Common Q & A of Vehicle Video Camera Surveillance Systems Part 1

There can be a sharp learning curve for those new to the vehicle video camera surveillance system market. The questions many ask can give an insight into the thought process they undergo to understand what the systems are, what they can do, and how they can help in the management of vehicle fleet operations.

In its most basic form, a vehicle video camera surveillance or Driver Safety Recorder system is a mobile DVR, cameras, cabling, and a memory storage device.


Mobile DVR -
This is a DVR specifically made for mobile applications based upon the 12V DVC power platform of most commercial vehicles.
Most DVRs use fragile hard drives and run on 120 V A/C wall power sources that are much more stable and clean than the less stable, often static-filled power systems of a vehicle. The DVR for mobile applications has additional filtering to help stabilize the damaging effects of the less stable 12V DC power provided by the vehicle.
The DVR records the images provided to it by the cameras and preserves them on the memory storage device (SDXC memory card or SSD) contained within the locking DVR case.


Cameras-
In the past, these were Analog, but now with the advances in technology, most are High Definition in 720P or 1080P.
The camera is the digital eye of the system, capturing the video images and relating them back to the DVR where they are recorded.
The cameras are usually IR equipped, meaning they have Infra-Red LEDs for recording in total darkness, often referred to as night vision.
Most cameras are in a sturdy vandal-resistant metal casing or shell, so the cameras can withstand considerable abuse. Most cameras for mobile applications include an Audio microphone to record sound if the customer desires to do that.


Camera Extension Cables -
Those are the cables that connect the DVR to the cameras. The camera power is provided by the DVR.
We offer Wireless cameras, but they are primarily used for Forklift Video Camera Recorders used on telehandlers, high-reach order pickers, or crane applications where the boom or arms are far from the forklift operators’ vision, making the wireless camera an essential safety tool to verify safe lift operations.



Potential customer’s most common questions over the last year:


Does the camera record all the time?
The camera recording system is designed to be activated only when the vehicle ignition or power is activated.
However, the DVR menu permits the customer to select the time delay before the recording stops after ignition or vehicle power down.

In A NEMT vehicle camera system or non-emergency medical transport video camera surveillance application, the system records when the ignition is on and shuts off 1 minute after the ignition is turned off.

Police Patrol Wagon Suspect, Prisoner & Inmate in-Custody Transport Camera system applications are different as the paddy wagons or prison buses transporting DOC HVIs may require video recording for up to an hour after the ignition is turned off so the law enforcement officers or guards may unlock the inmates and escort them into the prison facility or holding areas.

Elderly Day Care Shuttle & Assisted Living Transportation Vehicle Video Cameras system applications are also likely to have delayed shut downtimes that are set in the DVR menu as some elderly patients of the daycare assisted living environments may require longer to get the transported patients or passengers of the vehicle as they may require assistance.


Head Start Pre-K Pre-School Nursery School Child Safety Bus Camera Recorder system applications are working with very young children, and many times, the children need more time to get on and off the vehicle.

Alternative School & Juvenile Detention Bus Security Camera applications are working with youths who have past issues with behavioral problems, and the entry and exit of the vehicles should be recorded by increasing the delay time post ignition.

Before & After Care School, Child Day Care Pickup In-vehicle Shuttle Safety Cameras applications often transport children to and from school before and after classes, so the time of delivery and pickup is important as






How long does the memory store files?
The memory can store files for as long as 1 year on the DVR memory storage device depending on the system, the memory storage capacity, the number of cameras, the frame rate, and the resolution setting in the menu.
In general, it is wise to only store a couple of weeks worth of video files on the DVR, so the DVR memory storage device is much lower in cost.
There have been examples of Waste Collection Recycling Video Camera Surveillance Systems applications whose customers claimed they missed several pickups of customers that were resolved by reviewing the video files records months after the date cited in the false claims.




How many cameras do I need?
This depends on the objective and vehicle operating parameters.

For example:
Airport shuttle van camera system applications can get good coverage from a single camera as the vehicle is an open layout and the passenger seating area is relatively small.
Conversely, Police Patrol Wagon Suspect, Prisoner & Inmate in-Custody Transport Camera system applications can be quite different. Imagine a police paddy wagon that has 4 separate compartments in the rear of the vehicle. Each compartment is isolated from the others so that the inmates or suspects are completely isolated from the other inmates or suspects, all boxed in a steel portion of the vehicle. In his situation, the driver cannot see anyone behind them in the metal compartments, so they might have 4 cameras in the same van-sized vehicle as in the airport shuttle van camera application. They require a video of each suspect or prisoner that the LE officers in the front can monitor on the 7 or 9-inch LCD mounted in the front of the vehicle.
In this way, should the prisoner or suspect swallow the drugs they were hiding, or intentionally bang heads against the metal wall, the driver can see this, and it is recorded in case they go into drug overdoses or file false charges of police abuse.
School bus video camera applications usually only require 2 or 3 cameras for sufficient surveillance of the inside of the bus.

However, if the bus is a lift bus, then we are in a Special Needs Wheelchair Bus Security Camera system application where you will need an additional camera on the lift door to ensure the highest risk area is being recorded in case of any issues in the future from the lift operations.




Why do other companies not put their pricing online?
Guilt, shame, embarrassment, or combinations of all 3, perhaps. The entire online information shopping experience has pricing.
Most companies rely on the skills of high-pressure commission sales weasels to force a sale whether a customer needs the product or not.
Our company has pricing proudly listed online, as we are not embarrassed or our pricing.




What is the difference between commercial and industrial-grade systems?
The commercial grade is what most dealers of Vehicle Video Camera Recorder systems sell.
It is a standard quality product, with good selling features that can function in most interior applications environments.

Industrial grade products are higher in quality, higher in environmental protection, environmentally sealed, armored from vandalism, are water and dustproof, and the LCD displays used in Forklift Video Camera applications or Crane Wireless Video Camera systems. They are made to endure the harshest environments and thus last much longer in all environmental applications.



Does the driver turn the camera on?
No.
For example, in a Paratransit Driver Safety Video Camera Surveillance System, the DVR starts recording once the vehicle ignition or power is turned on and runs until power or ignition is turned off.
The system does not require any interaction from the driver to document what is occurring in front of the cameras.




Does the Driver have access to the video files?
No, the SD card or SSD drive bay depending on what system you invest in is protected from the driver by a key lock.
While some Private Service Contractor Charter Transport Compliance Bus Camera System customers have provided the bus drivers with the key, we advise against this as in order to protect the driver; they must be no part of the chain of custody to the video file access.

For example, in a Cannabis Transport Vehicle Camera Recorder system application, you may have a shuttle van converted into a semi-armored security vehicle like a lightweight armored car, as they are carrying 2 very sought-after items, cannabis in large quantities and lots of cash. It would be Neolithic to give the driver the keys to the vehicle's video camera surveillance recording system because the first time some large cash amount is missing or the cannabis products come up missing, the driver will be the #1 suspect. When they pull the video memory, and it is missing, the driver will be immediately suspected as the perpetrator and will have no way to dispute the claim, as they had access to the video file, and now the memory card or SSD is missing.

A proper chain of custody is required to protect the driver from allegations like this.

In another example, It is a sad reality many girls and boys are addicted to meth or other illegal drugs and are often arrested and transported to jail. Some believe they can get their charges dropped if they file false claims the police officer who transported them raped them or in some way abused them. These are serious claims that must be verified or disproven. False claims can clog up the legal system with doubts if they are not disputed effectively. For this reason, the police officers who drive the cars are not permitted to have any keys or access to the video files as they must follow a clear chain of custody for the video files to be usable in court in their own defense.



What is the Warranty?
The system warranty is 1-Year with the below exceptions:
10-Year Camera warranty standard with all AHD (Analog High Definition) cameras.
Lifetime Warranty on Camera Extension Cables
Lifetime Warranty on Memory Storage SDXC cards
Lifetime System Warranty (Testudo option available covers all including DVR)
Lifetime Technical Support
Lifetime Software Updates
Lifetime Firmware updates




How Does One View or Download From an SD Card?
This will change slightly depending on the specific application.
For example, in a Casino Customer Shuttle Bus Video Surveillance Safety Camera system application, a supervisor has several options to choose from to view the video files.




Are these systems Backward Compatibility?
American Bus Video Inc. specs our new 1080P DVRS to be hybrid “AHD” aka Analog High Definition DVR platforms, so that our past customers can make use of the newest DVR technology without wasting their money replacing older cameras if they still operate.
”Waste not” is a principle of thoughtful conservation to provide the most value from previously purchased products.
While other companies require their new technology DVRs to only use their new tech cameras every 3-5 years, ABV customers who purchased cameras from us almost 30 years ago can still use those older analog cameras with our newest tech HD DVRs if they wish.

That is “Customer Empowerment,” something other companies may talk about…ABV delivers. The fact every company can offer this capability if they want to save their customer’s money and install labor, as we do, should cause a reasoned mind to question, “Why do they not?”.

For example, 15 years ago, a Special Needs Wheelchair School Bus Video Camera Surveillance Systems customer installed our systems. In time the DVR failed. They called for a quote for a new replacement system. We asked if this is for a new bus or one with an older existing system. They told us one of the ones we sold them a long time ago had a DVR fail. I asked them if the video quality from the older cameras was sufficient for them or if they wanted the new higher-definition cameras. They said they were good quality but just figured they needed to replace everything.
I quoted the Upgrade DVR, as well as an entire system, and told them the upgrade DVR would still use the older cameras and would save them about 1/2 the cost of the new system, and they would not need to replace all the cameras and cables and completely reinstall the system, so they chose that and are happy with the new DVR working as the other one had.

Another example; Head Start Pre-K Pre-School Nursery School Child Safety Bus Camera Recorder systems had our systems 2-camera installed for the last 5 years, and when they opted to invest in the newer high definition system, we let them know how the systems could also integrate older technology cameras we had previously sold them. They opted to purchase the same 2-camera systems with the HD cameras and then added the 2 previously installed cameras to bring their system to 4 cameras.





Should they ever need School Bus Stop Arm Cameras, the new DVR was 1080P, so it could just plug in a new 1080P School Bus Stop Arm Camera when they needed it in the future. With Analog High Definition (AHD) DVRs, you have a backward-compatible solution that can save you hundreds on each system into the future, plus you reduce the unnecessary land and water pollution by not disposing of fully functional cameras and camera extension cables.