2Gig Adds Local DVR to Self-Contained Security
Panels
2Gig appears to be the first to offer local DVR on
self-contained security panels -- up to 1TB via built-in SATA
drive. Service complements cloud-based solution from Alarm.com.
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2Gig Go!2.0 security panel
with on-board video recording and streaming, demonstrated at ISC
West 2012
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2Gig, which sells more than 300,000 self-contained
security panels per year, is adding a unique feature to its
Go!Control systems: built-in DVR capabilities. The company
demonstrated the solution during the International Security
Conference (ISC West 2012) in Las Vegas.
A self-contained security panel is one that includes the security
processor, keypad/interface, sensor hub, back-up battery and
(usually) built-in GSM module for cellular communications with
the central station. Normally, all that is needed is a power
source.
In addition, most self-contained panels today also include home
automation capabilities, with built-in Z-Wave or ZigBee modules.
2Gig was arguably the pioneer of this configuration.
For its automation capabilities, 2Gig relies on Alarm.com to
process commands in the cloud. Alarm.com takes information from
the security panel, the automation devices and the surveillance
cameras, and shoots them out in a user-friendly, unified
interface available from the panel itself or virtually any mobile
device.
RELATED: Top 2012 Trend: Low-Cost, Self-Contained Home
Automation/Security Systems
The problem is: If the Internet goes down at the user's premises,
the cameras won't record. Several home systems integrators and
security dealers have told CE Pro that this is the biggest
drawback of IP-enabled surveillance systems (like 2Gig and
others) that are totally reliant on the cloud.
"This is going to change the way things are done," says
2Gig co-founder Lance Dean at ISC West 2012.
Now, with its on-board DVR, the 2Gig panels can
benefit from both local and cloud-enabled video recording.
"This is going to change the way things are done," says
2Gig co-founder Lance Dean.
Go!2.0
The new DVR feature is part of the forthcoming Go!Control 2.0
platform, which "will be an attractive step-up residential
and small commercial offering," Dean says.
All 2.0 panels will be "DVR-ready," says 2Gig CTO
Jeremy Warren.
Two options are available: Secure Digital High-Capacity (SDHC)
cards and SATA hard drives. SDHC is limited to 32GB, which
translates into approximately four camera-days of HD video (720p
15 fps).
Otherwise, panels support standard 2.5-inch (laptop) SATA hard
drives, which currently are shipping in sizes of up to 1 TB. That
gets you about 120 camera-days of HD video, according to Warren.
He adds, "Since the Go!2.0 panel supports up to four of our
HD video cameras, that means you could store a month of 24x7 HD
video, and larger drives will certainly be available soon."
Surprisingly, the new feature adds barely any real estate to the
current panel's footprint.
The system can be configured to record continuously for 24 hours
a day, or upon specified events.
The new DVR-enabled panels currently are in beta testing and the
company expects to launch the product in Q4 of this year.
The products will carry a premium, depending on the amount of
storage added for DVR functionality.
Smarter Thermostats, Too
In other 2Gig news, the company's new thermostat has a better
radio and enhanced processing that will double the range and the
battery life of the company's current thermostat, according to
Dean.
Of course, 2Gig also benefits from new smart-thermostat capabilities
offered by its partner Alarm.com. In February, the service
provider announced a new cloud-based (SaaS) "Smart
Schedule" service that learns activity patterns based on
security sensors, and adjusts thermostats automatically for
energy efficiency.
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