How to secure your home: all about video surveillance systems

Many our fellow citizens are familiar with the degrading concern for the safety of an apartment or cottage, especially if you have to leave the dwelling for a long time. Therefore, it is not surprising that the autonomous video surveillance systems today enjoy in high demand.

How to secure your home: all about video surveillance systems

Photo: edwardsamuel / fotolia.com

Modern electronics develops rapidly, thanks to which the price of the CCTV components ("The television system of a closed contour") is constantly decreasing. And with the spread of high-speed data networks, the organization of communication between the video surveillance system and its owner has significantly simplified. Now everyone can observe real-time in real time for its home, cottage or garage directly from the tablet or smartphone screen.

The easiest version of the video surveillance system is a webcam that is connected using wired (USB) or wireless (Wi-Fi) connections to the home computer network. If there is no finished network, then for the camera it will be necessary for an Internet modem - then you can watch the object you are interested in the PC or smartphone. We can not use the webcam, let's say, for the full guard of cottages, however, it will suit the solution of simple tasks. For example, it can be installed in the stairwell to fix the acts of vandalism, or on the street - to monitor the car.

The bundled video surveillance system includes several cameras and a DVR block. Ready household equipment set can be purchased in just 10-20 thousand rubles.

Equipment for video surveillance

Photo: TP-LINK.

Choosing equipment for video surveillance, you can purchase a ready-made system "in one bottle". The advantages of such a solution are obvious - quickly, simple, and most importantly, all components are great for each other. Unfortunately, the functionality of the household system is very limited. For example, it includes a small number of cameras (as a rule, one or two or four). There may also be an insufficient disc volume on the recorder, which is overwhelmed with the records every few days (the device cannot be left unattended, respectively, you will not be able to leave for a long time, say to leave on vacation). Another option - the camera is weakly protected from moisture and dust, and therefore is not suitable for installation on the street. If there is no ready-made kit with the required properties on sale, you will have to purchase various components and form a system with the necessary consumer qualities of them. In this case, professional knowledge will be required, so the selection of equipment should be charged by a specialist.

Photo: Philips.

As foreign practice shows, even the mula camcorder in problem urban quarters is capable of increasingly 20-30% reduce the risk of theft and other offenses

What principle should select the components of the future video surveillance system? First of all, the cameras must be placed in such a way that all approaches to the protected object are under observation ("blocked"). To pre-determine the number and type of cameras, and also find out what kind of optics they should be equipped, oriented on the plan of the apartment, a plot or country house. Let's say, for remote objects (the camera on the cottage tracks the approach to the gate or gate) it will take a long-focus lens. For a panoramic view of closely arranged items (for example, the camera in the room controls the window and the door) you need a short-focus wide-angle lens. In parallel, they find out the need to illuminate, protection against dust and moisture, as well as protection against side illumination (if direct sunlight will fall into the lens, you will need sunscreen blends). Finally, you should think about the safety of the camera itself. The device must be placed so that the attackers do not notice it and did not damage. The camera must be installed hidden, outside the availability zone (usually high above the ground), as a last resort - in a robust anti-vandal casing (Ideally, it is desirable to comply with both requirements). The final choice of equipment installation location can be made only directly on the object.

Photo: TP-LINK. Wireless cloud IP camera NC200 (TP-Link), data transfer rate up to 300 Mbps, domestic

Video surveillance systems showed their high efficiency not quite in the usual segment of goods for children. Video angles Philips Avent, Motorola, Switel and other manufacturers allow you to effectively monitor kids. If the child woke up and cry, the video card will automatically give a signal and turn on the removal monitor. Thus, adults will be able to come to the child.

Photo: impresja26 / fotolia.com; Qnap. Mobile application will turn the smartphone into a device for monitoring

Most systems are capable of transmitting a signal to a distance of up to 100-150 m, which provides parents the opportunity to quietly do their affairs in any part of the house or garden. In a number of models, you can use a smartphone or tablet as a monitor - it is more convenient, since the parent will not need to carry several devices with you.

Rotary high-speed camera can control a large segment of the square

Criteria for choosing surveillance camera

Photo: Torjrtrx / fotolia.com

What do you pay attention to when choosing a camera? The main criterion, of course, is the quality of the recording: the picture must be clear for any weather and lighting level. First of all, we are talking about night mode. In case of insufficient illumination, cameras with an increased light sensitivity matrix (about the thousandth luxury share) or infrared illumination (built-in or installed separately) are used. Both options have its pros and cons.

The IP camera in the cottage can remotely monitor the operation of the equipment

So, the camera with a highly sensitive matrix works well when the level of illumination is above the minimum value, for example, in the evening or at night on an urban street with good artificial lighting. But it will be useless in full or almost complete darkness. The quality of the shooting of the illumination camera is very dependent on the location of the object (the efficiency of the built-in backlight of inexpensive models rarely allows you to conduct high-quality shooting at a distance of over 8-10 m). If the object is very far away, then it will be too dark, if close, on the contrary, "illuminated". In any case, it is advisable to visually assess the quality of the picture obtained during the night shooting. Only then can you determine the features of color reproduction or level of parasitic noise.

Built-in IR backlight will allow the camera to fix events even in complete darkness.

The image quality also depends on the resolution of the matrix, which is measured in the number of points constituting the frame horizontally and vertical (or indicate horizontal lines, so-called television lines, or TVL). For example, at the camera at 720 × 576 pixels, the resolution is about twice as much as the model at 560 × 420 pixels. The higher the detailing, the better, however, in this case, the cost of the chamber increases markedly. Thus, a device with a resolution of 380-400 TVL can be purchased for 600-1000 rubles, and the model with a matrix 720 × 576 pixels will cost a minimum of 3-4 thousand rubles. Of course, the quality of the matrix is taken into account - say, the products of eminent producers (Sony, LG, Samsung, Panasonic, etc.) will cost more.

Broadcast goes to record

Photo: LG. IP recorder LG LRD5160N, four slots for HDD, 16 channels, VGA / HDMI outputs, built-in DVD-RW

The video signal from the camera enters the computer where it is processed and stored. Moreover, you can use as an ordinary personal computer (especially if the system is small, from one to four cameras) and specialized devices - DVRs (not to be confused with automotive). Design DVRs are similar to network drives (see the article "Archive on Disk", No. 6/2015), so it is not surprising that these devices often produce the same companies. For example, in the QNAP assortment, along with a series of network drives, a line of DVRs is represented. The latter are designed for professional use. For equipment of this type, as a rule, no options are provided (which is typical for drives), the video surveillance functions and a list of compatible IP cameras are expanded, as well as the number of compartments for installing hard disks (usually at least six). The fact is that even a strongly compressed video occupies a lot of space on the disk, and for efficient operation, the video surveillance system should store records for a sufficiently long period of time. For example, in professional video surveillance networks, the shelf life is on average from 1-2 weeks to a month. If the account of the connected cameras goes to dozens, then the volume of its own storage on the video recorder may not be enough and have to complete it with an additional data storage device (and one).

With an IP camera and smartphone or tablet computer you can control the situation at home in any moment suitable for you

The DVR is capable not only to record video from cameras, but also to produce intelligent signal processing. The computer recognizes the appearance of moving objects and can be programmed to appropriate actions. For example, output a suspicious image to a full screen, to file alarm, send an SMS or MMS message to the selected number, etc. Unlike the usual household computer, the DVR is more reliable, consumes less electricity and is capable of long-term operation without rebooting ( For several weeks and even months).

Mobile application will turn the smartphone into a device for monitoring

The DVR is chosen depending on performance (the number of cameras that can be connected to it, as well as compartments for installing hard disks). If you select the video recorder and video cameras, make sure that the equipment compatibility is complete. For example, DVR and QNAP network drives are guaranteed to support more than 1 thousand modern IP cameras models. There are also other well-known manufacturers for other well-known manufacturers, whose recommendations should also be heard.

When choosing a video recorder, it is worth thinking about the possibility of increasing not only the amount of served channels and disk capacity, but also to expand the entire system by additional devices, such as storage or a second recorder, various sensors, UPS, a local monitor, mouse and keyboard. Another key criterion is the convenience of the system in service: fast initial and simple further configuration, user-friendly friendly user interface, support for popular browsers, client software under Windows and, very important today, applications for smartphones and tablets.

Pavel Zyun.

QNAP manager on video surveillance systems.