Door Monitoring and Control with Internet CCTV, Part 2

January 5th, 2021



In part one of this series, we looked at how your wireless internet CCTV camera can monitor the area in front of an external door, and raise an alert when someone approaches the door.  In this final part of the series, we are going to look at the next step in the process; how to use your camera to unlock the door.

You may remember from part one that most good quality internet CCTV cameras have a digital input/output port, or I/O port.  This is simply a series of connectors that allow the camera to be attached to electrical circuits.  We have shown you in part one how the two input connectors on the port can be used for monitoring an alarm circuit and raising an alert.  In a similar way, the two output connectors can be used to switch electrical equipment.  Your camera can be configured so that a current is sent to the output connectors under certain circumstances.  This gets very interesting because unbelievably you can use the camera to actually open the door! So how can a wireless CCTV camera actually open a front door?  We will explain how in the next few sections.

The first piece of equipment you will need is an electronic door release, which you fit the door frame.  This is a common piece of equipment in the home and business security systems and can be obtained inexpensively through your local provider in Houston, TX.  The door release is fitted to the door frame so that the catch on the door lock fits into it.  The door lock is untouched and the door can be unlocked with a key as usual, but the electronic door release can also open the door.  It does this by freeing the catch from the door frame without unlocking the lock when a current is sent along the attached wires.

The next step is simply to run the wires from the door release mechanism to the output connectors on the internet CCTV camera’s I/O port. The camera has to be programmed so that it will accept an “open door” text message from your mobile phone or from a web page, and send a current to release the door.  Of course, you may be happy enough to fit the door release mechanism, but programming the camera to work with it is a specialist task.  We always recommend getting in touch with an “internet CCTV” provider for a ready-programmed camera that you simply plugin, so you get this great feature without needing any technical knowledge.

Once you have everything connected, here is how it all works in practice.  Let’s say you get a text message alert from the camera to tell you that someone is at the door, and you know it’s about the time your son gets home from school.  You log in using your mobile phone or PC and see a live picture of your son standing outside the front door, unable to get in because he’s forgotten his key.  You can simply send a text message from your phone to a central number, with your password, user name, and a simple command such as “open front door”.  A central computer program gets your text message and processes it, checking your credentials.  Then, the system sends a message across the internet to your internet CCTV camera, and the camera then sends a current to the door release mechanism, which opens the door for your son, all within a few seconds!

New applications for wireless internet CCTV such as door monitoring and control bring the technology to a different level when compared to traditional CCTV.  This is yet another reason why these intelligent digital cameras replacing dumb analog cameras the world over. These digital cameras is also what your local provider in Houston, TX specializes in if you want to learn more.

 

"Steve I just wanted to thank you and your partner Ray Kindsfather for the fine work you men did installing the security cameras around my home. The quality of the pictures is excellent, the clarity in day or infrared mode is exactly what I was looking for. What good is a camera if you can't identify the person and these cameras will greatly assist the police in identifying a perpetrator. The computer side of the job is easy and fast with very little adjustment time for me in finding what I want to see. Software and hardware get A+++++ no doubt about. The Ring is equally easy to use and the quality of the camera is equally strong. The installation was clean and fast. You maintain a clean site, it’s like you were never here. You answered all my questions with pin point accuracy. Integrity suits you well. Your answers were honest and to the point. Refreshing in today’s world. All and all you and Ray make a strong team at DWS Technology LLC. I have no problem recommending you to friend or family, home or business. God bless you both with your business. I will call you for future installations. "

Cliff Mulvaney

Homeowner

"Ray, in reviewing several different security cameras there were many good products, but none met my criteria of clarity and no long-term contract. Raymond, you showed me one product that caught my attention with the clarity and distance viewing that I could not get with other systems. The zoom after a few feet became distorted with the other systems but with the Alibi NVR package you demoed, we could zoom in and out with clarity which made this product stand out from all the rest. The NVR system is so simple, in fact, anyone can configure the system to suit their needs. You can monitor your home from your smartphone or tablet and having security cameras makes it a great deterrent for criminal activity. DWS Technology delivered as promised! Your installation crew worked clean and treated my home as if it was their own. Great attention to detail! I will recommend DWS Technology to anyone! Great job guys!"

Eli R.

"DWS Technology does great work! I found them to be knowledgeable, professional and cost-effective. DWS designed a company-wide integrated comprehensive solution with site survey drawings outlying every detail of the project for our nine major locations. The surveillance performance we needed was exactly what we received. DWS, you outperformed our expectations and continue to do so with your tech support. Thank you for providing great service and delivering on your promises."

John Schreiber

Building Superintendent, Catholic Charities

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