Save Space On Your Surveillance DVR

Being able to view surveillance footage from days, weeks, or even months past is sometimes a huge necessity. So the question is; what can you do to make sure that you're getting the most use and longevity out of your DVR's hard drive? There are a few different key settings that can be adjusted to extend and get the most recording time out of your DVR.

Motion Detection

Motion detection is exactly what it sounds like; and that is your DVR's ability to start recording its footage when it detects motion in front of your surveillance cameras. This is a huge space saving feature for your DVR in comparison to recording constantly, which can eat through a hard drive rather quickly depending on the number of security cameras you have.

Pre-Buffer

If you are using motion detection on your DVR, it will generally have a pre-buffer setting which will keep a constant 5 - 10 second recording that is cycling through the DVR. The reason for this is so when motion recording is activated it can record and store the lead up to the motion that started the recording. This is quite handy as it allows you to see the perpetrator as they come into the frame. The key here however is that you can sometimes adjust this pre-buffer so you are adding more or less to your recording, and thus using more or less hard drive space.

Masking

Masking is a nifty tool that works in conjunction with your motion detection settings. This feature allows you to take certain portions of your screen out of the motion detection equation. For example let's say you have an American flag waving in the background rather constantly. You can use your masking feature to tag that portion of the screen and make sure that any movement within your selected section does not activate the motion record setting. This is very useful in saving your hard drive space as you won't have unnecessary motion recordings being stored.

Resolution

The higher the resolution that you record at, the more space your surveillance footage will take up on your hard drive. So depending on your applications; you can turn down your recording resolution in your DVR settings to help save on space as well.

Audio

If you are recording audio; then you are adding additional information that has to be stored on your DVR; so it may be best to limit audio recording to areas where it is critical.

Scheduled Recording

Depending on your applications; you may not need to record at all times during the day. This is where scheduled recording comes in. By scheduling when you have your DVR record you can save space by not recording during all hours of the day. This option is usable with both constant recording and motion detection; which can make it quite the space saver.

Number Of Active Cameras

The more security cameras you have actively recording; be it motion recording or not, will determine the amount of space you use up. Obviously the more cameras that are recording; the more space you will use. So if there are certain times of the day where you don't need certain cameras to be recording; it can be wise to schedule them not to, to help save on space.

By implementing a few of these different features and settings on your surveillance DVR; you will better be able to record and maintain longer stretches of footage.

About the Author

Christian M Gillman has worked in the surveillance industry for over 6 years. Subscribe to our monthly newsletter, learn more about surveillance, and find great products at http://www.cu1.com

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Do we really know what home security cameras are?

We feel safe in our home but are we really safe and sure about the child's safety when we return from small errand? We never think about installing any security system for home as it is the common belief that life will not topple inside the cocoon. But it is not true cocoon can be attacked by foreign agents and ransacked and disrupted. We have no way to save the cocoon and the insect inside but we can save the cocoon of our child by installing home security cameras.

Security cameras are not only required for commercial complexes and high security areas. They can be of immense importance in protecting our homes when we have gone out or even when we are inside and not sure who is knocking at the door. The continuous surveillance provided by home security cameras is a breather for working and non- working mothers. More than half of Australians do not realise the concept of getting a camera for home, it is a misconception that camera takes away your privacy. On contrary it protects your privacy from trespassers and keeps you informed.

No place is safe from terrorists and antisocial elements of our environment! A vacant house is perfect haunt for these antisocial people and to protect your house from them, when you are off on vacation, you need security cameras for home. It records all the activities and informs you on your return from vacation. It has many hidden advantages which we cannot think of immediately, it is basically for lifelong use, as you put lock in house. It perfects your security system. These were some of the extreme situations which we were talking about, let us get little realistic and come home to our toddlers or our child. It happened with me and so I can share my experience with you and tell you about the unknown utility of home security cameras.

It was a fine summer afternoon and I went for my bath leaving my five year old to enjoy her freedom of watching television. When I came back to my amazement the little innocent child of mine was not watching television but was punching on my mirror to check if it is of plastic or glass. At that moment I felt had I installed a security camera, I would have seen her from inside and known that she is up to some mischief and would have been able to save her little fingers from getting hurt. Though by God's grace she was not hurt much, but the accident could have been easily avoided. God is also benevolent who is alert and acts and I learnt my lesson that day.

Know your need and try to collect all relevant information before contacting any security camera agency, the services they generally provide are alarm installation & maintenance; alarm monitoring, intercom systems, CCTV, access control, alarm response, static guards and patrol services. For residential you might not require everything but some are of importance, so it is better to under your requirement and then ask for a quote from a good professional agency.

 

About the Author

For more information about home security cameras please visit:-

http://www.secureyou.com.au/