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Chubb Fire & Security UK has launched its own IP CCTV system. The company describes it as a ‘packaged’ security solution that enables any company with Internet access to protect and monitor its business from anywhere, 24-7.
IP CCTV turns images and audio into data that can be transmitted over dedicated networks (and in some cases a company’s existing network) with an Internet connection to a central location or PC. The firm adds that images do not degrade on playback, recording or onward forwarding, and give security managers greater flexibility to view and manage CCTV images from a networked computer or smart phone.
The company says that IP CCTV cameras have considerable advantages over ‘traditional’ analogue systems in that they do not require dedicated cables for power and camera control.
Matthew Holliday of Chubb Fire & Security, says: “IP cameras use a single standard network cable to simply connect the camera to your network,” he says. “This single cable can be used for power, control, video and data, resulting in less disruption to your workplace and less time to install. The system comprises a graphical user interface (GUI) that is intuitive to use, with features such as single-button image archive and back-up operation. Users can display multiple cameras in a single ‘drag and drop’ operation and can view any combination of cameras from a single workstation.
“Image quality is one of the most important features of any high definition (HD) CCTV system as it is frequently called upon for police evidence. IP cameras use megapixel technology for excellent image quality at up to three times the resolution of the best analogue cameras on the market, Matthew explains: “Analogue cameras have a maximum 400,000 pixels per frame, whereas IP cameras record to 1.3 million megapixels per frame and higher, so the quality of the image never degrades.”
Businesses using analogue CCTV can still integrate their current cameras with IP the firm adds. Video encoders enable analogue video to be digitised, transmitted and viewed over an IP network, thereby giving the user viewing of live images using a web browser or any local or remote computer on a network. Users can at the same time access images from analogue cameras plus any IP CCTV cameras added to the system.
Matthew adds: “Users can migrate from analogue CCTV to IP at their own pace as the two camera technologies can run alongside each other as long as needed, allowing time to plan and budget the upgrade of a surveillance system. Furthermore, they can record the images in a central location, avoiding the cost of requiring local recording devices at each property.”
An IP network CCTV system can be expanded, by adding more network cameras as required. Strict adherence to industry standard open protocols means that the system can integrate with other equipment, such as access control and building management systems. As IP CCTV uses standard CAT 5/6 cabling, this can further reduce disruption and expense by use of existing structural cabling as opposed to dedicated coax cable, further making use of the existing IT.
About Chubb: Chubb is part of UTC Climate, Controls & Security, a unit of United Technologies Corp. an aerospace and building systems industries firm. More information about Chubb can be found on www.chubb.co.uk.
