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JAN 2007
The NL-GLC serves many functions. It is a ground loop corrector, a video distribution amplifier and a video-equalizing amplifier, all in one, simple-to-use and flexible product. The National NL-GLC provides total isolation between the input and output of each of the eight positions and eliminates all of the problems associated with ground loops.
A ground loop results when the potential voltage on the shield of the coax cable differs between one end of the cable to the other. This may result in “tearing” or jumpiness of the image on the monitor. Ground loops cannot be predetermined and are usually only discovered after the fact. The National Electronics NL-GLC is an effective solution to ground loop problems; it is extremely flexible and may be configured from one to eight inputs. The product consists of the NL-GLC mother cabinet, which can house from one to eight NL-GLCPCB input/output cards. Each NL-GLCPCB card has one video input and two video outputs.
When ordering, specify how many inputs you require:
Features:
- Full colour compatibility
- Total isolation between input and output
- High speed optocoupler video isolation
- Two amplified, equalized outputs per input
- Configurable from one to eight inputs and two to sixteen outputs
- Installer adjustable signal level for optimum picture
- Cable compensation for RG59U up to 2000 feet
- Compensation for passive twisted pair Baluns to over 2000 feet
- Shelf or rack mountable (rack mount included)
- One year warranty
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For more information on this or any National Electronics product please visit www.nationalcctv.com
POS Integration – What you need to know
It seems the opportunity to incorporate POS (point-of-sale) devices with digital recording is coming up more and more every day. It was only a few years ago that if the subject of connecting a POS device to a DVR was brought up, we generally had only one solution to offer.
Although the ability to insert POS data into recorded video data has existed for many years, most of the business was confined to ATMs and larger retail end-users.
Most text insertion applications, from the small corner store to the large department store chain, will usually involve one of the two following solutions.
The first solution is POS overlay (text overlay) which, as the name implies, simply overlays text from a cash register onto a selected camera. This is the simplest way of getting register data recorded in conjunction with an associated camera. Unfortunately, there is no POS database stored in the DVR and therefore, searching for register exceptions like “No Sale”, or looking for when “Cigarettes” were sold, is not possible. The user needs to search the video archive and use receipt data or a journal print from the register to try to match these events to the recorded data.
The second option, and the one that most people are asking for, is POS integration (text integration). POS integration offers a whole different level of usability to the end-user. By taking the data stream coming from the register and injecting it into the record table of a DVR, the user can now search a database of POS transaction data. Individual product items, cash register events or complex data searches using and/or operands, become possible with this DVR accessible database. Almost every user looking to add POS integration will want to use this method as it provides the best bang for the buck.
Now that you have a better idea as to how POS data can be used with digital recorders, we can simply quote any POS-ready DVR, right? The short answer is no. A DVR that is capable of POS integration is not necessarily going to work with every register or in every application. There are several questions that need to be asked and answered before we can move forward.
What is the make and Model of the Register?
Often the DVR may already support this register or a different model from the same manufacturer. If this is the case, it can be as simple as using the setup from the supported model or slightly modifying the setup.
Are they using Text/POS overlay currently?
If there is POS overlay already in place, you can often utilize much of the existing cabling and connections thereby simplifying the installation. Normally the same output used for text overlay is also used for text integration.
What types of connections come from the register?
It is important to understand what connectors are present at the register in order to determine the best possible way to connect to the DVR. Ideally, we want to see either a DB9 or DB25 connector that we can tap into at the register. Keep in mind that if data comes off the register is an RS232 format, the distance from the register to the DVR cannot exceed about fifty feet. If the distance is greater than this, you may need to use RS232-to-RS485 converters.
Is there a local/receipt printer or pole display?
If there is a local printer or pole display, it will normally output serial data that we can tap into. This often allows for a quick connection and can greatly speed up the entire process.
Are you able to go on site to capture POS data?
It may be necessary for you to go on site, connect to the register using a DB9 or DB25 connection and capture transactions using a laptop and a small software application. This is often critical, not only determining whether or not the DVR will work with the register in question, but it also gives us the ability to test the results and see how the data displays live and on playback.
Is there a central server communicating to the registers over TCP/IP?
A central server using TCP/IP communication may not allow the DVR to record the transactions. Depending on the type of information the user may want to see or search on history, a central server or online server can often be a roadblock to extracting POS data. This is critical information that may affect which DVR you use.
Is this a multi-user or multi-transaction application?
Picture a restaurant with several “wait stations” that multiple serve staff use. Often this type of POS system will print off tickets for each order entered and then a final receipt when the customer pays. This has the potential to be confusing but if the user understands what the DVR is recording, it can still be an effective investigative tool.
Is there someone to contact from the POS manufacturer/integrator?
Having access to a technical resource from the POS manufacturer/integrator can help speed the whole process up. It’s possible the register may need to be configured to output a data stream to a local port for text insertion. This may require the POS device to be programmed differently by the register integrator.
As you can see, there are several considerations to be made when you are asked to quote on text insertion. It may look like this type of application is overly complicated and needlessly technical, but asking the right questions in the beginning will yield a positive outcome.
You need to partner with a company that understands this technology and can help you to secure these jobs. Once that first job is completed, you will come to realize that this is a great add-on feature that some DVRs offer and can greatly benefit the user.
A specialized four-channel video recorder for mobile applications, the CPT-MDR400 is designed to withstand harsh environmental conditions like shock and vibrations.
This recorder is an ideal solution for passenger safety (school buses and public transit) and mobile surveillance. The DVR operates using 9 to 30 volts DC, which makes it compatible with common 12 VDC and 24 VDC power systems.
The CPT-MDR400 provides real-time recording at 30 images per second, per camera (120 ips total) and offers exceptional picture quality in both live and playback modes.
The user-friendly interface, compact design and robust housing make the CPT-MDR400 perfect for mobile applications.
Features:
- Real-time recording
- Vibration insulation mounting rack
- 120 images per second recording
- Removable hard disk drive
- Lock & key power switch
- Four camera inputs
- Built-in video motion detection
- Selectable delayed recording time after ignition switch is turned off
- Input, output and reset alarm connection
- Remote monitoring and playback
- Built-in Ethernet port
- Optional USB playback adaptor
- Optional wired remote control & programmer
- Three-year warranty
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For more information on this or any Capture product please visit: www.capturecctv.com
Get Educated with PTS Certification
By now, it’s no surprise to anyone that the security industry has experienced incredible growth. This growth started with digital video recorders and has evolved to cameras, access, alarm and structured wiring applications. This growth is most evident on the technical side of the business where a shift towards network integration, digital video recording and most recently networked video recording (NVR) technology is representing a large percentage of a security dealer’s day to day routine.
In light of the advancements in the security industry, Burtek Systems Inc is proud to introduce PTS Certification. Before we get into the certification let’s talk about what the PTS and PTSO are all about. Over the past twenty-five years, the name Burtek has become synonymous with providing exceptional technical support through our knowledgeable staff. In light of these technical strengths, Burtek has declared a set of standards called PTS (Progressive Technical Standards), which we will not only adhere to, but build from by offering a new and exciting opportunity to share our knowledge and become certified.
Burtek, a Progressive Technical Standards Organization (PTSO), is now prepared to offer the PTS Certification program to those who wish to keep up with all the technical advancements of the low-voltage electronics industry. This program has been designed to pass our technical expertise on to you. Currently, Burtek will be offering three different PTS courses with more to come—including an audio curriculum.
The first course offered will be Networking Basics and DVR Selection. This course covers networking fundamentals and considerations for DVR selection. It is designed to cater to the security professional and help with situations they may encounter on any job site. Learn about routing, port forwarding, network topologies, troubleshooting, terminologies used, types, hardware devices and much more. Also learn what considerations need to be made when selecting and installing a DVR.
This is a full-day course taught by a PTSO Instructor. Once you have completed this course, you must pass the Networking and DVR Selection exam. The exam for this and any PTS course is an online exam which can be taken whenever the student feels they have learned the material and are ready.
Courses are being offered in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto and Montreal (English course materials only). To learn more about the PTS and PTSO please visit: www.ptso.burtek.com.
How to Sell Photo ID
So, you’ve installed proximity card access at all entrances and installed CCTV cameras at strategic points, but your customer still wants more security. You can add more access doors or cameras in high security areas but what else can you do?
Consider adding Photo ID to your product offering. It’s an add-on sale to your new or present customers that can greatly increase their security. In large companies where there may be new faces every week or numerous contractors, staff can’t be expected to question every new face. But with Photo ID, it’s easy to tell who belongs if they have an employee Photo ID card, or a temporary, contractor or visitor badge.
The New Yorker ran a piece entitled “My Fake Job”. In the article, Rodney Rothman reported on his days posing as an employee for an unnamed Manhattan dot-com company. After following an employee through the main entrance, he laid claim to a desk, got a phone extension under a phony name, and then spent three weeks pretending to make business calls. He enjoyed free snacks, company-paid massages and a free T-shirt.
The bottom line is, the more layers of security you can add, the greater the security. Access systems control the perimeters or entrances and Photo ID adds an extra measure of security throughout the building or premises. Combine them and you have a more secure environment.
With Photo ID, the entire company’s workforce becomes a watchdog. Employees can instantly recognize who belongs and who doesn’t. Visitor and contractor cards can also be issued to identify temporary visitors — color-coding them to differentiate from employees who may have access to more secure areas adds another level of awareness. You can also color-code by supplying different colored lanyards, card holders or badge reels.
If the customer wants just one card for Photo ID and access, then magnetic striping, bar coding and signatures can be added. Also, other card security features such as gradient colors, image ghosting or ultraviolet printing can be added.
With security being a high-profile concern everywhere today, clients are looking at new ways to improve their security. The more solutions you can offer, the more likely they are to come back to you — you become a one-stop solution for their security needs!
PVC card printer prices range from $2,100 to $15,000 retail, providing a good margin for an add-on sale. Installation is extremely straightforward — connect the PVC card printer to a computer, install the Windows-based driver that comes with the printer, and connect a TWAIN compliant digital camera. Most access control systems come with some form of picture-taking software, or card-design packages can be purchased separately.
So now all you have to do is offer it to your clients. Remember the key points in selling Photo ID:
- Provides additional security throughout the building
- Allows every employee to act as a watchdog for possible intruders
- Can be easily combined with access control to provide a one-card solution for your customer
- Recurring revenues from accessory and consumable sales is a great way to maximize your bottom line
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Written By: Newman Mallon, Identicam
Reaping Benefits Through PTSO
By now, it’s no surprise to anyone that the security industry has experienced incredible growth. This growth started with digital video recorders and has evolved to cameras, access, alarm and structured wiring applications. This growth is most evident on the technical side of the business where a shift towards network integration, digital video recording and most recently-networked video recording (NVR) technology is representing a large percentage of a security dealer’s day-to-day routine.
Fortunately, Burtek has always been able to stay on top of these advancements in the security industry by relying on our knowledgeable staff’s technical expertise. Unfortunately, a knowledgeable Burtek employee may not be there to assist at all times.
Over the past twenty-five years the name Burtek has become synonymous with providing exceptional technical support through our knowledgeable staff. In light of these technical strengths, Burtek has declared a set of standards called PTS (Progressive Technical Standards) which we will not only adhere to but build from by offering two new and exciting opportunities to share our knowledge and become PTS certified as well as a preferred dealer program designed to offer enhanced supports and benefits for our customers who share similar values and meet certain outlined standards; PTSO Partner.
Burtek, a Progressive Technical Standards Organization (PTSO), is now prepared to offer the PTS Certification program to those who wish to keep up with all the technical advancements of the low-voltage electronics industry. This program has been designed to pass our technical expertise on to you. Beginning in the New Year, Burtek will be offering three different PTS courses across North America.
Let’s take a look at a common CCTV application situation a security dealer may encounter to determine if PTS Certification is something you may need:
Your customer, “Bill”, has three offices in different parts of town. Each site has two PC based DVRs. Bill wants to be able to access each recorder over the Internet from either location and from his home. In order to save money, each device at the three offices shares an Internet connection through a router which is acting as a DHCP server. The WAN address at each site is a dynamic IP address. In order to make each recorder visible over the Internet, you will have to forward several TCP ports in the routers setup to the internal IP address of each DVR.
In addition to this task, your customer inquires about what impact this equipment will have on his network bandwidth and what, if any, threats opening any TCP ports will have on network security and what can be done to protect the DVRs and other devices behind the router. Days later Bill calls you and mentions that he has heard about something called Dynamic DNS and would like to know what your opinion is on this and if this can be used with his DVRs.
Does this scenario sound complicated? Would you require assistance in order to complete this job? Is any of the networking terminology foreign to you? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions then Burtek may have just what you need. . .PTS certification!
The first course offered will be Networking Basics and DVR Selection. This course covers networking fundamentals and considerations for DVR selection. This course is designed to cater to the security professional and help with situations they may encounter on any job site. Learn about routing, port forwarding, network topologies, troubleshooting, terminologies used, types, hardware devices and much more. Also learn what considerations need to be made when selecting and installing a DVR.
This is a full-day course taught by a PTSO Instructor. Once you have completed this course you must pass the Networking and DVR Selection exam. The exams for this, and any PTS course, is an online exam which can be taken whenever the student feels they have learned the material and are ready.
To learn more about PTS Certification and about becoming a PTSO partner, please visit: ptso.burtek.com
By Andre Svorinic, Digital Product Specialist, Burtek
The benefits of 360 degrees total surveillance
A 360 degrees total surveillance camera, like the Capture® OmniScape™, continuously views a half-spheroid field-of-view, an ability which can yield the security user substantial advantages. Total area coverage means that any person or object within range cannot evade the CCTV camera. This kind of surveillance has always been possible by using a standard CCTV camera with a fisheye lens, a type of lens similar to that found in a hotel room door. However, this simplistic approach to 360 degrees total surveillance has major disadvantages, as the camera image is, to the operator’s eye, distorted and difficult to interpret. Couple this with the fact that virtually any object in the field of view, such as a person, a face etc, will be almost indistinguishable, due to the low resolution of even the best conventional CCTV camera.
Capture Omniscape technology has come to the rescue to make 360 degrees monitoring a practical and usable method of surveillance. A high resolution 3.0-megapixel sensor, addresses the image resolution issue, whilst IMTERA graphics processing technology means that the operator sees what looks like a conventional camera image on his screen rather than a distorted ‘fisheye’. Furthermore the operator can navigate this field of view as if he is driving a conventional PTZ dome rather than a ‘fisheye’ camera.
Having resolved the technology and usability issues, the CCTV user now has a camera that is naturally suited to a number of security applications. The primary application for this camera is where total area surveillance is required. Multiple conventional cameras can survey an area but these are difficult for operators to manage, and make replaying events from recordings difficult as people cross from one cameras field to another. The area could also be covered with a PTZ device, such as a speed dome.
For applications requiring distance surveillance the high power zoom of some PTZ domes makes this an excellent choice. However, UK police data shows that, in 80 percent of cases, the recording of a PTZ device does not show, or only partially shows, the area of interest during an incident. As 80 percent of CCTV applications are unmanned, this creates serious problems when trying to produce evidential images of an incident. Combining the Capture Omniscape with a high-resolution recording product gives the CCTV user a camera that has the “look and feel” of a conventional PTZ speed dome, but always maintains a total area image for the recording product. The addition of high end features such as privacy zones, motion tracking and scene analysis support (such as assisted object removal/placement detection) gives the user a very powerful security tool indeed.
One of the most powerful advantages of this camera technology is the ability to combine with a high-resolution recording product. This enables the user to utilize all of the camera features such as PTZ, motion detection and tracking retrospectively on the recordings as well as on the live view. Since the entire field of view has been recorded, it is now possible to review anywhere in the area of coverage, and extract the required evidential images.
This camera can be used in many scenarios with some typical ones listed below:
Public areas such as bars, receptions and emergency rooms where incidents occur which involve many people and complex interactions across the whole area. Cash rooms or other high value areas where interactions need to be monitored and blind spots in the field of view are unacceptable.
Retail environments from convenience stores through to large retail shops. The ability to always see high value small object areas (such as jewelry through to razor blades) and see interactions within the store of teams of criminals gives substantial benefits. This technology also helps with the spill and trip problems especially when teams of people are involved by tracking the various interactions.
Warehousing, monitoring the high value, high activity areas such as goods in/out, where again, the ability to see the whole area is critical. Out of hours alarm systems, the camera’s ability to set up multiple motion detection regions and have scheduled motion detection, means the camera can have motion detection regions over doors and windows which then track and alarm against motion in these regions.
It would not be an exaggeration to suggest that Capture OmniScape with IMTERA Technology represents a major paradigm shift in the security industry. The power and flexibility of this new technology needs to be seen to be believed.
Written by: David Tanner
Totally Wired
One of the most frequently asked questions by installers that are new to audio or new to residential audio is “How do I pre-wire a house for the future audio needs and what kind of wire do I use?” A mistake in this stage can be a very costly one. It can lead to limited options for your customer as well the added cost of fishing wire once the walls are up.
Let’s start from the basic wire types and then move on to where to run them. While we move along, I will add a few tips that can save you time and money in this important pre-wire stage:
- RG-6 – this can be used for Component video (3 runs) or composite video (1 run). Good for 100-150 feet.
- Speaker wire (16AWG – 12AWG stranded) one pair per speaker. The longer the run the lower the gauge you should use. It’s a matter of the lower the gauge, the less resistance to signal flow.
- Cat-5 – this wire has become a very popular wire in the pre-wire stage. The reason is because of the flexibility it offers. It can be used for audio keypad control or IR control. Additionally, it can be used for sending various signals with the use of baluns. The following can be sent over baluns (component / composite / unbalanced line level / Digital audio / VGA / HDMI & DVI and many more).
- Line or Mic wire - 22-18AWG stranded 2 conductor shielded. This is used to feed signal to the powered subwoofer or any line-lever signal under about 20-25 feet.
- HDMI cable – This pre-made cable used send digital Audio and Video signals. HDMI will be the standard A/V cable in the future (max run is 16m).
- DVI cable – This pre-made cable used to send digital Video signal only.
- VGA cable – This will allow you to feed your computer video to your screens – should not run more then 40-50 feet max.
- S-Video cable – This is a video signal commonly found on laptops and camcorders. Maximum runs should be below 15-20 feet.
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Next, let’s take a look at how to pre-wire the home. You must be aware that this is a guide and there can always be variances depending on the customers needs, design and also how various products interconnect. However, this will cover the majority of the average jobs you will face.
Now as a rule of thumb I suggest keeping the “Whole House Audio” separate from the “Home Theater Room”. The reason for this is it simplifies operation and it offers flexibility in operation of the two systems separately. There are exceptions, when your customer chooses a lower cost option, and wants their Surround Sound amp to run the rest of the house audio (impendence matching volume controls etc).
Before we proceed onto which wire to run, I would like to bring up a helpful hint when pre-wiring and A/V system. “When in doubt run an extra Cat-5”. This way you are prepared for future changes by the customer or the technology. Almost all audio/video signals you may need to patch together can be done with Cat-5 and baluns.
The starting point, just before running the wire, is choosing starting and ending locations. The starting location may be one single area (i.e. home theatre room) or two separate locations (home theater room & multi-zone audio room). From the Multi-Zone you will want to “home run” the following wire:
- 2-conductor speaker wire per speaker.
- Cat-5 x1 (keypad or IR).
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Some higher end systems may require an additional Cat-5 and 18/2. This is for data and power on some interactive LCD touch screen interfaces. Also if your system offers a local source input you would need a cat-5 from the local source location back to the keypad. There are some key points to remember when running this wire:
- AC with its 60 Hz hum sounds bad and can be a big problem. Be sure to keep two feet away from any AC runs & if you have to cross AC, do it at a 90-degree angle. It is also advisable to keep your speaker runs separate from any light switch or light dimmers.
- Once you select a keypad or volume control location, loop all your runs through this location. This will allow your customer the ability of choosing a basic volume control system or a higher end multi-source, multi-zone system.
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Now that we have the basics of “whole house” audio down, we can look at standard home theatre pre-wire.
The first decision that needs to be made is what format of surround sound your customer wants (5.1 / 6.1 / 7.1). You will need to run one 2 conductor stranded speaker wire for each speaker location (usually 14AWG – 12AWG). This is the stage where your customer must decide whether they want in-wall/in-ceiling, surface or a combination of both. From this information you will know where to pull your runs to and from the surround amplifier. You will also want the use the “line-level” wire (listed above) to make your signal run to feed your powered subwoofer from the A/V component location (make sure you have an AC outlet in the subwoofer area).
The final part of the pre-wire is the video outputs from your amplifier to your video source (plasma/LCD/Projector). What you run here is dependent on what sources your customer has as well as his video screen type. Below is list that should cover all the basics. Note that all video sources connect into the receiver and the list below covers the video outputs of the receiver to the video source.
- Component video (3xRG6).
- Composite video (1xRG6).
- HDMI a/v (1 x pre-made cable) If not practical or length is over 16M use 2 x Cat5.
- S-video (1 x pre-made cable) If not practical or length is over 20 feet use 1 x Cat5.
- Also run 2 additional Cat5E cables. This will allow system expandability if the customer want to feed VGA or another video feed.
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Now you are off to the races. You can feel comfortable that when the time comes to put a system together for your customer, you have the “Whole House Audio” and “Home Theater” options cover. As we all know, a customers needs may change so if they want a basic system or they want to upgrade to Multi-Source/Zone systems you can provide the solution.
Don’t forget that if you have any questions, your nearest Burtek Sound Specialist will give you the answers and support that will allow you to handle any audio related project.
What Is Real Time Recording?
What is Real Time Recording and how many Images per Second do we need?
With the introduction of digital recorders, there has been a lot of discussion and claims as to how many ips (images per second) a DVR can provide, either over all the cameras or per camera. The early digital recorders could record at just 30 ips across all the cameras. If only one camera was being recorded the DVR would record 30 ips of that camera. If two cameras were being recorded, then the DVR would share its capabilities and record 15 ips of both cameras. If 16 cameras were being recorded, then the best the DVR could do was record 1.875 ips (30 divided by 16) per camera. As the technology improved DVRs capable of recording 120 ips, 240 ips and now 480 ips have become available. All of these improvements were necessary so as to provide real time recording of each camera in a 16 camera system.
But what is real time?
We are told that real time is 30 images per second. This is because the North American TV standard, NTSC, broadcasts at 30 images per second. But Europe and other parts of the world work on the PAL standard at 25 images per second.
If 30 images per second is real time does that mean the rest of the world is not broadcasting in real time?
No, in Europe 25 images per second is considered real time. Therefore, real time is a matter of interpretation.
So what is real time?
Well first we must look at the term “real time”. The first video recorders were reel-to-reel machines with huge reels of tape that could hold, at most, an hour of recording. The amount of time it took to use a full reel of tape on a reel-to-reel recorder became known as reel time. Over the years the word “reel” has been changed to “real” and with this a misconception of reel/real time. So there is actually no such thing as “real time”.
If there is no “real time” the question should be “How many images per second do we need?” The answer to this is: it depends on the situation. If you are mounting a camera in a hallway and the purpose of the camera is to produce an identifiable image of whoever walks down the hallway, then we can work it out as follows:
The average time taken for a person to walk down the hallway is 10 seconds, while the fastest time that a person can run down the hallway is two seconds.
The application requires that we record at least one identifiable image of any person entering or leaving the hallway.
If we captured five images per second, we will be sure of at least a couple of images of a person running and thus have fulfilled our requirement. If the requirement is to capture images of a person operating machinery and we need to observe this activity at least twice a second, then two images per second is all that is required, 30 images per second is overkill. In both these examples we can see there are different interpretations of what is real time.
We can now see the notion of 30 images per second being real time and ideal and necessary for true recording is not always true. There may be instances when we do require 30 images per second, such as in cash counting, moving equipment, high risk areas, or fast-paced situations. It is not usually necessary for all cameras be captured at 30 images per second at all times. If this is truly a requirement, Burtek offers a variety of models that suit this application.
Most digital video recorders today offer the flexibility of multiple settings per camera allowing independent programming of images per second per camera. A camera may record at five images per second but on an alarm or intrusion start recording at 30 images per second. By limiting the number of images per second we record, we can gain maximum efficiencies of the hard drive and extend the “reel-time” of the hard drives. We can also determine the best suited recorder specification for our application and select the correct model without unnecessary spending on a model which exceeds our needs.
By Jonathan Harris, Central Region Manager, AV Logics
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