At one point or another we have all watched the news and seen a report on a recent robbery at a convenience store. They say that luckily the store had a security camera systems and that the crime was caught. Many times when they show the recording, the quality is so poor that nothing substantive can be gained from the recording.  Then you think to yourself: I've been inside many places like supermarkets, convenience stores, and other places which have a monitor showing the cameras and the quality has been great. So, why is it that every time they show the footage on TV, there is an issue with the system that was apparently great? The answer lies in the difference between viewing camera live and recording on those images.

Surveillance monitor - Security Cameras

What you see many times in the store is a live image which has little to do with what is actually being recorded. The recording depends on the the many factors discussed in my other blog. Unfortunately, many times the customer finds out about this when its too late. You get a system that seems like a good deal, then you see the images which are great. So you are satisfied until the need arises months later to view a certain span of time. Now you realize that it was not such a good deal.  Here is my advise when you are getting a security camera system:

Some advices for getting a security camera system

  1. Look for the word H.264 when buying a Digital Video Recorder.But don't stop there. Make sure it records in H.264 and not just broadcasts. Many DVR manufacturers use the word H.264 to refer to the live broadcasting on the DVR, not the recording. Make sure the DVR can not only record at 30 frames per second, but also has sufficient storage to keep your images for the desired amount of time. If you want the best, then ask for Hardware Compression H.264 DVR as compared to Software Compression DVR.
  2. Get the right cameras. Cheap cameras will give you cheap images.
  3. The system is as good as the installer, so don't go cheap on that if you want a real system.
  4. Make sure the right wiring and connections are used.

So take this advise and so you are not running to a security camera store asking how they can improve your video after something has happened. By then, its too late.

Contact Sintel Systems at 855-CCTV-SALES with any questions including if a do-it-yourself security camera system is right for you.

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