What Does CCTV Stand For?

 

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• What Does CCTV Stand For?
• CCTV stands for closed-circuit television.
• So how does a modern CCTV system work?
• The answer depends on the type of system involved. The systems are best defined by the types of cameras used. There are two common types of cameras in use today: Analog and IP-based cameras.
• CCTV systems that use analogue cameras have been around for years. They are still the most common type of camera installed in the field, experts say. Picture a camera or series of cameras with a dedicated set of wires fed into a recording device and a series of monitors. Video is recorded and stored on site.
• IP-based cameras carry out the same function as analogue ones, but with a host of extra capabilities. IP cameras typically offer better images with higher resolution and more flexibility, allowing users to e-mail video images for consultation. In a large organization with many facilities, insurance companies often prefer, and in some cases demand, IP systems.
• While many people use the term CCTV to refer to both IP and analogue cameras, strictly speaking, the term should be limited to describing analogue cameras.
• Combined with powerful new software known as video analytics, an IP security camera can be programmed to "watch" for suspicious activity. A camera on an air intake, for example, can be programmed to display an alert and record video only when the space around the intake is disturbed.
• IP cameras work by using an IP (IP stands for internet protocol) network, often the same data network the rest of a company uses. If bandwidth is a problem, a separate network using category 5 wiring can be used. Either way, video information is recorded on a server, which means video data can be located on-site or in a remote location.
• Though storing a vast amount of data can be a concern, it's not unusual for IP CCTV systems to have software that governs how long the video is stored, and at what quality. After a time, video can be compressed to save storage space, for example.