Top Fire Protection Services in Fort Lauderdale, FL
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City of Tamarac Fire Rescue Department
By Shirley Levy February 19, 2010
I On Friday, Feb 12, I had to call 911 because of heart symptems-at t;he sight of the crew that came, I felt immediately and secure and safe( just at the sight of them ) They ruled out anything serious and I recovered quickly. It's been a week and I am still haunted by the vison of their marvelous performance on my behalf. I would like to make a donation in their honor but I need to know where please advise ...read more
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What you should know about HDTV IP cameras
Everyone knows what HDTV means when it comes to home entertainment, but what about when HDTV is used in video surveillance? How does the HDTV technology stack up againstMegapixel IP cameras? Market awareness and demand for highest possible resolution is on the increase. The HDTV phenomenon is a case in point. Offering higher resolution than SD (SD = Standard Definition - the resolution that your old TV used to display), plus wider viewing that gives that movie theatre look on a wide screen TV. HD has become so popular that Blu-ray (HD) movies titles are outselling DVD (SD). HDTV may be a hit with the mass consumer market, but is HDTV the best way to go for video surveillance? IP camera manufacturers backing HDTV are saying yes, but let's consider the facts. HDTV&Megapixel - what's the difference? A HDTV camera is a megapixel camera that is confined to the HDTV standard. Depending on the model, a HDTV camera produces between 1 to 2.1 megapixel resolution at up to 30fps (frames per second), with an aspect ratio of 16:9. Video is compressed using H.264. HDTV is restricted to a maximum resolution of 2.1 megapixel (1920x1080). Well before HDTV cameras were released, megapixel camera technology has been delivering the same resolutions and wide screen format - they just weren't labeled "HD". Megapixel cameras are not constrained by the HDTV resolution limitation. When recording above 2.1 megapixels, some cameras may not be able to match the HDTV frame rate, due to the increased processing load at the camera, however this is largely irrelevant as only a very small percentage of sites require a recording speed of 30fps (frames per second). Most installations are setup to capture video at between 5fps - 20fps on event. Very few applications require higher recording frame rates. Is HDTV better because it's a standard? HDTV is a standard developed for the television industry; however the video requirements for surveillance applications are vastly different than for home entertainment. When it comes to surveillance, capturing what is moving in the scene at the best possible image quality is most important. The key problem with HDTV cameras is that H.264 is the codec used for video delivery. While it's true, H.264 is great for streaming High Definition video at low bit rates, there is a catch. H.264 applies very high compression to anything moving in the scene - thus captured in lower resolution. It's a simple trick applied, that goes unnoticed by the human eye - but only while the video is streaming. When the video is paused and a still image extracted, for the purposes of identifying a moving person or object, it lacks detail. That's the nature of H.264. But this makes sense because it was only designed for streaming movies - not for examining what is moving in high detail, or pausing and extracting stills as is required in a surveillance application. (Article: Video codec made for surveillance) Does HDTV offer the best image quality? When it comes to image quality HDTV does not offer any special capabilities over megapixel technology, and it's capped at 2.1 megapixels. As a comparison, a MOBOTIX 3.1 megapixel camera produces 51% higher image resolution than a HDTV IP camera, and captures a much greater viewing area than the HD format. Which is best - 16:9 or 4:3 aspect ratio? Capturing the critical areas of a scene in the highest possible image quality should always be given top priority. Megapixel cameras with clipping functionality allows users to create any sized aspect ratio required, meaning they can pre-define any area from within the camera's field of view. Once the unwanted parts of the scene have been clipped out, the camera will produce video according to the preselected size and ratio. This is particularly useful when you want to capture, stream and store only the area of interest within the scene. This in turn lowers the storage and Bandwidth usage dramatically. Another benefit to the clipping function is that the aspect ratio can be defined to suit any sized viewing monitor, therefore you're not confined to any one aspect ratio. Why so much hype around HDTV? The term "HD" is little more than a marketingvehicle being aggressively used by IP camera manufacturers who know the mass market relates HD to highest image quality - but don't be fooled. While HDTV may represent best image quality for television, there are megapixel camera technologies available offering higher resolution and image quality than HD. Customers should examine different high resolution lP video products, seeing them in action to make an informed comparison. Mike Davis President Davis Fire and Security ...read more
By Davis Fire & Security November 02, 2010
Customer Service
Providing excellent customer service is a challenging feat for any servicing company, where most companies go wrong is over promising the the customer and creating an environment where the customer is always right at the expense of your employees. We have all heard the motto ( The Customer is Always Right), but nothing can be further from the truth. Abusive or problem customers make up 5 percent of your customer base, but take up to 90% percent of your time resolving issues which causes low moral with your employees especially if you always side with the abusive customer. A better approach would be to create an environment where your employees are appreciated and encouraged, happy employees will result in happy customers which in turn results in great customer service. If an abusive customer gives an employee a hard time it might be better for you and your company to ask them to seek services elsewhere. Put employees first, and they will be happy at work. Employees who are happy at work give better customer service because: They care more about other people, including customers They have more energy They are happy, meaning they are more fun to talk to and interact with They are more motivated Another component necessary in creating a good customer experience is finding customers who are willing to commit to a good working business relationship. If the customer never cooperates than there is nothing you will be able to do to ever satisfy that customer. A good business relationships takes effort from both parties where communication is the key. Keep your employees happy, fire abusive customers and communicate with customers who value the services you have to offer and watch your business grow. ...read more
By Davis Fire & Security October 25, 2010
Fire Alarm Inspections
Did you know that most companies use theirleast qualified techniciansto perform yourAnnual Fire Inspection, while at the same time are promoting the importance of the inspections as a selling point. Davis Fire & Securityhas a different philosophy; we use our most experienced technicians on a rotating base for the required NFPA 72 Inspections because we know just how important they really are. A proper inspection can only be performed using the following criteria. 1. Utilize experienced technicians. 2. Technicians must be FASA (Fire Alarm Systems Agent) Certified. 3. Technicians must be factory trained or NICET Certified on fire alarm equipment 4. Physically testing each device, simulated operation should not be used. 5. Use canned smoke to test smoke detectors; magnet test does not test for smoke entry. A proper inspection will identify problems that can lead to system failure, false alarms or defective components. A complete testing and service plan should be established to ensure your system is in compliance, working properly and to increase the life expectancy of the system. Contacts us for expert friendly adviceMike DavisPresidentDavis Fire&Security800-647-1582mike@dfs-group.net ...read more
By Davis Fire & Security October 07, 2010