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To lease or buy a surveillance system |
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Having previously looked at the pros and cons of installing jobsite surveillance system yourself, we now turn to the merits and drawbacks of either leasing or buying a surveillance system and examine
For those looking to buy a surveillance system, companies such as siteisight offer preconfigured systems for easy client installation. The company will also install the systems; in most cases, it must install if it is going to be operated over a customer-owned Internet connection. Its most popular system is an HD MegaPixel Camera with built-in IP server and fixed, variable focus lens. Selling for $3,299, it is self-contained and includes wireless equipment. All siteisight units connect to the Internet using either Verizon or Sprint cellular. Every 15 minutes, a unit uploads an HD image to the companys secure Web servers. Clients log in to an assigned site to view and download images as necessary.
siteisight also leases the equipment and charges a separate monthly fee for Web server use and storage. Leases are recommended for setups lasting six months or fewer, otherwise, the company said it is more cost effective to buy a surveillance system.
For phttp://www.2020software.com/admin/landingpage/addedit.asp?id=15an, tilt and zoom (PTZ) functions, siteisight offers its ALive! PTZ System. The camera can be controlled from any Internet-connected computer and, besides a 40X optical zoom. it covers 340 degrees.
The Dual Cam Pro system, meanwhile, offers a dual camera surveillance system that includes one fixed lens camera and one PTZ camera on the same Internet connection. These units can operate on the same mount or can be split up to cover a wider area, the company said. Users can buy solar panels, and can have the weather conditions stamped on every image.
One unique offering from siteisight is a camera-equipped hard hat. As long as wireless internet is in the area where it is being used the wearer can broadcast inspections, show technical aspects of operations, and even hold training sessions. Owners, architects, managers, engineers and others not at the jobsite can see what the wearer is seeing, live, at any moment.
Vendors that lease equipment typically have turnkey systems such as those offered by EPlanit. (The company also has construction software for project management and tracking of employee hours for payroll purposes.) EPlanits mobile construction camera is a trailer-mounted, solar or AC-powered unit with a telescoping, pole-mounted camera. When deployed, the system can stand up to 100-mph winds and needs no external connections to operate.
The unit includes a wireless Internet connection using a CDMA wireless card and router. The card works on the Sprint or Verizon networks, delivers two to five frames per second, and creates a Wi-Fi hotspot for other Internet connections within range. Instead of using the CDMA card, it can also be connected to an available DSL line that will deliver up to 30 frames per second. To control the camera, and monitor its footage, you log into the included website using any computer. The camera can pan, tilt and zoom, and there are 32 custom presets. Also included is 10GB of video storage; if you need to store more, you can add a network video recorder that will hold up to two years of footage.
The company leases or sells these units, with a typical lease being $900 per month. Leases longer than eight months are eligible for a discounted rate. The lease cost includes installation, the web site and included 10GB storage space. On the other hand, when you buy a surveillance system, there is a $200 monthly fee to cover the website and storage space. That expense can be suspended for those times in-between jobs when the unit is not in use.
For those who dont need the portability of a mobile unit, ePlanit offers its Video & Internet Module(VIM). This is the same camera as above but without the trailer and mast. The lease is about $400 per month.
Other vendors, such as OnsiteView, offer leases on PTZ cameras in wired and wireless versions, and still-frame cameras. For the wired PTZ version, the customer provides the mounting surface, 120-volt power supply and a minimum DSL internet connection. The wireless PTZ version just requires the power, along with cellular coverage in the area. OnsiteView PTZ camera leases range from $395 to $695 and have monthly hosting fees ranging from $275 to $455. Cellular still cameras lease from $395 to $595 per month with hosting fees of $335 to $495. Self installations are available, although in most cases customers elect to have technicians from OnsiteView do the installations, the company said. For those looking to buy a surveillance system, OnsiteView sells the cameras for prices ranging from $2,495 to $3,895. Available options include installation, video recording DVRs and solar power.
The final section of this article discusses some additional considerations for deciding whether to lease or buy a surveillance system.
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