Cameras
Analog
- There are two main ways of doing things electronically, analog or digital An analog signal can be represented as a series of sine waves.
Analog System
- Most cameras used in CCTV applications are analog. Security VCRs, switchers, multiplexors and quads also are analog devices. Any CCTV system that consists of analog devices is considered an analog system.
Armor Dome
- These cameras are designed to resist vandalism by using a hi-impact reinforced polycarbonate dome casing.
Auto Iris Control
- A lens in which the aperture automatically opens or closes to maintain proper light levels on the faceplate of the camera pickup device.
Auto Gain Control (AGC)
- An electronic circuit used by which the gain of a signal is automatically adjusted as a function of its input or other specified parameter.
Back Light Compensation (BLC)
- A feature on newer CCD cameras which electronically compensates for high background lighting to give detail which would normally be silhouetted.
Bullet Camera
- A type of camera with a bullet like shape. Can be used inside or out. Some come with infrared (IR) lighting.
CCTV
- Close circuit television.
Covert
- A covert application refers to a situation where you don't want the person to know that they are being watched or recorded. Also known as 'hidden' cameras.
Day/Night Camera
- Day/Night Cameras" are regular cameras with an especially sensitive CCD chip that allows a good image to be captured in very low ambient lighting (regular lighting - not infrared). Do not confuse these cameras with "Night Vision" cameras which is another name for infrared cameras..
Digital Video Recorders (DVR)
- A digital video recorder is basically a computer that converts the incoming (analog) signal from the cameras to digital, compresses it, and stores it. The DVR replaces the function of a multiplexor (or quad or switcher) and a security VCR.
Dome Camera
- A type of camera with a dome like shape. Usually used inside only. Some come with infrared lighting and some are designed to be tamper-proof.
Infrared Cameras
- Infrared cameras (aka night vision cameras) have special infrared lights installed around the perimeter of the camera lens. This provides special light that the camera uses to capture a good picture even in total darkness
Lux
- Refers to the amount of light required for a camera to capture a good image. Infrared cameras have very low lux.
Pan-Tilt-Zoom Cameras (PTZ)
- PTZ cameras allow you to adjust the position ('pan' is side-to-side, 'tilt' is up-and-down) and focus ('zoom') of the camera using a remote controller. Due to this added functionality, these cameras tend to cost much more than non-PTZ cameras.
RG59 Siamese
- This type of cable combines the power wire with the video wire.
Real Time Recording
- In digital video applications, 30 frames per seconds per camera (see above) looks just like real-time. There is no hesitation or jerkiness in the video.
Remote Surveillance
- The ability to view your cameras from a remote location. Information is transmitted via phone line or internet.
Resolution
- Refers to how much detail can be captured on a camera or displayed on a monitor. Cameras typically capture about 600 horizontal lines of resolution. High resolution cameras may capture 2 megapixel of resolution or more.
Smart Search
- This is a feature of our DVR that allows you to search for changes in a particular area of an image over time. For example, if a wallet was stolen off of a table, you could go to a point on the video where the wallet is there, draw a virtual box around that area, then search the video recording for changes to that particular area. This would allow you to locate the exact point on the video where the wallet was removed.
Vari-focal Lens
- A camera lens in which the focus is not fixed, it can be manually or automatically adjusted
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