Ken:

    I just wanted to clear up a couple of issues with your recent article on "CCTV central station video monitoring".  I think the clarification is necessary because here at Nationwide Digital Monitoring I receive numerous calls from dealers wanting to enter the offsite video, but are confused or don't understand what the services are.

    Your article starts out addressing offsite video storage, this is a service offered to either replace or backup an on site DVR.  Offsite storage allows the alarm dealer to stream the video to secure servers.  This prevents someone on site from "accidently" stopping recording, and preserves the video should the recorder be destroyed or stolen during an incident.

    Another related video service is Video Guard Tours.  With this service the central station looks into the account according to a predefined schedule.  Nationwide monitors a large number of auto dealers and other storage lots with this service. 

    The next level is Interactive Video Monitoring; this provides not only video but voice and actions to be performed by the central station.  When used in Video Guard Tours the operator can nicely inform someone that the dealership is currently closed, But should someone be observed tying to break into a vehicle the LIVE disembodied voice is very effective in having the intruder make a hasty retreat.  Interactive Video can be used to replace low volume 3rd shift guards, and even automate some doorman services.

    Video Verification is the big one.  This is what Jeff is talking about when he writes about "Videofied".   In a video verification system the central station receives images from the initiating device.  Most system will provide pre, alarm, and post images.  The central station operator can see what caused the alarm.  This service reverses the false dispatch rate in a simple elegant solution.  Our industry typically has a false dispatch rate of better than 90%.  This is what upsets the authorities and leaves us as an open target for all sorts of fines, and false alarm legislation.  At Nationwide and I'm sure Jeff's center has similar statistics with Video Verification the numbers basically reverse themselves to better than 90% actual dispatches on real intrusion, and less than 10% false dispatches.  Video Verification is also acceptable in most jurisdictions that require enhanced verification before authorities can be dispatched.

    Yes alarms using video verification are more expensive to monitor, but the few extra dollars per month are more than made up by the elimination of fines.  This is real value, to the subscriber and the future of our industry.

Mark S. Fischer  VP/CTO

Nationwide Digital Monitoring