The Electric Bullet

Oct. 27, 2008
Topping the Tech Update Chart

A FEATURE YOU’LL FLIP OVER...The new ELMO PTC-400C high-resolution compact PTZ dome features a 210 degree tilt that positions everything in the center of the extended surveillance area and “flips” the picture, resulting in an image that’s always right side up and in clear focus when the image turns from an Eastern to a Western direction. It has a 350 degree horizontal coverage and 210 degrees vertically. Its 100 degree/sec.pan/tilt speed spans a wide area and captures all the detail necessary for effective surveillance.

Its optical system combines with advanced high-resolution DSP circuitry to deliver sharp, clear video in almost any lighting environment. Minimum illumination is 2lx, and a day/night control uses an IR filter for excellent images at low light levels. The PTC-400C offers a variety of camera controls: backlight compensation, iris, motion detection, white balance and area masking. Picture adjustments include: color balance, AGC, edge enhancement compensation and high-speed shutter. It has two alarm inputs with presets, a 12x powered optical zoom with a 16x digital extender, full auto-focus or manual capability, resolution in excess of 460TV(H) lines and an S/N ratio of 49dB.

Each camera unit is user-programmable for up to 16 pre-set positions and 8 speed settings. On-screen displays simplify set-up and 223 cameras can be connected in an RS-485 daisy-chain configuration, cutting both cable costs and installation time. The unit allows remote control of up to 9 cameras and comes with an IR remote control and ceiling mounting hardware. Optional dome covers, in clear and smoke, are available. For more information, visit www.elmousa.com.

EXPLOSION-PROOF VIDEO SECURITY IS NOT HAZARDOUS TO YOUR HEALTH...Pelco introduces the ExSite family of explosion-proof video security positioning systems. The innovative series of integrated positioning systems are designed to meet stringent hazardous location requirements for North American and international markets.

ExSite combines a receiver, pan/tilt, and enclosure in a single system, and includes an Integrated Optics Package (IOP). The IOP features an auto-focus camera and lens module with programmable features and a day/night option. Together with ExSite’s exclusive software, they are suited to a variety of applications within a wide range of extreme environments, including marine applications. Typical hazardous locations pertain to such industries as oil refining, transport and storage, chemical processing, pharmaceutical, and food production facilities. For more information, visit www.pelco.com.

NEW MARKET OPPORTUNITY FOR DEALERS...HID, manufacturer of contactless access control cards and readers for the security industry, is shipping VertX CS. It delivers fully-functional managed access control with Central Station Automation Software from Bold Technologies, DICE Corporation and GE MAS. This new family of access controllers gives security dealers direct connection to central station operating software and enables them to offer incremental monitoring and management services to customers. For more information, visit www.hidcorp.com.

A CAR WITH CONNECTIONS...Public safety is under the spotlight more than ever these days. People want to feel safe in public places, and they expect police, paramedics and fire-fighting crews to respond in minutes. IP-based technologies can help meet these critical and rising expectations. To highlight how first responders can benefit from using IP-based technologies, Cisco Systems in Northern Europe, for example, is showing off its demo center on wheels.

Called the Cisco Connected Car, it is a tangible example of how technology today can contribute to improved public safety. With wireless transmission of IP video surveillance, police or firemen can see images that pre-qualify details about the levels of severity at events and better make critical decisions.

In the trunk is a Cisco 3200 Series Wireless and Mobile Router which can roam across WLANs, mobile phone, and TETRA networks to give seamless communication between emergency headquarters and the moving vehicle, regardless of physical location. It also contains Milestone XProtect Enterprise IP video surveillance software, to show how a first responder could feed back video from the scene of an accident, as well as exchange voice and other data with colleagues in a real-life situation.

The Cisco Connected Car that is being demonstrated throughout the year is a Volvo V70 using two SONY network cameras, SNCP1 and SNCRZ30N, in conjunction with the Cisco Wireless and Mobile Router and Milestone XProtect Enterprise Remote Client and PDA Client IP video surveillance software. Any emergency vehicle and number of network cameras can be used in future applications of the solution, with a wide choice of hardware models since XProtect Enterprise supports over 80 different ones.

ADVANCED ENCRYPTION STANDARD CERTIFICATION EARNED...MDI Security Systems, a provider of open, integrated security management and video security solutions, has received NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) and CSE (Communications Security Establishment) Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) Algorithm Validation Certification. The company’s SAFEnet Enterprise Security Suite is an integrated security management solution for access control, alarm management, video management and systems control. SAFEnet provides a centralized, open infrastructure, vendor neutral solution needed to secure an organization from a single point-and-click desktop application. This integrated security dashboard empowers distributed enterprise or small to medium size businesses to master the huge volume of security events by reducing response time and creating a security infrastructure that supports strategic business objectives. MDI currently has several certifications pending for its iTRUST integrated security management solution for small to medium size organizations and ViewPoint video surveillance product line.