IP Camera Systems and Surveillance Blog

Technical Jokes and Cartoons 12

Posted on October 20, 2015March 24, 2021 by Bob Mesnik

All the jokes are from famous comedians. If you remember Groucho, you are probably in the baby boomer generation, and if you know Ellen DeGeneres then your’e probably a member of the Millennials.

Here’s some from George Carlin. He was an American stand-up comedian, social critic, actor, and author.

I’m not into working out. My philosophy is no pain, no pain.

Why do they lock gas station bathrooms? Are they afraid someone will clean them?

I’ve always wanted to be somebody, but I should have been more specific.

Why is the alphabet in that order? Is it because of that song?

How Technology Can Help in Active Shooter Situations

Posted on October 19, 2015March 22, 2020 by Bob Mesnik

This article was updated on 2/18/2018

We have seen more and more incidences on school campuses that involve active shooters. In the wake of this violence many colleges, universities, and elementary schools are searching for ways to respond to this threat.

There has been a lot of discussion about how to react. With the latest tragedy at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, the discussion continues. Emma Gonzalez, a senior at the high school, provided excellent perspective on the situation when she said, “Since the time of the Founding Fathers and since they added the Second Amendment to the Constitution, our guns have developed at a rate that leaves me dizzy. The guns have changed, but our laws have not”.

Of course, the best way to prevent these tragedies is to prevent the gunman from getting the guns. Unfortunately, it is not easy to do. The only thing we can offer is advice on how technology can help.

How to set up an IP Camera in Low Light Situations

Posted on October 6, 2015March 22, 2020 by Bob Mesnik

IP Camera Settings for Low Light

(This article was updated to reflect new IP cameras, 10/16/2017)

When selecting cameras for your IP camera system, one of the most challenging situations is when you have very little light. When it’s dark, there can be motion smearing and amplifier noise that degrades the image.

All IP cameras handle low light by opening the lens iris, increasing amplifier gain, increasing shutter time, and switching to day/night mode. But, what is the best IP camera for low light operation, and what are the correct settings? This article provides guidelines for selecting the right camera and adjusting the image settings.

Technical Jokes and Cartoons 11

Posted on September 17, 2015March 24, 2021 by Bob Mesnik

A doctor held a stethoscope up to a man’s chest. The man asks, “Doc, how do I stand?” The doctor says, “That’s what puzzles me!”

Patient: “I have a ringing in my ears.” Doctor: “Don’t answer!”

Selecting the Right Equipment for Your IP Camera Surveillance System

Posted on August 25, 2015March 22, 2020 by Bob Mesnik

How do you select the right equipment for your IP camera system? The surveillance system is more than just the IP camera. It also includes the video recording system, lens, lighting, camera enclosures, network switches, and mounting brackets. Everything has to work together so you get the security system you expected.

Selecting the right equipment for your security system can be quite complicated. Sometimes it’s like putting together a puzzle. We need to make sure we have the right camera, but does the camera work with all the other equipment?

We would like to be notified of alarm conditions, but does the video recording system provide alarm notification? We would like to mount the camera on a pole, but does the camera include image stabilization? As we decide on one thing, it can affect other parts of the system.

In this article, we provided a real-life surveillance example and then defined a complete surveillance system.

How Network Attached Amplifiers and IP Intercoms Work

Posted on August 17, 2015March 23, 2020 by Bob Mesnik

Wizard of Oz Network Attached Audio Concept

How do the latest network-attached IP audio systems work? The latest digital IP systems use protocols that are similar to Voice over IP (VoIP) protocols. This communication method also uses Power over Ethernet (PoE) to power the telephones, IP paging systems, and IP intercoms.

These IP audio systems use the network cable rather than using individual wires that go from an amplifier to a speaker. What is the magic behind sending multiple paging announcements on the same wire at virtually the same time?

Arthur C. Clark said, “Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.”

Here’s how the magic works.

Technical Jokes and Cartoons 11A

Posted on July 20, 2015March 23, 2020 by Bob Mesnik

I love the wisdom of Steven Wright. Here are some of his comments:

You may know the speed of light but, what’s the speed of dark?

Support bacteria – they’re the only culture some people have.

Many people quit looking for work when they find a job.

How Far We Can See With the PTZ IP Camera

Posted on July 20, 2015December 24, 2025 by Bob Mesnik

How far away can we see things using a long range PTZ camera? Obviously, we can see the moon which is 238,900 miles away, but of course we would need a powerful telescope to see the small craters. We can see people in a crowd, but when we want to identify their face, it gets a lot harder. The distance is determined by what detail we need to see.

Do you want to be able to detect a vehicle moving, or identify the person driving the vehicle? The objective will determine the type of IP camera system you will need. In general the distance is determined by the lens, the type of camera (thermal camera or optical camera), the camera resolution, and sometimes the IR illuminator available. This article describes how we can specify the IP camera system required for long distance viewing.

How the Computer Works in IP Cameras

Posted on July 20, 2015March 23, 2020 by Bob Mesnik

Computers are all around us. These sneaky little critters are not only on our desks, they are in our phones, cash registers, refrigerators, stoves. They are also in IP cameras, door access control readers, and network attached paging amplifiers. The world is certainly getting smarter, but have you ever thought about how these computers actually work? Probably not. And, you’re probably saying, ‘Why do I need to know any of this?

Bloomberg Business Week recently published a complete issue dedicated to “Coding”. Why go to the bother? Well the Business Week article says that learning about technology, is good, it’s important, and sometimes essential for helping you keep your job.

Here’s some basic information that could help you stay current. It will help take the magic out of the computer technology we use every day.

Technical Jokes and Cartoons-10

Posted on June 16, 2015March 24, 2021 by Bob Mesnik

A computer lets you make more mistakes faster than any invention in human history – with the possible exceptions of handguns and tequila.