i need to find somewhere somehow some crash course information on building grade (not for homes or cars) security cameras, intrusion detection systems (ids) and various other alarms.

the reason is i have a job interview coming up, its for installing and maintianing security systems for various governments buildings, thing is, i have basic electronic exerience but limited experience and in depth knkowledge of security related things.

i am sure elctronics are electronics, rf cables are rf cables and so on, the science of it all doesn't change, but i would like to crash course myself on various systems so i can apear more knowledgable.

i have looked online, in book stores, etc and can't find anything that would give a broad view of everything.

i was thinking the next thing to do is just go to a security alarm company and ask them for some info on how the installation and system works.

can anyone help? thank you.

 

Try www.howstuffworks.com

 

Your best bet would be to try the security alarm company. There are several new
technologies in use now in video systems, and other monitoring systems. Many
systems are now digital, and use hard drive systems for the recording medium.
And many facilities are changing to fiber-optics to connect the cameras to the
monitoring facility. If they won't show you, they would have a good idea where to
get the reference material.

 

You might also check www.mcmone.com and enter 81-3206 in the search blank. it is
the only book on the subject I could find. Good Luck.

 

Here is some info on security you can check out.

http://www.surveillance-video.com/knco.html

Ansd this from wikipedia.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Closed-circuit_television

 

Sorry, that was www.mcminone.com.

 

i must say thank you for the info everyone, great info and i ordered the book right away, my interview is oct 5 so it will be a cram session getting the info into my head!

 

You best bet would be to hire on with a low-voltage company and learn the ropes from there. I do security, CCTV, fire alarms, card access, etc for a living and have learned 100x more while in the field than any book could teach.

 

I spent many years in a technical service industry, interviewed and hired many applicants. If I were asked what the most important asset an applicant can bring; I would say ATTITUDE. I have passed on highly qualified applicants because they did not have the attitude I wanted my customers to see. Your interview will be a selling situation with you selling the product you know best .... you. Be on time, looking your confident best and answer questions as best you can with good eye contact. One last tip every salesman learns early on ..... ASK FOR THE SALE. At the end of the interview say something like, " Thank you for your consideration. If you make the decision to offer me this opportunity, I will work very hard to see that you never regret it" .... use your own words. Be sure to follow up the interview with a letter or Email thanking him/her for the interview. Good luck to you.

 

Well, start with www.x-10.com and learn how the newer wireless gizmos all work including cameras. Many of the wireless systems work on an X-10 protocol, even the GE stuff. If you want to get into the nuts and bolts and how many pulses are sent to turn something off and on, you can find it at this site.

Then browse these sites

http://homesecuritystore.com/
http://www.home-technology-store.com/

Commercial
http://www.security.honeywell.com/
http://www.homesecuritystore.com/ezStore123/DTProductZoom.asp?productID=1155

Commercial electrical code and alarms (real tech)

http://bg.ecmweb.com/nec/index.htm
http://bg.ecmweb.com/vdv/index.htm

Lots of good articles such as "Wiring an Office Building for Change".

Last site will probably be worth more then the others combined for hard info.

> its for installing and maintianing security systems for various governments buildings

If you are going to be held accountable for life and liberty and if you are going to be seriously into security then try www.2600.com and subscribe to the paper magazine AFTER you have been hired. Doing it before might not be good for the job interview.

You want to be able to recognise when a system has been compromised by a hard (physical) attack and how to avoid it with common sense things. Like people not writing the security code to turn the system off on their computer monitor.

2600 had a write up a few years back how the Feds tracked Timothy McVeigh and his phone card, it was pretty interesting and one of their better useful articles.

I remember one of the stupidest things I ever saw myself. An international company that spent $30,000+ per month on telecom bills that had their main router password set to "password".

It is like how would you ever know your security system and network has been compromised when anyone anywhere in the world can sign in over the network and change your router tables and e-mail server addresses and you would never know. Their excuse, we do so much network upgrades we need something everyone can remember