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Saturday, April 3, 2010

S2 Security Releases 4.0 Software

S2 Security recently released the 4.0 software. The 4.0 software offers some real nice enhancements to the existing platform. The major enhancements include Layouts, Partitions, and new Network Video Recording integration.

With Layouts the user can now customize the look and feel of the software, allowing you to create a custom page for viewing the system events, cameras, and even other web pages.

Partitions allow for the creation of a subsystem within the larger system. This subsystem has independent control of its readers and doors. Ideal for multi-tenant buildings or for organizations in which each department or division needs independent control.

The exacqVision Network Video Recorders can now integrate with the S2 Security system. This integration allows for linking of video clips with card activities as well as viewing the cameras from the S2 software.

For current Netbox system users S2 will not be making any further advances in the 3.x software. The Netbox system software will not be developed beyond the 3.3 version. S2 will continue to offer patches for known issues, however, no new features will be added to this software.

Current users will need to upgrade their Netbox Controller to the Netbox Extreme, Enterprise, or Enterprise Ultra Controller in order to operate the 4.0 software. S2 offers a 50% credit for the existing Netbox software and Netbox Controller to be applied toward the purchase of the Netbox Extreme, Enterprise, or Enterprise Ultra Controller and 4.0 software.

The Netbox Extreme allows for 64 Network Nodes and up to 256 Portals (Readers) with up to 10 concurrent users. The Extreme Controller is eight times faster than the Netbox controller. This system can process 10 Events per Second

The Enterprise system allows for 64 Network Nodes and up to 896 Portals (Readers) with up to 25 concurrent users. This system can process 20 Events per Second.

The Enterprise Ultra system allows for up to 256 Network Nodes and up to 3,584 Portals (Readers) with up to 35 concurrent users. This system can process 30 Events per Second.

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Videofied Wireless Video Alarm System

Protection Plus Security Services, Inc. is proud to offer the Videofied wireless video alarm system. The Videofied wireless video alarm system is a wireless battery operated security system that communicates alarm and video clips over the cellular data network to the Central Monitoring Station. This system provides a 10 second video clip for the Central Station operator to review and verify the presence of an intruder. The system is completely battery operated utilizing AA and D cell lithium batteries. The battery life is rated for up to four years, dependant on alarm activity. Two years is more likely. 

The system is supervised from the control panel to the device locations. Each device on the system is configured to check in every eight minutes. The devices connected to the system are supervised for state (armed / disarmed), tamper, and battery status. Each device transmits a unique secure identification code.

Since no electrical power or phone lines are required for this system it is ideal for applications where this is an issue, such as construction sites, equipment storage yards, vacant buildings, or remote buildings. As long as you have cellular signals this system can be deployed.

It is also ideal for deployments requiring alarm verification. With many of the police jurisdictions refusing to respond to unverified alarm signals this system allows the means of verifying the alarm. This system is very cost effective when compared to the costs of installing an alarm system plus a video surveillance system.

The Videofied system consists of the control panel and one wireless keypad. This system allows for up to 24 additional wireless devices to be connected to the system. It allows for up to 19 user codes, each user code can be 4 to 6 digits long. Devices include a wireless indoor motion detector with built-in camera, a wireless outdoor rated motion detector with built-in camera, a wireless door or window contact, a wireless interior siren, a wireless outdoor siren and strobe, a wireless unsupervised keyfob for limited system activation and panic alarm, and a wireless badge reader for arming and disarming the system with a proximity card.

The heart of the system is the wireless passive infrared motion detection cameras. Two models are available; an indoor rated unit and an outdoor rated unit.

This indoor unit consists of a digital camera and passive infrared detector. The digital camera is a black and white camera equipped with a wide angle lens (85 degrees). This camera provides a 320 x 240 pixel resolution picture. The unit is equipped with two infrared LED’s providing night time illumination of up to 14 feet. The passive infrared motion detector is rated for 40 feet at a 90 degree pattern. This unit is equipped with a tamper switch, once mounted if it should be removed it will trigger an alarm on the system. This unit is ideal for mounting in the corner of a room or for viewing a hallway or stairwell. When activated by motion the unit will trigger the alarm panel as well as transmit a 10 second video clip to the Central Monitoring Station.

The outdoor unit is very similar to the indoor unit except it is housed in an outdoor protective housing and the two infrared LED’s provide night time viewing with a range of up to 26 feet. This unit is ideal for monitoring an equipment yard, secured storage area, construction site, or fence perimeter.

Visit our website for product datasheets, links to the manufacturer’s website, and sample video clips. www.protectionplussecurity.com

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Megapixel Cameras

Happy New Year! I hope everyone had an enjoyable Christmas and New Year’s. I am looking forward to a fantastic 2010.

With the emergence of megapixel cameras and Network Video Recorders (NVR) capable of recording these cameras I get a lot of questions regarding the benefit and usefulness versus extra cost of deploying a megapixel camera system. The answer always seems to be: What level of detail do you require?

If the areas you are monitoring are all close to the camera and do not require fine detail then you may not require a megapixel camera system at all. However, if you are trying to monitor a parking lot, vehicle traffic, a warehouse, a high value area, drug dispensing area, cash registers, or any area requiring detailed images then megapixel cameras are your solution.

I compare megapixel video surveillance to your home theater system. When the home theater systems went from standard resolution to high definition it was a huge improvement to the picture quality. Particularly noticeable with sporting events you can now see the hockey puck – not just a blur. You can determine the brand of golf ball being played; see the blades of grass on the putting green. You can see the sweat dripping off the players. With high definition you can see details never noticeable before. You get the point.

The same has happened in the video surveillance world. You can now see details never available before, or only available with specialized well positioned and well focused cameras. With megapixel cameras you can make out vehicle license plates. Now you can clearly see what is being loaded or unloaded on that truck. You can clearly and positively identify a person. You are no longer limited to the 480 TV lines of resolution (.4 Megapixel) available on your analog digital recording system.

Cameras are available in 1, 2, 3, and 5 Megapixel versions. A 1.2 Megapixel camera will provide three times the resolution of your analog high resolution camera. The 2 Megapixel cameras will provide five times the resolution. With a 5 Megapixel camera providing twelve and a half times the resolution. As a further comparison, going back to our home theater example HDTV 720p is equivalent to .9 Megapixels and HDTV 1080p is equivalent to 2.1 Megapixel.

With these high resolution cameras and the NVR software you can digitally zoom deep into the recorded picture for better identification. A well positioned megapixel camera can replace several analog cameras viewing the same area, helping to offset the additional costs of the system.

A word of caution; these IP based network cameras transmit their video over your network or a separate video surveillance network, the larger the megapixel camera the more bandwidth required and the more storage required. We are no longer talking about gigabytes of storage; we are talking terabytes or more of storage needed for these network video recording systems. It can add up quickly.

The proper specification and deployment of these systems is critical to maximizing your return on investment. We at Protection Plus Security Services, Inc. are experts in video surveillance systems, both the analog / DVR systems and the IP network cameras / NVR systems. Let us help design and implement a video surveillance system that is right for you application and your budget.

Monday, December 14, 2009

Your Security System Holiday Checklist

With Christmas and New Year’s quickly approaching have you thought about your security system setup?

This year both Christmas Day and New Year’s Day fall on a Friday. You will want to make sure these days plus any other company shut down days are designated as holidays in your security system programming, so as to avoid doors unlocking on your access control system or your intrusion alarm system disarming (for those systems programmed to automatically arm and disarm based on a schedule).

Protection Plus Security Services, Inc. customers:

Access Control System: You can program your holiday schedules directly via the access control system software. If you have any questions regarding this contact our office.

Intrusion Alarm System: For our scheduled alarm system customers please provide our office with an updated holiday list if this has changed from the dates provided earlier this year. We will update the holiday schedule in your alarm panel at no charge as part of our service.


Alarm System Notification: Will your responsible party (call list) personnel be in town to respond to alarm calls or are they travelling for the holidays?

You may want to check with your responsible party personnel as to their holiday plans and if necessary update your Responsible Party list.

Protection Plus Security Services, Inc. customers:

You can download the alarm system update forms from our website. Here is the link for the Control Center update form and the Alarm Panel update form: http://www.protectionplussecurity.com/support/PPSS_support.htm

Have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

We at Protection Plus Security Services, Inc. look forward to serving you in 2010!  http://www.protectionplussecurity.com/