Monday, July 13, 2009

CCTV Can Protect Your Property Around The Clock

By Jonathon Sparks

CCTV systems provide property protection 24 / 7. The day of needing to have the CCTV system monitored by staff located on the property is over. Modern, well placed CCTV systems when combined with motion detectors, Internet and a central station to monitor the cameras provide cost effective property protection.

Motion detector circuitry has been installed in CCTV cameras for years. Multiplexers and Digital Video Recorders have motion detector circuits installed in them. These motion detector circuit fields can be individualized for each cameras view. These fields, have in the past, brought up the camera view onto a main monitor for the on site security staff. The alarm in the motion detector also signaled the VCR or DVR to start recording in real time.

Burglar alarms are monitored from a central station. Today, through the use of the motion detector and the Internet, the images of the camera in an alarm state can be transmitted to a central station for viewing. The central station operator can monitor any number of property sites at the same time. This ability allows for a cost savings for the property owners. When a motion detector goes into an alarm state, the image of that camera is transmitted to the central station. If an animal or simply a tree limb blowing through the field of view triggered the alarm, the operator can disregard the alarm. If, however the alarm is an actual alarm there are unauthorized personnel on the property. The operator can then notify the proper law enforcement agencies of the trespass.

Advances in technology have enabled the property owner to install CCTV systems on their property and eliminate the need for a security staff. The combination of cameras, Internet and motion detection allow for 24/7 surveillance of the property. The cost of installing the CCTV system and the monthly charge for the central station services provide a return on investment that is recovered in 12 months in most cases.

CCTV systems when combined with motion detection and central station monitoring provide the most cost effective method of securing physical property. The CCTV system never falls asleep and is constantly on the property as opposed to a guard who may doze off in the guard house or the patrol that roams around the property on a set schedule. The CCTV system is awake and alert and always ready to send an alarm.

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