The work of a video surveillance system. Checking in 5 easy steps
Before you start using the monitoring, you need to check the video surveillance systems. However, just by looking at the devices, it is impossible to give a correct answer for sure.
In this article, we will break down 5 ways to find out if the camera is working.
Why is it necessary to check video surveillance system operability?
On-time inspection of video surveillance system is necessary to guarantee its efficiency. It helps to avoid situations when the equipment is installed and at the crucial moment you find out the cameras have not been recording all that time.
5 simple steps
The work of the video surveillance system is checked before it is launched. Let’s see what mistakes can be detected by following these 5 methods.
The recorder
It is not enough to make sure that the monitor displays images from the cameras. The device may fail so that the picture is visible, but the footage is not recorded in the storage.
The inspection via the recorder is to ensure that the user records data from each CCTV camera.
Remote verification
If the surveillance system is meant to be remote, that is, it will work via the Internet and send data to a phone or PC, then the test must be carried out under the same conditions.
The camera can work, but not send the information to the remote monitor, but transmit it to the recorder. The problem may be an unstable internet connection.
Make sure that the information from the cameras is transmitted to the phone and recorded in the right storage.
Bug detector
There are special devices that pick up the signal of working cameras and notify if there is no signal. To check it, you need to scan the area around the equipment with the detector.
Not all cameras emit such a signal, so it is recommended to contact experts about it. Their tools and instruments are exactly right for checking any system.
Visual Inspection
Visual inspection may not help in all cases. For example, PTZ cameras will move a little when in working order. However, other devices may work without movement.
Via the phone camera
The quickest way is to check the system with a regular phone. IR cameras emit light that is not visible to the human eye, but you can see it through a smartphone camera.
You do this by pointing your phone at the device. It is advisable to check at night since most cameras illuminate at night.
Conclusion
It is easy to check the work of the video surveillance system, it does not take much time. We recommend analyzing the cameras before the monitoring starts because this is the only way to avoid bugs in the system.
