Security Exchange – SOUNDING OFF
I just read Bob Dolph’s feature, “Sensorship That Makes Sense” (see February issue) and I wanted to thank you for your kind mention of our products. I especially appreciated that our products were properly presented as event-based video instead of surveillance. Obviously, you do understand what need Videofied is attempting to fill.
You might want to look at our new outdoor product line, which is especially targeting copper theft. If you go to www.coppertheft.info, you can actually see a real apprehension if you click on “Catching a Copper Thief in the Act” button in the top left. It will show a series of five videos that are very compelling.
KEITH JENTOFT, President
RSI Video Technologies
White Bear Lake, Minn.
RESIDENTIAL ARTICLE ON THE MARK
I just got around to reading Managing Editor Rodney Bosch’s “Magnifying the Path to Residential Success” article in the January issue and really enjoyed it. It was a great job and provided really good information.
SCOTT HOLMAN, Product Manager
Security Potter/Amseco St. Louis
CASINO CCTV CABLING CONUNDRUM
I am not ashamed to say I have no experience installing an aerial RG59 cable for a parking lot p/t/z camera installation. My manager ordered and received two 1,000-foot aerial RG59 cable reels. I am tasked with finding out how to install this cable and connect it to a p/t/z camera (Pelco Spectra IV). It will be a home-run back to a Pelco CM9760 matrix system.
The cable run will only be approximately 450 feet. I am hoping you can provide me with the knowledge to accomplish this task. Thank you in advance for any assistance you can give.
SAMUEL BELL, CCTV Technician Manager
Kickapoo Lucky Eagle Casino
Eagle Pass, Texas
SOUND BITES
“We will diligently defend against any ordinance that significantly impacts response times to emergency fire signals.”
Stan Martin, Executive Director
Security Industry Alarm Coalition (SIAC)
“The end users drive this [open system architectures], not the manufacturers.”
John Moss, CEO S2 Security Corp.
“We’ve never met a school administrator who thought having security was a bad idea. The challenge is finding the money.”
Bill Ford, Vice President
Education Sonitrol Corp.
CONTRIBUTING TECHNICAL WRITER ROBERT GROSSMAN RESPONDS:
Don’t be concerned about a lack of knowledge in running aerial RG59 cable for a parking lot camera. Particularly in casino installations, it isn’t done very often.
The reasons for not doing it are, first and foremost, that it can be easily sabotaged. An extendable tree-trimming saw can easily cut the wire, circumventing camera coverage. Second, if the camera is powered at the pole, you are likely to get 60Hz ground noise since the equipment in the building will have a different earth ground. Our preferred method for such cameras would be to run underground fiber-optic cable. This has the added benefit of eliminating the danger of a lightning strike taking out the rest of the equipment.
However, if you must run aerial cable, I would stay away from RG59. First of all, the aerial RG59 cable you purchased is likely designed for CATV installations, with a copper-clad steel center conductor (for strength) and an aluminum shield (for the higher frequencies found in CATV, or cable TV signals). If this is the case, it will likely be very susceptible to noise and interference.
You’d be better off using a twisted pair cable and UTP baluns, such as those provided by Nitek, NVT, Pelco, or other manufacturers. They will eliminate the grounding issue and you can use communications-grade cable (such as that used by the telephone company), which is extremely rugged and will hold up well. It is often bonded to a steel wire for strength and they make strain reliefs to support the cable.
As far as the physical installation, you’ll need to contact the cable manufacturer or an experienced phone company installer for specific tricks and tips. I suspect that a cash payment will get the job done quickly and professionally, without the learning curve.
www.securitysales.com • MAY 2008
