What You Need to Know When Choosing a Security Camera System for Your Business or Commercial Property

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You’ve just had your latest eye exam and it’s time to invest in a new pair of glasses.  The new Flexiframe 900 offers a much lighter frame with no compromise in durability. The choice is a no-brainer. To offset the increased cost, you settle for cheaper lenses.  Next thing you know, you’re getting headaches from hours spent in front of your computer screen or outside on a sunny day with no protection from radiant glare.  Sure, the frames are great but at what cost?

Inventors initially created cameras in much the same way that the human eye functions, with multiple components to consider.  With today’s technology, advances in specific components of security camera systems are increasingly sophisticated. Here are two examples of recent advances in security camera system technology to consider.

Megapixels: The More the Merrier?  …

As image sensors, megapixels have left analog cameras in the dust. So, it only makes sense that high megapixel cameras will give you the best images of all, right? Not necessarily.  Without a quality lens, a 4-megapixel camera is no better than its analog ancestor. Plastic, low-quality lenses make high megapixel cameras more affordable but all the megapixels in the world won’t make up for poor input from a cheap set of lenses.

Space-Saving Compression Ratio:  Who Doesn’t Need More Space?

In any business, electronic space is a precious resource and any improvement in space-saving technology is a guaranteed winner, right?  Not necessarily. When it comes to security camera technology, this new space saving mode can compromise your overall network performance. Instead of the full complement of an 8-camera system, the doubled transmission bandwidth of the space-saving compression ratio means you’re down to 4 cameras max.

Consultation with Highly Trained and Experienced Professionals is the Key to a High Quality and Cost-Effective Video Camera System

At Wilsons, our knowledgeable and trained consultants will meet with you, on site, to go over your exact video surveillance needs. In choosing the system that works best for you, we will make sure you understand how the various components of your security camera options work and what will give you the most bang for your buck. Wilsons understands there is no “one size fits all” when it comes to video surveillance.  Give us a call and make an appointment today with one of our consultants.  We take the business of staying up to date with the latest video camera technology seriously and we want to pass on that knowledge to you.

Make an appointment today with one of Wilsons’ trained video surveillance consultants.  We are ready to meet with you, on site, to determine the best cameras and systems for your particular security needs.

What is GSM Monitoring?

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With the increasing number of people opting out of having a home phone, customers are looking for new ways to monitor their home security system. Two of the most popular ways are IP and GSM monitoring. Today we’re going to take a quick look at GSM monitoring. GSM is a term you may be familiar with as it synonymous with cell phones. GSM stands for Global System for Mobile Communications and is an international standard. If you’re a traveller, GSM is the only service offered in Europe and many other parts of the world. The cool thing is that a GSM cell phone will work with any other GSM service anywhere in the world as long as it has the same frequency. GSM calls are based on data or voice, with Alarm Systems using the data. Data calls can turn cell phone into modem operating at 9600 bps (bits per second).

Monitoring your alarm through GSM technology has a number of benefits:

It’s Consistent

GSM technology has an excellent “uptime”, nearly the same as a landline. Though internet has improved over time, occasional outages can still disrupt monitoring, as monitoring relies on internet connection. Even though your monitoring station detects outages quickly, GSM is typically much more stable.

It’s Secure

Some wonder if monitoring over GSM makes them vulnerable to hacking. Various authentication techniques have been incorporated into GSM make it the most secure mobile communication standard that is currently available; it’s a system based primarily on authentication and encryption techniques.

Remote Access

Using GSM monitoring on your alarm system still allows you to have remote access to your alarm using an app on your mobile device and allows you to add new features to your system, like automated lights and locks. This comes in handy when you have an alarm system at the cottage or somewhere else where you don’t have Internet.

Of course, as with any product, there is the downside. Using GSM to monitor your alarm requires that you be in an area where there is cellular service. Although cell phone coverage is as good as it’s ever been, there are still some places where the service won’t work. Another consideration is that you may have to upgrade your GSM radio at some point in the future, as with cell phones, technology changes over time.

If you would like additional information on installing GSM monitoring on your alarms just call our office at (902) 453-3388.