Redesigned for Good: The Evolution of the Zone Shield® Night Vision Clock Radio DVR

The Zone Shield Clock Radio sports branded packaging.

There is history behind every redesigned product. 

 KJB’s newly designed Zone Shield® Night Vision Clock Radio DVR was the result of repeated attempts to provide a reliable clock radio DVR that would not have to be tweaked, fitted, or modified. Years in the making, working with products off the shelf of Walmart, and several visits to China still had not resulted in what KJB considers to be an acceptable surveillance device. We finally determined that a retrofitted product would just never be good enough.

Working with our partner in Taiwan, we designed the new clock radio specifically to fit a hidden camera and DVR or wireless transmitter. No more futzing with the inner wires or power supply, no more glue joints. Nothing to give away that the clock had been modified. 

A wireless QUAD and QUAD LCD version
available in September, 2013

In this new design, the IRs are invisible, completely undetectable from the face of the clock and can capture action up to 20 feet away in almost total darkness. The SD card slot is completely hidden under something that looks like a normal part of a clock and is much easier to access. It’s hard to tell if we’ve designed a hidden camera to operate as a clock or a clock designed to operate as a hidden camera.

Clock radio DVRs are a dime a dozen. But the Zone Shield® Night Vision Clock Radio DVR is in a class by itself.

Body worn police cameras decrease officer complaint cases

We’ve been talking a lot about the use of video surveillance in aiding law enforcement lately. And that’s because we hear so many stories from our law enforcement customers about the benefits they’ve realized. The latest comes from our neighbors in Mt. Pleasant, Tenn., a community approximately 60 miles south of Nashville.

The police department in Mt. Pleasant has seen an 80 percent reduction in frivolous officer complaints since all 14 officers began wearing our DVR90 ProGrade Mini Camcorder last year. In addition to decreasing complaints, the video has proved valuable in prosecuting cases.

See for yourself:
WKRN, Nashville News, Nashville Weather and Sports

See the original story

To catch a thief: the increasing role of private surveillance cameras in aiding law enforcement

Last week’s $136 million jewelry heist at the Carlton Hotel in Cannes, France played out as life imitating art as the very same hotel was featured in Alfred Hitchcock’s 1955 romantic thriller, “To Catch A Thief,” starring Cary Grant and Grace Kelly.

And while investigators are reviewing surveillance video footage from the “Heist of the Century” as some in the French media are dubbing it, last week’s news cycle here in the U.S. continues coverage on the debate over privacy vs. security in the wake of the NSA leaks scandal.

These stories are certainly worthy of the attention they are receiving, though what I’m thinking about are events over the past several months that affect real people and their sense of security and safety – oftentimes in their very own homes.

I’m thinking about the June beating of a Millburn, New Jersey woman in her home as her three-year-old daughter watched, the July hit-and-run involving a mother watching helplessly as her 18-month-old was dragged in his stroller, and most recently the Washington couple that watched live on their iPhone as their home was being robbed.

I’m reflecting on these cases and others that I hear every day working in the personal security industry and I’m even more convinced of the growing need for families to protect themselves and their property in a matter that does not put them in harm’s way.

The use of surveillance cameras in the each of these cases has played a crucial role in aiding law enforcement. In the case of the New Jersey woman, the suspect has been arrested. A warrant has been issued in the hit-and-run incident and the quick action of the Washington homeowners led police to the home where the thief dropped stolen items as he ran off.

While the use of home security cameras is not a new phenomenon, the quality of the devices, including hidden camera forms, infrared capabilities, wireless, and motion activated options, and the use of real-time technologies and ability of footage to go viral instantly, have changed the way law enforcement catch the bad guys. I predict that this will only increase as individuals become more aware of the many cost-effective and easy-to-use monitoring systems available to them. And don’t we all feel more secure when we’re proactively taking steps to protect our loved ones and home?

This post also appeared in Security Products Reaction Blog. Jill Johnston is president of KJB Security Products, a Nashville, Tenn.-based wholesale manufacturer and distributor of security and surveillance products.

Our Summer Spy Gadget Round Up

We've rolled out the following new products over the past few weeks! Read on for more on these great summer surveillance gadgets:

D1305 - The world’s smallest digital voice recorder for smart phones:

DVR505 - Experience true high definition recording at an unbeatable price. This HD DVR comes with interchangeable wide angle and standard lens:

DVR259 - Quick install for easy home video surveillance. This DVR Clock is motion activated with a pinhole camera built into the clock face:

DVR009 - Action Bullet Camera DVR is easy, simple and fast. Get all the important action shots you need with a single on/off button. Carry it on the go or mount it for stationary use:

DVR240 - Works with most 5V cameras and includes a battery pack that allows for a connection of a 12V video camera. The AC adaptor powers the camera and the DVR for instant covert video recording. Pair the DVR240 with our Covert Camera Handbag to perfectly hide the adaptor cord:

Small And Versatile, New Products for DIY Sleuths

Power adaptors occupy the landscape of any home or office in the world. What better electronic device to use for installing a hidden camera DVR? This AC Adaptor Video Recorder works with most 5V cameras and includes a battery pack that enables connection of a 12V video camera. The AC adaptor powers the camera and the DVR for instant covert video recording. Pair this DVR240 with our Covert Camera Handbag to perfectly hide the adaptor cord. Use the included remote control to set the DVR and rely on its motion detection functionality to capture footage exactly when you need it.

Get ready to order the new Action Bullet Camera with built- in DVR HD recording. Use it as a carry-camera or mount it for stationary use. High-end hidden video surveillance is as easy as the push of a button. The included accessories enable you to use it for action shots, as a sports camera, covert surveillance camera, stationary surveillance camera, head cam/helmet cam or as a car camera video recorder. All these possibilities from one little bullet camera!

Get Body Worn Surveillance with New Wide Angle HD DVR

The wait is over for high definition at a low price! In stock now, the DVR505 comes with wide angle camera lens as well as a standard lens each capable of recording 848 x 480 - 1920 x 1080 resolution. This is a gem of a surveillance device thanks to true high definition recording and an unbeatable price. 

Slip the wired remote and DVR in your pocket and get easy body worn surveillance. The extra wide field of view with the included camera makes the Wide Angle HD DVR a great choice for law enforcement.

Why Made In Tennessee Matters For Hidden Cameras

For many years open tooling has been the bane of companies attempting to manufacture goods in Asia. Bait and switch or smoke and mirrors, call it what you want, but open tooling means that two devices may look the same on the outside but are actually different on the inside. In some of China’s tooling shops, components are purchased and assembled without regard to quality standards. Malfunctions, limited performance, and lack of compatibility with add-ons products may all be a result of slip-shod tooling.

While developing the SleuthGear® line of hidden cameras we encountered the frustration of inconsistent quality and duplicate poor performance products too many times. So we decided to assemble our devices at our warehouse in Nashville, Tennessee. One hundred percent of our SleuthGear® products are quality tested, including the Zone Shield®, Xtreme Life™, and Recluse® line. We are the only manufacturer in the industry making trips to China to visit vendors where we test for quality. You may notice that while searching online for hidden cameras, identical products from various vendors can have significant price differences. Most likely, the least expensive device is the result of open tooling…cheaper assembly and less attention to detail.

A very popular surveillance devices that is rampant on Chinese-import sites such as Amazon is a Clock Radio Hidden Cam. But a cheap version could have a hidden camera that is not centered correctly resulting in a smaller field of view and consequently, you risk not capturing enough important footage. Some of these imported wireless cameras also have deficient transmitting ability resulting in footage with static interference.

The video below shows actual video footage examples taken from competing Chinese imported cameras. At the end you see how their footage compares to SleuthGear's hidden camera footage. Now which one of these cameras do you want watching your babysitter?