What is a BNC connector used for?

BNC connectors are the core connector types used to connect coaxial cables between the security cameras and the security DVR.  Most commonly RG59 coaxial cable is use to transmit the video signals from the security cameras back to the DVR.  Both security cameras and security DVR’s have integrated female BNC connectors on them that are used to attach the coaxial cable to them.  Once a BNC connector is terminated on both ends of the RG59 coaxial cable, you are then able to plug the cable directly into the cameras and DVR.  The BNC connector uses a locking mechanism that creates a strong long-lasting connection.   BNC connectors are very commonly used in most radio, television, video, and CCTV applications.

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Types of BNC connectors:

There are BNC connectors available for almost every coaxial cable type.   Some of the most popular coaxial cables used today are RG6, RG11, and RG59 coaxial cable in plenum and non-plenum forms.  In the CCTV world, the BNC connectors for plenum and non-plenum RG59 coaxial cables are by far the most common.   Non-plenum cables are standard cables with a PVC jacket, and are used for installations in homes and riser buildings.  Plenum rated cables have a unique jacket that includes a special compound for protecting the cable from burning fast and putting harmful toxins in the air.  Using plenum rated cables and BNC connectors is mandatory in installations where cables are installed in an open-air plenum ventilation system.  Plenum environments are often found in high-rise commercial business installations.  It is always recommended to follow your local building codes and use the right connectors and cables that support them.

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The key is to always use the BNC connector that is designed for the coaxial cable type you are using in your installation.  BNC connectors are designed to support the terminations on different coaxial cable types and jacket types.  If you do not have the right BNC connector for your cable type, then the connection will only fail.  Which means your security cameras will no longer transmit video, and your system will no longer be securing your home or business.

Compression or Crimp BNC connectors:

The two most common styles of BNC connectors are compression and crimp types.   Compression and crimp explains the actual mechanism for terminating the BNC onto the cable.   Crimp style BNC connectors are terminated by crushing the connectors sleeve onto the cable.  By deforming the metal of the connector you are forcing it to crush around the cable.  Crimp BNC connectors are really “old school” types, and really do not protect the terminations or create a long lasting termination.   Today, most installers have moved to using more modern compression style BNC connectors.  Compression BNC connectors use an actual 360 degree clamp to attach to the coaxial cable.  By clamping to the cable the termination is protected from possible dust and moisture from penetrating the connection.  Plus compression BNC connectors provide up to 60 pounds of pull force, which will ensure a longer lasting connection.   Although compression BNC connectors come with an extra cost, they will ensure your connections are stronger, last longer, and perform much better.

Keys to buying BNC connectors:

The best way to ensure your installation is successful is to buy the BNC connector that supports your cable type.  Once you have chosen your cable type, then it is easy to choose the BNC connectors you need.  If you are using compression BNC connectors than you need to make sure you have a coaxial cable stripper to prepare your cable correctly, and a compression tool to terminate the connectors.  If you are using crimp BNC connector then you will still need a cable stripper, but you will have to make sure you get a crimping tool that works with your cable type.  The coaxial cable type you buy should clearly document the type and gauge characteristics of the cable.  This documentation should be clearly written on the box of the cable, and the cables jacket.  So just make sure you match the connector type with the cable type.

Most BNC connector manufacturers also make the cable strippers and tools you need to terminate their connectors.  So buying BNC connectors, strippers, and termination tools within the same brand has its benefits.  This often ensures that they all work together.  Not all termination tools work with all brands of connectors.  So it is important to use the parts that will collaborate together to provide fast, easy, long-lasting terminations.

Although BNC connectors are a small part of a CCTV installation, they play an important role in ensuring your system performs.  Choosing the right connectors and buying the right tools to install them will ensure your installation is done properly.  The last thing you want is your BNC connectors hindering your home and business from being secured properly.  Do your research and buy right the first time!

1. Anything a person does in the privacy of their own home is private. Right?  Well, not quite.  If your household activities are observable from a public area, then according to the law, you have no expectation of privacy.  What this means is that anyone with an outdoor security camera, can record your household activities if you don’t draw your shades or close the door.
2. Why use nine outdoor cameras when two will do the job?  With today’s megapixel security cameras, you can use motion detection and zoom capabilities to cover the same area with twos cameras that would take nine standard cameras.  Be prepared to pay the price though.  These megapixel cameras are still on the expensive side.
3. Like your camera security surveillance systems in living high definition?  2011 is the year that some major camera suppliers begin shipping HDcctv cameras.  The level of detail is extraordinary and demand is expected to be high.  If you have a security system with cameras and you want to be a high tech trend-setter in your neighborhood, then an HDcctv camera is the way to go.
4. Not all camera DVR systems are the same quality.  Take the analogy of cars.  Any car can take you from home to work, but that is where the similarities end.  There is a world of difference between a $900 used Hyundai and a brand spanking new $75,000 Corvette.  The same is true with a DVR camera security system.  Reliability is the key. The best DVR security system will do the job of recording your outdoor security footage for a long time.  The second most important quality of a DVR home security is its storage capacity, especially if you decide to go with an HDcctv camera.
5. Yes, you can see in color at night. 2011 is the year that low light cameras make their come-back.  After years in the backseat to night vision IR cameras, low light cameras are coming back, and this time these low lux security cameras are equipped with in color recording capabilities.  Technology improvements have allowed near complete dark be no problem for these new cameras to see in living color.  One of the companies leading the charge is Axis Communications.
6. Software that does it all.  The applications available for outdoor security cameras, and surveillance cameras in general have increased exponentially.  Most of these applications have been developed for the commercial side of the business, but some have trickled down to the homeowner side.  Here are just three samples of what software can do for you. You can now integrate seamlessly into your computer network with your camera feeds.  Facial recognition, good to ID in-laws so you can run for the hills.  License plate recognition, for even more advanced warning that the in-laws are on there way.

If you are like many people, when you think of hidden spy camera videos, you think of kids’ show bloopers, or “caught in the act,” bits on shock TV shows.  You might even think of private investigators or James Bond like professional international spies.  However, hidden spy camera videos have evolved, and you have the ability to make your own spy camera videos, and use these videos to live a better life.

When you think of spy cameras, you probably think they are very expensive, but actually, they are not expensive at all.  You can even find models under $100 these days.  If you think it would be exciting to record the people around you without them knowing, then these cameras are perfect for you.  In addition to being affordable, you can find many different options out there.

From Film to VHS to DVD

Many people are surprised to know that these cameras have been around as early as the early1900s.  Before the First World War, spies had hidden cameras fixed to their jacket buttons, hats and jackets.  They would use these cameras to take pictures of secret documents.

Spy Cameras Today

Nowadays, we can consider our cell phones to be spy cameras, though most people are onto that trick by now, and will realize that you are recording before you get enough footage recorded.

Hidden cameras come in all sorts of forms these days; you can find them as part of the bridge of glasses and sunglasses, in teddy bears and behind pinholes in the wall.  Since cameras are getting smaller and smaller, you can pretty much take a camera anywhere you want.  The Internet has a huge selection of these devices, where your local electronics store could be lacking.  The Internet is really your only option if you are searching for hidden cameras that look like, or can fit inside of everyday objects.

The smaller and more unique the camera though, the more it costs.  You should expect to pay about $500 – $5,000 for a good hidden spy camera.  However, once you have a camera like this, you can hide it anywhere.

Some popular places where people hide these cameras are in their kids’ rooms, or in their living room when a babysitter is keeping the kids.  Some popular hiding places include in a soup can in the kitchen, in picture frames, and in potted plants.  Just go ahead and make your own hidden spy camera videos if you need to collect information without others knowing.

Camera Surveillance System usage is on the rise.  Families, small businesses municipalities and government agencies are installing them like never before.  The main purpose for installing these systems in most cases is to prevent crime.  Common sense tells you that they do.  But what is really happening out there.  Are they worth the millions of dollars being spent on them?  Do they, in fact prevent crime?  They answer is not as straight forward as you might assume.  A lot of the answer depends on who you are.  When an outdoor security camera system is involved, other, indirect factors come into play.  Let’s see what some of the experts have to say.

Municipalities

Municipalities in the United States are spending millions on state of the art, digital surveillance camera systems.  Despite the cost of these systems, they are easily being approved because of public perceptions of the benefits that they provide. But what is the real payback?   Unfortunately, the widespread use of CCTV surveillance cameras by municipalities in the US is relatively new and analysis it just not available.  However, there are studies available from the United Kingdom, whose county has the most public surveillance cameras installed.  The UK’s Home Office did a meta-analysis of qualifying studies and the results indicate that CCTV camera surveillance over-all had no statistical impact on crime at all.  This study is summarized in the ACLU’s white paper, “Expert Findings on Surveillance Cameras: What Criminologists and Others Studying Cameras Have Found.”  Within this meta-study, there were individual cases that did show some crime rate improvements after cameras were installed.  However, there were always other factors involved that may have influenced the results; that biggest one being the installation of lights or signs with the cameras.

Property Owners

What about individual property owners like parking garage owners?  What can they expect when they spend the money and install outdoor video surveillance?  The results may be better for this group of people.  The few studies conducted in the United States show similar results to the ones in the UK.  One result that all of the studies in both the US and UK had in common was that displacement was significant.  Although overall crime rates were not significantly affected by the installation of outdoor CCTV Surveillance Cameras, certain crimes did move to areas not covered by the cameras.  Jennifer King did a study for San Francisco on the effectiveness of it’s Community Safety Camera Program in 2008.  In an article discussing the study, published in Berkley Law, she is quoted as saying that property crime dropped 24% in San Francisco areas where the cameras were installed.  So, it can be concluded that although aggregate crime rate numbers are not changing much in cities that install CCTV camera security systems, studies suggest that the immediate area covered by these video camera security systems are experiencing lower crime rates for certain crimes.

Law Enforcement

Most criminologists would say that that the real power of outdoor video surveillance is as a tool for law enforcement agencies to prosecute criminals.   So, far it has not been a huge tool for prosecutors.  That may be changing.  As the technology becomes more mature, police and all law enforcement agencies will become more familiar with access, preservation and legal usage of the recordings made by the cameras.  Prosecution rates should rise. There is still an uphill battle for law enforcement.  Due to legal and privacy issues, in 2008, out of the over one million surveillance cameras installed in the UK, the police were only able to access just over 10,000 cameras to retrieve video images.  That number is improving constantly and as law enforcement sorts out their access and procedural issues, the number of convictions of crimes using surveillance camera footage as primary evidence will go up as well.

To say that security camera and monitor systems are a huge success is an overstatement.  So, for municipalities considering installation, proceed with caution.  Any success seen in one area may just displace the crime to another area.  Success may be caused by secondary factors, like improved lighting or signage pointing out the camera surveillance system.  For property owners, look at your outside CCTV camera security system in the same way that you might look at an insurance policy.  It’s a good thing to have.  Use the studies as a tool to budget and do a cost/benefit for surveillance camera systems.  Although not shown to be effective as a violent crime prevention tools, surveillance camera images use in the courts are becoming more widespread all of the time and this might bring down aggregate crime rates in the long-run.

Video door entry systems help improve the overall security of your home, business or property in an easy and fool proof manner.  Door entry systems can keep track of the daily and nightly comings and goings of employees, deliveries, friends, family members and visitors. Ever since civilization began, doors have served a major role as part of access control systems.   Certainly, the Ancient Greeks used entry door locks as a form of access control  extensively.  In their book, “The architecture of ancient Greece: an account of its historic development”, authors  William Bell Dinsmoor and William James Anderson note that door locks were used to control entry as early as the Greek Aegean Era (circa 1700-1400 BC).  From this simple skeleton key beginning, door access security has evolved to modern keyless entry systems, utilizing video, swipe cards and more.  With video door entry systems, you can be anywhere in the world and see and control who gets to enter your property.  Knowing who is approaching your home or business can help you determine if there is a threat and give you added time to prepare if there is a threat. Having a video door entry monitor to track and record who enters and exits can come in useful as a historical reference should something go missing, a delivery be questioned or to solve other questions that may arise.

The employees at most large businesses use some sort of keyless entry system.  But, for non-employee visitors, businesses require them to sign in for building access and to keep note of who is in the property.  Security personnel usually keep track of visitors and employees on an access control panel or a monitor serving the same function.   However, this is not a fool proof method and many guests fail to register at the check in station and by-pass the door entry system purposely. Usually, they bypass the system just to avoid the hassle, but it could be done for nefarious reasons as well.  Installing spy cameras and recording spy camera videos makes it impossible for someone to sneak in unseen and unrecorded. Knowing who is in the building and for what purpose is an important component of keeping your employees, clients or customers and yourself safe.  Why not get the best of both door entry and spy cams?  Video door entry systems provide that service with ease.  They combine elements of the spy cameras into video entry systems to create an efficient video door security system that is tough to bypass.  Here is a list of useful functions to look for in these systems:

• Integrated with keyless or card access systems
• Facial recognition system
• Security alert when people are in foyer
• Video door phone to talk to and question visitors

Video door entry systems are handy and useful when used in a large warehouse or garage setting. In industrial settings like these, it is often difficult to hear people enter so video surveillance can provide a visual aid to assist in keeping track of traffic. Having video monitors installed in high visibility areas will help workers see incoming customers, deliveries and visitors.

Video door entry systems can help deter criminals and criminal activity. Displaying a plaque or decal that advertises the door entry system in use is often enough to stop would be thieves or vandals in their tracks. Knowing their vandalism or crime will be caught on tape and used as evidence against them is a strong deterrent in criminals targeting your home or business in a robbery, burglary, or property defacement crime.

Spy camera videos make it easy to nab nefarious characters in the act and the provide evidence to prosecute them with. With many video door entry systems from which to choose, finding one to keep your home or business safe is easy. Consult with a safety expert professional to find out what system best meets your requirements and install door entry systems in any home or business you need to protect. You will rest easier knowing your investments are protected, safe and secure.

Finding a great VHS to DVD converter helps solve many problems. For one, it is a fantastic way to make sure that your favorite VHS videos last for many years to come. VHS tapes are only known to last for three years before deterioration begins.  DVD discs can be kept in good condition for at least 20 to 250 years. DVD discs are abundant and cheap compared to VHS tapes and players, making it easier to distribute and share videos to your friends and family or to the general public. Lastly, converting movies from VHS to DVD format will also improve the overall quality of the video.  So, the question is not “if“ you want to convert.  The real question is how to transfer VHS to DVD.

There are two ways to convert to DVD. The first is to use the video to dvd transfer service that is provided by some companies in the industry. Individuals must do their research to find reliable companies that will handle their tapes carefully and do the conversion process properly.   If you are looking on the web, stashSpace does a good job, at a reasonable price.  When opting for such services, owners must be prepared to send in their treasured VHS tapes, although this is still no guarantee of the quality of the conversion.  More to the point, it makes many people very nervous to let the videos of a lifetime leave the house.

The second option is to personally perform the conversion in your home. If you decide to convert to DVD yourself, you have a wide assortment of choices.  You can copy VHS to computer.  With availability of technology  for consumers becoming cheaper, purchasing a few extra computer accessories and VHS to DVD software can be a great investment in the long run.

The next choice is best for those who have no idea on how to convert VHS to DVD, but want to do it themselves.  You can get a dedicated analog to DV converter machine.  Having a personal VHS to DVD converter at home allows the individual to create as many conversions and duplicates as he wants without incurring additional charges. This comes in handy when converting home movies or even tapes taken from camera surveillance systems.  The individual is also assured that the material is treated properly as he will  personally transfer video to DVD.

When it comes to choosing the right VHS to DVD converter, there are several options available for consumers. Some VHS and DVD players come bundled with a recording option, making the same device a VHS to DVD converter.  An inexpensive example of this is type of machine is the Samsung DVD VR375.

Samsung DVD VR375 VHS to DVD Converter

It is available at Amazon or K-mart for less than $200.  To use the VHS to digital DVD option, place the VHS and the blank DVD disc in their appropriate trays and follow the device’s recording instructions indicated on the manual.

Another really cheap option to get VHS to digital is using a VHS video camera to transfer the video to a desktop or laptop computer. Depending on the type of video camera, connection options can either be in the form of composite video cables, Firewire or a USB cable. Read the camera’s manual to find out which option is available on the device. There are additional advantages to using this option. Besides using the VHS to DVD converter feature, users will also be able to edit their movies prior to burning the finished copy onto a blank disc for a more customized effect.

Fake security cameras for your home are great ways to deter crime.  A security camera and the closed circuit television are expensive for the home and small businesses.  However, fake security cameras can be just as effective at deterring crime.

One of the most important reasons to have a security camera at home is to prevent a criminal from entering the home or stealing outside belongings.  Using a dummy CCTV camera can also help deter a criminal.  Fake security cameras for your home look just like a real security camera and some include blinking lights to make them look more authentic.  A dummy CCTV camera, however, isn’t connected to a CCTV system.

Fake security cameras for your home should be installed where they are easy to see.  They should be easily spotted by anyone who comes to the home, garage, or any other area where a criminal could do damage or steal something.  A potential criminal will not get close enough to the device to inspect it, so a fake camera will also help prevent crime.

Common places to mount fake security cameras for your home are near doorways or under the eaves.  If there are cars parked outside or any recreational vehicles, it would be a good idea to mount a camera near there as well.  The cameras work best if they can easily be seen and are in plain sight.

A fake camera will give people the illusion that someone is watching.  This is a good security measure, but can also stop unwanted behavior from people that are supposed to be there.  A housekeeper, nanny, or yard service will likely work harder if they think they are being watched by a camera.  Even people that are supposed to be at the home can steal or cause harm, but a visible security camera will deter those actions.

Installing a closed circuit television camera is expensive.  Then, the tapes or recording devices need to be checked and changed as needed, sometimes even daily.  This can take a lot of time.  Fake security cameras for your home don’t need any maintenance once installed.  They can be installed nearly anywhere even where it might be difficult to install the wires for a real camera.  Fake cameras are a very cost effective way to deter crime and help keep your family safe.  Even if you have a CCTV security system, adding some extra dummy cameras can increase your security protection.

If you are in the market for a wireless camera surveillance system, then you are making a sound decision for your household.  Too many times, people don’t properly secure their home and become the victim of crime.  They could have had video evidence documenting anything untoward that might have happened on their property.  If you are like many people, you might have been avoiding getting wireless camera surveillance because you feel that it is not affordable.  However, if you let your guard down, you might be surprised to find that there are many options available to you.

Surveillance cameras have been on the market for over 100 years.  They are not new inventions.  Therefore, they are at a point where you can find some good models at very affordable prices.  Wireless CCTV security cameras are a relatively new invention, only a little over 10 years old, but a decade is still a good bit of time.

In previous years, business and homeowners used security alarm systems like your car alarm, to protect their home and valuables.  When a criminal or undesirable person tried to enter their property, the alarm would go off.  The alarm company would receive the signal, (which could have been an automatic one, or one initiated by the client), and then the company would call the business or residence back.  If there was no response or if the company detected a problem, the company would call the police.  Once the criminal heard the alarm, they would usually run, because they knew what was coming next.  Sometimes even seeing the alarm label on the window would deter the criminal.

To many consumers, this may have seemed like the ideal system, but it had flaws.  This is a great product when you use it in conjunction with surveillance alarms, but used alone, it does not provide you with enough protection.  It is only effective if someone is home at the time of a break in.  The criminal is scared off because the people are there, the alarm is going off, and both the company and the client will take action immediately.  However, if a person is not on the property when the alarm goes off, some criminals know that they have a certain amount of time that they can loot the place and still get away.  In addition to this, once you have bought the system, you still have a monthly monitoring fee of $30 – $200 depending on the plan you order.

Installation is another hassle; installers will make permanent holes in your floor and walls in order to install the system fully.

One of the best ways to protect yourself is to use hidden cameras and an outdoor security camera to record the inside and outside of your home.  There are times when you even have to keep an eye on people that you trust, like when using nanny cameras.  And there are times when just having video evidence will make all the difference when it comes to filing for insurance claims, restraining orders, or court cases.

Wireless cameras make a big difference by recording suspicious activity all around your home.  You do not need special equipment to view footage, since most wireless camera surveillance system units are compatible with your desktop or laptop.  You can even monitor your home when you are at work over the Internet.  What can make you feel more secure?

If you have reached the point of considering a VHS to DVD converter, chances are you have accumulated far too many tapes to store. In some cases, homeowners have already tried different ways of economizing film so that they have as few cassettes as possible.

High density VCRs allow for days of recorded video. If there is a motion detector installed with your system, the recording devices will not actually record unless there is a change on the video or someone moves and triggers the record function. However, if you are using an outdoor security camera, you may get a lot of footage without much action due to wind, animals, etc.  If there is ever an unfortunate event like a robbery or other crime, though, the home owner and law enforcement officials will have to know for sure what time the event happened or look at a ton of footage to find surveillance of the crime.

Say these alternate measures of conserving space have not worked for you. You will probably be forced to convert VHS to DVD – or use a DVR or PC-based system to make sure your recordings can go directly to CD. The DVR makes a digital recording that can be burned to disc. If you decide to use a personal computer, you can pull from the video capture card and burn it to disc.

If you are stuck with simply upgrading your old cassettes, you may need a VHS to DVD recorder. With the average cost of these devices hovering at around $320, the DVD recorder is not the least expensive route, though it might be the easiest. The other option is to get a combination player and let your tape play while the CD records. The one disadvantage to this is the fact that you will get to do no editing. The mechanism is designed only to preserve what you have recorded.

Deciding to transfer VHS to DVD does not have to be a complicated or difficult process. You simply should decide how much money you wish to invest in the conversion, which process is the best for your timeframe and how long you are willing to wait for the process to complete. Then you will just need to decide how to label and store your new discs.

Outside lights are a necessity for every home.  If one does not have outdoor lights, one risks not only being unable to see their well cared for lawn, but also risks the safety of their home.  Although most home camera surveillance systems can handle IR and low-light cameras, most do not use them. Therefore, outdoor lighting is a prerequisite for the most popular outdoor security camera systems if one wants night time functionality.  Additionally, having the appropriate visual aids at night is always helpful to a home owner, but finding that perfect light source can be difficult for many.  For those looking to save money on the energy bill and save the environment, there are outside lights that have “super low” electrical consumption.

LOW VOLTAGE OUTDOOR LIGHTING

Outdoor lighting rarely sees the same amount of use as its indoor counterparts. The primary function of outside lighting tends to be simple illumination for a few hours a day.   If one wants to save on the electricity bill, a smart choice might be to switch over to low voltage outdoor lighting.  These lights use less energy than standard voltage fixtures, yet still use standard light bulbs to provide illumination.  This is an excellent choice for those that do not want to spend an immense amount on bulbs every few months, but do want to do something to keep utility bills down.

LED OUTDOOR LIGHTING

LED lighting is one of the more environmentally friendly forms of lighting that still depends on the local electric grid.  These lights tend to be brighter for their wattage, and produce much less waste than the conventional filament bulb.  Choosing LED outdoor lighting is a terrific way for anyone to provide an unparalleled warmth to their back yard and  make a positive environmental impact.  While these lights do last much longer than their standard counterparts, LEDs are  notoriously expensive to replace.  Make sure to factor this in to the cost of buying such a unit.

OUTDOOR SOLAR LIGHTS

To create a real environmental impact, one should choose an option that  eliminates fossil fuel use altogether.  Solar lights, which derive their power from the sun during the day, are a one hundred percent electricity free solution to backyard lighting.  Most of these units are small and commonly used to provide path lighting, but the savings on utilities cannot be beaten.  One will never have to replace a bulb on these units, instead just  replace the entire fixture set after several years of reliable service.  While more expensive than conventional lighting kits, these sets do pay for themselves over time.

Whether using low-voltage lights, LEDs, or even solar lighting, a person  can make a substantial difference in both the monthly budget and the environment simply by finding the right outside lights for their home.  Before making your decision on the type of lighting, make sure to take stock of the size and layout  of your yard.   Different styles of lighting will make a substantial difference on what can  be illuminated, so make sure to make the right choice.  While there are many different sorts of yards, there is always a style of lighting that will be ideal for yours.