All motels - small, medium or big - need video surveillance systems these days. Besides fighting crime, security systems can deter crime, provide the police with leads, help customers feel safer, improve performance and productivity of employees and improve the bottomline of your business. Digital video surveillance with IP-based systems not only capture precise images, they do so in a way that is scalable within a your current Internet network with pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) cameras that are fast and sophisticated.

Although the cost of digital surveillance systems is  greater than traditional CCTV surveillance systems, the advantages of using Internet surveillance systems far outweigh their initial start-up costs and most motel's CCTV analog systems have now gone digital for improved performance, camera maneuverability, archive and quick retrieval features.

How digital surveillance systems work

A digital security system consists of hardware and software components that collect and transmit the surveillance camera information via any IP-based network. These surveillance images are then transferred to a PC or laptop to owner or manager's house located miles away using a compact, flat-screen monitor that offers multi-screen displays. An IP-based digital system is unlike the traditional closed CCTV system, whose images must be monitored using multiple monitors, sites and personnel.

The digital system can store surveillance data onto DVRs (digital video recorders), some of which can store data up to 10 or 12 weeks - far more than CCTV analog systems. After the DVR has backed up the images, they can be exported to discs using the CD or DVD-RW drive, and then they can be sent to remote PCs, laptops, or handheld devices within moments via the network. Digital recording is done 24/7, without the need for cumbersome CCTV videotapes that have limited storage capacities.

When a motel chooses to invest in digital surveillance systems, they need to invest the time in finding out how large an area needs to be watched, breakfast room, fitness room, pool area, reception, hotel lobby or vending machines area etc as well as the area's situational parameters. A digital system requires a capital investment up front, but it is guaranteed to produce a positive ROI if the cameras are properly placed and if the images are consistently monitored.

One of the reasons for the increased cost of the digital systems over CCTV lies in the hi-tech cameras, which greatly surpass the analog CCTV cameras. The cameras have features ranging from fixed models to direction-controlled or dome models with automatic pan, tilt and zoom functions that can create sharp images in the 1600 x 1200 pixel resolution range. With the extra zooming and panning capabilities, one security camera can do the work of five, which is more efficient in the long run.

If your motel require night monitoring, you can use cameras with infrared capabilities to pick up motion and changes in light regardless of poor lighting conditions. consider purchasing camera accessories such as weather-proofing and added material that's resistant to tampering and hazardous substances for longer life.

Tips and Suggestions

• All cameras should be operational at all times.
• The cameras should be set up at all important monitoring points of your property.
• Cameras must only record silent video footage since recording audio without permission is illegal.
• Businesses must inform their customers through signs that there is a CCTV system.
• Proper lighting in covered areas will improve night recording at your property.
• From time-to-time, check functionality of your system and that you can get image footage from your archive.
• Keep your surveillance system in a secure place and away from employee access.
• Remember, cameras not only give peace of mind to your guests or you, it also deter crime.

We sell and install digital video surveillance system according to your requirements. Call us for a free consultation.