Security Camera Quick Guide By Claudemir Martins This guide is for beginners or experienced CCTV professionals who need a quick reference on analog technology. Here you will find valuable information explained in a simple and objective way. For more information visit: https://learncctv.com
About the author My name is Claudemir Martins, I started my career in Brazil working in the electrical industry, and with computer networks where I became Cisco CCNA and CCNP certified. Later I moved to the CCTV industry, where I dedicated myself to attend high-level training in several countries. My career advancement has allowed me to work in the United States and visit 17 countries to train professionals in 3 different languages.
About the copyright All information contained in this guide should be used only for learning purposes by the person who purchased it. The texts and images contained in this material should not be used on websites, magazines or blogs without the prior written authorization of the author. This guide must not be copied, sent or distributed to third parties. Noncompliance with these terms may lead to legal proceedings punishable by fines and penalties under copyright laws.
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About the Security Camera Quick Guide This guide was elaborated with great dedication for teaching you in a simple way the fundamental and principles of security cameras. For those who want to learn more, I created the Ultimate Security Camera Guide collection with much more details about security cameras. The Ultimate Security Camera Guide collection have been divided into different volumes that teach security camera technology and allow the reader to advance step-by-step. Future volumes of this series will be available with the same quality and affordable prices for professionals who wish to invest in their own careers.
Volume 1 Analog Systems
Cameras Remote View
Digital Systems (IP)
For more information visit: https://learncctv.com
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Dedication To my dear wife Valdirene and my daughter Amanda who believed in my dream and accompanied me in my adventure of living and working in the United States of America, where we are very happy. I am very grateful for the support I receive from both and will continue to devote myself to students who also believe in progression through knowledge. I am very proud of every professional who learns with everything I let available on my website. I am sure they are on their way to success.
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Contents Closed Circuit Television
Analog CCTV fundamentals
Infrastructure for CCTV
Bipolar coaxial cables
Types of cameras
Digital Video Recorder (DVR)
Analog camera technologies
Example of CCTV project
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Closed Circuit Television
Recording to have evidence
Analog CCTV fundamentals A simple analog CCTV system consists of cameras connected to a recording equipment known as DVR (Digital Video Recorder) that converts the signals from analog to digital format for recording and monitoring over the network. Once the signal is digital, it can be stored on a hard drive or sent over the network. See the diagram below: UTP cable coaxial cable box
Analog cameras Analog Monitor
In the first block, it is possible to see analog cameras of different types such as box, dome, PTZ, and bullet. They are connected to the DVR using coaxial cables
The analog signals are converted to digital video and recorded on the DVR. The digital video is also displayed on a computer’s monitor (monitoring station). A UTP (Unshielded Twisted Pair) cable also know as “network cable” or “cat5 cable” is used to connect the DVR and the monitoring station Traditional analog CCTV cameras have their resolution measured in TVL (TV lines) which are converted by the DVR into digital information (known as pixel).
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Infrastructure for CCTV
Cables and connectors for analog CCTV
Coaxial cables For the installation of analog CCTV cameras it is necessary to use coaxial cables that can vary according to the need of the project, basically the larger the gauge of the cable, the better the transmission over long distances. Below is a diagram of a coaxial cable: Role of each component Conductor: Transports the video signal Dielectric: Electric insulation Conductor Dielectric Outer jacket
Braid: Protects against interference Outer jacket: Plastic protection
Types of coaxial cables RG-59: Can transmit black and white images at 750 feet (228m) and color images up to 650 feet (198m) away. RG-11: Can transmit black and white images at 1968 feet (600m) and color images up to 1312 feet (400m) away.
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Bipolar coaxial cables Bipolar coaxial cables can transmit images and power at the same time. They are widely used in small CCTV systems installations.
Central conductor Dielectric Braid
Used to transport the video signal from the camera to the monitor, or digital video recorder (DVR).
Insulation material separating the conductor from the braid.
It is used to protect the cable from electromagnetic interference.
Carries power to the camera
Always ground your system correctly, so the electromagnetic interference received by the coaxial cable can be discharged to earth. Click here for more details about the Ultimate Camera Security Guide Collection
How to Power the CCTV Cameras
Power supply To connect the CCTV cameras it is necessary to use a power supply that provides the voltage and the proper current according to the project. In most modern installations with analog cameras, the power supply is centralized and distribute power to all installed cameras. Below is an example of a centralized power supply, this type of power supply can be used to connect multiple cameras according to their maximum current.
VOLTAGE ( V ) CURRENT ( A )
127/220 VAC 12 VDC --- 10A
Positive Negative Grounding Hot Neutral The connection is extremely simple because the power has labels on each of the connectors, the power supply must connected to an electrical outlet using the hot and neutral connectors, and the positive and negative connectors are connected to the cameras. There is also a connector for grounding. Click here for more details about the Ultimate Camera Security Guide Collection
Type of cameras
Micro camera Box, Dome, Bullet and PTZ
Type of cameras There are different types of cameras on the market for all kinds of projects, from the most basic, where the customer wants to monitor their residence or small office, to more advanced projects with thousands of cameras.
Fixed cameras Fixed cameras are installed in a location for specific areas monitoring, they are installed and have the lenses adjusted for a specific viewing angle
PTZ cameras and positioning systems PTZ cameras and positioning systems can be moved even after installation through a system with motors that can be controlled remotely. Speed Dome (PTZ)
Positioning system (explosion proof)
Positioning system (with infrared)
Mobile cameras are a combination of the optical part that are inside protective boxes that move by motorized mechanical systems. Click here for more details about the Ultimate Camera Security Guide Collection
For cameras and monitors
Analog cameras resolution The resolution of a camera defines how much detail we can see in the image. The higher the resolution, the better the level of detail we will have and more information will be available for analysis. In traditional analog systems we measure the resolution through the amount of available lines that are displayed on a monitor. Analog monitor TV lines (TVL)
By connecting a 600 TVL lines CCTV camera directly to a monitor via a coaxial cable, these lines will be displayed on the monitor as long as it also has at least 600 TVL lines resolution.
600 TVL Coaxial cable 600 TVL
TVL (stands for TV Lines) is the number of the lines displayed on an analog monitor The system must be compatible to display the lines properly, if you connect a CCTV camera with 600 TVL to a monitor that has for only 400TVL, the quality will not be satisfactory. Click here for more details about the Ultimate Camera Security Guide Collection
Cameras and monitors with digital resolution
Digital resolution (pixel) Digital resolution is measured in pixels, which are the small elements in a image. In the picture below, you will see a 2MP megapixel camera connected to a monitor which shows 1920 pixels horizontally and 1080 pixels vertically.
By multiplying the amount of pixels of the image we get a total of 2,073,600 pixels. 1 Mega is used to represent the 1 million, in the image there are more than 2 million pixels, so the image has 2 Megapixel.
2 Mega Pixel 2,073,600 pixels
The higher the amount of pixels in the image, the higher the resolution and the better the digital zoom to see important details.
The digital resolution on a monitor or TV is related to the amount of pixels that they are able to display, as shown in the image below: 720 x 480 = 480p 1280 x 720 = 720p 1920 x 1080 = 1080p 3840 x 2160 = 4K 720p also known as HD resolution 1080p also known as Full HD resolution
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Digital Video Recorder (DVR)
Converts analog camera signals to digital format and records everything
Digital Video Recorder (DVR) In the image below you can see the back of a DVR with 8 inputs for audio and video
Audio output Audio input
Network Power conn and USB VGA Alarm I/O
See below a description for the connectors on the back of a DVR 1. In the audio inputs you can connect preamplified microphones to record the sound of the environment and associate it with the corresponding video channel. 2. Audio output can be used to connect an amplified speaker 3. Video inputs include cameras with conventional analog signal or new technologies (HD-TVI, HD-CVI and AHD) depending on the model of the DVR. 4. HDMI output is used to connect monitors at distances up to 15 meters, for longer distances, an appropriate repeaters is required. 5. The VGA output is used to connect monitors at distances of 7 to 30 meters (depending on the resolution used from 800x600 to 1920x1200) for longer distances it is necessary to use appropriate repeaters. 6. The network connector allows the DVR to be connected to a switch or router for monitoring, backup and remote operation via a computer. 7. The alarm input allows the connection of sensors and the alarm output allows connection with signaling and control devices. 8. A connector for the power supply cable is available on the DVR. Click here for more details about the Ultimate Camera Security Guide Collection
Analog camera technologies
HD-TVI, HD-CVI, AHD and CVBS
Analog camera technologies When purchasing an analog camera it is important to keep in mind that there are different technology used to transmit the signals to a DVR, encoder or monitor. In the market it is very common to find different manufacturers offering these technologies with certain nomenclatures. Although some variations appear, in general the technologies are summarized in:
Basically all those technologies use analog signals. CVBS (Composite Video Broadcast Signal) is the oldest and traditional that does not offer high resolution images compared to newer ones AHD, HD-TVI and HD-CVI. Below is an example of cameras from different manufacturers with the technologies mentioned before.
It is possible to find cameras and recorders with hybrid technology, which accept both CVBS and other types of signals, most manufacturers, such as those mentioned above, have these types of products. Attention: In the market you can find different vendors talking about the advantages and disadvantages of these systems, be careful to listen to this information, learn and draw your own conclusions.
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Small CCTV design example C2
Simple and fast design for an office
Small CCTV design example Here we will see an example of simple CCTV design for a small office.
Recording and monitoring a small office A businessman wants to monitor the workplace with two cubicles for tech support, a desk and a waiting room. He wants to record everything that happens in the office and have remote view to the cameras from his computer at home.
The image below shows the example of the office that he wants to monitor.
For this example the installer will install 4 analog cameras and 1 recorder (DVR), he will also need to buy cables, connectors, power supply and any other necessary materials to be used in the installation. Let’s assume that the installer already has the necessary tools for installation such as hammers, screw drivers, pliers, etc. Click here for more details about the Ultimate Camera Security Guide Collection
Small CCTV design example Step 1: Discuss project with the customer In this step you should talk to the client to verify what he/she wants and what his/her expectations and budget available for the project is. Be aware that the client does not have the same knowledge as a CCTV installer, sometimes he/she asks for things that are not possible or that does not make sense, or is too expensive. Just listen to him/her and let him/her know what the options are. Do not be alarmed by certain situations, if the client asks you to design a system to record video for an entire year, explain to him/her that this is possible, however most of CCTV projects are designed to record up to 30 days. A questionnaire may vary according to the type of customer, see a template below that should work in most cases:
Basic Questions for a Customer: How many cameras do you think is necessary for your office? Which device do you want to use for remote view? (computer, tablet, mobile)
Does anyone come into the office at night ? What are the working hours ? Do you want to know only if there are people hanging around or recognize their faces? How many people need to have access to the monitoring system? Want to prevent something before it happens or watch recordings later? Want to have redundancy if somebody stoles the recorder (DVR) ? Are there any problems with lack of electricity in the office? Do you want people to know that there's a security camera in the office? Are the office lights on during the night ? For how many days do you want to record the videos ?
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Small CCTV design example Step 2: Sketch the project diagram on a paper When visiting the customer to have a conversation about the project, you must bring your agenda or a drawing board. You don’t have to be an artist, but just sketch something to help you understand the project. Here is an example of a simple, but very handy, sketch:
Note how simple it is to sketch a diagram depicting 4 dome-type cameras on the left side, connected with cables to a DVR, which in turn connects to a router (R) that connects to a laptop and also to the Internet. And from the Internet we have a tablet and cell phone. This sketch helps to have a general idea about what will be necessary for design and installation, from here you already know that you need things like: • 4 Dome camera with 3mm fixed lenses • • • •
1 DVR with hard drive for 30 days recording Coaxial cables to connect the cameras to the DVR Network cable (UTP cable) to connect the DVR to the router Monitor to connect to the DVR and see live video/configuration
• Installation material such as racks, screws, tapes, etc
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Small CCTV design example Step 3: Decide where to install the cameras See below a sketch that shows the positions of the cameras
The four black dots represent the cameras, just make a sketch to indicate where the cameras will be installed and add some notes, later you can use a software to design everything in a computer. With this draft is possible to know that the camera behind the desk (SEC) will point to the entrance, the cameras located in the cubicles (C1 and C2) will point to their respective entrances and the camera in the waiting room will monitor the environment. It is then necessary to decide where the recorder (DVR) will be installed and to have a measurements of the site to estimate the amount of cables needed, this is done with a site survey and analysis of where the cables will run. Click here for more details about the Ultimate Camera Security Guide Collection
Small CCTV design example Step 4: Generate the list of equipment and materials needed After creating the drafts, and writing down the details, you will have enough information to generate a list of material for the project Below is an example of a list for this fictitious project
HD-TVI Dome camera with 3mm fixed lens 1080p resolution with infrared and WDR.
HD-TVI Dome camera with 3mm fixed lens 1080p resolution with infrared.
4 channel HD-TVI DVR with 1TB hard drive
RG59 siamese coaxial cable with 90% braid
Coaxial cable BNC connector
P4 Connector used for the power supply
2.5m patch cord (UTP cat5e) cable
Screws for camera mounting
3 Us Rack for the DVR
5A Power supply
UPS for the DVR
The list have different cameras because one of them will point to the entrance where a backlight compensation is needed, so the camera must have WDR. Extra materials such as RG59 BNC, nylon cable clamps, silicone, etc, should be part of an installer's tool kit. Click here for more details about the Ultimate Camera Security Guide Collection
Small CCTV design example Step 5: Customer proposal With a list in hand, visit a store that sells CCTV cameras and ask for a quotation, this also can be done over the Internet. It is important to have more than one quotation at first to have an idea of what products are available in the market and what are the prices of different suppliers. For your first quotation you may notice a big difference in prices, but this is perfectly normal, because the technology and quality of each product varies according to several factors such as: brand, equipment features, warranty, manufacturer technical support, training team availability, etc. Beware of products that don’t have an installation manual or a person you can contact for technical support. Below is a list of manufacturers (analog cameras).
Example of well-know brands that manufacture CCTV cameras
Chinese manufacturers which have good quality products
Example of others manufacturers of analog CCTV cameras
There are also lot of different Chinese manufacturers out there, just keep in mind that some of them will not have any local support or warranty, so take everything in consideration before decide to use cheap equipment, quality has its price. Click here for more details about the Ultimate Camera Security Guide Collection
Small CCTV design example Step 6: Installation After the customer proposal approval, buy the equipment and begin the installation, for this quick example let’s consider the use of a 1A (ampere) power supply with 1TB hard drive. Install the cameras by attaching them to the wall with the appropriate screws.
Attach the camera mount
Install the camera
Close the camera
Insert the BNC into the coaxial cable
Use the crimp tool
Install the power supply connector
Connect to the power supply
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Small CCTV design example
Connect the cables to the camera
Open the DVR main menu
Configure the camera resolution
Connect the cables to the DVR
Adjust the date and timezone
Ajust the recording settings
In this example, the menu shows the screens of a 4 channel Hikvision DVR, but the configuration method is similar for other brands. It is essential to first set the correct date and time, and at least adjust the resolution and recording mode.
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Small CCTV design example Step 7: Train people and generate final documentation Once the installation is complete, request a meeting with your client to show him that everything is working properly according to the initial design. The sketch used in the beginning of the project is now a nice drawing just like the one in the picture below. You can use software such as Autocad, CCTV Design or even a power point to have a nice diagram for your customer. camera
Internet Recorder (DVR)
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Final consideration I hope you have taken advantage of the information contained in this guide, they are the basis for a bright future in a CCTV career. In this market there is a lot to learn and it is necessary to always update your skills, that’s the reason why there are new versions of the courses and videos on the website learncctv.com If you want to acquire more knowledge that will make a significant difference in your professional career, consider acquiring the entire CCTV collection.
Volume 1 Analog Systems
Cameras Remote View
Digital Systems (IP)
For more information visit: https://learncctv.com
Click here for more details about the Ultimate Camera Security Guide Collection
