FAQ
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ACCESS CONTROL SYSTEM: |
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There are many methods of controlling access to a door, namely, from the very basic of having a physical lock, pin code access, proximity card based access to biometric fingerprint access control. Each method has its pros & cons.
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Is there any difference between securing a wooden door & glass door?
Yes. From the access control point of view, the EM lock accessories, method of mounting the magnetic armature and the electro-magnetic lock (EM Lock) are different. Typically installation of a access control system on a glass door is more expensive than on a wooden door.
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Is there any difference between securing a single leaf door & double leaf door?
Yes. The type of EM lock used is different for single and double leaf door.
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Which type of door access system is the most economical?
The pin code type of door access system is the most economical. However, it has the lowest security since the button pad for the pin number may wear out after sometime (as compared to non-pin button pad), giving the would-be intruders very clear hints on what pin number was used.
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Which type of door access system is the most accurate?
The biometric door access system is the most secured among all the other methods mentioned earlier. Since biometric characteristics (like fingerprint) are unique to each individual, it will be very hard to fool the system into mistaking you for someone else. However, for fingerprint biometric access control system, there are cases where a particular user's fingers are too wet, too dry, fingerprint grove too fine or shallow to be registered into the system. If all fingers of that user cannot be registered, then he will have to be given either access card or pin code for access the door. Typically such incidents happened to 2 - 3% of the population.
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What is the difference between fail-safe & fail-secure EM lock?
EM lock uses power to keep the door secured. When power is cut-off (eg. during a power trip), the door access system's backup battery will keep the door system running for 2 to 4 hours. When the battery is flat and the electrical main power is not back to normal yet, a fail-safe EM will basically unlock. Anyone inside the office will be able to leave the office. For a fail-secure EM lock, once the battery is flat and the electrical main power is not back to normal yet, the fail-secure EM lock will stay locked. People inside the office must have access to another exit door. For safety reason, fail-safe EM locks are more commonly used and less expensive than fail-secure locks.
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How safe & secure is my office once I have installed the door access system?
Even if you have a door access system installed, you should complement it with security alarm, and CCTV system for total security. Most of the time, the door access control is meant for ease of controlling access to different doors within the organization during office hours. You can for a total security solution.
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Can I have an integrated door access system, using pin, card & biometric fingerprint access control method?
Yes, you certainly can. For highly secured area, you can use the biometric fingerprint system for door access. For normal areas or areas where users' fingers can get dirty or greasy, you can issue these workers with card access system. For temporary workers, you can issue them pin code numbers that are valid for a certain period of time only.
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CCTV SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM: |
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Which surveillance solution is suitable for me?
There are many types of CCTV & surveillance solutions available in the market. Consumers have more choices now, though most users will probably be confused as to which to choose from. Based on your requirement, profile, and budget, ASIS will recommend the most appropriate surveillance solution that will meet your needs.
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How many types of surveillance systems are there in the market?
Broadly speaking, surveillance systems can be categorized as standalone type or networked type. For the standalone type of surveillance system, recording is done on a standalone DVR and playback is via a TV. For the networked type of surveillance system, the DVR has network capabilities that allow remote monitoring over the Internet. For some networked surveillance system, recording is done separately on a PC. For hassle free all-in-one CCTV without need for drilling & hacking walls
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What is a Digital Video Recorder (DVR)? How does it work?
Think of the Digital Video Recorder (DVR) as a VCR that can display live video footages from multiple camera sources simultaneously and record them on a hard disk. Unlike VCR, there is no cassettes or tapes to change. You can search & review any recorded surveillance video based on date, time, camera, alarm events, etc. You can playback video from single or multiple cameras simultaneously. For mid to higher end DVR, you can also playback the recording while the recording is still on-going.
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How much video can a DVR store? Do I have to change tape regularly?
The DVR uses the hard disk as the recording media. The length of recording for any DVR depends on many factors, including hard disk size, recording frame rates, recording picture size, number of cameras, picture quality and compression algorithms used. No changing of tape is necessary as DVR can be set to overwriting mode to overwrite older video in the hard disk when the hard disk is full.
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Can I use my VCR for recording?
Yes, if you only want to record 1-2 hours and has only 1 camera; and you do not mind the low quality of the recorded video.
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Will I recommend VCR to my client?
NO, as normal VCR is not meant for this kind of purpose. Even time-lapsed VCR (a kind of VCR which can record long hours) is not recommended as the price of DVR has dropped significantly over the years and offers significant features which are lacking in time-lapsed VCR. A lot of our clients are engaging us to replace their old time-lapsed VCR with DVR for their surveillance systems.
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What kind of broadband subscription do I need to enable monitoring over Internet?
All types of broadband subscription plan will work, though we will strongly recommend our clients to opt for unlimited access plan. As video streaming takes up a large bandwidth, it will make more economical sense to go for unlimited broadband plan.
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How much investment do I need for a typical surveillance system?
The investment required depends entirely on the types of camera, DVR, and installation site. We offer systems ranging from entry level solutions suitable for home to high end solutions for high security & industrial applications.
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Is it worth investing in my surveillance system?
The answer to this question will be :
- if the surveillance system is to safe guard your loved ones (eg. your young children), how much is the safety & well-being of your children worth to you? - if the surveillance system is for monitoring of domestic helper / employee, how much is the potential problem caused worth to you if they did something which they are not supposed to do while you are away? - if the surveillance system is to safe guard your property & valuables, how much are these worth to you?
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How much does it cost monthly for the surveillance systems from Asis?
All our clients pay us a one-time only fees for providing a high quality surveillance system that meets their needs. All our surveillance system comes with 12 month warranty. There are no monthly charges involved. After the initial 12 months, the client can choose our comprehensive maintenance package which will cover labor cost for the next 12 months if the system requires servicing (hardware replacement chargeable).
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What kinds of cameras are available from Asis?
We offer all types of cameras, eg. outdoor IR weatherproof cameras, indoor dome cameras, Pan-Tilt Zoom, etc. We have various premiere brands of cameras from the entry level type to the high end cameras.
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