Articles and whitepapers

Cabling for Security around the Home (1/11/2006)

By Richard Lopez, IteQ

Quite often, I have come across disgruntled homeowners who, after a complete renovation of their property, find that they have to call in an accredited alarm installer to rectify/replace equipment. This is so that a certificate can be issued because the insurance company insists on a monitored alarm.

Whatever the type of security chosen, be it alarm, door entry or CCTV, it is important that the system is fitted correctly and is fit for purpose.

Alarm

When considering an alarm, there are two types, namely 'bells only' or 'monitored'. With bells only, any Tom, Dick or Harry can install it., but if the requirement is monitored, then there is a legal requirement. It has to be formally taken over and adopted by an NSI- (National Security Inspectorate) accredited installer or one recognised by the SSAIB (Security Systems and Alarms Inspection Board). So it is imperative that you seek advice and confirm during planning whether a monitored alarm has been specified.

Door entry

Door entry systems give added security to enable you to hear, see or control who you let in. Door entry systems can be either audio or video, but they all do the same thing; they work as a glorified door bell. When recommending a door entry system for a residential property, remember it can be seen as more of a convenience than a necessity. With this in mind, if there is video, integrate it so that it can be seen on the TV - a nice little touch can make a difference.

Monitoring the property outside via the TV inside

Pre-wiring depends on the manufacturer of your equipment. The topology could be bus (daisy chained) or star. If releasing an electronic lock, ensure that wiring has been considered from the power supply to the location of the lock, and also consider the type of door. If it is a double leaf door then use a loop to connect the wire from the door frame to the door.

Electronic locks work on a circuit. Flick a switch and the circuit closes/opens, releasing the lock. The electronic lock can also be opened externally by a switch. This could be a keypad, proximity reader, swipe card or even a biometric fingerprint reader.

Connecting the door frame to the door

CCTV

CCTV in homes can be controversial. Suggest having internal cameras, and Big Brother raises his head while paranoia also settles in. Mention cost and you're asked to justify a piece of equipment that realistically just sits there and doesn't get used from day to day.

Clients' expectations on CCTV are high, so don't raise them anymore than you have to. If someone breaks in, the client expects the villain to be caught on camera. When they find it hasn't, you are left with an embarrassing situation. Even with cameras covering every conceivable angle, sods law says you will find the lens had the sun shining into it, or a spider obscured the view. And there's no telling if the intruder was considerate enough to smile for the camera.

As we move away from VCR-based systems, CCTV has become an incorrect description to use. No longer are systems 'closed circuit' but thanks to the Internet, can now be viewed any where in the world. A typical system has cameras attached to a digital video recorder (DVR) in a star topology. Some DVRs can be connected to the Internet, which is essentially a large mesh and open circuit.

The main practical reason for having CCTV is that clients can monitor their own homes. I can't think of a better reason than that. While large corporations spend serious money on monitoring contracts, with the reliable systems available today, you can have 'do it yourself' monitoring with instant notification to your email or mobile phone at no extra cost. For the cost of a subscription however, there is a system that allows you to view live streaming images on your mobile and control the cameras/devices attached. Streaming is another word for a constant flow of images transmitted to another location, and to reach your mobile, the image is taken from the Internet then switched over and compressed for transmission to the GSM network. The fact that this can now be done on your mobile, at near broadcast TV quality, shows how far technology has come.

Most DVRs are TCP/IP enabled. This allows connection so it can be viewed/controlled and supported remotely over a network. Some are either PC-based or Linux. Which one you go for is up to you. Linux is more secure while other users enjoy the familiar Windows GUI feel.

Installing CCTV system

When installing a DVR, location is of the utmost importance. It is not a gadget to be shown off, as images will be of no use if the system gets stolen. Remote installation of DVRs is now possible with certain DVRs that recognise IP cameras. If your DVR is to be viewed remotely, ensure that it is cabled to enable access to the Internet either via a LAN or directly through a gateway, but ensure a good-quality router is used with a Firewall. You wouldn't let a stranger into your house, so why let someone view it through lack of security on the network and use your own cameras against you?

Cameras are typically directly connected to the DVR, which can restrict their location. Traditionally, coax is used, but more recently, twisted pair has taken a leap. Low-voltage cameras, video, audio, power and telemetry can all be sent over one length of Cat5e/6 cable through the use of a video transceiver. Doing the same over long runs of coax (shotgun cable), will affect image quality. Again, local power should be considered if using 240V cameras.

CCTV cameras outside the building

Camera quality

The quality of camera is very important. The images recorded on a DVR can only be as good as the quality of images transmitted to it. Cameras with built-in LEDs are cheap solutions for night vision as opposed to professional solutions. Don't expect to see in total darkness. And when it rains, expect to see the light reflected back. When choosing a camera look at the number of TV lines. The more the better. When people ask for my advice saying that they saw a cheap brand camera with a Sony chip for example, I reply that Sony makes lots of different quality chips - just like Pentium have the Intel and Celeron. The brand alone does not guarantee that the camera is any good for the application.

PTZ cameras (Pan, Tilt, Zoom) are great if you have someone controlling it at the time of the incident. Don't leave it on 'tour' since you'll probably find that as it pans, it will miss what you want. Even using sensors to trigger the PTZ into a preset position won't guarantee capturing the incident. The additional cost of a PTZ may not justify the installation. Instead, consider using more static cameras to cover an area.

IP cameras

IP cameras are becoming more popular now that bandwidth has improved over the Internet. Wiring a standard camera can be quite intrusive if you plan to use it inside the home. An IP camera however, can allow more freedom and does not necessarily require an expensive DVR for recording as it can be set up on your home computer via software.

With the house wired with a network, IP cameras can be plugged into virtually any room. But while you might be tempted to monitor the babysitter's activities for example, not everybody feels comfortable with a camera permanently watching their living room or bedroom, let alone someone else watching them - although if you set up a good firewall on the router and are careful with your passwords, the chances of being spied on are slim. The simple solution is to only connect the internal cameras when you need to.

Wireless systems

While I'm always being asked about wireless systems, I recommend avoiding them except in extreme circumstances. Wireless CCTV is a specialist area, and unless you're using lasers or mesh technology, let alone spending a fortune, leave wireless technology for corporate or highway applications. And don't get fooled by what you may have seen at an exhibition. The environment there is 'line of sight' of about 3-5m, and will look acceptable, but the reality when installed on site is that they won't transmit through a wall to the receiver. So many complaints arise from poor-quality and image degradation, and when other wireless devices are used around the home, interference will occur, often resulting in down time, rendering the system useless.

Conclusion

In planning the installation of wiring for a security system in the home, the main thing to consider is what are you trying to achieve. Think about which type of system best suits your client's needs, where the best place is for cameras, alarms, recording devices, monitors, control devices and routers etc to be sited, what type of cables are needed, and whether power must be provided too.

Then think about how user friendly the system is. Can it be made to be more practical? Don't experiment with security and offer something you haven't tested yourself - people are placing their trust in you so you cannot let them down. If in doubt, consult an expert, as advice in the early stages of planning can save time, costs and reputations later.

Richard Lopez is the Managing Director of IteQ Limited, specialist in the installation, maintenance and support of digital-based products and integrated technology systems and networks.

www.iteqlimited.com