IP Camera Systems and Surveillance Blog

How to Integrate Door Access and IP Camera Systems

Posted on October 12, 2018April 12, 2020 by Bob Mesnik

The best way to integrate IP Video and IP door access systems

IP Door and Video Access systems concept

Door Access Control and IP Camera Systems provide security by themselves. When the two systems are integrated, they provide a higher level of security and safety.

There are some different ways to integrate cameras and door control systems.

There are proprietary systems that only support specific hardware, and there are non-proprietary system solutions that can use more general hardware. This article provides the pros and cons of the different methods for integrating these security systems.

Technical Jokes and Cartoons – 45

Posted on September 17, 2018March 19, 2021 by Bob Mesnik

If olive oil comes from olives, where does baby oil come from?

If everything seems to be going well, you have obviously overlooked something.

If your car could travel at the speed of light, would your headlights work?

Two antennas meet on a roof, fall in love and get married. The ceremony wasn’t much, but the reception was excellent.

A jumper cable walks into a bar. The bartender says, “I’ll serve you, but don’t start anything.”

How to Install IP Door Readers

Posted on September 17, 2018April 12, 2020 by Bob Mesnik

IP Door Access Control Systems are easy to install and provide excellent flexibility. There are RFID proximity IP readers and biometric door readers such as fingerprint or facial recognition readers, that connect to the network. In many cases, you can use PoE to power the reader and the electric lock.

An IP door access control reader is different from the older Wiegand door readers. Instead of connecting to a control panel, the door reader attaches to the network. All the intelligence is inside the reader. It maintains the rules and holds the database of users who can access the door.

This means that even if the network is down, the reader will still operate (if it has power). The door access software is used to manage and edit the information that’s stored in the readers. It only communicates with the readers when there is a change in the information.

This article takes the mystery out of network attached door access control systems and describes how to install them.

IP Paging Systems for Schools

Posted on August 29, 2018April 12, 2020 by Bob Mesnik

How to select the speakers and the number required in your school

IP paging speaker placement and sound volume settings are key to providing clear sound in the school. Whether there is a general announcement or an emergency message, it’s important that the instructions can be heard and understood by everyone.

Network attached IP speakers are easy to install, but they must be placed in the right location, and the sound volume must be correct so that all locations are covered with clear sound.

This article provides guidelines for selecting the right IP paging speakers for your school. The article also helps you determine the number of speakers you need, and the amplification required.

Technical Jokes and Cartoons – 44

Posted on August 13, 2018March 20, 2021 by Bob Mesnik

Save early, save often. Used to refer to how to handle your money. Now it refers to anyone who uses a computer.

Any science or technology which is sufficiently advanced is indistinguishable from magic. – Arthur C. Clarke

Any technology that is distinguishable from magic is not sufficiently advanced. – Gregory Benford

Never let a computer know you’re in a hurry. – Anonymous

Some days I amaze myself.

Other days I look for my phone while I’m holding it.

Extreme Environment IP Camera Enclosure Systems

Posted on August 13, 2018April 12, 2020 by Bob Mesnik

How IP Camera Enclosures are Designed for High-Temperature Applications

Do you need to view a rocket launch or the inside of a blast furnace? The usual IP camera systems won’t survive these extreme conditions. These applications require a special camera enclosure that is designed for these extremely hot environments.

This article describes how high-temperature camera enclosures are made.

Thermal versus Optical IP Cameras

Posted on August 7, 2018April 12, 2020 by Bob Mesnik

Applications for Thermal and Optical IP Camera Systems

Thermal and optical IP cameras use different technologies to capture video. Each type of camera system provides a unique role in an IP video surveillance system. Systems that combine thermal and optical cameras provide a synergistic solution for long-range surveillance.

long-range camera Fantasy World — Long-Range Camera Concept

Thermal cameras are better for night viewing since they don’t require any light. The optical IP cameras require daylight or illumination at night and are best for identifying details such as a person’s face or a license plate number. This article describes when to use these camera systems.

Technical Jokes and Cartoons – 43

Posted on July 11, 2018March 20, 2021 by Bob Mesnik

On the last day of kindergarten, all the children brought presents for their teacher.

The florist’s son handed the teacher a gift. She held up the box and said, “I bet it’s some flowers!”

“That’s right!” shouted the little boy.

Then the candy store owner’s daughter handed the teacher a gift. She held up the box and said, “I bet it’s some chocolates!”

“That’s right!” shouted the little girl.

The next gift was from the liquor store owner’s son. The teacher held up the box and saw that it was leaking. She touched a drop with her finger and tasted it.

“Is it wine?” she asked.

“No,” the boy answered. The teacher touched another drop to her tongue.

“Is it champagne?” she asked.

“No,” the boy answered.

“What is it?” she said.

“A puppy!”

How Face Recognition Works in a Crowd

Posted on July 11, 2018April 12, 2020 by Bob Mesnik

Facial Recognition in a Crowd

There are different methods used for matching facial biometrics. The simplest method measures various features of a person’s face, such as the distance between the eyes, or the position of the mouth to the nose. These geometric measurements or vectors are then coded and stored in a database for later comparison. This type of system is usually used in biometric door access control readers.

IP Cameras Price Versus Performance

Posted on July 2, 2018March 31, 2020 by Bob Mesnik

How much should you expect to pay for your IP camera? IP cameras range in price from under $200 to over $1000.

Since the price depends on what you need, you should always make sure you understand your objectives. For help in defining your requirements, take a look at our article, Defining Your Objectives.

Price varies with performance. The least expensive cameras have fixed lenses. Do you need a camera for a small room or an outdoor camera that can recognize a person over 300 ft. away? The more expensive cameras include variable lenses that you can adjust from your computer. Some high-performance very low-light outdoor cameras can see things by starlight.