Get Down To The Basics: What Is A Cctv?

CCTV is the acronym for Closed Circuit Television. A 'closed circuit' means that the installation consists of directly connected circuit components in such a way that the circuit can only be viewed by people inside the circuit. CCTV systems are different from ordinary TV broadcasting systems, which can be viewed by anyone with an antennae or any other reception equipment.

One does not have to buy standard CCTV systems because they are customizable to suit a customer's security needs as well as the nature of his/her premises. Even so, an ideal CCTV system should be flexible and easy to use. It should also be able to provide superior quality pictures in both light and darkness as well as provide excellent quality images that can help analyze an event or record evidence.

How a CCTV works

There various types of CCTV systems in the market including analog, digital, wired and wireless. Although they vary in the mode of operation, they have the same basic components of a CCTV system. These include a camera, lens, monitors and a cable to carry signals from one place to the other in wired systems. All these components are essential for any CCTV system. The images are collected and sent to the CCTV monitor. They are recorded on a video tape through a VCR. These images can also be recorded as digital information using a DVR Digital video recorder. The camera lens is the determinant of how far and how much detail a camera sees.

Signals from the area under monitoring are picked by the camera. If the system is wired they are sent to the monitor via a coaxial cable; but if the system is wireless no cable is required. In this case the camera broadcasts the signal.

These days, most systems have more than one camera, but this does not mean that each camera has its own recorder and monitor. This is because several cameras can make use of one monitor and a hard disc recorder. There are certain equipments used to split the monitor into several screens for displaying all the cameras. On the other hand, one can use a sequence, which allows only one camera to be viewed. Even so, most people use multiplexer for controlling several cameras. The multiplexer allows the recording of all cameras on one tape or a hard drive disc. It then uses certain codes to reply the recorded picture from the camera one wishes to view.

Who needs a CCTV system?

These systems can be found nearly everywhere these days. They are used in petrol stations, on roads, public transportation, football stadiums, town centers, high street shops, banks, sports centers and even in domestic situations. These systems have ceased being considered as luxury items, particularly when one considers of how they increase their security level.

Importance of buying a quality system

CCTV footage has been found very useful in courts of law because they provide evidence. However, about 70% of the cases are lost because the quality of evidence given from some CCTV's is very poor either due to design or due or poor installation. That is why it is always a good thing to seek the help of a professional company that is both experienced and knowledgeable.