Using an IP Network Camera to Monitor Your Home

With security being a topic on most peoples' minds, many wonder what the best way is to monitor their home and belongings. Various security systems exist and using a combined home security system with surveillance cameras can add extra protection against intruders.

IP Network Camera Placement

Choosing the location to install your IP surveillance cameras should be researched and tested. The location should have a broad viewing angle of the area you are looking to monitor. If multiple IP cameras are required to view the whole room, be sure to place them where they don't overlap, however, to catch every aspect of the room.

Lighting is also a concern. The room should have sufficient lighting allowing the IP camera to have a clear vision of what is happening and who is intruding. When purchasing an IP camera for low lit rooms, be sure to check the lux rating. The lower the lux rating of the IP camera, the better picture it will give in low light. If the room is completely dark, purchasing an infrared (IR) sensitive IP camera would be wise as these can work in zero lighting conditions.

Wireless Connectivity

One of the main benefits of IP network cameras, is the ability to have a wireless connection to your home network. Considering wireless networks are very popular nowadays as many people use laptops, it will be easy to also install your wireless IP camera to your existing network. This will also limit the amount of wires running to the camera as it will only require a power cable.

Remote Viewing

Using IP cameras for home security offers the ability to view the cameras remotely from any location using a standard web browser. By configuring your home network to allow remote access to the IP cameras, you can login securely to each camera to view live video and access PTZ (pan/tilt/zoom) controls if supported by your camera. This gives you peace of mind knowing everything is safe back home.

Most IP cameras also support motion detection with alerts via email, SMS text messaging or other means. Having this configured on your camera, will give you the added bonus of being alerted when motion is detected. You can then login to the cameras remotely to view what is happening.

Remote Recording

With traditional CCTV (Closed Circuit Television Cameras), video recordings would be taped to a local VCR or DVR (Digital Video Recorder). If the intruder wanted to find the video recording, it would be possible for him to destroy any video evidence if it was located on the premises. Remote recording is possible for IP cameras. There are a few ways of doing this.

Remote PC - By setting up a remote PC at another location with Internet access, you could install IP camera recording software to monitor and record from each IP camera simultaneously. You could do straight 24/7 recording or on motion detection.

IP Camera Hosting Services - Remote Recording services can also be purchased from professional companies that securely record from your IP cameras to a remote secure location. An example of a company that offers these services is Network Webcams.

Outdoor Monitoring

IP surveillance cameras can also be placed outdoors using enclosures. Like indoor cameras, you will want to place them where they can view the entire monitoring area and have access to power and ethernet if required. Outdoor lighting will also be an issue as the camera will require proper lighting. Only certain outdoor IP surveillance cameras support infrared (IR) as most infrared IP cameras will reflect off the glass of the enclosure and give a white image. If infrared is required, purchase an outdoor infrared IP camera that comes with the enclosure attached as this will give the best image considering the enclosure is built for infrared. Another option is to use external IR illuminators which attach to the outside of the enclosure.

Using an IP camera to monitor your home will give you many benefits and the peace of mind knowing your home and belongings are safe.

Copyright (c) 2008 Wes Fernley

http://www.networkwebcams.com specializes in IP Cameras, Network Cameras Internet Cameras, Video Servers and Networked CCTV Recording Software and solutions. The directors of Network Webcams have been in the network video industry since it first appeared around 1996/97. Their knowledgeable staff can help you find the right IP surveillance product or platform to meet your needs.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Wes_Fernley

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Choosing the Right IP Camera Software

When it comes to IP video surveillance, the IP cameras themselves are only part of the picture. Beyond the physical cameras is the IP camera software you use to monitor and record video. Oftentimes cameras will not come with this software included, and it will be up to you to pick the right software for your needs.

IP Camera Software Features

One of the major things to look at when choosing software for your IP camera software is the features included with that camera. Take some time to think about what exactly you want your software to do. If you want nothing more than for video to be recorded to look at later, then just about any piece of IP software will do. However, if you are looking for something more advanced you will find there are many options.

Many pieces of IP camera software come with a variety of features. For example, oftentimes they come with advanced video analytics such as motion detection, object recognition, even facial recognition. The software can then be programmed to do things such as send out notifications or alerts should an intrusion happen via e-mail, text or other signal. Software can also be programmed to only record, for example, upon motion detection.

Make a list of the things you would like your IP camera software to do, then look for a piece of software that has the features which will make these things happen. This is your first step in choosing the piece of software that is right for your security system.

Give the Software a Try

Like most software these days, it is often possible to download a free demo of IP camera software from a company's web site. Generally these demos will be limited either in features or in the time you are able to use them. Such demos are an excellent way of getting a taste of exactly what the software is like and what it can do.

Gauge the demo software on whether or not it provides the functions you are looking for. Also look at how easy it was to install as well as how easy to use. Every person is different and will find different pieces of software easier or more difficult to use depending on their own skills and expectations.

Perform tests on all the different features that led you to choose this software in the first place. If all goes well in these tests, most likely you have the right piece of software in your hands.

Checking Out the Company and the Software

Before making the final purchase, however, you should try to find out more about the company and the software. Look for reviews of the software as well as of the company itself. You might find that even though the software looks good, there might be hidden problems such as poor technical support, or bugs which don't appear in the system until it has been in use for a little while and are difficult to remove. Reading the opinions of others who have used the software and worked with the company can give you a lot of information on whether or not this is the right piece of IP camera software for you.

Copyright (c) 2008 Wes Fernley

http://www.milestonesys.com is is a global thought leader and developer of open platform IP camera software The XProtect platform is easy to use, robust and proven in more than 35,000 customer installations around the world. Milestone IP camera software is sold through authorized partners in 90 countries.

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What is the Difference Between an IP Camera, Network Camera and Internet Camera?

A few people have asked me, what is the difference between an IP Camera, Network Camera and Internet Camera? Well the answer is quite easy – there is no difference. So why do these security cameras have different names? First, think about all the names. What do they all have in common? Each name refers to a device that can be connected to a network via IP and used over the Internet.

Axis Communications is the leader in IP Network Video. They use the name Network Camera for their IP enabled security cameras. The name Network Camera is one of the most common names for these products. The name simply describes how their products work by connecting to a computer network allowing all PC's and network devices to see the camera.

The name IP Camera is starting to become more common than the name Network Camera. Most manufacturers refer to their products as IP Cameras and because of this, most customers looking to buy these products refer to them as IP Cameras. Some people even mix the term IP Camera with Network Camera to call it an IP Network Camera. This is the term I like to use as well.

Lastly, is the name Internet Camera. The main camera manufacturer that uses this term is D-Link. They refer to their cameras as Internet Cameras because the camera can be configured to be viewed over the Internet from any remote location. As you probably know, that is one of the main benefits of using these cameras. The term Internet Camera is not widely used as the other two terms but it still describes the product to a tee.

Another article posted on NetworkCameraReviews.com discusses how to make IP Network Cameras accessible over the Internet. The article is entitled “Viewing an IP Network Camera over the Internet”. Those of you who need guidance on this process will find this article very useful.

In conclusion, whether you call these products Internet Cameras, IP Cameras, Network Cameras or even IP Network Cameras - you are using a correct name. They all describe the purpose of these cameras and one of their key benefits of how they are an advantage over old Analog CCTV (Closed Circuit Television) security cameras.

Wes Fernley runs a website called NetworkCameraReviews.com, a free online resource for users to learn about IP Network Cameras. He provides free consultation and advice. His roles include tech support, web design and sales. He can be reach via email at wes@networkcamerareviews.com.

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What to Look For in an IP Camera Enclosure

IP camera enclosures help keep your IP camera safe from the elements of weather and vandals who would destroy the camera at any given chance. This article will discuss what to look for when purchasing an IP camera enclosure.

Enclosure Mounting

IP camera enclosures come with various mounting types. These include pole mounts, wall mounts, ceiling mounts and corner mounts. These different types of mounts allow you to install the enclosure in various environments easily and effectively. Some enclosures are sold with mounts, though some are sold separately. This allows you to use the same enclosure in various different applications by purchasing the necessary mountings for each enclosure installation.

Indoor/Outdoor Enclosures

Sometimes a heavy duty enclosure is not required. For some indoor camera installations, a basic plastic enclosure will do just fine. These types of enclosures are more affordable, but offer minimal protection for the IP camera protecting it from minor damage. If the enclosure will be installed outdoors, there are several other aspects that need to be considered. The following are some concerns when installing an outdoor IP camera enclosure.

Environmental Concerns

One main use of outdoor IP camera enclosures is to protect your IP camera from weather that would destroy the camera if unprotected against the elements of rain, snow, heat and cold. When looking for an outdoor IP camera enclosure, examine what type of weather conditions the enclosure and camera will have to withstand. If the enclosure will be in an open area which would allow rain to fall on the top of the enclosure, be sure to purchase an enclosure that is properly sealed to avoid moisture penetrating inside. You will want to make sure the enclosure offers proper airflow for the camera. A completely sealed enclosure with no airflow could potentially overheat your camera.

Heater and blowers are also common components of enclosures. These allow the temperature and airflow of the enclosure to stay within a suitable range for the IP camera. These are ideal for winter and humid summers. Be sure to find out the temperature range of the heater and blower to make sure it meets the required temperature range of the IP camera itself.

Installation

Some enclosures can be a pain to install. It is wise to read over the installation directions before purchasing the enclosure if possible. Some manufacturers offer downloadable manuals or guides for the enclosure installation. From these you will be able to tell how difficult the enclosure installation will be and it will give you a chance to purchase any additional equipment required for installing the enclosure.

Power requirements will also need to be considered as each enclosure requires different power voltages depending on the features including heaters, blowers, built-in camera power supplies, etc.. You will need to make sure what type of power the IP camera also requires and have separate power running to the camera if needed.

Supported IP Cameras

Not all IP cameras are supported by each enclosure. You will need to make sure your camera is fully supported by the enclosure or the IP camera may not mount correctly inside the enclosure. Some mounts are generic however it still is possible that the IP camera is too large for the enclosure causing the enclosure to not seal correctly.

The majority of enclosure manufacturers offer a Supported IP Camera list that you can check to make sure your IP camera is supported. Be sure to check that no additional mounts are required for the camera to be installed in the enclosure.

Some IP camera manufacturers also offer enclosures for their cameras which have been tested to ensure the camera works correctly in the enclosure.

Vandal and Tamper Resistance

Many enclosures offer vandal resistance and tamper proof screws. These enclosures are designed to provide protection when an intruder may attempt to damage the camera in an effort to prevent video from being recorded . If the IP camera enclosure will be within reaching distance, it would be wise to purchase a vandal proof enclosure that will protect the camera damage. Some enclosure manufacturers also provide results from tests done on the enclosure ranging from baseball bat attacks to .22 calibre bullets.

We hope this article gives you some pointers on what to look for when purchasing an IP camera enclosure.

http://www.networkwebcams.com specializes in IP Cameras, Network Cameras, Internet Cameras, Video Servers and Networked CCTV Recording Software and solutions. The directors of Network Webcams have been in the network video industry since it first appeared around 1996/97. Their knowledgeable staff can help you find the right IP surveillance product or platform to meet your needs.

Copyright (c) 2008 Wes Fernley

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IP Camera Surveillance System

Feeling safe and secure is important. It does not matter where you live, you still want to make sure that you are doing all that you can do to protect yourself and your family when you are at home. That is why choosing an IP camera surveillance system you are making a choice to protect your family. There are many different systems to choose from, you have to find the one that will help you to feel the most secure, and you are on the right track.

With an IP video surveillance system, you can see what is going on around you. This is a benefit when you have a young family. You want to make sure that you are doing all that you need to do to keep your family safe. Being able to see what is going on around your house is the best way of knowing that everything around your home is safe. I like to make sure that I am able to check around my children's room to know that there is nothing going on outside so that they are safe.

Another benefit of a camera surveillance system is that you are knowing that you have the option to know who is coming to your door before you choose if you are going to answer the door. Having a surveillance camera is the best way to see what is going on around your home. There have been many times that you do not want to answer the door. This will give the option that you can see who is there to determine if you want to answer the door.

Often times you can choose a security camera that can be networked in your home. This is a great benefit because you will have the option of where you can see the video from any place that you have access to the network. That is the advantage of using an IP camera surveillance system. I know that if we are away from home, we have a connection that we can still check on our home to make sure that everything is safe and secure.

Taking the time to make sure that you choose the right IP camera surveillance system for your home is important. You want to make sure that you can cover the entire home safely and securely. Looking over the different options and styles will give you the best options that you have been available. This is the best way to help you choose the best options that you have been available to you. You need to make sure that you are going to feel safe in your home.

For more information on IP camera surveillance system and wireless IR surveillance go to Surveillancesysteminc dot com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Louis_Zhang

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Viewing 180 Degrees With a Single Business MegaPixel IP Security Camera

Business owners are generally prioritizing when it comes to installation of security cameras in and around their business because there are many areas to cover, and it is expensive and unsightly to install enough cameras to truly provide the coverage that is needed. This however does not reduce the importance of providing coverage of these indoor and outdoor areas of the business. Arecont Vision has provided a new solution for providing coverage with a single camera in their new AV8180 180 degree panoramic 8.0 MegaPixel IP Camera. This AV8180 camera can provide coverage for a full 180 degree field of view replacing up to 24 analog security cameras.

The AV8180 camera has 4 x 2.0 MegaPixel image sensors built-in with 8mm megapixel lenses, providing 6400 x 1200 total resolution around the entire 180 degree viewable area. Unlike some panoramic cameras, the AV8180 from Arecont Vision provides this coverage without the distortion or "fish eye" appearance that occurs when a wide-angle lens is used...so that you get a true picture with optimum viewing angle from a single camera. The 4 separate 2.0 MegaPixel image sensors each provide a full 1600x1200 resolution video stream, and will be picked up as separate video streams by your NVR software.

For outdoor mounting, the AV8180 has optional wall mount and ceiling mount brackets with or without heater and blower to allow mounting this IP security camera in virtually any environment. This camera has become especially popular for monitoring outside areas like gas pumps, providing the ability to capture license plates from many different gas pumps simultaneously from a single camera, often replacing 6 or 8 cameras that were previously used for this purpose.

This MegaPixel 180 degree panoramic camera also saves business owners in software licensing fees, because the Arecont Vision AV8180 camera requires only a single IP camera license in the software you are using for recording, such as our Alnet Netstation NVR or Hybrid DVR/NVR software. Ez-Toyz Inc. now has a full line of Arecont MegaPixel IP Cameras now available for business owners.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Dunteman

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Viewing an IP Network Camera over the Internet

IP Network Cameras are designed to work in a Local Area Network (LAN) and over the Internet. Within a LAN, IP Network Cameras allow for motoring local to the computer network to which the cameras are attached to. With additional configuration of your computer network you have the ability to allow for your IP Network Camera to be monitored not only locally but remotely as well using the Internet. For advice on how to configure your network to allow for your camera to work over the Internet please follow this guide.

Configuration - Local Access

Before you are able to configure your camera to work over the Internet we suggest configuring the camera for local access first. Please refer to the technical documentation that came with your camera for proper instructions on initial configuration of your camera. Once the camera has been configured for local access you are then ready to start configuration for remote access to the camera over the Internet.

Configuration - Remote Access

Before you proceed to configure your local network to allow your camera to be monitored from a remote location, we suggest that you contact your network administrator to ensure you have the proper authority to configure remote access to the camera. Once you have consulted with your network administrator you may proceed to configure remote access to the camera.

In order to configure your camera to work over the Internet you will need to configure what is called Port Forwarding. Port Forwarding allows for you to access the camera from a remote location by forwarding the network ports used by the camera onto the Internet. These ports are usually forwarded by accessing your network's router and configuring the router to forward the ports used by the camera. For details as to what ports will be required for forwarding for your IP Network Camera, please consult the manufacturer of your camera. For additional information beyond this guide regarding Port Forwarding, please visit www.portforward.com where you will be able to find step by step guides on Port Forwarding specific to different models of routers.

Step 1 - Obtain IP Address Information

In order to access your network's router for configuration of port forwarding you will require the IP Address of the router to which the camera is connected to. You can obtain this IP Address information by consulting with the network administrator of your network or by opening up a Command Prompt within Windows and entering in the "ipconfig /all" command. To open a command prompt window you will need to click on the Window's Start button and then proceed to click on Run. Now you will enter in "cmd" and click on "Ok" to proceed.

Once you have displayed the IP Configuration for your computer using the "ipconfig /all" command, you will then be able to record the IP Address for your router. You will need this IP Address in order to access your router for configuring Port Forwarding. Your network router's IP Address will be displayed as the Default Gateway.

Step 2 - Accessing your Network's Router

Now that you have obtained the IP Address for your network's router you will then need to proceed to access your router by typing in the router's IP Address in a web browser.

Step 3 - Configuring Port Forwarding on your Router

Now that you have access to the network router you will then need to proceed to browse to the
configuration section on the router where port forwarding is to take place. Please consult with the manufacturer of your router for details as to where this section is. You may also review the website NetworkCameraReviews.com where you will find detailed forum posts on port forwarding with various routers.

The Private IP Address for the camera (local IP Address of camera) has been entered in as well as a unique name that will be associated with this particular port that is to be forwarded. In this example port 80 will be forwarded for the camera. Please consult with the manufacturer of your camera for details on what port(s) will be forwarded. Some IP Network Cameras require more then one port to be forwarded in order for you to obtain all the features the camera has to offer. You will also be presented with an option to select a Protocol to be to be used. Common options found are UDP, TCP or Both. Your router may have additional options. In most cases you will need to select the protocol option "Both". This will associate both UDP and TCP protocols to the port(s) being forwarded. In this example we with click on the Apply button once all required information has been entered.

After the settings have been saved within the router's configuration you should be able to see this information displayed in a list. There may be other entries in this list already by default.

Step 4 - Accessing your IP Network Camera over the Internet

Now that you have configured port forwarding on your network's router to allow the camera to be accessed over the Internet, you are now ready to attempt to access the camera. We suggest attempting to access the camera from a remote location and not within the local network for confirmation that port forwarding was configured properly. At a remote location you will need to type in the Public IP Address that is provided by you Internet Service Provider (ISP) in order for you to be able to access your camera.

Please contact your ISP if you are not sure what your Public IP Address is. You will not be able to access the camera by it's Private IP Address (Example: 192.168.0.100) because the camera's Private IP Address cannot be seen on the Internet and can only be seen within the local network to which the camera is attached to.

In most applications port 80 will be forwarded and because of this no port information will be required in the Address Bar when attempting to access the camera. However, there are cases where an IP Network Camera will not use port 80. These cases are usually related to security concerns with using port 80. We suggest contacting your network administrator or the manufacturer of you router to inquire upon the possible security concerns with forwarding port 80. If port 80 is not the port being used you will be required to enter in the full IP Address followed by a colon and the port number used.

You should now be able to fully access your IP Network Camera from a remote location using the
Internet. If you require any additional support for configuring your camera for remote access, we strongly suggest that you contact the manufacturer of your camera, the manufacturer of your network's router or review the detailed guides found on NetworkCameraReviews.com

Wes Fernley runs a website called NetworkCameraReviews.com, a free online resource for users to learn about IP Network Cameras. He provides free consultation and advice. His roles include tech support, web design and sales.

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How to Set Up an IP-Based Camera Surveillance System

Install reasonably priced cameras over ubiquitous networks

Analog vs. IP-Based

Let's take a quick look at the differences between old-school analog systems and the new wave of IP-based network systems.

Analog closed-circuit recording systems (CCTV) are limited, because they are only as smart as the person monitoring the system. With IP networks you have access to a wide-range of automated software settings and alert systems that make security management more efficient and intelligent and less error prone and less costly.

On the other hand, IP camera systems handle motion detection, event triggers, and alert automation (via e-mail, pager or phone call), and have a multitude of options for changing frame rates, resolution and timed record cycles. Analog camera systems can't do this without digital conversion.

This particular D-Link IP surveillance application has room for 16 cameras, as shown here:

The next screens you'll see offer motion-detection and monitoring scheduling. After that, you can manage alert, recording, and snapshot settings.

All in all, this particular program is highly flexible and can accommodate virtually any scenario and alert response. Best of all, it comes free with the more high-end D-Link cameras.

Power over Ethernet (PoE)

PoE switches and adapters are useful for times when local power outlets are not available. Power is drawn from the power source near the switch and then routed over ethernet cables. This is possible because the CAT5 Ethernet spec enables both data and power.

As always, pricing depends up the various equipment involved on a site, along with such network variables as the number of ports, switch capabilities, vendors deployed, etc. Make sure all of these fit within yours and your customer's budget.

PoE (short for Power over Ethernet) is basically a power extension via ethernet cable. It requires a PoE switch or PoE adapters. PoE switches will send power and data to either:

• A PoE enabled device that can take power and data from a single ethernet cable and the attached PoE switch; or
• A PoE terminal adapter that splits the power out of the ethernet cable at the end of the line and connects to a standard power input on the networked device (in this case a camera).

The second scenario is shown in the next photo. The PoE router is on the far left, the terminal adapter is in the middle, and the camera is connected on the far right with a power bridge cord and a second Ethernet cable. With a PoE enabled camera or device, you wouldn't need the terminal adapter.

If you plan on using a non-PoE switch or router—because you don't have power outlets near the location you'd like to place the camera—the following set-up will apply:

1. Attach an Ethernet cable to your router, as shown here:

Attach the PoE base unit adapter to the other end of the ethernet cable like so:

Plug in the base unit's power cable:

The opposite side of the base unit takes an Ethernet cable that now carries both power and data. It's the cable in the middle with the pen on it here:
That middle Ethernet cable with the pen on it could be really long and go anywhere in an office or home. The camera has power and Ethernet connectivity at the very end of the line:

And here it is, ready for use:

Essentially, here's what's going on: The base unit takes power from the wall and data from an Ethernet cable (either a standard router or a computer with extra Ethernet ports). Then the router sends power through one Ethernet cable to the base unit. The base unit places power and data into one Ethernet line. Then the terminal adapter pulls the power off the Ethernet wire and sends it via a little bridge cable to the power connector on the camera device along with the final Ethernet data link. By using the PoE set-up, you deliver power to a location that has no local power outlet via Ethernet cabling.

The companies that make these cameras also carry harsh weather housings, blowers and heaters for outdoor cams. D-Link's accessories can be found here.

In the near-term, we can all expect to see cameras everywhere there's an IP connection. System builders should seriously consider mining this huge new market—as ease-of-installation, reasonably-priced equipment, and the ability to offer customers high-degrees of quality—can mean a healthy addition to your bottom line.

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How to Set Up an IP-Based Camera Surveillance System

Install reasonably priced cameras over ubiquitous networks IP surveillance technology has reached one of those "perfect storm" moments. Today's digital cameras are inexpensive and easy to install. Wired and wireless networks alike are ubiquitous. And the camera-monitoring software is robust, easy-to-use and often free. Demand for security cams is high among both businesses and home users, and system builders stand to capitalize on this surging wave by offering installation services and support. There's even potential for computer and server upgrades, as some companies will be looking to build dedicated systems that have guaranteed bandwidth and quality of service (QoS) over the video network.

Cameras are popping up all over the place. You can find them at retail businesses, factory floors, homes, apartments, landmarks, schools, financial institutions and transportation centers, to name but a few. Applications range from basic security and safety to quality control monitoring.

Although you can use these cameras over the Web, they're not really Webcams, which are those small, low-tech cameras designed for online socializing. Rather, IP-based cameras connect directly to IP networks, record at higher frame rates, and generally have better resolution then Webcams. They can pan, tilt and zoom, and many have one-way or two-way audio capabilities. They also come with monitoring and management software that lets you trigger alarms and e-mail alerts when certain events occur. For example, you can designate motion detection areas within a frame that generate alerts when motion occurs. Or you can set the system to begin recording when certain events occur or timers are set. Examples of motion events might include a person walking into the frame or a car driving across a designated area.

Since these systems are IP-based, you can monitor, store, and archive video, audio and associated application data over the Internet or across private data networks. The video can be carried anywhere the IP network extends, as opposed to closed-circuit television (CCTV) systems that require proprietary equipment and dedicated coaxial cabling. Anyone with the proper security clearance and a standard browser can monitor video, and control and configure the cameras on the network.

You need to have a fairly robust wired or wireless network set up for a successful IP surveillance roll-out. This Recipe assumes that you have a typical 10/100 wired or 802.11g wireless network already set up. We will, however, look at some Power over Ethernet (PoE) networking equipment and discuss the advantages of that type of system as well. PoE allows you to send power over ethernet lines so you don't have to place the cameras near power sources.

Finally, a note on what all this will cost you. Simply put, pricing will depend on several factors you'll need to carefully consider: Labor rates, the camera(s) selected, the structure of the building(s), the location of power outlets, the location of network infrastructure, etc.

Big Benefits

A quick rundown of the main benefits of IP surveillance follows. Use these points when pitching solutions to your customers, and they will quickly recognize the advantages.

• Utilizes existing IP infrastructure.
• Highly scalable.
• Flexible camera placement: PoE eliminates need for local power source; Wi-Fi eliminates need for hard-wired ethernet cable. Wi-Fi stands for Wireless Fidelity, and Wi-Fi is pretty much a noun these days, and has even become synonymous with the more generic term "wireless."
• Remote viewing from anywhere/anytime via a standard Web browser.
• Standards-based, allowing multi-vendor solutions and integration.
• Better image quality than closed circuit TV (CCTV) analog systems.
• Open storage and server systems scale easily and cheaply, with no need for specialized recording equipment or training.
• Secure: Data can be encrypted across the network, so only the cameras and servers know what kind of packets to expect across the system. Without the proper authentication keys, outsiders can't break into the network to steal video data or feed false video into the system. Also, any interruption to the data stream can automatically trigger alarms and alerts.

Ingredients

Let's get into the two main areas of components—the cameras and the network—that we'll need for building out an IP camera surveillance system.

Cameras: Most professionals are deploying products from D-Link of Fountain Valley, California. The company has been around for 20 years, and it offers quality cameras at reasonable prices. I recommend them.

I tested D-Link's DCS-6620G, DCS-5300G, DCS-3220G, DCS-2120 and DCS-950G cameras. I've listed them in order from fully featured to bare-bones. The DSC-6620G is the deluxe model, with all the bells and whistles and the superior Charge-Coupled Device (CCD) technology.

The D-Link DCS-6620G and DCS-5300G are the motorized models; they offer full pan, tilt and zoom features. The 6620G retails for about $775 onAmazon (NSDQ: AMZN). The DCS-5300G sells for about $422. (All prices are subject to change, of course. Watch for deals!)

The DCS-6620G, DCS-5300G and DCS-3220G have microphones and 3.5-mm. audio jacks to connect speakers at the camera source, so you can have remote two-way conversations. The DCS-3220G retails for $323 on Amazon.

The DCS-2120 has a microphone, but no speaker jack, so you can only monitor sound from this camera; you can't speak back to the person on the other end. I won't go into all the features here, but these cameras are quite impressive and take excellent, clear videos. The DCS-2120 retails for just under $320. The low-end DCS-950G is going for a little over $140.

All the cameras I tested operate as both Wi-Fi and wired Ethernet cameras. You can set them up either way depending upon your needs and the locations of your wired ethernet.

Once you've set up a camera, you can just plug the rest in and configure them without having to run the set-up utilities again. You can get a large facility installed really quickly this way. You simply plug the cameras into a power outlet and Ethernet jack, discover them with the D-Link client utility, and then configure the Wi-Fi settings according to your router's settings. Unplug the Ethernet cable(s) from the cameras you want to use in Wi-Fi mode, and you're set. The Wi-Fi cameras can be positioned anywhere in range of your wireless router and anywhere there is a power source. I'll cover the initial software installation in specific detail below.

The Network: You need to consider a few existing network variables before installing cameras. Ideally, your network switches and routers should offer a range of speeds from 56 megabits per second (Mbps) to 10 Gbps. For high-quality feeds or large numbers of cameras, consider 100 Mbps attached cameras with backbone network speeds of 1 Gigabit or higher. 10/100 Mbps networks and 54 Mbps or 108 Mbps Wi-Fi networks can be used for applications where high-resolution video quality is not as critical.

If you don't want to run Ethernet cable, 802.11 wireless access points and wireless cameras are an option. The 54-Mbps 802.11g standard is sufficient for many video surveillance applications. Current wireless security standards, like Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA), offer robust authentication and encryption for the wireless signal to prevent snooping and interception of the video signal.

You should estimate throughput and peak demand requirements that will be placed on the network and examine how those demands may impact other network applications. Also, consider Quality of Service (QoS) mechanisms to provide the desired level of video quality to your IP Surveillance cameras and monitoring applications.

If you have a client that needs a larger installation—with 200 to 300 cameras, for example—you can go with Gigabit and 10-Gigabit Ethernet. Some organizations are easily using more than 1,000 cameras at a time with these high-speed networks.

Article Source: http://www.crn.com/white-box/192202279

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MULTIMEDIA

The creation of multimedia capabilities for the PC was probably given initial impetus by gamers, and certainly it is the case today that game demands drive graphical innovations. In computer sound capabilities musicians found a whole new means for creating and recording music, with studio technology condensed into their home PC. Quickly, business and education began to utilise the dynamism of sound and vision. Even professional home video editing became a real possibility.

Eventually, broadband Internet opened the doors for digital music, online gaming, movie downloads, Internet TV and more. The PC has since been posited as a home media centre, offering a complete home entertainment hub. There is no doubt, multimedia is a cornerstone of home computers.

Article Source: http://www.pctechguide.com/02Multimedia.htm

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GRAPHICS CARDS

Video or graphics circuitry, usually fitted to a card but sometimes found on the motherboard itself, is responsible for creating the picture displayed by a monitor. On early text-based PCs this was a fairly mundane task. However, the advent of graphical operating systems dramatically increased the amount of information needing to be displayed to levels where it was impractical for it to be handled by the main processor. The solution was to off-load the handling of all screen activity to a more intelligent generation of graphics card.

As the importance of multimedia and then 3D graphics has increased, the role of the graphics card has become ever more important and it has evolved into a highly efficient processing engine which can really be viewed as a highly specialised co-processor. By the late 1990s the rate of development in the graphics chip arena had reached levels unsurpassed in any other area of PC technology, with the major manufacturers such as 3dfx, ATI, Matrox, nVidia and S3 working to a barely believable six-month product life cycle! One of the consequences of this has been the consolidation of major chip vendors and graphics card manufacturers.

Chip maker 3dfx started the trend in 1998 with the its acquisition of board manufacturer STB systems. This gave 3dfx a more direct route to market with retail product and the ability to manufacture and distribute boards that bearing its own branding. Rival S3 followed suit in the summer of 1999 by buying Diamond Mulitmedia, thereby acquiring its graphics and sound card, modem and MP3 technologies. A matter of weeks later, 16-year veteran Number Nine announced its abandonment of the chip development side of its business in favour of board manufacturing.

The consequence of all this manoeuvring was to leave nVidia as the last of the major graphics chip vendors without its own manufacturing facility - and the inevitable speculation of a tie-up with close partner, Creative Labs. Whilst there'd been no developments on this front by mid-2000, nVidia's position had been significantly strengthened by S3's sale of its graphics business to VIA Technologies in April of that year. The move - which S3 portrayed as an important step in the transformation of the company from a graphics focused semiconductor supplier to a more broadly based Internet appliance company - left nVidia as sole remaining big player in the graphics chip business. In the event, it was not long before S3's move would be seen as a recognition of the inevitable.

In an earnings announcement at the end of 2000, 3dfx announced the transfer of all patents, patents pending, the Voodoo brandname and major assets to bitter rivals nVidia and recommended the dissolution of the company. In hindsight, it could be argued that 3dfx's acquisition of STB in 1998 had simply hastened the company's demise since it was at this point that many of its hitherto board manufacturer partners switched their allegiance to nVidia. At the same time nVidia sought to bring some stability to the graphics arena by making a commitment about future product cycles. They promised to release a new chip out every autumn, and a tweaked and optimised version of that chip each following spring. To date they've delivered on their promise - and deservedly retained their position of dominance!

Article Source: http://www.pctechguide.com/41GraphicsCards.htm

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Domain Name Registration Is The First Step To Build A Website

n the era of internet, while even the smallest of the business entities thrives for an online presence, it is necessary to understand the starting steps of the process. The online presence of your business is marked by the website that you have and the domain name is the name and address of that website.

Any marketer will emphasize on a good, easy to spell and easy to remember domain name that is similar to your business or nature of business. Domain name is the key to branding your business online.

A popular trend used to be that many business chose a domain name with a prefix ‘I’ or ‘e’ to the nature of shopping. The terminology became so famous over the internet that any body who hears the names ‘e-shopping’, ‘e-travel’, ‘i-ticket’ etc. can easily relate to the online entity without further explanation.

The other important part of domain name is their extension. Domain names are often confused by the customers because of their extensions. A typical extension varies from .com, .net, .biz, .info, .edu etc. etc. Many big business houses make it a practice to book all the extension and map it with each other so that abcd.com and abcd.net will take the visitor to the same page. However this adds to the cost and also the list being increasing daily with country specific extensions like, .au, .us, .co.uk, .asia etc coming in it is not always possible to acquire every possible extension with your name. Hence it is necessary that you promote the entire domain name to your target customers and build a brand around it.

Domain name registration starts with the process of checking the availability of the name you have short listed along with the desired extension. There are a number of domain registration websites that offer you the search function for the availability of your domain name. Once you have checked the availability, you can go forward to the domain name registration procedure from the same company where you checked the availability from a different company. Most domain registration companies offer you the ability to book your domain name online and you can make multiple domain name registration at a single go.

At the process of domain registration you will also need to mention the time for which you want to own the particular name. You need to renew it every time your tenure is near completion. Make sure that you make your domain registration in from a vendor that has a secured, certified online transaction process.

By: Smit

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

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Number 1 In Google With A Domain Name Redirect

Hi everyone,

I am glad to see you are doing some reading. That is how I learned most of what I know. Did you know that you can get ranked number 1 in Google just using a simple $10 domain name redirect/mask? That is awesome. I have only been in internet marketing for 2 years and I feel like I am just getting started... really!

So here's the scoop. I got the domain name "AmeriPlanCoverage.com" from GoDaddy... set up fowarding and masking... put in my keywords and website description, and BAM. Maybe a month or so later that website was #1 for the keyword "ameriplan coverage."

There is a video tutorial right on the GoDaddy website to show you EXACTLY how to set this all up. It only takes a couple minutes.

It's funny I use this example since I don't even own the domain name anymore. I am an IBO with AmeriPlan USA and am not allowed to use such domain names... but I forgot to read that part of the rules when I signed up... ha ha ha.

Now don't think that every "masked" domain will rank #1 in Google. I think I must have gotten lucky. I had several other domain names that didn't do nearly as well. The point is, it was only $10... and it worked for a while. Since this was a "corporate regenerated website" there was NO WAY to get visitors through the SE's. If you have a duplicate site, you could do the same thing and steal all the visitors from your competition. Sounds great doesn't it?

Of coarse if you really want to do some serious SEO then you need to have your own ORIGINAL content. I actually just started building my own websites... a few short months ago. I am still in the beginning stages of SEO for my few sites and plan to use article marketing for a good part of my traffic. I just ranked #2 for "ameriplan coverage" with my new "original" site... (Directly under the main corporation website! I don't know where they were before!?!)


You know another good traffic tip? I set up a RSS feed on my websites and since I am still adding content, my feeds keep getting bigger too. Submitting a feed is like submitting your url or posting links back to your site. Nothing bad can come of it. It is all GOOD. A combination of everything is how you will gain mass traffic to your website and make money when others around you are failing.

Good luck with all your work. Hard work pays off. Trust me.

To Your Successs,
Andrew Hittle

By: articlesbyandrew

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

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Importance Of Domain Names In Seo

The e-commerce world has seen many start-ups; some made it big, while others floundered into non-existence. More often than not, a brilliant idea gets stifled by the sheer immensity of the Web. Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is an internet marketing strategy that provides online businesses with better search rankings and, ultimately decides the success or failure of an online venture. An SEO company packs an arsenal of tools that can increase organic rankings to generate higher ROI (return on investment). One aspect of the SEO process is choosing the right domain name.

While selecting domain names may be redundant for existing businesses, new arrivals on the web must consider the importance of domain names in SEO. The business and domain names are essential because the anchor tag with its text provides a link from every corner of the net to your site. While linking to a website, webmasters tend to use either the business name (e.g. XYZ Company) or the domain name (www.xyzcompany.com). Having a business name that contains keywords which fit your product or service description is a very effective SEO practice.

The direct SEO effect of a keyword rich domain name is evident across the web, with SEO marketers lapping up numerous combinations of their keyword "SEO". The hyphenated URL is a very effective domain name trick, since Google treats hyphens as spaces. This means that a domain name also holds essential SEO keywords that can help propel a website up the search rankings. Also purchasing a more descriptive domain name is cost effective because longer names are generally priced lower.

Of course, with millions of sites, there are bound to be naming collisions, and working around this factor is probably the hardest. After all, no site wants to appear to be a clone of another. Compromises will have to be made. Branding your business and optimizing your website demands certain trade-offs between a stylish name and a utilitarian one. Thus, a good California SEO company, such as JMD Computer, can help in both these intricate processes; first, sifting through the many permutations available and then, choosing one that has both brand value and search engine optimality.

JMD Computer is an SEO company based in California. It specializes in Search Engine Optimization, PPC Campaign Management and other Internet Advertising services.

By: Mike Smith

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

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How To Transfer A Domain Name

Transferring a domain name from one registrar to another can appear a confusing and complex issue. In reality it's really quite simple after you've gathered a few important pieces of information.

The first step is to find the new "home" for your domain name. There are really only two options here: a domain registrar or a web hosting company which is also a domain registrar. Some registrar's do not offer web hosting services - in these cases when someone tries to reach your site the internet directory system (called DNS) will be contacting them to find out where your website is really located. This is a perfectly viable solution but may not be the lowest cost as there are many web hosts that now also offer domain registrar services as well. This second option will allow you to manage the domain name as well as host your website in one place and often comes at a lower price than separating out the two services. You must decide what is best for you thought for simplicity it is probably easier to just have everything managed at one location.

The second step is to visit your old registrar and obtain your authorization code. This code will be required to give your new registrar the ability to request the domain name transfer. On most registrars this code can be obtained directly by navigating to the proper page. You may need to use your registrars search function and look up "authorization code" or "transfer domain name" to find out where the authorization code is stored. In the worst cases you may even need to contact the registrar to request the code. Once you have this code you are almost ready to initiate the transfer.

The third step in domain transfer is to make sure the domain name is "open" to transfer. Years ago it was really easy to initiate this activity and because of the simple rules domain hijacking was far more common. To help reduce this problem registrars moved to a system which would allow users to set domain names to a "locked" state which would prevent anyone from starting a transfer. If you have a decent registrar this will be the case and you may need to change the "state" of your domain name to allow the transfer to begin. Again this is usually managed right on the same page that you find your domain name but you may need to use their search function and or call the registrar to get help.

Once you have found your new home, found your authorization code, and made sure the domain is "open" for transfer you are ready to initiate the move. The fourth step is to initiate and accept the domain transfer. On your new registrar's site find their domain management or transfer tool. You'll need to enter the name of the domain and then you'll also be asked for the authorization code. Once you've submitted the request you will need to check the email address tied to the domain name - this will most likely be the one you used when you signed up for the domain. If for some reason you no longer have access to that account you are going to have to jump through some hoops to get this step handled.

If you don't have access to that email the fastest way to get this resolved is to call the old registrar and let them know what has happened. If your site isn't a fortune 500 company you'll most likely have an easier time but don't be surprised if resolving this issue takes a bit of time. If you have access to the email things will be simple - you'll most likely just need to click a link in it to "agree" to allow the transfer to begin or possibly you'll receive a code that you'll need to enter somewhere to allow it to begin.

Once you are all done the last thing you'll need to do is make sure everything works after the transfer. The actual transfer will take anywhere from a few hours to many days. If things are done right you won't suffer any downtime for your website but in the worst cases you'll see up to 48 hours of connection issues for some users as their DNS servers are updated with the new information. In our experience there have been very few issues.

In review here are the steps:

1. Find a new registrar or a webhost which offers registrar services
2. Get the authorization code for your domain
3. Make the request
4. Accept the request which was sent to your email
5. Make sure everything works after the transfer

After the domain name is transferred you should be good to go!

By: Ed Grier

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

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