Buyers Guide

Choosing the right camera or system that is right for your needs and budget may seem a little daunting and confusing if you are unfamiliar with the technology. This Buyer’s Guide will help demystify the technical terms and it make it easy for you to select the product(s) that meet your requirements.

• Mini DVR Cameras
• Wired or Wireless CCTV?
• CMOS and CCD Cameras
• Day / Night Infrared Cameras
• Recording CCTV Images

Mini DVR Cameras

These popular mini cameras, such as the Mini Thumb Spy Camera shown below have a built in DVR (Digital Video Recorder) which enable easy covert video capture and storage all inside a small package.

Typically these cameras have different modes (Video, Photo or Audio), selected using a slide button and confirmed with differing light displays for each mode (check the manual for full details). Once charged (via USB) and switched on with the mode you want to use selected, the camera will be in ‘Standby’ mode and all you need to do is press one button to begin recording or to take a photo and the same button to stop. When in video or audio capture mode, the LED light(s) will slowly blink.
Mini DVRs will either have inbuilt memory storage and/or will use mini SD cards to store the footage captured. A fully charged Mini DVR battery will provide approximately 4hrs of recording.
Transferring the video and photo files to a computer is really simple. Connect the Mini DVR camera using the USB cable provided to your computer and you will be automatically prompted to view the files on the camera (as show below using a Windows PC).

Go to mini DVR cameras to see our full range of wireless cameras.

Wired or Wireless CCTV?

Wireless CCTV

Government regulations now allow licence-exempt systems that can transmit signals up to 100 metres in line of sight. This reduces to approximately 40 metres when used indoors. 2.4 GHz cameras and receivers are available with 4 selectable channels making multi-camera systems feasible. Even the small covert type of camera can be supplied with its own built-in transmitter.

Wireless does not mean totally wire-free, remember that CCTV cameras require power to operate. The voltage is usually in the range 9-12V DC and this is typically derived from a small power supply plugged into the mains supply.

Many cameras can also be battery operated but will only last a matter of hours before needing to be replaced or recharged. Wireless systems are advisable where it would be difficult to run the video cable back to a VCR or monitor. Wireless transmission is also useful for the temporary monitoring of an office or reception area.

Miniature wireless cameras with battery power can even be fitted to model aircraft or model trains. The receiver can also be connected to a domestic camcorder to record the experience.

Go to wireless spy cameras to see our full range of wireless cameras.

Wired CCTV

Wired cameras guarantee zero interference and can be positioned hundreds of metres away from the monitoring/recording equipment. Often with wired cameras you do not have to power the camera locally. Instead one cable will take both power and video signal back to the recording device.

There are plenty of professional CCTV installers who will give you a site survey and recommend appropriate products but, of course, you pay for this service. Modern technology has now made CCTV products much more affordable and they can be very easy to fit for the average DIY person.

Go to wired CCTV cameras to see our full range of wired cameras.

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CMOS and CCD Cameras

There are two common types of CCTV cameras, CMOS and CCD (see our Glossary).

The resolution of a camera dictates how sharp the captured image will be and is measured in TV Lines (TVL). CMOS cameras are generally cheaper but do not produce as clear or sharp images as CCD cameras. A typical entry level CMOS camera's resolution is 330 - 400 TVL whereas high resolution CCD camera can provide 400+ TVL of resolution. Since CCD cameras can provide higher pin-point clarity they should generally be specified wherever possible.

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Day / Night Infrared Cameras

Choosing the correct camera to operate in the ambient light conditions is possibly the most important specification to understand. Light levels are usually measured in Lux. This is a measure of the light energy arriving on an area 1m² of surface per second. . The lower the Lux, the better the camera will perform in low light conditions (e.g. a camera with 1 Lux or less can be used in low light conditions and one with 0 Lux can be used at night)

Very popular in domestic and small commercial CCTV applications, day / night cameras allow great quality, colour recording during daylight hours. When light levels drop below a certain level the camera's infrared LED's light up allowing the camera to continue recording good quality footage even in complete darkness (0 Lux). The distance the cameras will see at night is dependent on the strength of the LED's.

Go to Day / Night CCTV Cameras to see our full range of day / night infrared cameras.

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Recording CCTV Images

Stand Alone DVRs

Digital Video Recorders (DVRs) record images onto a built-in hard drive from one or more cameras.

Advantages

• all-in-one box for recording, multiplexing (record, view & playback simultaneously), alarms and motion detection
• no loss of quality when copies taken
• enhanced playback functions, forward and reverse frame by frame playback
• easily connect to networks/internet for remote viewing and playback
• Sensitivity settings for motion detection for differing environments
• Masking motion detection facility which enables you to set an area of the picture and only movement in the masked area will trigger recording.

Go to Stand Alone DVRs to see our full range of DVRs.

PC-based Systems

If you already have a PC the purchase of a video capture card and accompanying software is a very cost effective method of providing a high specification digital system.

Advantages

• remote viewing over the internet
• software allows many configurations for monitoring e.g. quad display
• time and date stamping with motion detect
• alert wizard, sends email with photo or video clip
• SMS alert / audio alert
• Sensitivity settings for motion detection for differing environments
• Masking motion detection facility which enables you to set an area of the picture and only movement in the masked area will trigger recording.
• low-cost all-in-one solution does away with the need for separate motion detectors, splitters, quads or multiplexers.

Go to Video Capture Cards to see our full range of PC based CCTV systems.

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