It might not be easy for all to comprehend the meaning of jargons related to CCTV. So, here is a comprehensive glossary, to explain many of the aspects of Closed Circuit Television in a jargon-free way.
AGC (Automatic Gain Control) – It is an electrical system which increases the video signals in low light conditions.
Angle of View – It is the angular extent of a given area that is covered by a picture. If you wish to cover a wider area through your security system, then such a camera and lens combination should be selected which has a higher Angel of View.
Attenuation – It means the loss or reduction in an electrical signal, occurring due to absorption, scattering or interference.
Aspect Ratio – It is the ratio between the height of the picture frame and its width.
Automatic Iris Lens – It is the lens which automatically opens or closes so as to maintain proper light levels on the CCTV instrument.
Buffer – Buffer is the material that surrounds the fibre to shield it against physical damage or harm.
Crosstalk – It is an unsolicited signal which affects the video signal.
Desktop Switcher – A Desktop Switcher is an instrument used to switch the video signal from various cameras to one or more screens.
Dwell Time – It is the time duration for which a switcher holds a camera before switching to the next camera in the arrangement.
Field of View – In simple terms, Field of View is what a person will be able to see via the camera.
Frame – It is a comprehensive image made up of horizontal and vertical lines.
F-Stop – F-Stop is basically a term representing the speed of the lens.
Ghost – It is an image with a shadow or unclear picture.
Ident – All the characters that are created on a video signal are included in the Ident, such as titles, time and date, etc.
Incident Light – This is the amount of light which is on an object.
Lux – Lux is a unit of measure which determines the intensity of a light source.
Monochrome – A Monochrome is a black and white image. Monochromes are usually suggested for use with cameras that are placed outside your workplace or home, simply because they have superior picture resolution during night-time.
Monitor – It is a device which displays video signals to be watched by the user of the security system.
Pinhole Lens – This type of lens is generally used with hidden cameras.
Quad – A Quad is a device which shows up to four cameras on the screen of the monitor at the same time.
Roll – It is the loss of vertical synchronization which often results in the image being distorted and causes it to move up or down on the monitor.
Screen Splitter – It is a device which displays the views from two different cameras on a single screen simultaneously. The split can be set horizontally, vertically or in such a manner wherein one image is placed into another.
Time-Lapse Recorder – This is a video recording device which reduces the speed at which images are recorded.