Products

Network model
The VPON VP-416 from Internet Video Solutions is a high-speed 16-channel video recorder and remote camera server. Up to 16 cameras can be connected to this unit to deliver real-time full motion video transmission anywhere in the world to a desktop PC, station or laptop.

   All that is needed is an internet browser – no proprietary software is required.

Attached cameras can be remotely controlled to pan, tilt and zoom. Users can query recorded video by date, time and triggered events either locally via mouse, across the LAN or remotely through a telephone line or across the internet.

Events can be downloaded from hard disk onto the integral CD writer and reviewed through any PC running Windows.

When the unit was Bench Tested in March our experts concluded: "Basic installation and operation are all reasonably fuss-free and it lives up to the promise of plug-and-play ease of use. It provides an insight into the possibilities of network surveillance and in particular the move away from centralised hardware and monitoring operations. That aspect of the system is very successful and we can foresee this becoming a key feature on future systems."
Reader Service No 121

Compact yet robust/b>
At IFSEC, Mitsubishi Electric displayed a range of compact yet robust digital recorders designed to suit the requirements of any modern business. The range is designed to be versatile and comes equipped with a variety of options.

   The models are easy to operate and have built-in motion detection, full duplex operation, networking capabilities and numerous search facilities providing a variety of monitoring levels.

The DX-TL950E has nine channels, but offers the choice of 250Gb or 500Gb HDD capacity, with the facility to export data to a Compact Flashcard. This fully-featured digital recorder can record up to 500 pps per camera, enabling users to optimise storage capacity.

Date, time, camera, alarm and index search facilities provide a variety of monitoring levels and in addition the DX-TL950E benefits from dual video output, which offers multi-split screen and sequence displays.

Also in the range is the DX-TL2500E, a 16-channel digital recorder which is available in 250Gb, 500Gb or 750Gb internal memory capacity and has the option to add 12Tb externally.

The built-in motion detection, which allows the level of camera motion sensitivity to be selected, also provides greater efficiency to maximise potential recording time.

The duplex facility allows any or all of the 16 camera sources to be displayed live in various formats, played back on a connected PC or for advanced searches to be executed while full data recording continues.
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Where space is limited
The Leviathan is LJD's flagship product. Using Delta Wave compression, it is said to generate the smallest digital data footprint of all current DVR units. This makes the data small enough to effectively transmit images even over a 56k modem connection. It can be safely and neatly stored in a location where space is limited.

The backbone of the system is a Windows 2000 operating system which accommodates secure and easy network dial-in configuration. Fitted with a CDRW as standard, with the option of a DVD-RW, data extraction is very easy.

Each camera can be configured for: frame rate, frame compression, time of recording, detection area, alarm and remote viewable (by way of covert) option. Remote access is easily achieved using remote client software, allowing up to 10 remote users simultaneously.

Our Bench Testers' view in February was: "Video Explorer is a major improvement on the viewer facilities we have seen on many rival PC-based DVRs. And the timeline gives the user a very clear and easy to understand graphical representation of what has been recorded."
Reader Service No 123

PC or DVR?
Videte IT has launched a mini version of its DTS plug-and-play digital recording system intended to open up the domestic and small business market for the first time.

   The DTS Entry Line has exactly the same functionality as the larger DTS but is designed specifically for small-to-medium applications supporting up to four cameras.

The product can display and record live images and play back archived images simultaneously. Every image is stored onto the PC hard drive into digital format in real-time and the Motion Detect feature enables automatic recording of significant events. Images can be retrieved by cameras, date, time, alarm or frame, and search results can subsequently be archived.

When is a PC not a PC?" pondered our Bench Testers in January. "The Entry Line muddies the waters. To all intents and purposes it can be regarded as a dedicated DVR with a multiplexer and alarm functions, that just happens to use a mouse and a PC screen."
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Video milestone?
Norbain billed its Vista Solo as "the first truly viable VCR replacement." A single channel DVR, Solo combines modern high quality digital technology with the functionality and ease of use of the familiar VCR, at an affordable price.

Offering recording speeds of up to 50 images per second, the Solo delivers high quality images, "the match of any sophisticated DVR". When recording in a 24-hour time-lapse mode (five pictures per second) the Solo provides seven days and 17 hours of storage to its internal hard drive.

Recordings are saved to a single 80Gb removable hard drive, supplied as standard. The unit works with quad, multiplexer, switcher, matrix or single camera applications.

A simple replacement to a user's existing VCR, migrating to the Solo has no impact on the rest of a user's existing CCTV installation.

Compatible with all leading multiplexers, the Solo includes VEXT output for easy multiplexer integration.

"The Solo is the closest thing yet to a replacement for the venerable time-lapse VCR and maybe this could turn out to be one of those rare milestones in the history of video surveillance technology," reported our Bench Testers in October
Reader Service No 126

Industry benchmark?
Visimetrics unveiled a DVR at IFSEC – the Fastar – which it claimed was "set to become the industry benchmark" for recording speed and image quality. Despite being only 1U in height, the product offers capacities in excess of 1 Tb and will record eight channels of video in real time at very high image quality, together with eight channels of associated audio.

The MPEG format offers ten times better compression than JPEG recording but with an effective increase in image quality.

Visimetrics' offering is not PC-based and uses dedicated hardware with the most advanced image processing components available. This real-time DVR is aimed at applications such as custody suites, operator spot monitoring, cash handling or counting and casinos.

However, it is also said to be suitable for non real-time applications, where high-speed time-lapse recording is often specified, such as town centre or airport environments.

It is also highly scaleable, using standard networking technology and removing any limitations on overall camera numbers.
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For small businesses
Dedicated Micros has launched a four-camera DVR that specifically targets new users of digital, opening up the benefits to small business owners. Aimed at standalone businesses such as convenience stores, the Eco (economy) 4 has been priced to rival the traditional VCR/multiplexer combination.

DM says Eco 4 offers crystal clear image quality, low maintenance costs and an end to tape management issues and also provides remote viewing options, video motion detection, professional spot monitor output and archive to external CD-R, all as standard.

DM's trademark user-friendly interface keeps end-user training to a minimum. Live or recorded images can be accessed quickly and easily either locally via powerful GOTO functions, or remotely via a standard PC using free network viewing software.

The option to have a live monitor display acts as a visible deterrent to the opportunistic shoplifter, while any suspected staff pilfering can be addressed via the Eco4's covert camera options.
Reader Service No 128

A package like never before
"Never before have price, quality and storage capacity come together in as complete a package as they have in the DX8000." That is the claim from Pelco regarding the new DVR, which the company says is ideal for the growing mainstream video market and provides superior image recording at rates once thought unimaginable.

With the ability to record, store and play back video on demand, the DX8000 can be set to record 480 images–per-second (NTSC) and 400 ips at CIF resolution. There are also advanced recorded video search capabilities – index, quick, thumbnail and pixel search.

Finding desired video, whether based on an alarm event or time of day, is fast and easy.

For applications which are increasingly demanding the ability to record audio along with video, the DX8000 delivers. It provides the option of having a single channel of audio for each channel of video. This means up to 16 channels of audio in a 16-channel unit.

The DX8000 also offers server-to-server connectivity and control by enabling users to connect up to five DX8000s in a virtual connection. From a single DX8000 console, users can now view and control up to 80 cameras.
Reader Service No 129

Mini and portable
The new portable MiniDVR from Vaulted Image Technologies can record up to four cameras simultaneously and offers a selection of picture replay formats including multi-screen and full size.

Supplied in an aluminium flight case, it comes complete with an integral 5.8-inch LCD flat screen, monitor and internal power supply unit to power up to four cameras on composite cables.

The unit operates on 12v DC allowing it to be run directly from the mains via a 12v power supply included in the package, or it can also be powered from a 12v car battery (or a portable battery pack) to allow totally remote operation.

The unit has several features associated with larger fixed installation units including an on-screen menu, alarm handling, fully programmable video motion detection and a hand-held wireless control unit.

The unit can operate without any human intervention or management and can start to record as soon as power is switched on. Replay is possible to the four cameras simultaneously in a quad screen format, or as individual pictures in full screen mode.

In addition to its integral 5.8-inch monitor, the MiniDVR has an output to a video monitor and also to a second VCR output for transferring images to tape, if required.
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High integrity recording
From Siemens Building Technologies comes the new digital recording and transmission system, SISTORE AX. This totally digital device is designed as a non-PC, cost effective, standalone digital recorder, specifically for security CCTV management.

SISTORE AX is designed to be reliable, with low maintenance, and to be versatile. Images are recorded at high speed onto an internal hard drive, eliminating the need for tape. Built-in motion detection can increase the recording rate, yielding far better information. The system can be set up with a variable schedule for day and night-time use.

SISTORE AX has an advanced compression algorithm that allows even the entry level model to record four cameras for a month with a similar picture quality to 24-hour time-lapse mode S-VHS.
Reader Service No 132

Maintenance free
The VR-601E, a maintenance-free model from JVC, is a single-channel DVR equipped with two hard disk drive (HDD) compartments.

   One is pre-installed, the second can be added for expansion or used for hot swapping removable disks. This feature makes it easy to maintain multiple HDDs, depending on the application.

   The VR-601E is a plug-and-play replacement for time-lapse VCRs and is compatible with most multiplexers available on the market today. Its flexible digital image archiving allows for relaxation rather than the worry of heads to clean or degrading tapes.

   The VR-601E records in MJPEG picture compression, for high quality picture by picture playback. Recorded images can be searched for in different modes such as time, date and event or alarm list. Its jog and shuttle functions allow for forward or reverse playback.
Reader Service No 133

Convenient to set up
The DVS 600 from Dallmeier Electronic is a combined digital recording and intelligent detection technology for sensitive outdoor and indoor surveillance solutions.

   It is convenient to set up and operate, and is fully compatible with all Dallmeier hardware and software products. Potential outdoor applications include the monitoring of buildings, car park occupancy, industrial processes, traffic flows etc.

   The DVS 600 supports comprehensive 24-hour building surveillance. With direct switching to an alarm centre, alarms can be immediately verified from the pictures and response measures initiated.

   By combining the detection system with digital picture storage, the cause of an alarm and the course of events can be conclusively reconstructed.
Reader Service No 134

Intelligent NVRs
NKF Electronics and Neurodynamics announced at IFSEC a strategic alliance for the development of intelligent network video recorders.

   These intelligent NVRs will substantially increase the effectiveness of video applications over LAN/WAN networks and are intended to eliminate risks for system integrators.

   The first modular MPEG2-NVR under the brand name NKF-Neurodynamics is expected to reach the market by the end of this year.

   "Through the joining of our knowledge, experience and capabilities, we will be able to offer new, highly versatile intelligent video network solutions to our customers," David Humphrey, Neurodynamics managing director, said at IFSEC.
Reader Service No 135