CCTV Forever

CCTV gear is probably the greenest thing that ever created by man.

I must admit the camera per say is not totally environmental friendly but I would like to point out that CCTV cameras can be used almost forever.

Of cause again it is not the camera can function forever but all spoiled cameras can be used as dummy cameras. A second phase of their usefulness to the surveillance system so to speak.

Like this spoiled door turned window.

Repairing or Replacing? Part 2

This is a followup to my CCTV Repairing or Replacing? posting.

I had problems with my handphone for the past few days.

It started off with a dying battery. Once it was "fully charged", it will last for one phone call. As I was too busy to get a new battery (blessing in disguise), I was constantly connecting my cell to a charger.

After a few days, came the tipping point, the screen display started to become jumpy and quickly deteriorated into displaying junks.

I sent it to a service center at Plaza Low Yat ( which is 3 floors down from my office), the technician told me that a new original battery, ribbon wire and workmanship will cost me more than RM200.

You know what I did, I practice what I preach, I bought myself a cheapee Nokia. The cost? RM99.

I know it is hard to downgrade our material possessions ( my case from Nokia N80 to Nokia 1202) but hey, it serves my personal cell phone needs. It is slim, light, big font size (not big display), lasting battery and of cause cheap!

Meanwhile check out this latest Starwars' GPS. Wonder if you were to replace your spoiled GPS navigator with this latest 3D GPS.

Big and Obvious CCTV Camera

This is a followup to my previous Clarity is Everything posting.

Some installers said, the robber might not climbed over the gate if the CCTV camera is big and obvious enough.

I dunno if the robber will even notice a pink cow in the house compound with his overdosed adrenaline in his blood stream but for sure chances are better than noticing a black cat.

Anyhow those installers are right. Rule of thumb of CCTV deployment, an outdoor CCTV camera the bigger, the more obvious the better.

Clarity is Everything

This crime happened at 7.30am on April 10th 2010 at Jalan Ipoh, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The victim, Mary Rose Josept James was on her way back after her morning walk. She spotted 2 suspicious men on a motorcycle and suspecting something amiss, she climbed over her neighbor front gate. One of the robbers with a machete followed suit, climbed over the gate and snatched her gold chain.



Luckily Mary was unharmed in the incident.

This incident was recorded by a CCTV camera in the house compound but from the unclear recorded video footage, we could not recognise the robbers. Hence in my opinion, in any CCTV system clarity is more important than the recording frame rate.

The ultimate surveillance camera which give you many times the clarity of a conventional analog camera is Megapixel network IP camera.

Pirated PCI DVR Trade-in

The other day a lady came to our CCTV outlet to get a basic stand alone DVR for her house in Damansara.

After hours of painstakingly bargaining, we had finally agreed on the price.

While we are installing a hard disk to her DVR, we are in for a big surprise, she pulled an old PCI DVR card out from her over-sized designer bag and demanded to trade in the "expensive and still in working condition" card.

We kindly declined her proposal as we do not purchase used gear (especially PCI DVR card with pirated recording software) nor do trade-in.

To us an "expensive" pirated PCI DVR card is only good for slicing bread.

Better Safe Than Sorry

Better safe than sorry, use CCTV ...now.

Repairing or Replacing?

I know it is a hard decision.



My experience had taught me that if a CCTV gear was too old;

Repairing can only help you now.
Replacing can help you from now on.