As a business owner, you understand the importance of securing your business, namely, high-quality CCTV.
Today's blog topic uncovers the types of video recording equipment you can choose for your business CCTV.
There are 2 main elements, Individual CCTV cameras which capture images - and the DVR (Digital Video Recorder) which processes information from the cameras and footage.
Video recording equipment comes in three basic types: PC-based DVRs, Standalone DVRs and Network Video Recorders (NVR).
If the cameras are the eyes of the CCTV network, the DVR is the brains behind the operation. Its function is to process and store all the visual information sent to it by the camera, and make it accessible to the system’s owner.
Modern DVRs have revolutionised CCTV. They can be set up and left alone, you don't have to change video tapes or press buttons on a daily basis.
Everything is done automatically and weeks of high quality footage can be stored on the internal hard drive.
Each type of video recording equipment has its own strengths and ideal usage scenario; but for today's blog, we are just looking at the two CCTV DVRs, and tell you everything you need to know so you can make an informed decision for your business' CCTV requirements.
The PC-Based DVR
These recorders are essentially computers built solely with CCTV recording in mind, saving security video images to a hard drive. Most security cameras in use today capture an analogue picture.
They feature powerful components and dedicated software, and are capable of high levels of processing to cope with the demands of a multi-camera security system.
The Standalone DVR
The preferred choice for homes and small businesses, the standalone DVR is not as rich in features as its PC-based counterpart, but is still versatile and easy to use.
Consisting of a Linux-based operating system designed to just run the DVR software, standalone DVRs aren’t customisable, but are usually capable of delivering key features, such as live view, camera control, and remote access.
Listed below are some of the main advantages and disadvantages of these DVR systems:
- One advantage of such a set-up is the ability to add additional cameras
- Compatible with Google Assistant
- Thermal cameras enable Dropbox integration to upload still images to the cloud, so you have image evidence safely stored off-site
- Control over quality and frame rate allowing disk space usage to be optimised
- Higher cost of such a system resulting from its high performance parts
- Limited number of cameras can record audio
- Each camera connection needs a splitter that supplies power to enable cameras to function
Before choosing the right security system for you, there are other features and specifications that may or may not be right for your business.
Let's look at those next.
Recording Time
There are a great many variables which can influence the maximum recording time on your DVR.
Increasing a variable, such as frame rate or resolution, will inevitably lower the recording limit. The main variables to consider are the size of the DVR’s hard drive, the number of connected cameras, the frame rate and resolution, and the motion detection settings.
Number of channels
The number of channels supported by a DVR refers to the number of cameras which can be attached to the system. A four channel recorder, for example, can support between one and four cameras. You can attach up to around 16 cameras to a DVR system.
Motion detection
Many of the DVRs on the market today come with a motion detection feature. When activated, this feature ensures that footage is only captured when a difference occurs within the sequence of pixels being sent to the recorder i.e. when a new object enters the recording area. Motion detection recording allows you to only record footage when there is real activity in any of the areas that you are monitoring, making it simpler to search for recorded events, and also allowing your system to conserve space on your DVR's hard drive.
Data back-up
Because all DVRs have a finite storage capacity, if you want to keep footage for a period longer than the system’s recording time, you’ll need to back it up. Almost all DVRs come with USB connectivity so you can move the data onto an external hard drive. Some DVRs come with a DVD burning facility, allowing you to keep a physical copy of your recordings, while others allow network back-ups directly to a remotely connected PC.
Remote viewing
If you plan to view your CCTV footage at a location other than where the DVR is held, you’ll need to choose a model that offers a networking or remote viewing facility. Setting up a system for remote viewing can be a bit tricky, so feel free to get in touch should you need assistance with your CCTV system requirements.
When your system is set up, networked and ready to go, you can usually download apps from your DVR’s manufacturer to enable remote viewing on smartphones and tablets.
How many days footage can I expect to store on a DVR?
There are a number of factors which will determine this. The main things to consider are:
Recording quality:
The higher the quality, the less time a given hard drive will record for
The number of frames per second you record at:
This is something you can change without compromising your CCTV system.
The number of cameras you have on your system:
Each camera requires space for its footage to be stored.
The Important Regulations Bit
If you're unsure on the regulations surrounding CCTV and your business, take a look at our article here.
Plenty more information can be found on our dedicated Security page.