Our Products | NVR & CCTV

1. I have been updating myself with some European CCTV NVR and IP camera manufacturers. Here are the facts about them:
   a. They are mostly using IP based system and not analog. Their IP cameras are all without IR and older technology type IP cameras. It would be better to go for the Samsung IP cameras rather than those supplied by some of the European manufacturers.
   b. Some of them, have their own internal LAN network provided with their hardware NVRs which is provided with their system as a total solution package. It enables the user to manage the CCTV network on their own platform and thus provide a turnkey solution. This is a good solution for small projects with limited distances and limited quantity of cameras. Their system will not be able to support such big projects of 150 camera , because of the high band width required for such an architecture and also because of some network limitation.
   c. Most of the European producers, manufacture 100% private non shared NVR systems. This in slaves the customer to the manufacturer NVR system only. System is completely user friendly for inputting other CCTV camera manufacturers but will not allow for other NVRs or servers to be managed under their platform.
   d. My recommendation is to always use open architecture with off the shelf Microsoft software and off the shelf servers. They are easily repaired and replaced.
   e. In SOFAB’s case, we are using a fiber network design for the connectivity with up to 80 kilometer max distance range between the camera and the Server. This is an open architecture that enables the entire client data to be carried on to the same network. Thus all services such as RF/Data/Video and more can be placed on the same network. It’s based on the GEPON technology, (Gigabit, Ethernet, Over Passive Optical Network). This architecture is used by such companies as Nasa, US congress, US military and the largest governmental groups in the world.
   f. At this time, I would like to invite all of you to visit one of our recent completed sites in Bahrain named the Arcapita Bank Headquarters. We have employed the most advanced security and safety systems in the world. Seeing is believes. Please visit the best CCTV site available for you and then come and visit ours and look at the difference.
   
2. By Law in the United States all banks must record at 30 frames per second. WHY some banks in the Middle East are are choosing 7 frames and 12 frames per second (FPS). The frame per second has no bearing on quality of picture. It just gives more frames with consistent quality pictures. If the quality of the picture is good then it will stay good with more frames or less frames. If the quality of the picture is bad then it will stay the same with more or less frames. If you have fewer frames, for example 1 FPS, this means you have the same quality picture as that of 30 FPS architecture. Quality of picture does not change with the frame rate change.
   
3. For a given 480 TVL or 550 TVL camera, and you take a subject positioned at 15 meters distance away from the camera, you will not be able to see recognizable facial features with MPEG4 low quality video stream recording. Please test and let us know your finding. While the opposite is true. For a given 600 TVL camera, and you take a subject positioned at 15 meters distance away from the camera, you will be able to see recognizable facial features with MJPEG high quality video stream recording.
   
4. If you decide to use MPEG4 video stream then use 480TVL as a maximum as any higher TVL will only reduce your pocket money with minimum or no improvement to picture quality. While the opposite is true. If you decide to use MJPEG video stream then use 600 TVL high quality camera image processing and look at the beautiful image you are generating from your camera.
   
5. I agree that in earlier years, the IP cameras were not giving Zero Lux capabilities because they did not have IR capabilities. Today, this data information on IP is inaccurate. Our SOFAB IP Cameras are all with 50 meters range IRs and are actually giving superior picture with Zero Lux.
   
6. After visiting some of the European CCTV Manufacturer Websites, I know now why they are saying that the technology is still immature for IP Cameras with IR. It’s really because some of these manufacturers has still yet to develop this and thus they are limiting their customers and their customers clients.
   
7. My problem with some CCTV installation companies, is their inconsistency of their CCTV architecture. How can someone design an architecture with both Analog and IP at the same time? This is ridicules. Use one or the other. If you tell me to use Analog, I will agree to it and I will use 600TVL cameras and MJPEG video stream recording and if you tell me to use IP Cameras, I will use also MJPEG for video stream with 0.5 to 2 megapixel IP Cameras as well.
   
8. We have been installing video cameras since the last 20 years provided from such companies as Bticino, SONY and others. With over 1000 CCTV projects completed in the Middle East, I have never seen a requirement for both Analog and IP on the same architecture platform from a professional design company. To really understand this more, you need to really have seen and studied hundreds of CCTV installation as to be in a position to contradict the facts that no company on the planet will mix both Analog and IP under one roof. This is only common for old installation that has older Analog CCTV installation and thus wants to add new IP solutions. In this case they install what’s called a Hybrid DVR. The Hybird DVR accepts the Analog cameras by providing BNC connectors with dedicated channels for those analog cameras and simultaneously provide RJ45 socket for CCTV LAN network. This is the only true way that you can connect both Analog and IP together on one Architecture platform.
   

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Many people are still confused and unfamiliar with the NVR And the like CCTV Architecture.

Many of the NVR systems offered today are extremely out of date and old CCTV Solutions Based on NVRs, ILinx Decoders, Matrix and Layered Tears and so on. The NVR infrastructures they present, are highly advanced and require technical knowhow to be able to track and trouble shoot all the avenues that the system is routed through. This system is so complex that its deemed unreliable and troublesome and many of the international system users have been removing and replacing them with a simple and direct forward solution as the ones listed here below;

There are 3 routes that a customer may chose to take and achieve the most reliable and long lasting system today. What the most customers seek are trouble free long lasting systems with minimum equipment along the way between point A and B. Please view SOFAB Recommendations:

1. You may consider the most advanced system in the market today, an AllOptic Fiber Optic CCTV Solution. This system is able to provide and support 1 Geg/ 8 Geg/ 10 Geg Network Design. This simple architecture can provide your client years and years of trouble free infrastructure. It’s based GEPON Architecture named the Gigabit Ethernet over Passive Optical Network.

a. This typical solution is for 50 IP Cameras to 10,000 IP Cameras,
b. Recommended surveillance surface are from 10,000 Square meters to 20 Kilometers.
c. This is considered to be the most secured CCTV system in the world.
d. The System is consisting of the following:

i. Single Fiber Optic OLT (Optical Line Terminal),
1. Able to manage full CCTV infrastructure via Own Software. OLT operator will enable recording and viewing from other terminals as necessary without mlimit.
ii. Passive Splitters,
iii. Fiber Optic ONTs (Optical Network Terminal),
iv. Direct Connection to IP Cameras.
v. This system will 100% free you form a complex out of date structure design that requires continuous manufacturer input and continuous support.

2. The second option is also a very reliable and simple solution for any number of IP Cameras from 1 to 250 Cameras. The only stipulation is that the solution requires a 1 Geg LAN Network with maximum ground surface connectivity of 20,000 meters or maximum of 150 meters from the control room to the IP camera.

a. This CCTV Solution is considered to be a low level security system.
b. System Requirements:

i. 1 Geg Network,
ii. IP Camera Software,
iii. IP Cameras.

3. The last solution and most used system today by many government agencies is the Analog CCTV Solution.

a. Consisting of a High Grade Core 2 Quad Server 2.4GHz Intel Processor with DDR2 4GB, Dual Rank 667Mhz, 4 Geg ram and 8 or 16 T.B. Hard Disk.
b. A Twin 32 Channel PCIE card will be installed in the server. This will enable the customer to install up to 64 Analog Cameras on a single Server Plat Form.
c. 600TVL IR Analog Camera or lower TVL.