How to choose a camera

Here’s link to help you choose a camera system click here

Finding an open IP on your network

How to find an open IP on your network and configure a DVR to use it.

Self-contained stand alone recorder settings

How to configure your stand alone hidden camera with built in recorder.

Computer Monitoring Software Might Just Save a Life

We get parents in all the time that are always concerned about their child’s’ activity on the internet. The world has changed a lot and surfing the web is not as safe as it used to be. I had one parent in particular who represents a lot of the parents I have come in, and wanted to know what was out there to monitor their home computer. Of course the Spector Pro came to mind and I explained to this concerned mother that it would get passwords, login information, take screenshots, chat logs and more. She seemed thrilled and returned to me a few months later to let me know that to her relief, her daughter was just spending a lot of time on Facebook.

So if you are a concerned parent there are 2 programs that you could start to research or ask us about and they are the Spector Pro and E-Blaster, they are an internet activity monitoring software that can capture keystrokes, copy emails, notify you when inappropriate sites are visited and of course the screen shots are very handy to see and playback as if you were there watching. With a few simple questions we can help you find out which one would be right for you.

How to Section

Our how to videos are simple step by step instructions on how to perform certain actions.  We offer this as a courtesy and state that if you do not understand in any way how do perform any of the actions seen in our videos, please do not continue.  We will assume no responsibility if you disable your network.   So always be prudent if following any of our videos and copy your settings before changing anything.

Network Integration

This is part of a series on how to do network integration

Port Forwarding

Port Forwarding on a Linksys router

When is Enough Really Enough??

Recently during dinner I was watching the Simpson’s .  The episode was based on Springfield putting in a camera network for the entire city, exactly like London England has to help deter vandalism, theft, violence and what not.

As I continued to watch the episode Ned Flanders (Mr. righteous of all people) becomes the chief operator of the surveillance  network system, he has the ability to talk to people via intercom systems through the camera network. Well if you know anything about good ol Ned he lives by a different set of rules than the rest of the patriarchs in Springfield. So he starts warning people over any little infraction they may be doing from kissing in public, to betting and much more. Well of course this starts to bother the rest of the citizens of Springfield because they cant get away with anything and they feel there own personal privacy is being invaded at this point….(sounds familiar)

Well Bart ends up finding a blind spot in the camera system which of course is in the Simpson’s back yard. So all of Springfield gathers their to do their illegal activities. From their the story takes a whole look at when is enough really enough when it comes to security and our rights as Americans. I don’t want to give away the end of the show because it was actually pretty good, but here is a link to the entire episode through Hulu.com.

Now each person has their own opinion on this subject, and opinions are like…..well you know the old saying.  So I will just keep my opinions to myself on this matter because neither side is right or wrong in their claims.

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Personal Defense

We get lots of calls and questions every day about what is the best thing for personal defense.  There are lots of options out there and all of them are useless without a dash of diligence, a pinch of self-discipline and bowl full of comfort in what you will use.  There are a few things out there that top most peoples lists when they research what there is to use and pepper sprays, Tasers (TM) and stun guns, usually make those lists.

So a lot of the questions we get daily are – Which one is more effective, which one will take down an assailant, what would be best for me?  There really isn’t a magical formula on this but through some simple education on each, we are able to provide each of our customers with the knowledge they need to make an informed decision.  Remember, its “Personal” defense, what will You use?

Mace Brand sprays are quite simple and unique, they are the leading brand of pepper sprays in the country and there name has become synonymous with pepper spray personal defense.  They have a variety of  hand held sprays from liquids to foam and gels and many contain tear gas. There market research has enabled them to develop an entire brand around their product and to create sprays that encompass a multitude of situations.   One of their most recent developments has been a Mace Pepper spray gun capable of firing up to 25 feet with refillable cartridges.  So pepper spray can be the way to go if you want something on your keys or in the house or would like the feel of a gun that can burst targets up to 25 feet away.

Stun guns often get confused with Tasers and there are knock-off Tasers out there but there will only be one Taser.  Just like the Mace Brand sprays, Taser is Taser and its name is, its brand.  I’m sure most of us remember the You Tube video and the following marketing campaign of shirts and bumper stickers all saying “Dont Tase me Bro! Don’t Tase me!”.  Well at least he had it right, it was a Taser.  This unique hand-held device shoots out two fish-hooked barbs attached to wire leads that inject the body with up to 50,000 volts and cause muscular disruption of the signals in the brain to the rest of the body.  Now this is similar to what a stun gun does but a stun gun is only a localized pain affect unlike the Tasers overall body effect.  The C-2 is the newest consumer model on the market, its handle-like, lightweight design is done to not make it look like a gun like the previous models.  It comes in many bright and distinct colors such as Pink and Red Hot Red, and have become very fashionable and have prompted Taser parties all over the country.

Now, stun guns, they come in all shapes and sizes and voltages.  Other questions we get asked a lot are, so which one is the strongest? I want them to drop, which one should I use?  Well, there are dozens of voltage choices out there from 100,000 volts to 3,000,000 volts.  But in the end, they are still a localized effect so if you want someone to drop you have to hit them in the right place.  So what of the voltage?  The higher the voltage the more pain, stun guns combine high voltage with low amperage and in that area of the touched muscle the brain scrambles to send information and the disruption can cause many different reactions.  It can cause it to tighten or straighten or spasm and eventually will exhaust it altogether and render it useless for a short time.

So back to voltage, the higher volts the faster pain is inflicted in an area, but touch someone in the right place and it won’t matter if its 400,000 or 1,000,000 volts coursing through them, they’ll feel it.  Now there are lots of articles out there that talk about the condition of the person that a stun gun is being used on.  If someone is on some kind of substance that is already mis-firing their brain messages like drugs or alcohol, will it be useful against them?  It is hard to give a straight answer to that question.  There are so many different factors involved with anything we use for defense and there simply is no way to prepare for each and every scenario life has to throw at us, but having something to protect yourself sounds better than having nothing at all.