Dave Engebretson

IPV6: How the New Format Will Work With Security Systems

Will IPV6 — the new network addressing format — be a problem for security professionals installing IP security devices? If you’ve set up your clients’ DDNS properly, they should have no trouble accessing their Internet-connected security systems.

Dave Engebretson

May 18, 2012

There has been much publicity recently regarding the new Internet Protocol (IP) addressing format called IPV6. The question is whether this new addressing method will affect physical security installations, and how the industry will handle this potentially dramatic change.

Saving Millions of Feet of Coax

Dave Engebretson

April 27, 2012

When asked by the SDM editors to write a column highlighting “green” concepts, it started me thinking about environmental impact. The more we as an industry can reuse existing cabling the less earthly resources are needed, not to mention that dealers can provide clients with upgraded systems at very competitive costs. What about those millions of feet of coax we have collectively installed in the past 40 years?

Clean Mind, Clean Hands

Dave Engebretson

March 23, 2012

For whatever reason — perhaps from growing up during the social revolution of the 1960s — I am a fairly consistent user of the seven words you can’t say on network TV. Whenever I’m cut off in traffic or a piece of equipment fails to perform exactly right, out comes a virtual waterfall of curse words.

The Dead & the Quick

Dave Engebretson

February 24, 2012

As technology marches on, one of the “new normal” rules of the game is that while a product/device/software set might be cool today, pretty soon it is either obsolete or has died.

Remembering Tim Gallagher

Dave Engebretson

January 31, 2012

A belated note on the passing of Tim Gallagher, long-time security equipment salesman, on April 10, 2011 in Las Vegas.

Troubleshooting an IP Camera

Sometimes the Problem Is Obvious

Dave Engebretson

July 19, 2011

As part of my duties it is necessary to actually plug in and program various IP-enabled security devices to see how they work and what makes them valuable. One of the problems of living in a big city is that living space is at a premium, particularly if you’re lucky enough to have a single-family home. So what my daughter thinks is her desk is actually a product test bench.