The ORION Images 9.5inch 9RCRD is a dual pair of 5U rack mount ready LCD CCTV monitors with tilt capability, a metal cabinet, and a chrome handle; that is ready to be installed into rack mount cabinets. The RCR series is ideal for Factory Control Rooms, Automotive, Marine, Industrial Panel PC, and special Kiosk applications.

Features Include:

• Industrial Metal Cabinet, Dual Display
• 1024 x 768 Resolution, 400 Nits, 800:1 Contrast Ratio
• BNC Video 2(4) In / 2(4) Out, S-Video 1(2) In, HDMI In 1(2), VGA 1(2) In, Audio 1(2) In, PC Stereo 1(2) In
• 3D Motion Adaptive De-interlacer
• 1W x 2 Built-In Speakers
• 5U Rack Mounting / Tilt-able Rack Mount

Learn more about these great rack mount monitors.  http://www.cu1.com/9rcrd.html

Before we begin I would like to note that each of the following sections will be a series of steps that can build upon each other. Depending on your budget you can follow all of the steps, or you can stop whenever you think the protection will be sufficient enough and will stay within your means.

Step 1 – Surveillance Signs

This is the first and foremost deterrent to burglars and intruders in the surveillance world. This one piece of cctv equipment can help deter and stop a vast majority of would be interlopers. When using surveillance signs you provide a very visual warning to people that there’s surveillance on the premises and it would be in their best interest to leave it alone. Even if you don’t have a surveillance system, most criminals aren’t going to know this, and aren’t likely to try and ascertain as to whether it’s true.

When using surveillance signs there are several key areas you will want to post them. Firstly you will want to make sure to have one located at each point of entry into your home or business. This way the criminal is sure to see them no matter where they try to break in at. Secondly if you have any form of property, then it is a good idea to place signs on the perimeter of your land. By doing this you may deter a criminal before they even set foot on your property. Lastly if you have a main floor window that is on a side of the building without any form of conventional entryway, it is a good idea to place a sign in this window as well; just in case the intruder tries to break in through the window.

As far as price goes when purchasing surveillance signs, it can be the most inexpensive aspect of surveillance deterrents. Generally surveillance signs will come in packs of 2 and cost between 10 to 25 dollars in price. So depending on how many areas you need to cover, you can generally cover them all for under a 100 dollars.

Step 2 – Dummy Cameras

After procuring your surveillance signs you’re ready to take your visual deterrents to the next level and install a few dummy cameras. Dummy cameras are simply the shells of actual security cameras made to be used as a visual deterrent to intruders. By having a few of these placed around your home or business you are providing a second piece of visual evidence that will make a trespasser think twice about what they’re doing.

Dummy cameras are most affective when placed near your main entry points so as to build upon the surveillance sign deterrents. This way not only will the criminal see your surveillance sign, but they will also see the dummy camera backing up what your sign is proclaiming. So if the criminal wasn’t convinced beforehand, they most likely will be at this point.

When it comes to pricing, dummy cameras are usually between 20 and 30 dollars, so if you get one for both the front and back of your building this will cost just under 60 dollars. Additionally sites such as CU1.com or maybe even your local surveillance installers offer dead security cameras for around 5 to 15 dollars. These may no longer function as a normal security cameras, but they can easily serve as a dummy camera.

Step 3 – Add A Single Camera System

After you’ve set yourself up with these visual deterrents you may now want the ability to record and monitor at least one area, just in case the visual deterrents aren’t enough. In this circumstance I would recommend a single channel system with the ability to upgrade in the future. This way you can cover your most sensitive area and then expand your monitoring capabilities should the need arise.

This single camera system should be used to monitor your main entryway or any problem area you may have had in the past. As far as cost is concerned, it can vary from around 100 to 200 dollars, but a good recommendation is the DigiairWatch by Securityman. That system is a single channel system that has the capability of adding up to 3 more cameras for a 4 camera system.

Step 4 – When The Budget Expands

The first 3 steps are good ways to provide protection on your property against most criminal elements, and to do so within a budget. In the future however if you still feel the need for more protection, I would suggest either upgrading your single channel system into a 4 channel system, or I would suggest contacting a professional surveillance installer to help you with designing a system that will fully monitor and protect your facilities. This will be a bit more costly, but it may be what you need in heavier crime invested areas.

A decent surveillance system for a small business or home will generally cost around $300 to $600, but depending on how large of a system you want it can drastically increase from there.

In the end if you are very budget consciences and just want to help prevent something before it happens, then for around 100 to 150 dollars you can get a good number of surveillance signs, dummy cameras, and for a little extra a single channel surveillance kit.

Christian M Gillman has worked in the surveillance industry for over 7 years. Subscribe to our monthly newsletter, learn more about surveillance, and find great products at http://www.cu1.com

- CU1 – Your CCTV Products and Surveillance Equipment Source

Additionally the Securityman SmartCamDVR HD camera comes with a remote control for recording activation, and on top of that you can set various recording settings such as overwrite and motion detection.

Kit Includes:

• 1 x Camera w/SD slot (SD not included)
• 1 x Remote control with receiver cable
• 1 x USB cable
• 1 x Mounting bracket
• 1 x Power adapter (UL, 100v-240v)
• 1 x AV cable
• User’s manual and quick start guide

Features:

• Cost-effective D.I.Y. camera system for homes and small businesses
• Crystal clear audio/video recording in AVI format\
• Rechargeable battery for up to 2 hours of stand-by time
• Up to 13.5 hours (32GB, HD) of video recording
• 3 seconds pre-alarm and 15 seconds post-alarm motion detection recording (NEVER miss important evidence)
• Date/time stamp recording
• Small camera designed for hidden observation/ surveillance
• Easy operation by remote control (up to 10m/30ft)
• Selectable Overwrite or Stop recording options when the memory card becomes full
• Easy PC playback/video backup via mini USB port

Learn More…http://www.cu1.com/smartcamdvr.html

The GOLD CCTV SpyWatch is a great covert camera that is built into a functioning wrist watch. In fact this a perfect tool for those in private investigations. So if you have any P.I. friends, then make sure to tell them all about this great spy gadget.

Features of this spy gadget include an internal 4GB storage device, USB output, a lithium ion battery, AVI compression, and more!

So come take a look at this great spy gadget and all the others that we have to offer!

http://www.cu1.com/spygadgets.html

Decide Your Path

The first thing you’re are going to want to do when deciding to upgrade your surveillance system is to decide how far you want to go with the upgrade. The two biggest questions you’ll have to ask yourself is whether you want to completely start from scratch with a brand new system, or do you want to save some of your components and only upgrade a few pieces at a time. The answers you come up with will affect each of the following steps and what you do in each of them.

Replace Your DVR or VCR

Whatever you’re using to record your security cameras is the first item you’ll want to replace. Whether it’s an older DVR or an even older VCR, you’re going to want to make this the first step in your surveillance system upgrade. Let’s go over 3 possible options below.

An IP Network NVR

If you have decided to take the path of completely revamping and building a new system, then this is the way you’ll want to go. NVR’s are built for the foreseeable future and are able to accommodate the newer IP HD cameras. These NVRs can detect IP cameras that are directly connected to your network and record the footage without having to have the cameras directly connected. This type of system will require that you have a network and have IP cameras that are connected to it. This option is not a feasible one for those of you who want to save their current analog security cameras.

A Regular DVR

Let’s say you just want to upgrade your current recording device and don’t have the money to upgrade your security cameras. If this is the path that you choose, then the best option for you will be to find a good quality DVR with a large amount of hard drive space and some quality features such as networking and mobile phone support. Additionally if you think you may want to expand and have more cameras in the future, then this will be the opportune time to buy a larger recording system with more channels. By doing this you can add more cameras at a later date should you wish.

The Hybrid Option

Now here is a great solution for someone who falls in between the two previous options. With a hybrid DVR you can keep all of your current standard analog security cameras, and not only that, you can start using the newer HD security cameras as well. This option can be a little bit more expensive than the other two, but it definitely helps you save money on camera replacement, while at the same time giving you some expansion possibility into the future.

If you decide to go the hybrid route, make sure you get a big enough one to cover your current cameras and provide enough expansion channels for your newer HD cameras that you will get. Additionally it should be noted that you will need to decide if you want it to be an IP hybrid that can use IP cameras, or an HDcctv hybrid that can use HD over coax cameras.

Replace Your Security Cameras

Replacing your security cameras will all depend on the DVR you decided to get.

If you went with an IP NVR, then you will want to make sure to get IP cameras that can directly connect to your internal network. These types of cameras will NOT work with regular DVRs unless they specifically have an additional option built into them to do so. They will however work with a hybrid DVR that is built to accommodate IP cameras.

If you went with a traditional but more advanced DVR, then your choice will be limited to standard analog security cameras. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing though, as there are a large number of high quality analog security cameras on the market to choose from.

Finally if you went with a hybrid DVR then you will be able to choose between traditional analog cameras and some form of HD security cameras. The type of hybrid you went with will determine the second type of security camera you will be able to use. Be it HDcctv or IP, it will also depend on how you plan to transmit your video signals, which leads us to our final step; CCTV cable replacement.

CCTV Cable Replacement

There is a battle currently being waged between traditional coaxial cctv cables and the now more prevalent UTP cctv cables.

UTP cables are used in newer IP based systems, and the reason for this is that this type of cabling is the same kind you would use for network connections and computer networking. This makes it a very easy to integrate cable and allows for maximum video transfer when it comes to HD video files and signals.

Coaxial cables are the standard upon which surveillance systems have been built. They are the norm for older surveillance systems and analog security cameras. Because of this you will have to make the choice as to whether or not you want to completely replace your current cable system or use what you have. If you use what you have then you will not be able to use IP cameras, but you can use HDcctv cameras which provide HD images using the coaxial cable as its transfer medium.

Basically in the end of it all you will want to determine your course of action, decide what type of recording equipment you want, determine which type of cameras you want, and then plan your cctv cabling accordingly.

Christian M Gillman has worked in the surveillance industry for over 7 years. Subscribe to our monthly newsletter, learn more about surveillance, and find great products at http://www.cu1.com

- CU1 – Your CCTV Products and Surveillance Equipment Source

Additionally the Everfocus EDR-HD-4H4 HDcctv DVR is capable of being networked and viewed on both mobile phone platforms and computer browsers. Furthermore this hybrid 8 channel DVR has a built in DVD burner and USB slots for backing up and archiving your video footage.  So with all these great features, you have the ability to expand, upgrade and preserve your current surveillance system.

Intrigued?  Find out more here:  http://www.cu1.com/edrhd4h4.html

Need a hybrid that can use IP cameras and not HD over coax?  Don’t fret as there are a number of IP hybrids as well.

Go digital with your wireless security needs; the simplest and most secure way to protect your home and business.

The DigiLCDDVR2 is a D.I.Y. (do-it-yourself) complete digital wireless security system. The DigiLCDDVR2 includes two weatherproof digital wireless cameras and a 7” LCD/SD DVR combo.

Compared to full version digital video recording (DVR) systems, the DigiLCDDVR2 is much less complicated to operate, much more affordable, and can be installed in minutes. Simply insert a SD card (not included) into the LCD monitor, position and mount the cameras, plug in all the power adapters and you are ready to record.

Want to know more?  http://www.cu1.com/digilcddvr2.html

Want to know more? Take a look at this great article that details the event. http://www.digitimes.com/supply_chain_window/story.asp?datePublish=2013/05/08&pages=PR&seq=202#comments

Want to know more about this IP cameras features as well? Come have a look on our website: http://www.cu1.com/ean3300.html

Installing & Burying Cable

If you’re running cable between facilities and your only option is to bury it, then make sure to do so properly. When burying your CCTV cable you want to make sure that you are burying it deep enough to avoid interference. Of course when I say interference I am not talking about your video signal. What I mean is interference from outside problems such as weed whackers, lawn mowers, curious animals, and anything else that could possibly trip, dig up, or damage your cable.

A good rule of thumb is to bury it at least a half foot underground; this will help avoid most of the problems I mentioned. Additionally if you are unable to bury your cable that deep, or if you want a little extra protection for your cable; you can always run a PVC pipe to hold the cable inside. This will better protect the cable, and provide moisture protection as well.

As a final note for using cable outside and burying it, make sure to get outdoor rated cable whenever possible; as it will have a better protective shielding.

Exterior Holes – Seal Them Up

Most of the time when you are using exterior security cameras, and other surveillance equipment; you will have to drill holes from the outside of your building to the inside. This will be required for your CCTV cable runs for the most part. After you have drilled and ran your cables through these holes, it is now imperative that you seal the holes back up to help safeguard both your equipment and the building. By using an outdoor rated silicone caulk accompanied by a washer or nut to help seal up the hole; you can rest easy that animals, bugs, or inclement weather won’t be intruding into your building.

Additionally you can use a connectivity faceplate, some drywall mud, or additional silicone to fill up the hole on the inside of your building as well. This is less imperative then making sure the outside is sealed, but it does help to make the installation look more professional and complete.

Protecting Your Equipment

When installing surveillance equipment, you will want to have an idea of what type of environment you are putting it into, and make sure to act accordingly.

To begin with, if you’re using any equipment outside, make sure to get equipment that is weather rated. Things such as housings with heaters and blowers for cameras or vandal proof enclosures are great ways to protect against mother nature and random miscreants. If your power supply is being mounted outside, it is very important that you get a weather rated power supply that has a solid seal. Additionally if you suspect the possibility of vandalism or theft; maybe you should consider lock boxes for your DVRs.

Now even if your equipment is all weather rated and vandal proof, there are a couple additional steps you can use to further protect it. For example it is always a good idea to use your environment to your advantage. Let’s say your installing a camera on the side of a building; you can use the soffit of that building to help further shield your security camera. Let’s say you don’t have a soffit, but your building is really tall. Use this scenario to your advantage by mounting your cctv camera high enough up that for anyone to mess with it, they would have to get a ladder or throw something at it (vandal proof domes helps with the latter).

One final piece of advice concerning the protection of your surveillance equipment is to keep you CCTV cables out of the elements as much as possible. So if you have them buried, make sure they’re buried right up to the building, and then if you can, try and hide then behind the siding or have them hug the wall as much as possible before they enter the building.

Keep It Looking Professional

If you’re a surveillance installer, then this is for you, but if you’re just doing it for your own sake, then the look of your installation is what you decide is acceptable to your needs. The bottom line here is that when professionally installing surveillance equipment, a lot of your business can be word of mouth and repeat customers. To keep this referral and current customer base happy, you want the installation to be as clean as possible. So always follow the previous tips, but also make sure to do things like having as little cable exposed inside as possible, or make sure your security cameras are mounted to studs or secured with drywall anchors. By keeping an eye out for these little installation cleanups, you will not only please your customer, but you will set a good example of your work for future clientele.

Christian M Gillman has worked in the surveillance industry for over 7 years. Subscribe to our monthly newsletter, learn more about surveillance, and find great products at http://www.cu1.com

- CU1 – Your CCTV Products and Surveillance Equipment Source

Idea One – Keep The Kids Inline

From my own experience as a much older brother of 8 siblings, I know that tensions can sometimes get high and when arguments break out it can be hard to tell whose telling the truth of the matter. This is especially a problem on long road trips in a cramped car.

Maybe this sounds familiar:

“Mom Timmy hit me!”

“No I didn’t”

“Yes you did!”.

If you didn’t see the actual conflict it can be hard to discipline accordingly without just giving a blanket punishment. Therefore by having the “Car Cam DVR” in the car and pointed directly towards where your kids are sitting, you are creating evidence to help discipline and hopefully deter your kids from getting too rowdy.

Idea Two – Catalog Your Vacation

If you’re like me, then you enjoy taking a nice long road trip every now and then, and maybe you even enjoy the scenic route as well. We’ll why not video tape some of your favorite scenic areas while driving through them; you can even stop and take it outside for some great shots as well. All the while you’re doing this, you don’t have to unpack and repack your expensive handheld recorder, and that can be saved for when you arrive at your destination.

Idea 3 – Police Oversight

If you’ve ever been pulled over, and felt you were treated unjustly or wrongly accused, then you’re not alone. In fact this is a main argument for many an angry motorist when they try to argue their case in court; unfortunately lack of evidence usually relegates this to a case of he said she said, and it is somewhat useless. So why not protect yourself and keep the “Car Cam DVR” at the ready to record in the event you are pulled over. This way you can provide a clear and documented piece of evidence should the need arise.

It should be noted however that the legality of this is different in various states, and you may want to look into it in your particular state beforehand.

Idea 4 – A Reference Journal

Ever had a great idea while you were driving, only to have forgotten it by the time you get home? Well with a quick flip of the switch you can use the “Car Cam DVR” to record those lost gems while driving. This way you can review your thoughts and ideas later on when you’re not concentrating on navigating the road.

These are only a few different ideas and uses for the “Car Cam DVR”, and maybe you have some others of your own, but at least this gives a general idea of the possibilities.

Christian M Gillman has worked in the surveillance industry for over 7 years. Subscribe to our monthly newsletter, learn more about surveillance, and find great products at http://www.cu1.com

- CU1 – Your CCTV Products and Surveillance Equipment Source