wireless surveillance cameras?

[Campus Security]

I work for a large college in NC that needs to purchase more outside surveillance cameras. Everyone in our department admits we need the cameras but as far as I can tell no one is studying the issue. Currently we have only two (2) outside fiber optic (I think!) wired cameras. They have zoom and pan / tilt. Plus about 60 wired stationary cameras covering indoor locations. Our campus is 100% wireless capable so the students and staff can use their laptops just about anywhere to hook up to the internet. I have 'heard' second hand that our IS department says it is not possible to link surveillance cameras to our wireless system. I would ask them direct but they do NOT like dealing with our department plus I am very low in the pecking order in our department. I am not much of a tech geek but I do try to read and keep on on things. Can someone explain it to me? If our IS department is full of crap and such a system can be done wireless, what type of money are we talking about?
The college has money (over 1 billion in the endowment fund) but convincing them to spend it on security upgrades is apparently hard.

[davis002]

Give this site a look...

Axis (http://www.axis.com/axien/wireless_surveillance_camera.htm)

Also, this article might help.

http://www.wi-fiplanet.com/tutorials/article.php/3555471

[Rooney]

Give this site a look...

Axis (http://www.axis.com/axien/wireless_surveillance_camera.htm)

Also, this article might help.

http://www.wi-fiplanet.com/tutorials/article.php/3555471

Good advise DAVIS002.

I would also take into consideration that you can use ip cameras with a wifi hub. Keep in mind however that most ip or wifi cameras have proprietary software for viewing and pan/tilt control. Look at the manufacturer of the current system you have in place. Alot of the camera equipment manufacturers are now making ip and wifi supported systems. If the cameras have to tie into the existing system for recording, etc. you should talk to your current supplier or installing company. Also if you are using high quality video, the compression is a major factor in determining bandwidth. If you place a bunch of 802.11 cameras around the properties it may take up alot of the bandwidth that students and faculty use.

[Bill Warnock]

I work for a large college in NC that needs to purchase more outside surveillance cameras. Everyone in our department admits we need the cameras but as far as I can tell no one is studying the issue. Currently we have only two (2) outside fiber optic (I think!) wired cameras. They have zoom and pan / tilt. Plus about 60 wired stationary cameras covering indoor locations. Our campus is 100% wireless capable so the students and staff can use their laptops just about anywhere to hook up to the internet. I have 'heard' second hand that our IS department says it is not possible to link surveillance cameras to our wireless system. I would ask them direct but they do NOT like dealing with our department plus I am very low in the pecking order in our department. I am not much of a tech geek but I do try to read and keep on on things. Can someone explain it to me? If our IS department is full of crap and such a system can be done wireless, what type of money are we talking about?
The college has money (over 1 billion in the endowment fund) but convincing them to spend it on security upgrades is apparently hard.
Campus Security, there are a couple of things you have to do before you can install any type of system especially a wireless CCTV system.
Do you have an electronic footprint in your facility?
What are the current noise levels on your existing electrical system? Do you know how much is conductive and how much is radiative?
How do the present hardwired camera systems work?
What is the bandwidth of your IS department that supports its existing systems?
Do you have a security force capable of responding to the existing CCTV and other alarm systems plus other calls that would require your services or are you already stretched thin? Don't bite off more that you can chew.
Get a handle on these items and then send an email message to Mr. Jack Gin, of extremeCCTV and jgin@extremecctv.com I will give him a heads up that you might, repeat, might be sending him an email.
Enjoy the day,
Bill

[stevesurf]

I have 'heard' second hand that our IS department says it is not possible to link surveillance cameras to our wireless system. If you absolutely need to deploy these cameras in a wireless configuration, I would recommend a wireless system that is dedicated to the video streaming function only. Most of the Network Video Cameras deployed these days are using MPEG-4 compression, whose bandwidth usage can vary on activity, creating a challenge for a shared network where there is only a fixed bandwidth available. The effect is lower frame rate at the monitored and recorded location. Also, individuals that war drive on a campus wireless network could be compromising some very critical video streams.

Why not try to use the fiber you have in your facility to extend your network. If the cameras are in an inaccessible location, there are many Professional IP-based Wireless solutions that overcome video's challenges. Some include TTI Wireless (http://www.ttiwireless.com/) and Avalon (http://www.avalonrf.com/).

[adam12]

Wireless cameras would be horribly unreliable (in relative comparison to a wired camera.) Especially 802.11 (2.4GHz). Someone could turn on a microwave or cordless phone and suddenly you lose your cameras.

[john_harrington]

Wireless CCTV does not necessarily mean IP cameras utilizing a LAN or other IT supported platform. It sounds like you are using analog cameras currently and therefore it is likely that the university would prefer to use the existing recording technology.

Take a look at offrings from Trango and SmartSite- both transceive PTZ CCTV cameras (line of sight).

[ceejay2005]

They do make wireless cameras, also wired, you need to make sure that you have a device that it can connect to the network with, such as a hub, wireless access, access point, switch or router.

[Scott Broscious]

Give this site a look...

Axis (http://www.axis.com/axien/wireless_surveillance_camera.htm)

Also, this article might help.

http://www.wi-fiplanet.com/tutorials/article.php/3555471


As far as I'm aware, and I may be wrong, the Axis Camera Station only works with axis cameras. So incorporating any existing cameras would be impossible.