Phase Alternate Line - Video encoding standard for Europe .

A device upon which a camera can be mounted that allows movement in both the azimuth (pan) and in the vertical plane (tilt).

Follower pots are installed on pan/tilt unit to allow feedback to the controller and provides information relevant to horizontal and vertical positioning, allowing the controller to quickly adjust to a pre-selected scene automatically.

A panel where circuits are terminated and facilities provided for interconnecting between circuits by means of jacks and plugs.

Video Signal measurement from the base of the Sync pulse to the top of the white level. A full video signal should be one volt.

The maximum absolute peak value of a pulse, excluding those portions considered to be unwanted, such as spikes.

Product that tracks viewing habits, records programs and has other interactive features such as pause and rewind. PIFA Planer Inverted F Antenna.

A device used to detect changes in light level and provide an automatic switched output when lighting levels fall to a predetermined level.

An electronic device that superimposes the view from one camera over that of another.

Short length of fibre optic cable attached to another component such as a source of coupler.

Picture in Picture - device used to superimpose one video signal over another in one display.

PIR is the abbreviation of ¡° Passive Infra Red ¡±, which is a motion sensor to detect heat from moving objects, such as human bodies and animals. When any motion is detected, P.I.R. will trigger the alarm system. The TV will show you what your cameras see. With P.I.R., you can always keep an eye on visitors at the front door, intruders in the garage, or any place within its detection coverage. With it, our products can detect moving objects within wider detection coverage to provide our customers optimum security and protection.

Lenses used primarily in covert applications where the camera/lens must remain out of sight.

In a given direction, the polarization of the wave radiated by the antenna. Alternatively, the polarization of a plane wave incident from the given direction which results in maximum available power at the antenna terminals.

Power Over Ethernet is a method by which power is tramitted over a CAT-5/6 cable. This is often used with the installation of IP Cameras saving time/money by reducing cabling. An IP Device would need to be fitted with a PoE RJ45 port to use this functionality.

A function contained within a telemetry system that, on receipt of a signal, causes a particular camera to pan (left to right), tilt (up and down) and zoom (lens) to a predetermined field of view. Most systems can accommodate up to 16 pre-set positions for each camera. This is an especially useful feature on larger systems with alarmed areas.

A thin plastic coating applied to the outer cladding of an optical fibre. This is essential to protect the fibre from contamination and abrasion.

Pre-position lenses are specially designed lenses with extra mechanical/electrical components to allow for computer interfacing. This function allows the lens (when used with the appropriate controller) to feedback to the controller information relevant to zoom and focus propositioning allowing the controller to quickly scan to a pre-selected scene, arriving in focus at the proper zoom point without operator intervention.

The progressive scan format outputs data from the camera (the signal) in sequential order as it is scanned. The scan format produces a full frame of video in a continuous stream, rather than half the image per output sequence in traditional RS-170 CCD cameras. Standard RS-170 video is interlaced and output in two separate fields, generating essentially half the image at a time. With Cohu's new 6600 Series Progressive Scan Camera, a new, full image is output from the camera every 1/60th second, making it ideal for machines to more quickly process and display information, or act according to programmed instructions.

Public Switched Telephone Network - analogue communications network used for day to day telephony and data transmission.

(PUBLIC SWITCHED TELEPHONE NETWORK) - The telephone network provided by both BT and Mercury through which video, data or audio signals can be sent.

Pan Tilt Zoom - a camera which can be controlled via Joystick or DVR and moved up/down, left/right and zoomed in/out.

Quadrature amplitude modulation. Method for modulating two carriers. The carriers can
be analog or digital.

Quaternary Phase Shift Keying; a digital modulation scheme used in transmission communications that allows increased sending capacity.

(ALSO SPLIT SCREEN UNIT) Equipment that simultaneously displays parts or more than one image on a single monitor. It usually refers to four quadrants display.

A CCTV device used to display 4 cameras on one monitor.

Piece of equipment that can be housed into a rack enclosure, industry standard is 19" width (to outside of mount) with the height measured in U. 1U = 1.75 inches. (44.45 mm).

A graphical representation of the radiation properties of the antenna as a function of space coordinates.

A term used to describe incoming radio signals to a receiver or outgoing signals from a radio transmitter (above 150 Hz). Even though they are not properly radio signals, TV signals are included in this category.

An enclosure for protecting an antenna from the harmful effects of its physical environment, generally intended to leave the electrical performance of the antenna unaffected.

Method of television scanning that does not define a strict relationship between adjacent scan lines in sequential fields.

Redundant arrays of independent disks. This a technology of connecting a number of hard drives into one mass storage device, which can be used, among other things, for digital recording of video images.

Pre-defined scanning area for a television picture tube.

Deflection of light at certain angles when it enters obliquely from another medium of different density.

Units placed at regular intervals along a transmission system to detect weak signals and strengthen them.

A video switcher with a main switching box whose controller can be sited remotely via a single or pair of cables.
REMOTE SWITCHER: A video switcher which is connected to the camera cables and which contains the switching electronics. This unit may be remotely located and connected to a desk top controller by a single cable for each monitor.

Device that amplifies and then re-transmits a signal.

The number of horizontal lines a system can display.Digital Resolution (e.g. 720 x 576)
720 = number of points in each row that make up the picture
576 = number of rows

A number used to measure the ability of a camera or monitor to accurately reproduce a picture with many small picture elements. The more common CCTV cameras are capable of producing from 350 to 500 lines of resolution.

The number of horizontal lines that can be seen in the reproduced image of a television pattern.

Also called image burn. A change produced in or on the target which remains for a large number of frames after the removal of a previously stationary light image and which yields a spurious electrical signal corresponding to that light image.

Former name of the EIA association. Some older video test charts carry the name RETMA Chart.

The return of the electron beam in a CRT to the starting point after scanning. During retrace, the beam is typically turned off. All of the sync information is placed in this invisible portion of the video signal. May refer to retrace after each horizontal line or after each vertical scan (field).

Amplitude variations in the output voltage of a power supply caused by insufficient filtering.

The time required for the leading edge of a pulse to rise from 10% to 90% of its total amplitude.

A loss of vertical synchronization which causes the picture to move up or down on a receiver or monitor.

A frequency at which coherent electromagnetic radiation of energy is useful for communication purposes. Also, the entire range of such frequencies.

Radio frequency signal that belongs to the region up to 300 GHz.

A type of CCTV Coaxial cable used to transmit cctv camera video signals to a CCTV System.

Popular name for the standard four-wire modular connector for phone connections.

The initials "RS" stand for "Recommended Standard". There are many standards set by the IEE pertaining to types of signals produced by an electronic circuit. This particular standard deals with a television signal parameter setting certain standards for signal level and timing.

An electronic device that routes a user-supplied signal (audio, video, etc.) from any input to any user-selected output. This is a broadcast term for matrix switchers, as we know them in CCTV.

A means of transmission in which encoded information is carried in discrete packages of information, then spread over a wide bandwidth for transmission to specific receivers that filter out the coded material.

The intensity of the colors in the active picture. The degree by which the eye perceives a color as departing from a gray or white scale of the same brightness. A 100% saturated color does not contain any white; adding white reduces saturation. In NTSC and PAL video signals, the color saturation at any particular instant in the picture is conveyed by the corresponding instantaneous amplitude of the active video sub-carrier.

The movement of an electron beam from left to right and top to bottom over a target area used to produce a video signal and reproduce a visual image.

The density of light in LUX falling on the area to be viewed. For best results the ratio of the lightest to the darkest areas should not exceed a factor of two.

Single Channel Per-Carrier; an economical way to get multiple signals on one transponder.

A term usually used for a device that can combine the views from two cameras on a single screen. The split can be arranged horizontally, vertically or one picture inserted into another.

Sequential Colour & Memory - colour television broadcast system used in France .

Relating to, or arranged in a sequence. Used in relation to switching of camera inputs to a monitor so as to display different camera scenes one at a time in a sequential manner or repetition.

The sensitivity of a camera is often configured on your digital surveillance system.
Motion Detection based recording uses relies on the sensitivity of the cameras to trigger recording.

The outer finish of a cable. Usually this consists of an extruded layer of PVC or polyethylene.

Ability to control the integration (of light) time to the sensor to less than 1/60 second; e.g: stop motion of moving traffic.

Is a cable TV term. Leakage occurs when certain radio frequencies ooze out of the CATV's coaxial cable in such strength that they are evident outside the home. They might be sufficiently strong to interfere with aircraft navigation. Leakage is really a shielding problem.

The ratio between useful television signal and disturbing noise or snow.

The exceptionally pure glass used to make an optical fibre.

An optical fibre constructed in such a way that light travelling along the core can only follow one path. (Also called mono-mode).

This is a type of multiplexer. There is only one PCB inside a Simplex unit, so it can only do one of the three functions at a time. It can either record all cameras simultaneously, playback all cameras or display all cameras onto a monitor at the same time. It is mainly used on multiple camera systems, but because of its limitations, it tends only to be used on an un-named installation.

A camera for use in very low light levels.

A term usually applied to a method of transmitting video signals through the public telephone network. The speed of transmission is dependent on the type of network between the transmitter and receiver. The quality of picture is proportional to the speed of transmission. Modern systems, using digital compression techniques, can transmit good quality pictures in a few seconds.

Satellite Master Antenna Television; or private cable; a miniature cable system that receives programming by one satellite dish and serves an entire housing complex, hotel or apartment etc.

The sensitivity of the imaging device to different frequencies of light. This is usually in the range of 300-1000 nanometres. Visible light is up to 730nm, dull red infrared lighting from 700-850nm, invisible infrared is over 850nm.

A transient of short duration, comprising part of a pulse, during which the amplitude considerably exceeds the average amplitude of the pulse.

A neutral density filter paced at the center of one of the elements (or on an iris blade) to increase the high end of the F-stop range of the lens.

A means of transmission in which encoded information is carried in discrete packages of information, then spread over a wide bandwidth for transmission to specific receivers that filter out the coded material.

1000 microvolts at 75 ohms (0dB mV) in RF systems; 0.7-VPP non-composite, 1-VPP composite in video systems.

The part of an optical fibre cable that removes any strain on the fibres. Commonly used materials are steel and synthetic yarns.

When the sun passes behind a satellite in relation to the earth and it¡ës energy momentarily interferes with the satellite signals. This happens two times each year during spring and fall equinox.

(Super Video Home System) - New format high-resolution VHS video recorders, capable of giving greatly improved picture if all features are used. VHS compatible.

A video switcher to which the cables from the cameras are connected and which contains the switching electronics. This allows the user to switch between the pictures given by the different cameras, either manually or automatically after a preset time. Many switchers also have the facility that, if an alarm is activated, the switcher will switch to the camera covering the area where the alarm has been activated.

Used on a tower or bracket to enable the housing to be pointed at any angle, vertically or horizontally.

A contraction of "synchronous" or "synchronize".

A device for generating a synchronizing signal.

The level of the peaks of the synchronizing signal.

The signal employed for the synchronizing of scanning.

Maintaining two or more scanning processes in phase.

Terminal Adaptor - used to connect video transmission products to an ISDN digital telephone line.

Device used to convert a form of energy into electrical energy.

Signals which exist for a brief period of time prior to the attainment of a steady-state condition. These may include overshoots, damped sinusoidal waves, etc.

A term used to describe a picture condition in which groups of horizontal lines are displaced in an irregular manner.

Remote controlling system of, usually, digital encoded data, intended to control pan, tilt, zoom, focus, preset positions, wash, wipe and similar. Being digital, it is usually sent via twisted pair cable or coaxial cable together with the video signal.

Telephoto is a term used to describe lenses that have a high focal number causing the reproduced image to appear larger than human eye reproduction.

A chart especially prepared for checking overall performance of a television system. It contains various combinations of lines and geometric shapes. The camera is focused on the chart, and the pattern is viewed at the monitor for fidelity.

Time & Date generator - device used to overlay the time and date on a video signal.

Time Division Multiple Access is one of several technologies used in digital wireless transmissions that increases the efficiency of the network by allowing a greater number of simultaneous transmissions. Networks using TDMA assign 6 time slots for each frequency channel. Devices using the wireless network send bursts of information that are reassembled at the receiving end.
Terrestrial In communications parlance, this refers to earth, land or ground-based telecommunications systems.

A type of cable in which the optical fibres are tightly bound.

A video recorder, most often in VHS format, that can prolong the video recording on a single tape up to 960 hours (this refers to a 180 min tape). This type of VCR is often used in CCTV systems. The principle of operation is very simple – instead of having the video tape travel at a constant speed of 2.275 cm/s (which is the case with the domestic models of VHS VCRs), it moves with discrete steps that can be controlled. Time Lapse VCRs have a number of other special functions very useful in CCTV, such as external alarm trigger, time and date superimposed on the video signal, alarm search and so on.

A connector type unique to Net WORLD radios and antennas. Part 15.203 of the FCC rules covering spread-spectrum devices limits the types of antennas that may be used with transmission equipment. In compliance with this rule, Net WORLD, like all other wireless LAN providers, equips its radios and antennas with a unique connector to prevent attachment of non-approved antennas to radios.

A system by which all the camera controls are displayed on the screen of a special monitor. To control any function simply requires the screen to be touched a the appropriate symbol which can be to select a camera or pan, tilt and zoom. The system is computer driven and can include maps, diagrams etc. that are automatically displayed according to the alarm received.

A zoom lenses ability to remain in focus throughout the entire zoom range.

A satellite component that receives and retransmits a TV signal or perhaps many narrower-band data or audio channels.

Multiplexer feature that gives you the ability to simultaneously view both playback and live cameras within the same multi-screen, while still recording.

A cable, often screened, that consists of two conductors twisted together along their length.

Television Lines. The maximum number of changes between light and dark on a picture, across 3/4 of the width, dictates the resolution of a CCTV product, measured in TVL.

An industry term used to describe a home satellite system that only receives and does not transmit satellite television signals.