Gulf Construction Online - Baxall unveils hi-tech IP range of cameras

Safety & Security

Baxall unveils hi-tech IP range of cameras

01 August 2002

Baxall has launched a selection of advanced high-end cameras, the first products in its new Destiny IP range of CCTV equipment supporting internet protocol (IP) for video transmission.

The company, which is a leading UK manufacturer of CCTV equipment, has also upgraded its remote control cameras and its line of digital recorders.

"The new Baxall Destiny-IP cameras have been designed around IP, which enable data to be addressed, transmitted and controlled over IP networks," explains a company spokesman. "These protocols can be used over any physical network - such as ethernet, PSTN and ISDN - that is IP compatible."

He continues: "As a result, the cameras can be directly connected to IP networks to send full-motion, real-time, digital quality video, together with audio and data. This is achieved through the incorporation of an internal encoding board within the camera; this encoder may operate as a video server taking up to three local video inputs.

"The cameras offer top-quality digital CCTV surveillance, a wider choice of camera positions for maximum surveillance efficiency and the ability to view the same image simultaneously from numerous locations. The latter is achieved through multicast video using UDP, which is important for busy networks. In addition, IGMP (internet group management protocol) has been incorporated into the design to ensure the multicast video will not flood the network, but only be received at required nodes.

"Destiny IP cameras provide a constant picture quality regardless of the bit rate which can vary between 8 Kbps to 2.0 Mbps, unless the user decides to cap the bit-rate. Selectable MJPEG or H261 compression techniques give the customer a choice of video quality, frame rate and bandwidth utilisation.

"However, it's not just video that can be transmitted, duplex data and audio are provided. This enables very fast (low delay) pan, tilt and zoom control and public addressing to the zone surrounding the camera.

"The cameras can be used as part of a simple-to-assemble but sophisticated CCTV system, large or small, either in a stand-alone capacity or as an extension to an existing system. Cameras are, connected through an ethernet network on a standard 10/100 baseT interface."

"Destiny-IP products retain all the features and interfaces of a traditional CCTV system, with many added benefits," the spokesman says. "These include the ability to share a network, making it cost-effective for both the installer and end-user, simple system expansion, as the installer need only run a cable to the existing structured cabling, and fully integrated remote monitoring when a PSTN, ISDN or DSL IP router is installed."

Moving on to Baxall's upgraded CDR cameras, he says: "The enhanced CDR remote control and configuration cameras incorporate RS485 for integration with third-party pan, tilt and zoom (PTZ) controllers.

"The new CDRA cameras - as they will be known - can still be controlled and configured from the control room via Baxall coaxial telemetry. Both control options offer a reduction in installation time and minimal site disruption whenever a camera needs adjusting.

"All CDRA cameras are highly featured and, due to the remote control, easily configurable. Features such as an the advanced back light compensation and peak white inversion, for night time ANPR, complement the remote set-up as such features are scene dependent and so cannot be set at pre-build. In addition, it is now possible for the camera to change configuration using an external switch such as a PIR or photocell. Using this, a camera can be configured differently for night time and daytime lighting.

"The range will feature four low-voltage digital signal processing models to cover both mono and colour applications. They are available in 1/2" and 1/3'' high resolution and EXview variants, the latter being particularly useful for low light applications."

Highlighting the features of its new DTL recorders, he says: "The DTL range has been divided into two - with Ethernet compatibility and audio, and without - to cover a wide range of applications, from budget-conscious through to the top end of the market.

"The ethernet versions enable users to directly connect to an existing ethernet LAN or WAN. The advantage is that users can view live or recorded images, save them to view later or distribute them to others.

"The original DTL recorder - the 960E - featured a 30 GB hard drive which enabled the recording of two weeks' images on a 16-camera system at medium resolution. This has now been upgraded to 40 GB and a further two models have been introduced - with 80 GB and 160 GB recording capacities within each of the two DTL categories. Whichever version is used, one thing remains constant: the use of a hard disk drive to record images removes the need to change tapes or trawl through them to find events. Instead, images are searched for by using on-screen menus and front panel buttons and can be conducted using date, time, camera or alarm criteria.

"This simplicity has been incorporated throughout all the operating functions of the DTL recorders. They have been designed to look, feel and operate just like a VCR, but with all the advanced features you would expect from a hard disk recorder. As a result, they are exceptionally easy to use and require no training.''