Financial crisis causes increase in Home CCTV Systems

Security has always been inextricably linked to the current economic situation. As recent financial trends have taken a downward spiral, incidents of crime have increased. This has caused consumers to do two things. Firstly look for products that are high in quality but also competitively priced. Secondly think about securing homes and gardens in addition to commercial security.

The days of having a company come and charge an extortionate price to fit CCTV in your home have long gone. People have had to become increasingly savvy with their money. For this reason CCTV Systems that can be easily installed in the home have risen in popularity.

SecurityLife Magazine has been trawling the internet looking for a reasonably priced kit that can also achieve good results. We have put together the top three as a result of our research.

Popularity: 20% [?]

Veracity COLDSTORE® wins Detektor International ‘Innovative Achievement Award’

Veracity COLDSTORE digital surveillance storage system wins prestigious Detektor International ‘Innovative Achievement Award’ just six months after launch for designing the next generation storage and analysis solution specifically for the surveillance world
Veracity, the leader in connectivity and transmission solutions for IP Video, has won the Detektor International ‘Innovative Achievement Award’ in the CCTV category for its COLDSTORE digital surveillance storage system. The awards are globally renowned for recognising technological excellence in the professional security market. The Detektor panel of judges for the award concluded that COLDSTORE represented a ‘powerful answer to today’s increasing need for secured video storage’.

COLDSTORE was one of four award winners in the CCTV category for the 11th annual Detektor International Awards, supported by Detektor magazine. The prestigious awards ceremony was held at the Victoria Hall, adjacent to Stockholmsmässan, Sweden’s premier exhibition halls, as part of SKYDD 2010 – Scandinavia’s leading security exhibition.

The voting jury consisted of a total of nine members from six different countries that all are represented on the editorial board of Detektor, as well as an external independent consultant. Alastair McLeod, managing director of Veracity was presented with the ‘Innovative Achievement Award’ by Lennart Alexandrie, editor-in-chief of Detektor magazine.

The judges recognised how Veracity’s COLDSTORE has taken a completely fresh approach to addressing the specific needs of storing video surveillance data. COLDSTORE is a network attached storage (NAS) array which uses patented technology to overcome the problems of typical RAID based storage solutions which generate excessive heat, vibration and wear on the disk drive – the key causes of incidents that can result in total data loss. COLDSTORE is the first storage system that acknowledges that video data is different from ‘general IT’ data – video disk traffic typically consists of 97% recording and just 3% playback, compared to general IT data which is typified by short, read- modify-write bursts of data transfer activity.
COLDSTORE uses LAID™ (Linear Array of Idle Disks) and SFS™ (Sequential Filing System) technology to record data on each drive in sequence as a mirrored overlapping pair to reduce the risk of disk failure and eliminate total data loss incidents. Disks are switched off for 87% of the time to increase reliability and reduce energy usage to as low as 42 Watts. COLDSTORE is offered as a 19 inch Rack mount disk array with space to accommodate fifteen SATA disk drives to provide a current maximum capacity of 30,000 gigabytes (30 TB). Any make or size of SATA disk drive can be used. Drives can be removed or inserted at any time without interrupting recording. Identifying specific video footage is simplified as the recordings are written to the disks in a straightforward time sequence.
Alastair McLeod, managing director, Veracity UK Limited, commented:
“Everyone at Veracity is delighted by this award and to receive recognition from such a prestigious international award. It was especially encouraging for us to receive this award when we are at an early market introduction stage with COLDSTORE. Our initial installations are all progressing well across Europe and North America and the next stage will be to push out COLDSTORE into the wider market.”

Lennart Alexandrie, editor-in-chief, Detektor magazine, commented:
“Veracity’s approach with COLDSTORE to the problem of storing security surveillance video is impressive in its simplicity. With the increasing use of video surveillance, COLDSTORE has certainly responded to the needs of today’s security market.”

Popularity: 23% [?]

CCTV Camera Power Problem Solved

It’s nice when an age old problem is done away with. For instance, CCTV engineers for years have connected their cameras in the same way. When cabling a site to fit analogue CCTV cameras (which is the most popular type of CCTV camera) they normally run in two cables.  Coax cable is used to send the video signal and power cable for power.

Usually when connecting the signal cable to the coax, engineers use BNC connectors but when connecting the power many engineers just cut the power connectors off and join the stripped cable. This will void any manufacturer’s warranty and you will not be able to send the camera back to your supplier if it is found to be faulty.

Recently we found two good solutions to this in this video. Enjoy!

To find the products in this video click here.

Popularity: 25% [?]

Genie Access launches compact super strength magnetic locks

Genie Access launches compact super strength magnetic locks

Genie Access, a division of Genie CCTV Ltd., has launched a new concept in electro mechanical locking, offering unparalleled features and benefits over conventional electro magnetic locks.

Vortex is a powerful yet compact magnet fitted with a conical orifice which confines a very strong alloy pin within a vortex of magnetic and mechanical forces. This product is available in various sizes and models suitable for surface or flush mount high security installations.

The new compact magnetic lock has been introduced in the market as not only a retrofit option but as an alternative to conventional magnetic locks. Vortex offers solutions to various high security applications in which conventional magnetic locks can not be applied.

It is an ideal product for high security applications not only because it is extremely compact and secure but also due to the sensory technology it offers.

Apart from its compact aesthetic appearance, The Vortex magnet, GAMEM 2400LP incorporates a large, oval, forward facing status LED which alerts passers by to the actual status of the door (i.e Green or Red)

The size to holding force ratio of the Vortex magnetic lock enables the product to be fitted to low hanging doors and provide a holding force of 1500 Kg (3300lbs). This significantly outperforms a single or even DBL Standard magnetic lock which only holds 1000Kg (2200lbs)

Conventional magnets pose a health and safety risk due to their physical size and weight. Both these issues are overcome with Vortex as it offers greater holding force at a quarter of the size and weight than its rivals.

In addition to the incredible holding force, Vortex has 3 different sensors built in to output maximum information about its status at all times. One of the most prominent sensors in the Vortex is an early warning pressure sensor which detects an applied force to the door and provides a warning before the integrity of the door is actually compromised. Additional sensors include door positioning and door status.

The new compact locks are now available nationwide through most security distributors.

Rui D’ Almeida, Genie’s Access Control Manager says “When compared to a standard magnetic lock, the new vortex locks are 30% more stronger, 75% smaller and boast 50% less power consumption, making them energy efficient”

Popularity: 23% [?]

Security: The Trojan Body Suite, Halo meets the real world!

Trojan Body Suite worn by inventor Troy Hurtubise

The suit is called Trojan and the inventer describes it as the first ballistic, full exoskeleton body suit of armour and he hopes to get it deployed for Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan and US soldiers in Iraq.

During tests “the suit has stood up to bullets from high-powered weapons, including an elephant gun. The suit was empty during the ballistics tests, but inventor Troy Hurtubise is more than ready to put it on and face live fire.”

It is made from high-impact plastic lined with ceramic bullet protection over ballistic foam. Included in the suit are compartments for emergency morphine and salt, a knife and emergency light. Built into the forearms are a small recording device, a pepper-spray gun and a detachable transponder that can be swallowed in case of trouble.

The whole suit comes in at 40lbs and covers everything but the fingertips and the major joints, In the helmet, there’s a solar-powered fresh-air system and a drinking tube attached to a canteen in the small of the back. A laser pointer mounted in the middle of the forehead is ready to point to snipers, while LED lights frame the face.

The suit could allegedly be mass-produced for about $2,000.”

Popularity: 100% [?]

Storage bed safe as featured on BBC News

Storage bed safe featured

Don’t trust Banks? you just can’t just go stuffing all your money under the mattress! but can you? the BBC  recently featured a Bed manufacturing Company based in Nottinghamshire, The Storage Bed Company say their biggest seller is a bed with a safe built into the frame, they report that sales rocketed just after the collapse of Northern Rock, it seems the best advice on how to bank your money is to sleep on it!

For more information and prices visit. www.thestoragebed.co.uk

Popularity: 19% [?]