When choosing a video surveillance system, it is very important to make sure that the cameras have the correct housing. When choosing a housing, people must keep in mind the following criteria:

• Discreet Surveillance- The first decision to make is whether the camera system has to be discreet or is its presence acceptable. If it has to be discreet, then the use of tinted domes is required, otherwise normal housings would be adequate. A wide range of housings and brackets are available and they come in various shapes to be used for various applications.
• Level of Security- Depending upon the location of the camera, the security of the housing may have to be enhanced. Use of tamper switches, special screws, etc. need to be added.
• Local Environment- Heaters, blowers or wipers/washers need to be added depending upon the local conditions. If they are being included, then care should be taken to include cables and power supply for them.
• Healing Installation
• Ensure the camera/lens and BNC connector fits in the housing
• Provide power for the blower and heater
• Ensure proper adjustments of the sunshield
• Make sure mounting screws are available
• Infrared Illuminators- CCD chips (see page 3) are very sensitive to infrared light. The use of infrared light in low light conditions will improve the performance of the cameras. Infrared light comes with the following variables: wattage, angle of beams, wave lengths of the infrared, and either a LED or thermal light source.

Why Choose A Brownstone Video Surveillance System?

The latest research has shown that the retail business earned 8 trillion dollars world wide. As a result it has become a prime target not only for shoplifting but for employee theft, robbery and vendor fraud, resulting in a 41.6 billion dollar loss. These factors can be detrimental to retail businesses profitability.

Brownstone Security understands the challenges facing today’s retail businesses and provides the most advanced digital video compression technologies to bring you highest picture quality and video performance, providing your business with the optimal level of safety. A video surveillance system offers you the peace of mind knowing that your business is secure. Brownstone Security provides digital surveillance solutions ranging from one to sixteen cameras per system to accommodate facilities of all sizes. Cameras can be viewed live on a local monitor screen or over a network or internet connection. Video can be recorded based on specifiable schedules or motion detection, further refine the system to fit your business’ needs. Point of Sale (POS) integration software helps you track cash register transactions. By bringing video and transaction data together, it provides visual contextual awareness to reduce shrinkage and protect asset against business losses.

Choosing a surveillance solution is an important decision for every business. Brownstone Security’s digital video surveillance systems address important business and surveillance issues, while improving business risk management, employee safety, inventory shrinkage, shoplifting and operational efficiencies. Brownstone Security strives to build genuine and trusting relationships with our clients and in doing so, our primary focus is on your business’ security. At Brownstone Security, we always have your best interest in mind.

CCTV Glossary: Security Cameras

Which elements should influence your decision when you are looking to purchase a security camera?

CCD: Charge Coupled Device is a light sensitive imaging device for almost all cameras. Typical sizes for CCTV cameras - 1/2", 1/3", and 1/4".

F-Stop: F-stop is the ratio of focal length to the diameter of the lens. The smaller the F-Stop number, the more light is passed.

Frame Rate: The quality of a digital surveillance system is often determined by the total frame rate it can record at. The higher the frame rate, the higher the quality of recording and the more real time your CCTV recording will be - real time recording for 1 camera is 30 Frames Per Second (NTSC).

LUX: Used to specify how sensitive cameras are to light (measured in lumens/sq meter). For example, a camera with a LUX level of 0 can see in pitch black. The lower the LUX level the better the camera will see in the dark.

Mega Pixel Resolution: Mega pixel resolution refers to video resolutions now achievable using IP Cameras. Unlike analogue cameras, whose resolution is usually limited to around 752 x 582 (0.4 Mega Pixels), a Mega Pixel IP Camera can achieve far greater resolutions such as 1280 x 1024 (1.3 Mega Pixels) or 1600 x 1280 (2 Mega Pixels). This increase in resolution produces far better image quality than a traditional analogue camera could ever achieve.

Motion Detection: Motion detection is a recording method for digital surveillance systems. When someone walks in front of a camera, the pixels change and the DVR defines this as motion. The surveillance system will then record these images to the hard disk. This is a popular recording setup as every event recorded is actually motion driven as opposed to a static image if the system was set to record 'round-the-clock'.

S/N (signal to noise) ratio: Image noise is present in any video signal. This noise cannot be eliminated but minimized by superior design. Good cameras generate a smaller noise which in turn means that the S/ N ratio will be larger. The ratio is described in decibels (dB).

Brownstone Security provides security officers, mobile patrol, virtual guard tours and remote video monitoring for a variety of clients including retail facilities, industrial & transportation facilities, shopping centers, homeowner associations, office complexes, government agencies and a variety of other industries. Brownstone Security also provides a wide variety of video surveillance systems. For the retail industry Brownstone Security can provide loss prevention services in order to deter theft. In addition to these services Brownstone Security provides a full spectrum of security and risk management consulting services.