Making the most out of your CCTV system

CCTV Solutions Powered by WD Purple™

After installing a CCTV solution, you may want to look at ways to access your CCTV feed as per your needs.
Here are some tips to optimize your CCTV system:

access

Access

  • Find out more about how to accessCCTV footage when you need it

Remote Viewing

Being able to view CCTV camera feeds from anywhere ensures your peace of mind. With most CCTV systems, it's simple to watch the security videos from anywhere using the IP (Internet Protocol) address of your CCTV system.

Manufacturer's App or Software

  • Custom apps often help provide security and compatibility
    For initial set-up, you may need to connect the DVR/NVR to a computer
  • Make sure to change default username and password to help prevent hacking
  • Make sure to install latest updates in your CCTV software as well as operating systems
  • Watch from anywhere over the internet
  • Check for multi-screen live streaming options if several users need to access the feed simultaneously

Remote Viewing by Port Forwarding

  • Port forwarding is used to access security footage via different Wi-Fi connections
  • You will need to assign an IP address to each camera by suffixing your IP with the camera's port number
  • Cameras that include a 3G/4G SIM card can be streamed via a cellular network without local Internet connection
  • For analog cameras the DVR needs to be connected to a router or computer
remote-viewing
analytics

Analytics

  • Most CCTV providers offer software with advanced analytics that offer intelligent alerts like facial recognition, motion detection, perimeter breach notifications etc.
  • Smart alerts can significantly cut-down monitoring workloads. For example, you can be notified of any movement noted during business closed hours to prompt action, rather than having to monitor the camera feeds all the time
  • There are several specialized third-party surveillance analytics providers in the market to choose from in case you are not satisfied with your existing software

Back-up

In case of a power cut, your DVR or NVR will stop recording. To stay safe, you can choose from these commonly available options:

UPS

  • An Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) can conveniently power your CCTV system within microseconds of a power outage
  • These also include a surge protector to help safeguard your devices against voltage fluctuations

Micro SD

  • Cameras that come with inbuilt battery and microSD card slots can continue recording when the main power supply is disrupted
  • Surveillance grade microSD cards are great for cameras in remote locations where there’s no power or regular black-outs

Solar Power

  • Using a solar panel along with a rechargeable battery can be an eco-friendly and possibly an economical solution for powering your CCTV system

Make sure to also connect internet, modem and router etc. to the UPS to be able to continue remote viewing.

Accessories

Router

  • Wireless CCTV cameras can benefit from a high-quality router to enable remote viewing

Monitor

  • A monitor will be required for live monitoring of video feed with direct camera connection without any internet or remote connection
  • Monitors can be LED or LCD
  • LED monitors consume less power and are possibly more economical for surveillance workload

BNC Connectors

  • In order to connect the coaxial cables to your camera and DVR, a BNC connector is required
  • BNC connectors are available in crimp-on, twist-on and compression models

Make sure your BNC connector supports the same bandwidth as your cable.

Cables

For DVRs, you can use a Coaxial or Siamese cable. For NVRs, you need an Ethernet cable.

Coaxial Cable

  • Coaxial or Coax cable carries the video from the CCTV camera to DVRs
  • This cable doesn’t carry audio signals
  • It is also known as RG59 cable

Siamese Cable

  • Siamese cable carries both video and power, so you don’t need to have separate power cables
  • Siamese cable contains a coaxial cable along with 2 power cables in its core
  • It is also known as RG59 cable

Ethernet Cable

  • If you use an IP camera or a NVR, you’ll need an Ethernet cable
  • Ethernet cables, also known as network cables, transport data over a network
  • If you have a Power over Ethernet (PoE) Switch, your Ethernet cable will double as power cable for your CCTV system

Categories of Ethernet Cables:

Type
Speed
Max Bandwidth
Cat 3
10 Mbps
16 MHz
Cat 5
10/100 Mpbs
100 MHz
Cat 5e
1000 Mbps (1 Gbps)
100 MHz
Cat 6
10,000 Mbps / 10 Gbps
250 MHz

Check if your cable quality supports your video resolution.

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