Assessing video tape degradation

Currently, security system operators and managers tend to accept the poor quality of the video recordings with which they are presented. There are no established procedures to assess the quality of the video tapes or to determine how many times they should be used. CCTV systems as a whole are used without any prior assessment of quality and the issue of quality often arises only after an incident. As part of a programme to develop methods of improving the effectiveness of CCTV security systems, PSDB has produced guidelines which will help CCTV users to achieve better recorded video pictures. This paper outlines the procedures that should be followed to assess your CCTV system´s end quality. The paper also describes the tests that can be performed to check that the quality level is maintained. The current Home Office guidelines state “that it may be unwise to use a video tape more than twelve times”. However, many government customers query this figure and seek advice on good operating practice. The new research in the report does not suggest a revised universal figure but does indicate that with each system it may be possible to determine a figure to indicate how many times a video tape can be used. This paper indicates that this figure will depend on the type of equipment the system uses and the operating conditions and procedures that are followed