Video surveillance

If your primary concern is security, point the cameras to the entrances and place them in the garage. If you want to monitor employee performance, consider adding a few cameras to the areas where they commonly congregate. The ideal camera location depends on factors like lighting and environmental conditions.

Take your time when positioning your security cameras to avoid blind spots. Keeping your outdoor cameras elevated will keep them out of range of vandals. If your surveillance system is wired, plan your camera location to be near a power outlet.

Remember that surveillance cameras should never be pointed toward light sources, windows, or in the shade looking into well-lit areas.

Business monitoring usually costs between $40 and $120 per month, while the cost of home security systems adds up to between $10 and $50 per month. The price depends on the amount of the equipment and how advanced the surveillance services are.

The hardware typically costs around $3,000 on average

No, Panopticon Solutions doesn’t currently offer monitoring. After you purchase a surveillance solution and we install it at the desired location, you will be monitoring your premises.

Panopticon installs surveillance hardware with an alert feature that will warn you once motion has been detected through one of the security cameras. You can use your DVR to inspect the activity recorded at the time of the alert to take appropriate measures depending on what you observe. 

With our remote view and mobile view features, you can remotely access your DVR and inspect the surveillance footage from anywhere in the world, as long as you have Internet access.

Vandal-proof cameras are not indestructible, but some can withstand a great deal of force or exposure to external hazards, depending on their IP rating. 

The Ingress Protection (IP) rating or standard is a two-numeral grading system. The first number indicates the protection of an individual or operator against live or moving parts and the protection of the security camera from contact with a solid material. The second number indicates the surveillance camera’s protection against exposure to fluids or immersion in water. 

Similar to the IP system, the NEMA rating classifies the protection of electronics against comparable hazards while also specifying the product’s resistance to corrosion and exposure to environments containing explosive agents.

A low- to mid-quality camera model can last approximately five years on average. A higher-quality security camera can last about a decade. However, it is not uncommon for some of the best surveillance cameras in the industry to last longer than ten years.

Panopticon sells a wide array of surveillance camera models, except for some of the lower-quality units. Here are some of the cameras we provide: 

• Weather- and vandal-proof security cameras;
• Analog and HD security cameras;
• Bullet and dome security cameras;
• Night vision and infrared security cameras;
• IP security cameras;
• Fish-eye 360-view cameras and
• Miniature security cameras for hidden surveillance.

In the case of a surveillance audit, the client already has a security system in place. Panopticon technician visits the location to determine the system’s effectiveness and recommend possible upgrades. In a site inspection, the client has no surveillance technology and seeks guidance to make the best choice for their needs.

Both the site inspection and surveillance audit are cost- and obligation-free.

DVR is an acronym for Digital Video Recorder, a device that records and stores images and video footage captured by a surveillance camera. DVR is more than just a recording and storage device—it’s a piece of equipment that converts the electronic signals into a digital form so they can be displayed as images and video on a monitor.

The DVR contains video management software and can have many features that allow the proprietor to monitor their premises without hiring a monitoring company. 

One such feature is motion detection, which sends the client a notification every time the security camera detects movement. Another example is remote monitoring, which lets the customer view live camera feeds of their property from anywhere in the world.

An NVR or Network Video Recorder is a device that connects directly to a network, working with IP surveillance cameras to record and store captured video footage. NVR also possesses video management software. 

Unlike DVR, NVR can’t be used with Analog CCTV or HD CCTV surveillance cameras. Instead of connecting with the cameras, it connects directly to the network. NVR has no video capture card, the hardware required to convert a signal into digital form. 

When an NVR is used, the digital signal conversion happens inside the IP camera, and the footage is sent to the network to which the NVR is connected to.

No. IP cameras can only be used in conjunction with an NVR, whereas Analog CCTV or HD CCTV cameras are used with a DVR.

We highly recommend the installation of surveillance cameras on the property’s exterior, but the decision is ultimately up to you. 

We recommend such placement because security cameras are an excellent crime deterrent when visible. Also, installing cameras outside the premises will give you more time to contact authorities in case of an attempted break-in. 

In the case of retail space, commercial property or office, we recommend that surveillance cameras be installed in the interior of the premises as well.