Items Tagged With security

Marmitek have just released a new range of IP CCTV cameras. As usual you can monitor the pictures and sound on your own network or arond the world via the internet.  In the absence of a network some of the cameras can also record directly to a USB thumb drive.  The units include Marmiteks UltraView software that supports up to 16 cameras.  Four models are available, including wired Ethernet and wireless 802.11b/g devices.  Prices range from 100 to 200 Euro (around £80 - £160)...

Last week at the Smart Home Show we interviewed Chiu from Cytech (video of our interview coming soon).  In our chat he showed us some interesting products, amongst them the brand new Z-Wave UCM interface for Comfort...

Here's another inexpensive way to dabble in Home Automation.  With this Bye Bye Standby (Domia) PIR you get a wireless motion sensor for just £15.00 - Amaze your friends as your appliances turn on or off as you move around your home...

myhome247 have just launched their new 24/7 home surveillance system.  The kits start at £250 (plus £5.95 per month) and provide home security and control, with one button setup, secure remote monitoring and support for Windows, Mac and Linux-based web browser...

We often hear that one of the great advantages of IP over PSTN is the increased speed of alarm signal transmission. Whilst this is partly true, alarm installers need to understand the different stages of an alarm signal transaction in order to take full advantage of this available speed.

Typically, from the time an alarm panel is activated, it takes approximately 10-15 seconds to dial the telephone number and send a DTMF or FSK signal over a PSTN line. When an IP dialer capture device is used, it listens for the telephone digits, ignores them, plays a handshake, takes the signal, plays a kiss-off and then transmits the signal over IP. Even though the actual transmission over IP might take only a couple of hundred milliseconds, the whole process takes approximately the same time as it does over PSTN. So where is the speed advantage in using IP...?