Images from the domes, installed five years ago, were recorded on S-VHS analogue recorders.
Now the club is using three Samsung Techwin SVR-1680 DVRs at their ground, known as The Den.
“We did consider investing in a digital video recording system when we refitted the control room and the domes were first installed,” said stadium manager and safety officer, Colin Sayer. “But we were not convinced that what was available at the time could adequately do the job and it seemed an expensive option.”
Now, five years on, the cost has decreased substantially, but the technology has advanced dramatically, he said.
“One of the most valuable features now available to us via the Samsung Techwin DVRs is the ability to cost effectively record high quality D1 resolution images from all the cameras in real time.”
Because each DVR has 4TB of internal storage capacity, they can collectively store all the video recorded for more than twenty separate match days.
“With our previous analogue recording system we would have had to use a very large number of tapes to do the same job, which would have to be managed too,” he said.
It is also easier for the control room to extract video evidence for police. Small amounts of video can easily be copied onto a DVD using the built-in DVD writer or onto a storage device via one of the two front panel USBs.
When required, all match day video can be copied via a server onto a hard drive for the police to take away.
“Compared to how the analogue system used to work, it is a big step forward for us to be able to look at recorded video or back it up, without in any way affecting the continuous real time recording of ‘live’ images,” said Sayer.
The DVR’s, sourced from ADI Global Distribution, were commissioned by CCTV specialists ScanGuard who originally installed the dome cameras and the analogue recording system.
Managing director, Richard Frere said: “With 38 cameras on site, we did not expect to find such a cost effective solution to do this job.”
ScanGuard has also installed a Samsung Techwin SVR-1645 DVR, which is used for 24 hour general security purposes including images from the dome cameras observing the outside of the stadium and the car park.
Millwall FC play in the Coca-Cola Football League One. The Den was completed in 1993. It is a 20,000 all seater stadium and was the first new stadium construction following the Taylor Report.
