhouette.
LUX- LUX is the measurement of low light needed for the camera to view and record properly.
FPS- Frames Per Second is the number of still frames (pictures) that give the illusion of motion, which appear in a single second of time. 30 fps is considered “real-time.” For real-time viewing of your cameras you need at least 30fps for each camera.
IR- Infrared, IR LEDs are used on day/night cameras that allow the camera to see in the dark.
Camera Questions
How do hidden cameras work? A small board camera is built into an everyday item. The camera can be wired, which means it is connected to the DVR or VCR using a cable. The camera can also be wireless. In this case the camera transmits a signal to a receiver that is connected to a DVR or VCR.
Can I get audio in my hidden camera? No, you cannot. According to United States federal laws, audio should not be used in a surreptitious manner. This includes pinhole board cameras and all covert or hidden cameras (i.e. a clock radio). Audio in a hidden camera or board camera is only available to law enforcement agencies. Title 18, Section 2512.
How far can a wireless camera be from the receiver? A wireless camera and receiver can be up to 300 feet apart. For optimal performance a 100 foot distance is ideal.
What is a 2.4GHz wireless frequency? A frequency is used to transmit a signal or data like video. 2.4GHz is the specific wireless frequency that our transmitters use to send video signal to a receiver. All but one of our wireless cameras operate on the 2.4GHz frequency. Range varies from 200' to 700' depending on environmental conditions. These units are FCC approved.
What is CCD? CCD is used in professional cameras because of its high resolution quality and its ability to record in low-light situations. CCD is basically a small silicon chip that receives light and turns it into voltage variations, which makes up an image. It is usually measured in inches with 1/3” CCD being the standard. They are higher priced but are great for cameras that may require vision in near darkness.
Do the receivers work through walls up to two feet thick? Yes, as long as there is not an excessive amount of metal in the wall.
What is the difference between a DVR and a VCR? A Digital Video Recorder (DVR) system records high resolution digital images to a hard disk drive (HDD) and eliminates the requirement of maintaining VHS tapes. Since the video images are stored digitally, the image quality will not degrade over time as a VHS tape will do when recorded over multiple times. The time-saving search capabilities of a DVR will enable the user to locate the desired video clips via user defined parameters (camera, time, date, etc.) versus the fast forward and rewind functions of a VCR. A DVR can be accessed remotely from anywhere in the world using the Internet.
How many hours will a DVR record? The amount of time a DVR will record for is based on the size of the DVR's hard drive, the the number of cameras recording and the number of frames per second it is recording at.
What is a Plug and Play connection camera? It is an RCA video plug and a power plug on the camera for easy connection to VCR or TV. This is done by running the RCA (Aux) line into the VIDEO IN of the VCR or TV. The TV or VCR must be set on the correct channel to view the VIDEO IN picture.
How long will a camera last with a 9-volt battery? Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee battery life. Each camera is different, as are batteries and battery quality.
How many hours of video will an SD card record? It all depends on what size SD card you are using and whether or not you are using motion detection on your recording device. We always recommend using at least a 1GB SD card and use a DVR that has motion detection capability.
Can I record video to my computer? Yes, you have a few options. You can put a DVR card in the computer. You can also connect our EZ/DVR USB 4 Channel DVR to the computer. The third option is to buy one of our USB cameras.
Other Questions
What is a Historical GPS Logger? Historical loggers act as a mini computer as they record data (street names, speed of vehicle, etc.). They must be retrieved from the vehicle and plugged into the USB port of a computer. Using the included software you then upload the vehicle's tracking data from the historical logger. These are the complete opposite of real-time GPS units.
Do the kids spy toys really work? Yes, they are excellent quality. Some of the toys are even kid-designed! Remember though, they are TOYS and are not covert spy equipment.