Incompatible equipment specifications have dogged camera installers for too long, report Peterborough-based monitoring station, Farsight.
But now broadband and new technology pull it all together within a remote-monitoring application that helps installers diagnose faults from base.
If remote surveillance lets property-owners sleep soundly through the night, then E-surveillance invites their security installers to do the same. E-surveillance is the web-based technology that brings peace of mind to CCTV installers swept along in the rush to broadband and internet protocols, according to Ed Essad of Farsight. He says installers should embrace the new technology: “E-surveillance helps liberate them from the maze of conflicting specifications. It doesn’t matter who the manufacturer is, installers can now draw every installation into a single, unified security system."
The biggest benefit for installers, he says, is the confidence that comes from knowing that the system they’ve installed is itself under constant surveillance. He says: "E-surveillance’s fault-management software will pick up many problems the moment it occurs. It logs the details and alerts the installer by email. Before going to the site, he can review all problems online. It’s a feature of remote monitoring that installers with maintenance commitments have long been waiting for."
One installer who reports an improvement in performance is Chris Billinge of Manchester-based Clarion Loss Prevention. He says: "Everyone’s a winner with Farsight’s e-surveillance. My customers now get 24-hour monitoring supported by a suite of actionable management information that helps them improve their security. I like it too. When something goes wrong, I hear about it immediately. I can be on-site and fixing the fault long before my customers know there’s a problem. It’s a level of service that they’ve never experienced before."
At Farsight, Les Ramsden is eager to help more installers exploit the opportunities provided by broadband. He says: "No one should be apprehensive of technology that improves the service they provide. That’s why we work so closely with installers. If they need advice on selecting equipment, or help with programming and commissioning, they come to us. The easiest way for installers to learn about broadband technology is to come here to Peterborough – with or without their clients – to experience it for themselves. Nothing is as convincing as seeing the power and sophistication of e-surveillance first-hand. Even security industry professionals can’t believe how much is now possible with remote surveillance. Everyone who cares about site security should come here for a glimpse of the future."
