Which is the best CCTV system?

[terry_scott]

I'm looking to open up offices for a new business, which includes a small car park area that I'd like to keep covered with surveillance cameras, if nothing else to help customers and potential customers feel better protected and safe parking there.

However, what are my actual options when it comes to CCTV systems, and which are the best?

I need to ask because I don't know much about what decisions I should be making with a CCTV security system so any pointers and help would be very much appreciated.

[vicki2]

http://www.privacyinternational.org/article.shtml?cmd[347]=x-347-61925&als[theme]=Video%20Surveillance&headline=CCTV%20Frequently%2 0Asked%20Questions
this is a good website for answering some basic questions ...you probably also need to find a site which deals with comparisons of various cameras too.

[brian]

Contact these guys:
http://www.pakatak.co.uk/cactushop5/contact.asp

and they should be able to give you some direct advice on different product options.

[prijikn]

The best CCTV systems would be custom made with components from many different manufacturers.

[CinCCTV]

For an all in solution, I would recommend Geovision.

[Eidolon]

Difficult question - and the comment regarding geovision is a valid one. A good system but quite sophisticated software and pretty expensive in comparison to others.

I would suggest a pc based system and you will need a couple of different cameras. Outside cameras would need to be fixed lens IR pipe cameras or varifocal lens on ccd box cameras in waterproof housings. Inside could be done with the same pipe cameras or dome cameras.

Make sure the dvr card which goes into your pc records at better than 12 frames per second on every channel, has a date and time stamp on each channel and backs images up in a windows video format - avi - for example.

[thecctvguru]

+1 for Geovision