The new MEL Dual Thermal is a continuous rotation, ruggedised PTZ camera that is fitted with both Day/Night and Thermal Imaging camera modules for operation around the clock. It has a 36:1 optical zoom and a 50mm Germanium lens to deliver high quality thermal pictures with a resolution of 320 x 240 pixels. The camera is IP67 compliant with a housing cast from hard anodised aluminium and powder coated to provide protection from damage such as scratching, oxidation or attack from solvents. This makes the camera vandal resistant and suitable for use in most environments.

The optically flat glass window is distortion free, giving brighter and clearer images at higher zoom ranges, detecting human presence at over 1km in thermal mode, and allows greater installation flexibility. The window has a fitted wiper to clear any accumulated dirt and water enabling effective operation in the most adverse weather conditions.

This new camera has exceptionally low power consumption and can operate from a 12 volt battery giving an operational life in excess of 200 hours before needing to replace or recharge the battery. It can be operated from a control room environment, control case or hand held unit allowing for easy on-site setup and operation. Transmission is via COFDM Video and UHF Telemetry enabling high quality, interference-free images to be received at distances of up to 4km without requiring line of sight. This also ensures low end-to-end latency making it faster than IP-based systems and easier for operators to follow specific events with a PTZ joystick.

The use of ultra-narrowband also provides good range and video quality in high multipath environments regardless of line of sight as well as enabling users to co-locate more channels in the increasingly crowded RF spectrum. The MEL Dual Thermal camera is available in a wide range of frequencies including 1.0 MHz ultra-narrowband, 1.3, 2.4 and 5.8 GHz as well as 300-400 MHz UHF. MEL also offers a 3G option enabling the cameras to be monitored or images downloaded from any computer with internet access or mobile phone.

According to Peter Druzyc, managing director of MEL Secure Systems: "This new Dual Thermal camera system will deliver evidential quality images in the most challenging physical environments."