Superior advantages supplied by the IP-enabled DVRs  

A great deal of advanced capabilities and features of IP surveillance systems are currently getting deployed in newly established properties. Many of the security managers at older facilities may observe with jealousy to the labor-saving features of new systems and the improved dependability they provide. The question that presents itself here revolves around the possibility to upgrade to a digital system without incurring huge costs and interruptions while having a legacy, analog system in place.

Luckily the answer to the previously proposed question is affirmative. Users can easily add significant efficiencies and capabilities to a security system by upgrading to today's plug-and-play DVRs especially since a current system seems miles away from a fully functional digital interface. Users can get even more superior advantages from an enhancement through hooking up an IP-enabled DVR to the interface at the time of deployment (or at a later time).

Not to mention that there will be significant increased efficiencies by simply swapping an aged DVR or VCR with a recent DVR even at the entry level of a standalone, non-networked DVR.

Preparing for an upgrade process

Evaluating your existing camera deployment constitutes the first step in an upgrade process. It is highly predictable that the camera lighting, resolution, placement, and other selections that were previously made for an old system will work fine with a new DVR system. Not to mention that the cameras look even better on the new DVR than they do on an older, time-lapse VCR system or a low-resolution DVR. One also has the ability to selectively upgrade black and white cameras to color, IP or higher resolution cameras at the time of a DVR upgrade process, or in the future, as the financial assets allow.

The design and deployments of cameras, cables, lighting upgrades and other items that are already in place for a legacy system constitute a significant portion of a digital surveillance system's investment.

Even as its features and internal storage capacities are continuing to increase, DVRs, just as PCs, have experienced a decrease in cost on a yearly basis.

In the case of a basic upgrade to a new DVR that functions in standalone mode, users will attain the a good amount of advantages such as Increased product dependability, Increased video resolution and quality, the ability to make an auto-run evidence CDs or DVDs of incident video for use in court, they do not have to rotate tapes or purchase fresh tapes, in addition, compared with a, VCR DVRs are virtually maintenance-free. Among the benefits is the embedded time-stamps and event lists that provide rapid access to video of interest, and last but not least is the ability to use schedules, video motion detection as well as alarm inputs in order to increase the record rate, resolution and quality of recordings on a camera-by-camera basis.

Furthermore additional benefits through network support can be attained by the user if they connect their state-of-the-art DVRs to a network. A network connection can be easily added later if it is not available at the time of the DVR upgrade.

By utilizing a networked system, the users will attain a number of added benefits and advantages such as the ability to monitor video remotely after entering a password, communicating via a Two-way network audio, receiving remote alarm notifications, as well as automatic remote notification of equipment failure, enjoying the benefits of full integration of DVR with many access control, central station monitoring and other security systems. On top of that there is the feature of remote archiving and/or backup of critical event video, not to mention the possible use of network notification inputs from access management, burg, building administration, retail, financial and other peripheral interfaces.

The majority of these features can be accessed with nominal use of the bandwidth of the network.

A broadband network is a further level of investment that gives access to a greater number of DVR capabilities with remote organization of events that are captured on the visual footage for long-term storage and remote archiving for disaster recovery from a location that may be far away from that of the actual incident.

Believe it or not, the effort demanded to gain these benefits is relatively minimal. The users simply have to move the camera inputs from the multiplexer to the DVR and retire the VCR if they happen to update from a multiplexer (or quad) and time-lapse VCR. After that the DVR will immediately detect a video standard (NTSC or PAL) and begin recording the visual date received from the connected cameras to hard disk unit. In addition to that, the camera names, recording schedules, record rates and other stand-alone parameters can all be customized and modified as needed.

The vendors of DVR systems that have a full product line usually provide single-camera encoders, four-, nine- as well as 16-input DVRs in order to provide the user with the full flexibility to migrate or expand a legacy system.

Through utilizing DHCP or manual programming the networked DVRs can automatically call for an IP address from the network. In addition to that, DVRs also can be set up to accept IP camera inputs, organize remote visual date or perform other network operations in systems that take advantage of advanced features.

Not to mention that users also have the capability to view the DVR remotely through using web browsers for individual DVRs or using PC applications to view multiple DVRs on a single monitor. The units themselves can be set up and modified locally at the DVRs or remotely over the network applications.

The suppliers of DVR machines also offer centralized administration tools that allow users to easily configure privileges, upgrade firmware, copy settings and monitor the health of DVRs at an enterprise standard and protocols of the market.

Dealing with the Obstacles

There are a couple of expected challenges to a smooth migration from old to DVR-based security interfaces. There are many issues and concerns that should be considered when upgrading to new DVR systems such as the issue of interface complexity, just as  VCRs can be simply operated by anyone with almost no previous knowledge make sure that the local and network operator interface of your DVR of choice are also user friendly and can be easily managed. Also one must pay attention to the compatibility of the PTZ controllers. One must make sure that your existing PTZ controllers and dome cameras can be managed and directed by your DVR of choice. The ability to support CCTV keyboards is also an issue of importance especially if users currently have a professional CCTV keyboard at the moment, and would rather keep using it than having to make the switch to a keyboard made for general computers. In addition to the past concerns, references should be confirmed; this is due to the fact that great deal of current entries in the DVR market does not have a valid track record for after-sales support or standards of quality. In addition one must be ready for the additional expense of anti-virus software subscriptions and regular technician time to deploy operating system patches which may be required If users purchase a PC-based DVR and hock it up to the network. And last but not least one must be certain that the network can support the services that they plan to deploy, and this is simply because a DVR that seems ok when previewed over a 100 Mbps LAN might not look so good over a low-bandwidth connection. This problem might be fixed if the IT department was notified about the bandwidth consumption that your system requires.

Adding on, the user must also realize that not all DVRs are perform in the same manner or have the same features, nor do they all require these abilities to operate. Choosing a security device supplier with a full product line guarantees that all the features needed are present and already installed in the system without you having to pay extra money for pointless add-ons.

In order to attain the best ROI one must define the capabilities the patrons desire to add to an interface currently or in the near future, and then conduct a careful comparison of DVR choices to the list of necessities. With the right DVR, users can enhance the value in an old system to establish a top notch security system with minimal amount of extra spending.

video CD quality resolution rate recordings virtually time-stamps network audio remote alarm notification interfaces bandwidth NTSC or PAL quad multiplexer CCTV keyboard PTZ controllers computer connection LAN anti-virus software low-bandwidth ROI