How do I determine if a safety camera system is right for me?  What features do I need in a safety camera system?  What does dot pitch measure? What do mobile DVRs do and do my fleet vehicles need them?  What’s the difference between NTSC and PAL?  What exactly is a multiplexer? 

These are just a few of the questions you have when you’re in the market for a safety camera system.

Using this quick guide, you’ll learn what every spec means and figure out exactly what your needs are before you make a purchase, whether you’re buying for personal usage or your fleet. 

AUTO IRIS SENSOR

Senses ambient light and automatically adjusts infra-red strength based on the ambient light

DISPLAY CONTRAST/CONTRAST RATIO

The ratio of the brightest color (white) to the darkest color (black) that the system is capable of producing; a high contrast ratio is a desired aspect of any display

DISPLAY FORMAT/DISPLAY ASPECT RATIO

The proportional comparison between a display’s width and height is expressed as two numbers separated by a colon; common aspect ratios for displays are 4:3, 16:9, and 21:9 (16:9 is the international standard format for Full HD)

DOT PITCH

A dot pitch measures the maximum sharpness of a displayed image; usually measured in millimeters (mm), a smaller number means a sharper image

DOT RESOLUTION

Dots are elements that make up an image; the higher the dot resolution, the higher the image quality 

EVENT MODE

Video recording mode which causes footage to be overwrite-protected; event mode is usually triggered by unusual vehicle movement or sudden impact

FPS

Frames per second (FPS) is a measurement of how many unique consecutive images a camera can handle every second

G-SENSOR

Measures impact or sudden changes in velocities; once the G-Sensor is activated, event mode automatically begins

GAMMA CORRECTION

Corrects colors on your display

H.264

A style of video compression that allows for the greatest video quality with the smallest storage space

IP RATING

The IP rating measures protection against solid and liquid objects; the larger the number, the higher the rating, with IP69K being the highest possible rating, meaning the system is completely weatherproof 

INFRA-RED ILLUMINATOR

Infra-reds emit light on the spectrum that the human eye cannot detect (700nm to 1000nm) but low-light cameras can; this greatly increases visibility in zero or low light conditions without an actual visible light source

LOOP RECORDING

Video recording mode that activates after video storage is full and the camera loops back then records over the oldest footage

MOBILE DVR

A recording device that is used to record video footage; DVRs are useful for fleet managers because they provide footage of accidents and information on a vehicle's whereabouts and driving routes

MOTION DETECTION

A feature that automatically records before, during, and after an impact while in parking mode; allowing for accident footage even when an owner is away from their car

MULTIPLEXER

The control unit or "brain" of the system, that powers the system, receives all camera feeds, and sends them to the monitor; connected right to the fuse box and has a power capacity of 12-24 volts

NTSC

National Television System Committee (NTSC) is a video system that transmits 30 frames per second (FPS) 

NECESSARY/USABLE ILLUMINATION

Measures how much ambient light (measured in lux) is needed to view an image; If your system has infrared illuminators, 0 lux is needed

OEM

Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) refers to equipment that was installed in a vehicle when it was manufactured; OEM style is an installation with a clean, factory look

PAL

Phase Alternation by Line (PAL) is a video system that transmits 25 frames per second (FPS)

PICTURE ELEMENTS

Picture elements is another way to write pixel, which is the smallest addressable element in digital imaging; the more pixels, the higher the quality image

POWER SUPPLY

Most systems can be powered by 12 or 24-volt batteries, meaning they can be powered by the vehicle battery; DC stands for direct current

S/N RATIO (SIGNAL-TO-NOISE RATIO)

Compares the level of the desired signal to the level of background noise; a ratio above 1:1 (greater than 0dB) indicates more signal than noise

SHOCK

A physical or mechanical shock is a sudden acceleration caused by outside factors such as impact; it is usually measured in G units, which represent multiples of the acceleration of gravity

TFT LCD

A high-quality monitor that is used in appliances such as television sets, computer monitors, and mobile phones; a TFT LCD monitor improves image qualities like contrast and sharpness and  uses up to half the power of a traditional monitor

TV LINES

The maximum number of alternating light and dark vertical lines that can be resolved per picture height; the higher the number, the better the image quality

TRIGGER

An automatic reaction after a specific operation is performed; an example is a rear camera view displaying when a car is put into reverse

VIBRATION

A mechanical phenomenon where fluctuations occur at an equilibrium point; usually measured in g units, which represent multiples of the acceleration of gravity