Pacific Fire & Security Blog

Lately I have been working with a city jail to overhaul their internal video surveillance security system. They introduced me to a correctional institution website that has a particularly helpful set of accessories: Mirrors!

And here is the hilarious part: The website that sells this stuff is called www.bobbarker.com! Really! They carry everything a jail might ever need, from bedding to handcuffs.

The sergeant in charge of developing the final solution has a special need for seeing around corners — something you and I might never think of, but it makes perfect sense. In a jail, you always have to be aware of what might be coming around any corner! PTZ cameras often have mirrored domes, but in a jail, we are using fixed cameras only.

Here are Bob Barker’s 1/4, 1/2, and full domes that satisfy the criteria — hope it helps you out someday:

https://www.bobbarker.com/web/category.asp?AppriseWebKey=033700828.02402759&AppriseCustCode=WEBGUEST&category=00002333

When we approach any outdoor IPVS solution design, we have always taken into account three traditional approaches for data transmission from our cameras to one (or one of many) central recording servers:

1) Hard-wired Ethernet 10/100/1000 to a network switch

2) Wireless (or Wireless Mesh)

3) Fiber

But now there is another approach that was pioneered by Dotworkz of San Diego: A minicomputer on-board their CoolDome enclosure that runs Windows XP and allows local wireless accessibility!

Advantages?

a) Recording in very challenging environments (parking lots surrounded by foliage come to mind)!

b) Situations where video is unlikely to ever need to be viewed, but when so, is urgently important.

c) IPVS cameras that are highly mobile. This is especially true for civic IPVS solutions where we all know that crime decreases within camera range.

d) IPVS solutions that require Windows-based add-ons (like video analytics)

The Dotworkz solution is named “Xero” (for Zero bandwidth required!) You can learn more about it online at:

http://estore.dotworkz.com/Dotworkz-D3-Xero-NVR-p/d3-cdx.htm

Since this is a CoolDome enclosure, this enclosure can handle extreme temperatures inside and out.

At list price, with installation included, we price these units at between $8,000 – $10,000, depending on the quality of the IP camera inside. If that seems high to you, remember the savings from trenching, wireless bridges, or fiber infrastructure (as well as ongoing operating costs!)