DVR Security System Review

The Axis 233D is a dome camera that is capable of recording images in detail from great distances. The security camera is fitted with a powerful 35X zoom feature enabling it to record high detailed images of objects that a far away. When you are monitoring the output from the Axis 233D on a PC you can mark a specific area with your mouse. The camera will then zoom in on that area so you can see it in detail. To take full advantage of the cameras zoom features it is best suited for installation outdoors or within a very large venue.

An electronic image stabilizer has been integrated into the design of the Axis 233D. This should prove useful if the camera has to be installed in an area that experiences frequently experiences vibrations. There are two different Axis 233D cameras to choose from, the difference is in the frequencies that they operate. A 60 Hz model of the of the camera is available as well as a 50 Hz model, other than their frequencies, the cameras have the same capabilities. Although the Axis 233D is not strictly a night vision camera it is capable of recording discernable images in low lighting. This is made possible by the security cameras 128x wide dynamic range that compensates for both high and low level lighting.

PTZ functions are also included, the tilt range is 180 degrees and it has a 360 degree infinite pan capability. As with many Axis cameras, the PTZ functions can be controlled with the use of a Windows compatible joystick. The cameras 35X optical zoom works in conjunction with its 12x digital zoom giving the Axis 233D a total zoom of 420x. The cameras outer casing includes four alarm inputs, you can also communicate through the camera as it includes a speaker and a microphone.

You can receive alerts email or through your phone about events picked up with the camera, it has the capability of both audio and motion detection. Image resolution can be set to 704*480 at maximum through NTSC and the maximum for PAL is 704*576. The cameras image sensor is a ¼” ExView HAD Progressive Scan charged coupled device. You have a choice on how prominent the Axis 207 appears as two covers are included in its package, one is transparent and the other is smoked. Images from the camera can be transmitted over a wireless LAN or through a local area network.

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Axis produce a multitude of surveillance cameras, the Axis 207W is a compact and low cost IP camera solution. The Axis 207W is the wireless version of the Axis 207, they share many features but the Axis 207W for obvious reasons is more versatile than its predecessor. The wireless technology in the Axis 207W is IEEE 802.11g compliant so it operates in the 2.4 GHz public spectrum bands at 54 mbps. You can power the 207W with its included power supply and 1.8 metre cable or with its auxiliary DC power input.

The security camera has 7 pixel resolution settings with 640*480 being the maximum. At all resolutions the Axis 207 has a frame rate of thirty frames per second. The camera is suitable for many kinds of DVR security system or you can hook it up to your standard Windows based laptop or desktop PC. As you can expect from Axis the 207W has features like other cameras in their range such as motion detection and alarm notification. You can set the included software to notify you by email about events recorded by the camera and you can view camera transmissions over the Internet.

The outer design of the Axis 207W includes a number of LED’s that indicate the status of camera power and network connection status. You won’t find pan tilt and zoom functions integrated into the Axis 207W but you can adjust the cameras focus and position manually. It would be nice to control camera angles from your PC but Axis do include the hardware you need to install the camera in a variety of positions. Two types of swivel mounts are included, you can clamp the Axis 207W to your shelf, stand it on your desk or screw it to your wall or ceiling.

Manual focussing and positioning of the Axis 207W may seem like a drag to those who are used to PTZ functionality on their security cameras. There are other cameras in the same price range as the Axis 207W that do include PTZ functions but in general they don’t deliver the same video quality. Axis added MPEG-4 video compression to the 207W with motion estimation so image quality is crisp and clean. The camera also includes a microphone to enable you to hear what is going on in its vicinity.

Get the latest price on the Axis 207W network camera.

If you regard image resolution as paramount for your surveillance system, the Mobotix M22 3.1 mega pixel IP camera may suit your needs. Video is recorded at a resolution of 2048*1536 enabling you to record crystal clear images. There are at least six different versions of the Mobotix M22 IP camera, each one looks very similar at first glance. The Mobotix cameras support power over Ethernet so one cable is used to transmit data and power the device. Many of the security cameras functions rely on its integrated hardware so it reduces the workload on your PC or DVR recorder.

Due to the M22 cameras internal hardware you are able to attach dozens of the cameras to your security system even if it consists of one PC or DVR. Even with dozens of M22 cameras attached to your surveillance system you can still record high resolution images with each one. The Mobotix M22 has 128 megabytes of internal storage space and 64 megabyte video buffer. Video recorded by the camera is smooth as it is capable of recording images at up to thirty frames per second.

All Mobotix M22 cameras can be set up either indoors or outdoors so it is ideal for a variety of different locations. The M22 Basic includes a speaker so you can speak to the people in your areas of surveillance. The rest of the M22 cameras have a speaker and microphone so you can transmit your voice and also hear what is going on. Look out for models of M22 cameras created after December 2007 as these have eight gigabytes of integrated flash memory. The flash memory could prove very useful if your surveillance system experiences a power loss

The Mobotix M22 has motion sensors and it can notify you about activities it has recorded with its telephony features. M22 cameras on your surveillance system can be operated with the MxCC (Mx Control Center) software. MxCC is available for download from the Mobotix website, once installed it automatically detects the M22 cameras attached to your system. The M22 cameras also have an interchangeable lens, there are a variety of lenses available such as wide angle and telephoto lenses.

One of the great features of MxCC is the ‘Layout Editor’ that allows you to quickly create visual example of your areas of surveillance. The software has other useful features such as enabling you to search for events with time tracking and image distortion correction.

The design of the Axis 209FD-R network camera is mostly flat other than the black dome that is present housing the cameras lens. In fact, the camera is only four centimetres in height so it may go unnoticed depending on where you install it. Axis have developed a number of IP network cameras using the same design but the cameras have different capabilities. The Axis 209FD-R is designed for use indoors, the cameras single cable attached to the camera transmits data and power to the device. The power over Ethernet features of the Axis 209FD-R makes installing the camera easier than other wired CCTV cameras.

With the release of the more superior Axis 209MFD the price of the Axis 209FD-R will fall. At the time of writing, there is approximately an $80 – $100 difference in price between the two cameras. If your security system is not yet set up and you have discerned that you only need a handful of Axis cameras, it may be worth installing a set of Axis 209 MFD cameras. If your security system requires the installation of ten or twenty cameras, you will clearly cut your costs by installing a set of Axis 209FD-R’s. Another option is to attach both models of Axis camera to your system while setting up the MFD 209MFD cameras in your more important areas of surveillance.

Even though the design of the Axis 209 FD-R appears relatively simplistic the camera has a multitude of features. The surveillance camera is capable of recording video at thirty frames per second, has pan tilt and zoom functions and motion detection. On top of this you can control the camera from any location from which you have Internet access. The camera picks up images with its ¼ micron progressive scan RGB VGA CMOS image sensor and it uses MPEG-4 video compression. The maximum image resolution for the camera is 640*480 pixels and it has eight lower resolution options.

You can take control of the Axis 209FD-R cameras pan tilt and zoom functions from your PC. Alternatively the camera has 20 preset pan tilt and zoom positions you can set it to cycle through automatically. To keep you up to date, the camera can be configured to notify you by email about activities it has recorded. A multitude of PC’s are compatible with the camera, the minimum processor required is a 500 MHz CPU. The AXIS 209FD-R has many of the same security features that are present on the MFD model, the biggest difference is the image resolution.

Get the latest price on the Axis 209FD-R security camera.

One of the first issues people want to address when setting up CCTV cameras for their DVR security system is wiring. Running cabling around your premises and ensuring it is housed neatly can be a big and costly job. The Axis 209 Network camera eliminates the need for a power source to be routed to the camera due to ‘Power Over Ethernet’ support. For the everyday person ‘PoE’ (Power Over Ethernet) transmits electrical power and data to the Axis 209 with one cable.

The Axis 209 has a design that is slightly different to traditional dome cameras; the unit itself is quite small. The Axis 209 size allows you to create a security system that is reasonably discrete in its appearance. The small flat design of the camera is ideal for positioning on the ceiling in the location of a cash register. The security cameras controls enable you to pan and tilt its lens to a specific area and you can zoom in. The controls are very handy if you see something suspicious on your security cameras and want to take a closer look.

The CCTV cameras maximum image recording resolution is 1280 * 1024 pixels and its minimum is 160*90. If you want the images picked up by your surveillance system to be sharp this surveillance camera will do the trick. The Axis 209 MFD has pan tilt and zoom features that can be controlled from your pc, PTZ can also be operated with your PC’s joystick. Motion detection is part of the cameras technology and you can configure the its software system to notify you by email regarding recorded events. Providing you have access to the Internet you can record, monitor and replay events picked up by the Axis 209 MFD from anywhere.

The monitoring system for the camera is secure and requires numerous passwords for access, the system supports IP address filtering and HTTPS encryption. Installing the camera is fairly straightforward; it’s designed to be screwed directly to ceilings or walls. The Axis 209 has a 1.3 mega pixel CMOS progressive scan RGB image sensor. The lens for the Axis 209 MFD is 3.6 millimetres and has a focus range of 0.5 mm to infinity. Accessories that come with the Axis 209 MFD include an installation guide; tamper proof screws, installation and recording software and licenses.

X10 create security cameras that are reasonably compact, the camera technology has improved the time it takes to view images (hence the ‘Instant On’ reference in the product name). You won’t find pan, tilt and zoom (PTZ) functions rolled into one with the X10 cameras but they are small enough to go unnoticed if positioned suitably. The X10 cameras operate wirelessly and will function up to 100 feet away from the receiver. You can connect the X10 camera receiver to your DVR security system (weather this be PC based or a standalone DVR) or connect it to your video recorder.

Are there any limits when it comes to X10 Camera placement? X10 say that the cameras are ‘weather resistant’ and the camera can be set up for use outdoors. The X10 security camera system does have motion detection capabilities. The motion detection sensitivity can’t be fine tuned in the same manner as more expensive surveillance systems. Even so, the X10 system can be set to activate the recording features of your DVR, PC or video recorder. What could prove to be an advantage or disadvantage is the fact the system only records when the X10 cameras pick up motion.

Free software is available for download that can be used in conjunction with the X10 security camera. The software is called ‘XRay Vision’ and it can be configured to send images from your X10 cameras to your email account. You can also use XRay Vision to view the images from your surveillance system over the Internet. The X10 cameras transmit images in colour and there are numerous accessories such as a tripod and USB PC transceiver. As mentioned the cameras do not have complete PTZ functions but you can pan and tilt the cameras from your PC. Using the scan and tilt features requires the ‘Ninja Scan Pan And Tilt’ device that houses the X10 cameras.

The X10 security camera system makes it easy for the novice to set up a surveillance system. The technicalities relating to setting up the system are minimal and the amount of accessories available make it versatile. You can also expand on the system quite easily due to the optional accessories; X10 security cameras are available individually or as part an all in one package.

Get the latest price on the X10 2.4 GHz Wireless Security Camera