Frequently Asked Questions

Q: We recently had an audit survey performed on our computer room. Although a card reader controls access into the room, our auditors have indicated that this is inadequate. In their report, our auditors have recommended we provide additional security above and beyond the current card reader. What are the practical alternatives?

A: There are two basic alternatives: The first one is to add a Personal Identification Number (PIN) to your card reader. In addition to using an access card, an employee requesting access into the computer room will also have to punch in a user-definable PIN specific to that person. This solution is the easiest to implement and is probably the least expensive alternative.

If you require a higher level of security, the next alternative is to use a biometric reader. A biometric card reader allows access to a restricted area based upon a unique characteristic of an individual. You can purchase biometric readers as stand-alone devices, or as units that can be readily integrated with your security and access control system. Depending on your budget and application, we recommend that you integrate your biometric reader into your system. To ensure that the biometric system you purchase can be integrated into the security system, make sure it provides a standard data output known in the industry as a "Wiegand" output. Most biometric readers with a Wiegand output are easily integrated with the data-gathering panels of most security systems, looking just like a card reader.

Before you do anything, make sure you consult with your security integrator. They can help you select the right solution for your needs.

Q: We are installing card readers at our remote buildings and are considering piggy-backing them onto our existing network in order to save the costs associated with leasing telephone lines. Will that create traffic problems on our data network?

A: The answer is "no": Most access control panels now come equipped with modules or external devices that enable them to easily integrate with a client’s network. Although most access control systems continually poll their remote field panels, their overall traffic load is low. This is because most processing decisions are made by the "intelligent" data gathering panel located at the remote location.

Breaking News: The Intelligent Camera
For most of us, it’s surprising that different chip cameras respond differently to infrared (IR) radiation. A chip is a chip is a chip, right? Not necessarily, there are differences. Originally developed for the military, IR-sensitive chip technology is now being integrated into security and commercial applications more frequently.

The next evolution already taking place in CCTV technology is the development of an intelligent camera. Incorporating microprocessors, an intelligent camera is able to automatically change it’s performance capabilities to see well in varying light conditions from bright to low to none. During normal daylight hours, the camera can provide normal color output. However, when the light level drops below a certain threshold, the IR cut-filters are electronically deactivated, enabling the camera to see IR illumination. Coupled with an IR illuminator, you now have a color camera that sees color in the daytime and black-and-white at night.

Technology Alert:

Lightning can cause great havoc by hitting power and telephone cables that enter your building. To minimize the damage, avoid running copper cables outside your building. Instead of copper cable, run fiber optic cable, which is immune to the effects of lightning. Make sure major security components are powered from an uninterruptible power supply system that filters your power. Don’t forget to protect the telephone lines connected to your computer and hubs. R D & A will provide a comprehensive review of your system’s lightning suppression equipment. Contact us at 615-259-9004.

Infrared Illuminators: Let There Be Light

Up until the mid-1980s, you had two choices when it came to CCTV camera surveillance for low light levels. The first choice was to invest in a camera equipped with an image intensifier. These types of cameras were expensive and produced a grainy image. Plus, their lack of resolution also made it difficult to use these cameras for covert applications.

The second choice was to increase the ambient light through artificial lighting. While increased lighting provides better security, it may not be available or practical for all applications. The use of artificial light for exterior applications, such as commercial parking lots, usually provides uneven lighting conditions. It can also be expensive and may raise objections from nearby residential neighborhoods.

The Changing of the Guard

All of this has changed with the introduction of reliable, high-performance infrared (IR) illuminators and CCD cameras. IR illuminators project illumination in the near-infrared portion of the light spectrum. The human eye can only see light from the visible portion of the light spectrum. IR light, which is not part of the visible portion, is invisible to the naked eye. Recent advances in IR illuminator technology have increased its viability as an important component of a CCTV system.

The CCD camera has also increased the commerciality of the IR illuminator because these cameras are more sensitive to the IR light. As a result, when a poorly lit or dark area is flooded with IR light, a CCD camera will produce an image that is well-illuminated, enabling a guard to view an area as if it was daylight.

Types of IR Illuminators

There are two basic types of IR illuminators: lamps and LEDs. IR lamps are designed for outdoor applications, illuminating an area with IR radiation up to a distance of about 350 feet. The distance you can see using an IR illuminator is a function of the camera type and lamp lens. The more sensitive the CCD camera is to IR radiation, the better the results.

Note several things about IR illuminators. First, IR lamps have an estimated lifetime of 3,000 hours. Second, new advancements in IR technology have enabled it to provide even illumination throughout the lamp’s field of view. So, a spot five feet from the lamp will have the same illumination as a spot 200 feet away. This innovation makes the application of IR illuminators more effective, especially when using digital video motion detection.

The other type of illuminator is an LED, which uses and array of LEDs to provide consistent illumination up to 50 feet. Again, the more IR-sensitive the camera, the greater the light sensitivity and viewing distance. LED IR illuminators are primarily limited to interior applications, often used for covert surveillance applications.

The next time you need to visually monitor an area in the dark or under low light conditions, don’t worry. With the newest IR illuminators, you can always say, "Let there be light." For assistance in picking the right CCTV technology give us a call. We’ll find the best solution for your specific needs.

Solving the Egress Problem

Historically, the use of magnetic locks with card readers on a building’s main entrance doors was usually disallowed by the local Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ). This created a serious problem, since architects’ frequently specified glass doors (and still do). Unfortunately, it is usually difficult to equip glass doors with electric hardware so that they are both aesthetically pleasing and cost-effective.

This changed in 1991 with the modification of the Building Officials and Code Administrators (BOCA) Code. Under the new rules, controlling egress pathways, such as a main entrance to a building, is allowable if it meets all three of the following conditions:

Integrated with Fire Alarm System. The access control system has to be integrated with the building’s automatic fire alarm system. IN the event of a fire alarm, all specified doors must unlock.

Motion-Activated Sensor Required. Egress from a controlled door must be "free" (the doors must unlock automatically as a person approaches from the inside. This is accomplished by using a motion sensor (preferably a passive infrared). At a door equipped with a magnetic lock, activation of a motion sensor must directly interrupt the power to the magnetic lock, unlocking the door. Unlocking the magnetic lock through the security control panel is unacceptable. (For some AHJs, the motion sensor must be UL-listed for this application.)

Exit Button. An exit button must be located within five feet on the inside of the door. Pressing the button must directly interrupt power (unlock) to the magnetic lock for a continuous period of 15 seconds. Again, unlocking the magnetic lock through the security control panel is unacceptable. In addition, the exit button must be labeled "Push to Exit."

Even with this modification to the BOCA code, it is still up to the local AHJ to determine what is acceptable. Working as a team with the architect, the AHJ and our company will help you avoid the costly roadblocks associated with controlling access in your building.

Should I Upgrade My Access Control System’s Software?

As everyone begins planning and budgeting for their next fiscal year, most managers ask the perennial questions, "Should I upgrade my access control system’s software?"

In the background, we hear our grandmother’s voice of wisdom, reminding us, "If it ain’t broken, don’t fix it." While there is much to be said about the value of Grandma’s wisdom, the answer is a conditional "yes". There are instances when it makes sense to upgrade your system. However, making any upgrade to your ACS should be done with caution. Since an ACS system is a real-time system that people depend upon, any small hiccups in a system upgrade can ripple throughout the entire company, disrupting the lives of your employees.

When Should You Upgrade?

Under certain conditions, you should consider upgrading your system’s software. The first condition has to do with software updates and revisions. Every year, our software suppliers make enhancements to your ACS software in the from of version updates. Although we recommend that you avoid integrating the latest software update in your system for at least six months after its formal release, there will come a time when it makes sense to bring your system up to the most current, bug-free, field-proven version. Bringing your system up to the latest version makes it easier for both RD&A and our supplier to support your system.

Please note that when you perform software version updates, you may have to also upgrade your computers to handle the additional data processing requirements.

The second condition revolves around the need for additional software integration. As your system grows, there may be additional requirements such as integration with Human Resources or with a CCTV matrix switcher. For most of our systems, software upgrades are available to help your system grow with your security needs.

As you grow with your system, you should always budget for software updates. This could be as simple as investing in an annual software maintenance agreement or performing a major overhaul to meet an expanded set of requirements. If you’re not sure about where you stand regarding software updates, give us a call and let our expertise work for you.

CCTV Matrix Systems

The Unsung Hero of Integrated Systems

When most of us think of integrated security systems, we tend to focus on the Access Control and Alarm Monitoring (ACAM) system as the backbone. While it’s true that the software and hardware that operates the ACAM system has the most immediate impact on our daily operations, without modern navigational guidance systems, operating ACAM systems would be like steering the Titanic. That’s why the CCTV Matrix Switch System is a critical subsystem of the overall security system.

The Evolution of CCTV Switching Systems

It wasn’t long ago that manual, looping and/or auto-sequential switchers controlled the majority of CCTV systems. The problems with these types of systems were multiple. First, they couldn’t easily integrate with other systems, such as intrusion, fire or access control. The only way for a camera to automatically call up an alarm for review on a CCTV monitor was by "hard wiring" inputs and outputs between the different systems. The second problem was knowing which camera was being displayed on the monitor that was sequencing multiple cameras. The more cameras in your system, the more difficult this became, especially when using rental security guards.

These problems could be dealt with after the introduction of the CCTV matrix switcher systems in the late 1970s. Unfortunately, because of the high cost, these new systems were only used when more than 100 cameras were involved. Now at a lower cost, matrix systems are affordable for more and more applications.

Key Features of Matrix Systems

Matrix switchers have added key features to address the ever-changing needs of the security market. These include:

Full On-Screen Identification – Matrix systems can display an alphanumeric identifier on a monitor’s screen, telling the guard the location of a specific camera.

Multi-System Integration – The old days of hard-wiring alarm inputs between multiple systems are gone. Using software, most matrix systems can now be easily integrated with access control and other systems. As a result, alarms or watch conditions will automatically display a specific camera on a monitor both for review by the guard and recording on a time-lapse recorder.

Enhanced Software – New software features, such as "salvo switching", are now the mainstay of matrixsystems. Salvo switching automatically switches a selected group of cameras to specific monitors simultaneously, enabling the guard to view one general area of interest, such as the first floor. Other features include digital video motion detection and graphical user interfaces (GUI). The GUI has the benefit of accepting CAD files for the layout of buildings, as well as making the system easier for guards to use.

Better, More Functional Keypad Controls – One of the best innovations has been the user-friendly keypad controller. Keeping the operator (guard) in mind, many keypads now incorporate such special features as "hot" keys for performing macros, and track balls and joysticks for easy pan-tilt zoom functionality.

The evolution of the CCTV matrix system is not over. With newer and more powerful processors, you should expect to see lower prices and much greater functionality and features. To find out more about the latest innovations in CCTV matrix technology, call us. We’ll find the CCTV solution that’s right for you.