CCTV FAQ

Sales Questions

How do I place an order?
Do you offer credit facilities to businesses?
What are your delivery costs?
What technical support do you offer?
Can I open an account?
Do you offer trade discounts?
What payment methods do you accept?



Technical Questions

 
How do I choose the correct camera?
How do I set up a camera and lens to obtain the best
images in Low Light conditions or with Infra Red Lighting?
What is OSD?
Can I use a manual iris lens?
How do I connect an Auto Iris lens?
What is the difference between an Direct Drive and an Auto Iris Lens?
What is the 'f' stop and how does it affect choosing a lens?
What size monitor should I be using?
What Camera Housing Should I Use?
Which pan and tilt unit should I use?
What type of lighting should I use?
What type of power supply should I use?
What is the maximum distance I can run the power cable for my CCTV cameras?
What Cable should I use?
What is a ground loop and how can it be removed?
What is a DVR?
How long will a DVR record for?
What does Pre / Post Alarm recording mean?
How do I retrieve the images from the DVR?
Will my DVR work over the internet?
How do I set up a DVR to work on the internet?
What is an IP Camera?
What is a NVR?
Where can I record the IP CCTV camera footage?
Can I combine IP and Analogue CCTV Cameras?




How do I place an order?

It is simple to place an order for your equipmet, simply use our online shopping cart system and make your payment. Or for trade customers simply call our sales team to recieve your trade discount and ensure your orders are added to your quarterly rebate account.



Do you offer credit facilities to businesses?

We offer trade accounts for our customers within the trade. Opening an account is easy. Simply download the account application form and return it with the required documents and we can usually have your account set up within 24 Hours. Alternatevly contact our sales team to recieve the details via e-mail.

Our standard credit terms are 30 days for trade customers.



What are your delivery costs?

Standard 2-3 day delivery is charged at £11.74 inc VAT ( £9.99 ex VAT)

Next day delivery is available for orders placed before 12:00 noon and is charged at £17.57 inc VAT (£14.99 ex VAT)



What technical support do you offer?

We offer full technical support to our ciustomers. Including product design and specification services, product demonstrations, remote technical support. Full details of our technical supposrt can be found in the services section of our website.



Can I open an account?

For trade customers we would be delighted to open a trade account. Simply complete the online application form and return it to us with the required documents. Alternativly you can call our sales department who will take you through the process, or click here to request a form via e-mail.



Do you offer trade discounts?

All of our trade customers are eligable for discounts on the list price. In addition to a standard discount we also offer a multiple product discount scheme and a quarterly rebate scheme for our account holding customers. Please contact us to request more information on our discount schemes.




What payment methods do you accept?

We accept paymet via credit and debit cards and by cheque. For account holders please speak with your account manager to discuss payment options available to you.




How do I choose the correct camera?

There are a number of factors that should be considered when looking for the right type of camera for an application.

A high resolution camera should be considered where greater detail of scene is required. E.g. A resolution in excess of 480 TVL, a camera with a higher resolution will provide a greater level of clarity and a better image reproduction.

The available lighting should also be considered, if the area to be viewed will have low light levels, cameras with built in infra-red lighting should be used. If the camera is likely to be facing an area of high back light, it should be equipped with BLC (Back Light Compensation) or a Wide Dynamic Range Camera Should be specified.

The aesthetics of the camera should also be considered. Many commercial properties will be happy using larger more overt CCTV Cameras, however there are rarely suitable for domestic applications, which may be more suited to a subtle camera such as a Dome Camera.

 

How do I set up a camera and lens to obtain the best images in Low Light conditions or with Infra Red Lighting?

Camera Lenses should be focused and adjusted using a filter suitable for the intended application of the camera.

 

• § For a Colour Cameras and low light levels a ND1 (Neutral Density) filter should be used.
• § For a Mono Camera with low light conditions you should use an ND3 (Neutral Density) filter.
• § For a Mono camera fitted with I/R lighting for low light conditions you should use an IRP (Infra- Red Pass) filter.

Without these filters it is likely to have to attend site in hours of darkness to perform the required adjustments.

We stock a selection of filters to allow for the correct set up of cameras.

 

What is OSD?

OSD is an abbreviation of ON Screen Display. Some cameras have a menu system that can control functions such as BLC, AGC, Shutter response and WDR among others.

 

Can I use a manual iris lens?

A manual iris lens should generally only be used in internal applications. However it is generally more beneficial to use an auto iris lens that can better compensate for changes in light levels.

 

How do I connect an Auto Iris lens?

They are usually connected by a simple connection at the side or rear of the camera. This can vary from camera to camera and you should consult the manual or our technical support team if you are unsure.

 

What is the difference between an Direct Drive and an Auto Iris Lens?

An Auto Iris lens contains an amplifier that automatically adjusts the iris with changes in the lighting levels.

A Direct Drive lens does not have this feature and is reliant upon sensors within the camera to adjust the iris when light levels change.

Our camera specifications will show you which models are suitable for the different types of lenses.

 

What is the 'f' stop and how does it affect choosing a lens?

The "f" stop of a camera measures how well the camera will allow light to pass through the lens. If a lens has a low "f" stop this will mean that it can pass more light through and will produce a higher quality image in low light conditions.

A high "f" stop figure may be required if the camera is likely to have a high level of light passing through it. This can help in preventing "whiting out"

What size monitor should I be using?

This is dependant upon its application and the recorder that is being used. The more camera outputs a monitor is going to display the larger it should be.

The type of monitor you choose should also be considered. Some DVR units have multiple outputs such as, VGA, HDMI, composite and BNC. You will need to ensure your monitor has the same input as the DVR output.

 

What Camera Housing Should I Use?

As mentioned above camera housings are available in different styles. From larger units with a greater physical deterrence, to smaller dome style units which offer a more subtle approach. The housing style will be dependant upon the application and personal preference. In addition to this the housing may be vandal resistant or not. It is recommended that vandal resistant cameras should be strongly considered when the cameras will be used in external applications.

An additional aspect to consider should be the IP rating of the housing. IP55 housings offer protection against dust with limited ingress and also protection against low pressure jets of water. IP 65 housings will give protection against dust with no ingress, and protection against high pressure water jets.

 

Which pan and tilt unit should I use?

This is a similar choice as to considering the housing of the cameras. There are many types of Pant and Tilt cameras available including, side mount, bottom mount and fully functional dome cameras.

A fully functional dome has the advantage that the movable parts are housed with the dome unit itself, many people also feel that they are a "nicer looking" unit and are therefore more suitable to newer installations. Fully functional domes are often able to rotate quicker than standard pan and tilt camera units making them ideal for applications where pre-programmed positions are to be used in conjunction with motion sensors.

A disadvantage to fully functional PTZ dome cameras is that there is no way of adding infra-red lights to the dome and these will therefore need to be added seperatly if this lighting is required. With traditional pan and tilt systems, IR lamps can be added to the camera body so that the light is always pointing in the same direction as the camera.

 

What type of lighting should I use?

If you require lighting for colour cameras you should ideally use "white" lighting. IR lighting should not be used for colour cameras as this light will not be picked up by the camera and a poor image quality will result. Tungsten halogen lights are recommended for colour cameras.

If the lighting is required for a mono camera then IR lighting should be used. We are able to provide a range of IR lighting suitable for all applications. Please speak to our technical department who will be happy to advise as to the best option for your application.

 

What type of power supply should I use?

It is strongly recommended that a regulated power supply is used for powering your CCTV system. The power supply should be of the correct voltage and offer sufficient power to deal with the cameras that are running from it. Our technical support team are able to suggest the most appropriate power supply for your application.

 

What is the maximum distance I can run the power cable for my CCTV cameras?

This is a difficult question as there is no simple answer. You need to take into account the power the camera will consume and also the type of cable you are using. As a rule of thumb if using standard Shot Gun cable we would recommend you do not exceed a distance of 80m. If you require guidance with this our technical support team will be able to give you more information.

 

What Cable should I use?

This will depend upon your application, budget and requirements. If you require to run power and video to the same point then it is recommended that you use RG59 Shot Gun Cable. This is a standard RG59 coax cable with a 2core power cable bonded to the side. Shot Gun cable allows installers to run a single cable run without running separate power leads. A version of this is available with additional wires that is suitable for data connections to PTZ cameras.

You may wish to use UTP cable (Unshielded Twisted Pair) or CAT  5 cable. This type of cable allows installers to run a single length of cable which is cabaple of providing Video, power and telemetry through a single cable. It is also more compact than the alternatives usin coax. If using this type of cable you will need to add a video Balun to each end.

One advantage to using CAT 5 cable is that this will "future proof" an installation. If at a later date you wished to change the cameras to IP models then these would work over the Cat 5 cable, if standard coax cable was used then you would need to change the cable.

 

What is a ground loop and how can it be removed?

Ground loop is interferrance which has occurred due to an AC current that is produced in the cable. This is usually caused by different parts of the system being powered from different electrical sources. The easiest way to overcome this problem is to fit a ground loop isolator.

 

What is a DVR?

A Digital Video Recorder is used to record the images received from your CCTV Cameras. The DVR converts the images from the analogue signals into digital ones for staorage on the internal hard Drive. DVR's have replaced the old style of recorder which used to use tapes for the images.

The quality of the images recrded are far greater, in addition to this there is no requirement for users to keep changing tapes. DVR units are available with a number of different features which include remote on-line access, audio recording, networking, activating upon alarm and also controlling PTZ cameras.

Please speak to our technical support team who wil be happy to hel specify the correct DVR for your application.

 

How long will a DVR record for?

This will be dependant upon a number of factors. These include the number of channels being used, the recording mode of the DVR, the resolution, the frame rate and the size of the hard drive used.

Our recording Calculator will be able to show you the recording ability of our different systems based upon a number of variables.

 

What does Pre / Post Alarm recording mean?

Pre and Post Alarm Recording allows the DVR to be configured to record before and after an alarm has been triggered. This can be by way of an external motion sensor, or by using the built in motion detection feature of our DVR units.

How do I retrieve the images from the DVR?

This will depend upon the unit which you choose. There are a number of different ways to back up your data. The most common is by way of USB stick. This allows you to simply insert a USB memory stick into the DVR and copy the required images. Other methods include a built in CD writer.

Will my DVR work over the internet?

Dependant upon the DVR unit you have you may be able to connect it to the internet and view the system remotely. All DVR's from Quest CCTV are internet ready and can be controlled fully via an on-line connection.

 

How do I set up a DVR to work on the internet?

You will need to enable your internet router to "forward" the incoming DVR programme to the DVR unit. Due to the klarge number of router available, and the different complexity of Computer Networks we would advise that you seek advice from an IT professional.

We are however able to provide technical support to those who are using our preferred Net Gear Router.

 

What is an IP Camera?

IP CCTV cameras offer high quality images over computer type networks. You can record on a local computer or over the internet to a remote location. They are a digital CCTV system as opposed to standard analogue cameras.

What is a NVR?

A NVR is a Network Video Recorder. You connect unlimited number of cameras to a NVR for recording CCTV footage. Most computers can act as recorders. All you need is the right software.

Where can I record the IP CCTV camera footage?

IP CCTV camera footage can easily be recorded onto any computer. Anywhere where there is an internet connection you can record. Alternatively IP CCTV camera footage can be recorded on to a NVR.

Can I combine IP and Analogue CCTV Cameras?

Yes you can, by adding a Video Server to the analogue camera the images are converted to a digital signal which can then be accessed through the network. In addition to this some programmes are capable of taking the images from a DVR and adding these to a network IP Camera system.