IP Camera Systems and Surveillance Blog

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.

How Network Attached Paging and Intercoms Increase Security

Posted on June 10, 2015March 23, 2020 by Bob Mesnik

This article was updated on 10/15/2019 to include new IP paging systems.

There’s more to security than door access control, intrusion alarms, and video surveillance. It is also important to tell people what to do in an emergency. Emergency public notification is one of the important applications for IP paging and intercoms. There are also many other new applications possible with the latest IP paging and intercom systems.

Remember the old days of 500-watt amplifiers with hundreds of speakers attached. It was almost impossible to provide multiple buildings, public address systems. The great thing about network-attached paging systems is that everywhere you have a network, you can install a small network-attached amplifier.

How to Select the Right Video Recording System for Your IP Camera System

Posted on June 9, 2015March 23, 2020 by Bob Mesnik

If you’re serious about your security, you need a full featured video management system. This is one of the most important parts of your IP camera system. But, what is the right IP video recording and management system for you?

In general the IP camera recording system provides the recorded video history, can notify you of alarm conditions, provides some analytic functions, and helps you control your cameras. It may also provide enhanced analytic capability such as detecting when someone leaves a package, or when someone takes a computer off the table. Here are some thing to consider: