Business Analyst Finance Domain Sample Resume
February 22, 2012 | 
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This is just a sample Business Analyst resume for freshers as well as for experienced job seekers in Finance domain of business analyst or system analyst. While this is only a sample resume, please use this only for reference purpose, do not copy the same client names or job duties for your own purpose. Always make your own resume with genuine experience.
Name: Justin Megha
Ph no: XXXXXXX
your email here.
Business Analyst, Business Systems Analyst
SUMMARY
Accomplished in Business Analysis, System Analysis, Quality Analysis and Project Management with extensive experience in business products, operations and Information Technology on the capital markets space specializing in Finance such as Trading, Fixed Income, Equities, Bonds, Derivatives(Swaps, Options, etc) and Mortgage with sound knowledge of broad range of financial instruments.
Over 11+ Years of proven track record as value-adding, delivery-loaded project hardened professional with hands-on expertise spanning in System Analysis, Architecting Financial applications, Data warehousing, Data Migrations, Data Processing, ERP applications, SOX Implementation and Process Compliance Projects.
Accomplishments in analysis of large-scale business systems, Project Charters, Business Requirement Documents, Business Overview Documents, Authoring Narrative Use Cases, Functional Specifications, and Technical Specifications, data warehousing, reporting and testing plans.
Expertise in creating UML based Modelling views like Activity/ Use Case/Data Flow/Business Flow /Navigational Flow/Wire Frame diagrams using Rational Products & MS Visio.
Proficient as long time liaison between business and technology with competence in Full Life Cycle of System (SLC) development with Waterfall, Agile, RUP methodology, IT Auditing and SOX Concepts as well as broad cross-functional experiences leveraging multiple frameworks.
Extensively worked with the On-site and Off-shore Quality Assurance Groups by assisting the QA team to perform Black Box /GUI testing/ Functionality /Regression /System /Unit/Stress /Performance/ UAT’s.
Facilitated change management across entire process from project conceptualization to testing through project delivery, Software Development & Implementation Management in diverse business & technical environments, with demonstrated leadership abilities.
EDUCATION
Post Graduate Diploma (in Business Administration), USA
Master’s Degree (in Computer Applications),
Bachelor’s Degree (in Commerce),
TECHNICAL SKILLS
Documentation Tools UML, MS Office (Word, Excel, Power Point, Project), MS Visio, Erwin
SDLC Methodologies Waterfall, Iterative, Rational Unified Process (RUP), Spiral, Agile
Modeling Tools UML, MS Visio, Erwin, Power Designer, Metastrom Provision
Reporting Tools Business Objects X IR2, Crystal Reports, MS Office Suite
QA Tools Quality Center, Test Director, Win Runner, Load Runner, QTP, Rational Requisite Pro, Bugzilla, Clear Quest
Languages Java, VB, SQL, HTML, XML, UML, ASP, JSP
Databases & OS MS SQL Server, Oracle 10g, DB2, MS Access on Windows XP / 2000, Unix
Version Control Rational Clear Case, Visual Source Safe
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
SERVICE MASTER, Memphis, TN June 08 – Till Date
Senior Business Analyst
Terminix has approximately 800 customer service agents that reside in our branches in addition to approximately 150 agents in a centralized call center in Memphis, TN. Terminix customer service agents receive approximately 25 million calls from customers each year. Many of these customer’s questions are not answered or their problems are not resolved on the first call. Currently these agents use an AS/400 based custom developed system called Mission to answer customer inquiries into branches and the Customer Communication Center. Mission – Terminix’s operation system – provides functionality for sales, field service (routing & scheduling, work order management), accounts receivable, and payroll. This system is designed modularly and is difficult to navigate for customer service agents needing to assist the customer quickly and knowledgeably. The amount of effort and time needed to train a customer service representative using the Mission system is high. This combined with low agent and customer retention is costly.
Customer Service Console enables Customer Service Associates to provide consistent, enhanced service experience, support to the Customers across the Organization. CSC is aimed at providing easy navigation, easy learning process, reduced call time and first call resolution.
Responsibilities
Assisted in creating Project Plan, Road Map. Designed Requirements Planning and Management document.
Performed Enterprise Analysis and actively participated in buying Tool Licenses.
Identified subject-matter experts and drove the requirements gathering process through approval of the documents that convey their needs to management, developers, and quality assurance team.
Performed technical project consultation, initiation, collection and documentation of client business and functional requirements, solution alternatives, functional design, testing and implementation support.
Requirements Elicitation, Analysis, Communication, and Validation according to Six Sigma Standards.
Captured Business Process Flows and Reengineered Process to achieve maximum outputs.
Captured As-Is Process, designed TO-BE Process and performed Gap Analysis
Developed and updated functional use cases and conducted business process modeling (PROVISION) to explain business requirements to development and QA teams.
Created Business Requirements Documents, Functional and Software Requirements Specification Documents.
Performed Requirements Elicitation through Use Cases, one to one meetings, Affinity Exercises, SIPOC’s.
Gathered and documented Use Cases, Business Rules, created and maintained Requirements/Test Traceability Matrices.
Client: The Dun & Bradstreet Corporation, Parsippany, NJ May’ 2007 – Oct’ 2007
Profile: Sr. Financial Business Analyst/ Systems Analyst.
Project Profile (1): D&B is the world’s leading source of commercial information and insight on businesses. The Point of Arrival Project and the Data Maintenance (DM) Project are the future applications of the company that the company would transit into, providing an effective method & efficient report generation system for D&B’s clients to be able purchase reports about companies they are trying to do business.
Project Profile (2): The overall purpose of this project was building a Self Awareness System(SAS) for the business community for buying SAS products and a Payment system was built for SAS. The system would provide certain combination of products (reports) for Self Monitoring report as a foundation for managing a company’s credit.
Responsibilities:
Conducted GAP Analysis and documented the current state and future state, after understanding the Vision from the Business Group and the Technology Group.
Conducted interviews with Process Owners, Administrators and Functional Heads to gather audit-related information and facilitated meetings to explain the impacts and effects of SOX compliance.
Played an active and lead role in gathering, analyzing and documenting the Business Requirements, the business rules and Technical Requirements from the Business Group and the Technological Group.
Co – Authored and prepared Graphical depictions of Narrative Use Cases, created UML Models such as Use Case Diagrams, Activity Diagrams and Flow Diagrams using MS Visio throughout the Agile methodology
Documented the Business Requirement Document to get a better understanding of client’s business processes of both the projects using the Agile methodology.
Facilitating JRP and JAD sessions, brain storming sessions with the Business Group and the Technology Group.
Documented the Requirement traceability matrix (RTM) and conducted UML Modelling such as creating Activity Diagrams, Flow Diagrams using MS Visio. Analysed test data to detect significant findings and recommended corrective measures
Co-Managed the Change Control process for the entire project as a whole by facilitating group meetings, one-on-one interview sessions and email correspondence with work stream owners to discuss the impact of Change Request on the project.
Worked with the Project Lead in setting realistic project expectations and in evaluating the impact of changes on the organization and plans accordingly and conducted project related presentations.
Co-oordinated with the off shore QA Team members to explain and develop the Test Plans, Test cases, Test and Evaluation strategy and methods for unit testing, functional testing and usability testing
Environment: Windows XP/2000, SOX, Sharepoint, SQL, MS Visio, Oracle, MS Office Suite, Mercury ITG, Mercury Quality Center, XML, XHTML, Java, J2EE.
GATEWAY COMPUTERS, Irvine, CA, Jan 06 – Mar 07
Business Analyst
At Gateway, a Leading Computer, Laptop and Accessory Manufacturer, was involved in two projects,
Order Capture Application: Objective of this Project is to Develop Various Mediums of Sales with a Centralized Catalog. This project involves wide exposure towards Requirement Analysis, Creating, Executing and Maintaining of Test plans and Test Cases. Mentored and trained staff about Tech Guide & Company Standards; Gateway reporting system: was developed with Business Objects running against Oracle data warehouse with Sales, Inventory, and HR Data Marts. This DW serves the different needs of Sales Personnel and Management. Involved in the development of it utilized Full Client reports and Web Intelligence to deliver analytics to the Contract Administration group and Pricing groups. Reporting data mart included Wholesaler Sales, Contract Sales and Rebates data.
Responsibilities:
Product Manager for Enterprise Level Order Entry Systems – Phone, B2B, Gateway.com and Cataloging System.
Modeled the Sales Order Entry process to eliminate bottleneck process steps using ERWIN.
Adhered and practiced RUP for implementing software development life cycle.
Gathered Requirements from different sources like Stakeholders, Documentation, Corporate Goals, Existing Systems, and Subject Matter Experts by conducting Workshops, Interviews, Use Cases, Prototypes, Reading Documents, Market Analysis, Observations
Created Functional Requirement Specification documents – which include UMLUse case diagrams, Scenarios, activity, work Flow diagrams and data mapping. Process and Data modeling with MS VISIO.
Worked with Technical Team to create Business Services (Web Services) that Application could leverage using SOA, to create System Architecture and CDM for common order platform.
Designed Payment Authorization (Credit Card, Net Terms, and Pay Pal) for the transaction/order entry systems.
Implemented A/B Testing, Customer Feedback Functionality to Gateway.com
Worked with the DW, ETL teams to create Order entry systems Business Objects reports. (Full Client, Web I)
Worked in a cross functional team of Business, Architects and Developers to implement new features.
Program Managed Enterprise Order Entry Systems – Development and Deployment Schedule.
Developed and maintained User Manuals, Application Documentation Manual, on Share Point tool.
Created Test Plansand Test Strategies to define the Objective and Approach of testing.
Used Quality Center to track and report system defects and bug fixes. Written modification requests for the bugs in the application and helped developers to track and resolve the problems.
Developed and Executed Manual, Automated Functional, GUI, Regression, UAT Test cases using QTP.
Gathered, documented and executed Requirements-based, Business process (workflow/user scenario), Data driven test cases for User Acceptance Testing.
Created Test Matrix, Used Quality Center for Test Management, track & report system defects and bug fixes.
Performed Load, stress Testing’s & Analyzed Performance, Response Times. Designed approach, developed visual scripts in order to test client & server side performance under various conditions to identify bottlenecks.
Created / developed SQL Queries (TOAD) with several parameters for Backend/DB testing
Conducted meetings for project status, issue identification, and parent task review, Progress Reporting.
AMC MORTGAGE SERVICES, CA, USA Oct 04 – Dec 05
Business Analyst
The primary objective of this project is to replace the existing Internal Facing Client / Server Applications with a Web enabled Application System, which can be used across all the Business Channels. This project involves wide exposure towards Requirement Analysis, Creating, Executing and Maintaining of Test plans and Test Cases. Demands understanding and testing of Data Warehouse and Data Marts, thorough knowledge of ETL and Reporting, Enhancement of the Legacy System covered all of the business requirements related to Valuations from maintaining the panel of appraisers to ordering, receiving, and reviewing the valuations.
Responsibilities:
Gathered Analyzed, Validated, and Managed and documented the stated Requirements. Interacted with users for verifying requirements, managing change control process, updating existing documentation.
Created Functional Requirement Specification documents – that include UML Use case diagrams, scenarios, activity diagrams and data mapping. Provided End User Consulting on Functionality and Business Process.
Acted as a client liaison to review priorities and manage the overall client queue. Provided consultation services to clients, technicians and internal departments on basic to intricate functions of the applications.
Identified business directions & objectives that may influence the required data and application architectures.
Defined, prioritized business requirements, Determine which business subject areas provide the most needed information; prioritize and sequence implementation projects accordingly.
Provide relevant test scenarios for the testing team. Work with test team to develop system integration test scripts and ensure the testing results correspond to the business expectations.
Used Test Director, QTP, Load Runner for Test management, Functional, GUI, Performance, Stress Testing
Perform Data Validation, Data Integration and Backend/DB testing using SQL Queries manually.
Created Test input requirements and prepared the test data for data driven testing.
Mentored, trained staff about Tech Guide & Company Standards. Set-up and Coordinate Onsite offshore teams, Conduct Knowledge Transfer sessions to the offshore team.
Lloyds Bank, UK Aug 03 – Sept 04
Business Analyst
Lloyds TSB is leader in Business, Personal and Corporate Banking. Noted financial provider for millions of customers with the financial resources to meet and manage their credit needs and to achieve their financial goals. The Project involves an applicant Information System, Loan Appraisal and Loan Sanction, Legal, Disbursements, Accounts, MIS and Report Modules of a Housing Finance System and Enhancements for their Internet Banking.
Responsibilities:
Translated stakeholder requirements into various documentation deliverables such as functional specifications, use cases, workflow / process diagrams, data flow / data model diagrams.
Produced functional specifications and led weekly meetings with developers and business units to discuss outstanding technical issues and deadlines that had to be met.
Coordinated project activities between clients and internal groups and information technology, including project portfolio management and project pipeline planning.
Provided functional expertise to developers during the technical design and construction phases of the project.
Documented and analyzed business workflows and processes. Present the studies to the client for approval
Participated in Universe development – planning, designing, Building, distribution, and maintenance phases.
Designed and developed Universes by defining Joins, Cardinalities between the tables.
Created UML use case, activity diagrams for the interaction between report analyst and the reporting systems.
Successfully implemented BPR and achieved improved Performance, Reduced Time and Cost.
Developed test plans and scripts; performed client testing for routine to complex processes to ensure proper system functioning.
Worked closely with UAT Testers and End Users during system validation, User Acceptance Testing to expose functionality/business logic problems that unit testing and system testing have missed out.
Participated in Integration, System, Regression, Performance, and UAT – Using TD, WR, Load Runner
Participated in defect review meetings with the team members. Worked closely with the project manager to record, track, prioritize and close bugs. Used CVS to maintain versions between various stages of SDLC.
Client: A.G. Edwards, St. Louis, MO May’ 2005 – Feb’ 2006
Profile: Sr. Business Analyst/System Analyst
Project Profile: A.G. Edwards is a full service Trading based brokerage firm in Internet-based futures, options and forex brokerage. This site allows Users (Financial Representative) to trade online. The main features of this site were: Users can open new account online to trade equitiies, bonds, derivatives and forex with the Trading system using DTCC’s applications as a Clearing House agent. The user will get real-time streaming quotes for the currency pairs they selected, their current position in the forex market, summary of work orders, payments and current money balances, P & L Accounts and available trading power, all continuously updating in real time via live quotes. The site also facilitates users to Place, Change and Cancel an Entry Order, Placing a Market Order, Place/Modify/Delete/Close a Stop Loss Limit on an Open Position.
Responsibilities:
Gathered Business requirements pertaining to Trading, equities and Fixed Incomes like bonds, converted the same into functional requirements by implementing the RUP methodology and authored the same in Business Requirement Document (BRD).
Designed and developed all Narrative Use Cases and conducted UML modeling like created Use Case Diagrams, Process Flow Diagrams and Activity Diagrams using MS Visio.
Implemented the entire Rational Unified Process (RUP) methodology of application development with its various workflows, artifacts and activities. Developed business process models in RUP to document existing and future business processes. Established a business Analysis methodology around the Rational Unified Process.
Analyzed user requirements, attended Change Request meetings to document changes and implemented procedures to test changes.
Assisted in developing project timelines/deliverables/strategies for effective project management.
Evaluated existing practices of storing and handling important financial data for compliance.
Involved in developing the test strategy and assisted in developed Test scenarios, test conditions and test cases
Partnered with the technical areas in the research, resolution of system and User Acceptance Testing (UAT).
Environment: Windows XP/2000/NT, SOX, MS Office Suite, SQL, MS SQL Server, XML, HTML, Java, J2EE, JSP, Oracle, WinRunner, Test Director
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Warehouse Management Guide
Warehouse management is the art of movement and storage of materials throughout the warehouse. Warehouse management monitors the progress of products through the warehouse. It involves the physical warehouse infrastructure, tracking systems, and communication between product stations. Warehouse management deals with receipt, storage and movement of goods usually finished goods and includes functions like warehouse master record, item/ warehouse cross-reference lists and such things as on hand, allocated, transfers in process, transfer in process, transfer lead time, safety stock, fields for accumulating statistics by location.
A warehouse manager needs to perform several crucial functions such as overseeing and recording deliveries and pickups, loading and unloading materials and supplies, maintaining inventory records and tracking system, determining appropriate places for storage, rotating stock as needed and adjusting inventory levels to reflect receipts and disbursements. An individual handling the warehouse management needs to have knowledge about inventory control and warehousing systems, loading and unloading procedures, risky and materials storage and mathematical knowledge.
A warehouse management system is a critical component of an effective overall supply chain management systems solution. Warehouse management system began as a system to control movement and storage of materials within a warehouse. Today it even incorporates tasks such as light manufacturing, transportation management, order management, and entire accounting systems.
Implementation of Warehouse Management System (WMS) will provide you an increase in accuracy, reduction in labor costs if the labor employed to maintain the system is less than the labor saved on the warehouse floor and a greater ability to service the customer by reducing cycle times. WMS may not serve you with inventory reduction and greater storage capacity. An increase in accuracy and efficiency receiving process might lead to reduction in level of safety stock required. But the consequence of this reduction will hardly be visible to the overall inventory levels. WMS might just not affect the factors (lot sizing, lead times and demand variability) controlling the inventory levels. However WMS is instrumental in more efficient and organized that leads to increased storage capacity.
Lately in the field of warehouse management, Infor, the largest global enterprise software provider is developing solutions for the manufacturing and distribution industries. Infor’s management technology is meant for enterprise resource planning (ERP) system. Infor technology can be used for single as well as multiple warehouses. It allows manufacturers and distributors to perceive and monitor the location of particular items within the facility. The technology is also extremely beneficial in ascertaining the size and weight of incoming shipments to set up the perfect way to transport and place them in the warehouse. The professional experts at Infor are planning to integrate it into Infor’s Microsoft.Net based ERP system for manufacturers.
Catchy Safety Slogans
The safety slogan, in the workplace, is often forgotten. It is forgotten simply because many safety ideas are conveyed in meaningless ways.
For example, can you remember any of the safety videos from your current or past employers? If you are like most folks, nothing comes to mind.
When you consider the immense amount of accidents happening daily, it is a tragedy that people don’t have better ideas about how to be safe. The act of creating a simple and catchy slogan is not all that difficult. What it requires is someone who is concerned and willing to do the necessary work to make it happen.
Plant Safety Story
I have worked on many construction sites. Safety is often something that is a big joke. The safety guy is known for having an easy job that nobody respects. Part of the problem is that safety is seen as boring and unimportant. One day, for us, that all changed.
One day, one of the iron workers, decided to climb up a rope to have lunch with the rest of the guys higher up. He barely made it to the top and didn’t have much energy left. To make a long story short, he was unable to hold on and plummeted to his death.
This facility was currently using safety video and safety protocol put out by the safety manager. The problem is that the information wasn’t being retained well enough. Some employees had the attitude that safety just was a boring video you watched once a year. In practice, many of them prided themselves on being tough and taking risks.
After a close inspection, tears, and fines by OSHA, the company got serious about safety. They decided that for safety to be effective it must be remembered and often rehearsed.
Catchy Slogans
The main point of our new safety program was to make it seem cool to do the right things. We got the point across by making the safety slogans catchy and fun. For example, we liked the slogan, we may be tough, but we still need to tie off. Each day before work, management would get us together to pump us up for the day. One of the things they always did was have us repeat some of the important safety slogans we had come up with. Some of the most memorable slogans were made up by some of the regular workers.
Our accidents were greatly reduced and we found that it was fun to come up with and use catchy slogans.
A DIY Guide for Vacuum Cleaner Repair
It always seems that your vacuum will malfunction right before company is set to arrive. What do you do if your vacuum is not working correctly? Many people will simply throw away their vacuum and purchase a new one. However, did you know that it is quite easy to repair a vacuum cleaner?
You can find a lot of great information by checking out the website of the manufacturer who made your vacuum. For instance, if you have a Hoover vacuum, you can learn specifically about Hoover parts and how they work.
In order to repair the problem, you first need to determine what is wrong with your vacuum cleaner.
There are actually not a lot of vacuum parts which malfunction. The most common problem is a belt malfunction. To check out the vacuum cleaner belt, you will want to flip the vacuum on its front so that the brush is facing you. You will notice a small plate around the brush. Unscrew this. Check the belt. It is possible that it has snapped or has wrapped itself around a portion of the brush. If it is broken, you will want to take the belt with you to a store to purchase a new one. Many stores carry vacuum cleaner parts, including stores like Walmart and Target. You should be able to identify the proper size belt and many times a package will contain several size belts making it easier to insure you have the right one. Vacuum cleaner belts are not expensive at all.
You also will want to check the vacuum agitator brush. Sometimes it can become tangled with hair, pieces of carpet or string. You should use a pair of scissors to cut all of that out. Once it is clean, you can simply replace the belt and screw the plate back on the front.
If your vacuum is having poor suction, you might have something blocking one of the hoses. Remove the hoses one at a time, consulting your owner’s manual if needed. If you have trouble reaching the blockage you can use the end of a mop or broomstick to push the obstruction through.
It also makes sense to do some routine maintenance on your vacuum. You will want to check the vacuum filter frequently to insure that it is not too dirty or blocked. The vacuum filter can affect the performanace of your machine. Also check the cord of your vacuum to make sure that it hasn’t become frayed. Vacuum cords can often become damaged when they are run over by the vacuum.
Most of the problems you have with your vacuum will be related to either the agitator brush, the belt, or a blockage. You can save yourself a lot of time and money if you do the repairs yourself. You will be surprised how easy it is.
Sometimes a vacuum has electrical problems and those are a lot more difficult to fix on your own. In that case it is probably better to take it to someone who knows how to repair vacuums or make the move to a new machine.
Next time you have vacuum trouble, try these simple tricks. They might just breathe new life back into your vacuum!
What is HIC Resistant Steel?
An HIC steel plate is a carbon steel plate which is tested specifically to assess the susceptibility of the material to hydrogen induced cracking, a problem which is commonly found in the oil, gas and chemical industries in what are known as wet h2s and sour service environments.
The build up of hydrogen sulfide in pressure vessel tanks found in these industries is a major concern as it leads to a condition known as hydrogen induced cracking or HIC, where the inner wall of the pressure vessel suffers from the effects of hydrogen corrosion. As pressure vessels and steel boilers operate at a different internal pressure/temperature to the ambient pressure/temperature, such cracking can cause a reduction in load bearing capacity which could cause a potentially catastrophic failure. It is therefore vitally important that procurers in the oil and gas industry have confidence in the longevity of the steel supplied for this purpose.
HIC corrosion in a steel pressure vessel should be considered a risk at hydrogen sulphide levels in excess of 3.5mbar. Where this scenario exists, the steel should therefore be tested for its resistance to the onset of hydrogen induced cracking – the performance of the steel is directly related to the quality of the material and for this reason, greater emphasis is being placed on the quality of the steel at the processing stage. Controlling the amount of hydrogen that is picked up in the processing cycle of the material will increase the longevity of the plate in situ. Ultimately, engineers in the oil and gas industry need to have a realistic view of how long the material will last.
HIC resistant steel can undergo a variety of tests which are normally specified by the customer. Commonly, an unstressed sample is exposed to a solution at ambient temperature and pressure. After a predefined period the sample is withdrawn and assessed. Such a test can provide a clear indication of the materials suitability for purpose. Tests can be carried out at the mill itself or by an independent testing house. Certification is issued with the plate to confirm the result of any test, offering full traceability.
Another variant of the HIC problem is SOHIC or stress orientated hydrogen induced cracking. This is where exposure to hydrogen sulphide can effect the stress load around the heat affected zone of welds since this is the weak point in the tank. Whether HIC or SOHIC, the need for steel to be tested for resistance to hydrogen induced cracking is critical.
Tips For Hiring Cheap Moving Pods
When PODS burst onto the moving scene in 1988 they totally transformed the self service moving industry. Up until this time the only alternative to full service moving was renting a moving truck. Moving pods offer many advantages such as quick loading at ground level and increased flexibility when it comes to the time your available loading time, but it is possible to hire cheap moving PODS? This article examines this point in detail and provides tips and advice on how you can achieve the cheapest possible price for your move using a PODS container.
So for the uninitiated what is a moving pods and what are the main advantages of this type of moving. The easiest way to explain things is to tell you what the word “PODS” means which is Portable On-Demand Storage. A pod is basically is storage container that is delivered to your home, you pack it at your leisure; it is then picked up again and taken to your new home. If necessary it can be stored in between your move at a warehouse. The main advantages over the other types of moving discussed in the introduction to this article are:
· You have up to a month to pack your pods and not a day
· There is no driving involved on your part
· There is a patented lifting system which prevent shifting of items once have been loaded into the container
Now onto the question of how to get a cheap moving pod for your move. As with any moving services, rates will vary at different times of the year. The summer months when demand is high are likely to be more expensive than the winter months. You can check this out by visiting the PODS site http://www.pods.com and simply requesting a quote. Therefore if you have the flexibility one way of reducing your overall moving cost is when you know that demand services will be at there lowest.
Make sure when you accept your quote you get the size of PODS container correct for your requirements. If you ending up requiring additional space it will cost you a lot more in the long run and you can kiss goodbye to the idea of a cheap moving POD.
PODS are relatively cheap and cost effective for local moves. However this is not the case for cross-country or Interstate moves. If you are moving over a long distance, compare the PODS quote carefully with other moving solutions and ask yourself whether the convenience of PODS is worth paying for.
One final way to get a reduction is to try and get a discount on your POD. Give them a call, you may get lucky if a container has been emptied in your area.
Conclusion
As you can probably appreciate by now PODS have a many advantages for you the mover and it is possible if your smart to get cheap moving pods. The main points to remember are to avoid hiring pods for long distance moves, move out of season to get a favourable rate if possible and finally get that discount!
Women’s Running Tips – Top 40 Tips For Women Over 40 Runners
Being a runner over 40 has presented new areas of interest (and concern) for me on the road and more importantly in my training and recovery off the road. I love to run and it’s great to see research being done on older runners…the Stanford study that shows that running slows aging or the Yale study that shows that older marathon runners (women in particular) are improving their running times more than younger runners.
I would like to share some insights and tips that I have learned along the way. Many of these women’s running tips can apply to all runners, but they definitely take on a new perspective as the years go on and we get older, wiser, and perhaps, faster…
Training Tips:
1. Adding Miles: SLOWLY! Use the 10% rule. Add no more than 10% increase of the mileage each week. Here’s more detailed explanation and chart from FitSugar.
2. Warmup: As we get older, the body needs time to get going and giving it that time will help avoid injuries. See “The Perfect Warmup” from Runner’s World.
3.Cross-Training: Is a must for any runner, but as you age the relationship between cross-training and running becomes even more important. For a different, low impact, cross-training option, see our recent post on Aqua Running (Pool Running). Core exercises have become another essential, here’s some good ones from Runners World.
4.Strength Training: There is a lot of information out there on lifting weights and strength training, but being careful to start this in the “right” way is important as we get older. Running Planet has done a nice job w/ laying out The 8 rules of Strength Training”. We have some good videos on our Resources page.
5.Stretching/Yoga: Another must for the aging runner (and this has certainly been debated by many). Dara Torres proved this in her Olympic effort that stunned us all. She adhered to a strict resistance stretching regime (see previous post – Doing the Home Stretch with Dara Torres). I am not a huge fan of yoga, but here’s a good article by Runners World about a runner w/ a ITB injury who didn’t like yoga at the beginning, then became a convert. My always injury free LDF (“Long Distance Friend”) swears by power yoga!
6.Rest: This has become one of the most important parts of my training. If I don’t get enough rest, my body begins to break down. Listen (very closely) to your body.
7.Massage: Another Dara Torres staple and one of my personal favorites. It does not matter if you have a fabulous husband like I do or get from a pro, it works to relieve the stress of training and tired muscles. You can even do it yourself w/ some videos by Rich Poley who wrote “Self Massage for Athletes”.
8.Set a Goal: Having a goal or a race to strive for makes the training have a purpose and keep me focused.
9.Training Programs: A little planning goes a long way. If possible, try to plan your training to run more often on softer surfaces like trails, dirt roads, grassy parks, or even the track. A few good programs are on our resource page. There are many good ones out there–find one that suits you.
10.The Track: Most marathon training programs will include track work as it helps develop the fast twitch muscles to build speed and lung power during a race…getting older does not mean getting less competitive:) If I am training for a marathon, it really makes a difference for me especially in the later miles of the race. Good article from Runner’s World called “Running in Circles”.
11.Injury/Recovery: This one is hard for me as I have had many… at 46, I still like to run fast. There are several common injuries to running and I think I have had them all. See “Coming back from an injury” posts. I have learned to recognize my body’s warning signs and back off. Many of these tips (see Rest, Diet, Stretching/Yoga, Massage, Weight/BMI, Orthotics, and more) are meant to help avoid injuries or help w/ recovery.
12.Running with Music: Running with music can help motivation and provide a needed distraction. I have also learned about the importance of BPM (beats per minute) and ensuring that if you are listening to a song, be sure it is not too slow and unconsciously slowing your pace. Find 70′s, 80′s, and 90′s music along w/ best bands of today and learn more about BPMs in this post: Best Running Music Ever
13.Weight/BMI: It seems that fast marathoners have a low Body Mass Index (BMI). Marathon Guide has a quick tool to calculate your BMI. Knowing yours can help to find the “right” BMI for your best running performance. See also post: What’s the ‘right’ BMI for a woman marathoner?”
14.Running in Different types of Weather: I am not a treadmill runner, so I will run in anything short of a blizzard. With the right layers of clothing this is possible. However, if you are training in summer for a fall race, beware of weather differences. The weather during your race may be very different then when you are training. Don’t be discouraged if you are not able to run 17 miles the way you think you should when you are in 80-90 degree heat and high humidity.
15.Travel Running: Always bring the running shoes along! Some of my best runs have been among the monuments of parks, cityscapes and beaches of sand. Hotels (see this post that mentions WestinRun) now will provide maps (and sometimes runners) to guide you. With the help of Map My Run you can find a route from anywhere. Take a look at some of our Travel running posts.
16.Running and Sex: Here’s an interesting article by Running Times that quotes an Israeli scientist who declared “Women compete better after orgasm, especially high-jumpers and runners”…who am I to argue w/ Israeli scientists?
17. Fartlek Training: Sports Fitness Advisor has some good tips on how to incorporate fartlek into your training (psst…if you don’t know what fartlek is, check out 10Ktruth.com’s “Runnerspeak – Dictionary of Running Jargon and Other Sport Terms”).
Nutrition and Hydration Tips:
18. Type of Diet: Adhering to a well-balanced, low-fat, wholegrain diet that is higher in carbs has always been the best route for me. I love a good smoothie (see post Smoothie Operator –quick nutritional training meal”) while training. Here’s an interesting article w/ good tips on eating from Cool Running called “The Runner’s Diet”.
19.Hydration: It used to be all water and Gatorade for me, but now as I get older I don’t want the same amount of calories. I opt for the lower calorie alternatives like electrolyte powder mixes (see post: “Water log: Hydration and road recovery options for runners”).
20. Eating after Running: The window for eating after running is small, but important. See post “Refuel ‘Right’ after a Run”
Gear Tips:
21. Running Clothes/Bra: I like my running clothes sporty–not funky, but this is obviously personal preference. A good running bra will go a long way…avoid cotton at all cost. I have learned that running skirts are the most polarizing of all apparel items. However, if you love wearing a skirt, check out the Skirtchaser Race Series…looks like fun!
22.Running Shoes/Socks: Running shoes are so personal the only way to really find a pair is to go to a running store and keep trying them on until you find one that feels comfortable. There are tons of shoe guides for different types of feet that are helpful in narrowing it all down. Learning about pronation and choosing a shoe that fits whether you have normal pronation, underpronation (or supination), or overpronation (or hyper-pronation) is key. Runner’s World has a good article along with videos on pronation here. I have changed my shoe once. I alternate pairs of three for marathon training (it used to be two but with my foot issues, it’s now three). Here’s Runner’s World’s “Spring 2009 Running Shoe Guide”. The Asics Gel Kayano 15′s are the “Editor’s Choice” winners and also the shoes I use. A few other quick tips:
Measure your feet: As you age, your foot size may gradually change. Make sure salesperson measures your foot while you are standing up
Shop later in day: As the day goes on, you feet get slightly larger.
Orthotics and socks: Wear socks you use and bring orthotics to store when trying out shoes. Find “dry-wick” type of socks instead of cotton.
Check wear: Most shoes give you between 300 – 500 miles of running. Keep track of the miles (see #24- Running Log). Replacing shoes can avoid unnecessary injuries. Check for wear on soles and inside the shoe as well.
Local running store: Find a good store that specializes in running shoes. Bring in your old shoes when looking for new ones. A good running shoe specialist should be able to look at old shoe and note the wear/fit when choosing a proper new shoe. As about return policy, many stores will let you run in the shoes and return them if they cause problems. Once you’ve found the shoes that work for you, you may be able to find the shoes again on-line at places like Runners Warehouse (a bold pace readers get 15% off), Overstock, or Holabird Sports.
Break in the shoe: Don’t wear a new shoe to a marathon, be sure you have had time to break it in. However, when buying a new shoe, it should feel good when you are trying it on.
Thumb-width: Have a thumb width between the end of your longest toe and the end of the shoe. I wear a 1/2 size bigger to make sure I have room in the toe box.
Get medical advice: If you have a persistent problem with your feet, get the advice of a medical professional. Believe me, waiting for a foot to heal can be agonizing. Don’t make it take any longer by waiting to get help.
Here’s a great video from Howcast that covers many of these tips: “How to Choose a Running Shoe”
23. Orthotics: I overpronate and could not live without these. If you have foot issues (plantar fasciitis, heal spurs, significant overpronation or underpronation, etc.), I’d recommend seeing a sports doc to consider orthotics as your new sole-mates:)
24.Running Log: Memory is not one of my strongest assets, so having a log to record my training keeps track of: weekly mileage, meals, shoe purchases (so I know when to retire shoes), favorite routes/runs, etc.
25. Running Watch/GPS: At heart, I am more of a zen runner (would rather not wear a watch or calculate each mile’s pace…just run), but the NYC marathon last year changed that for me. I went out too fast and had a hard time at the end. I now wear one again. There are great watches and GPS devices (see article from NY Times) that make it easy to calculate pace/time/distance. Another option in a marathon is to make use of “pacers” at a race…here’s Clif Bar’s Marathon Pace Team info.
26. Running Bag: See “What’s in your Running Bag? 10 Essential Items for Taking your Run on the Road”
27. Chaffing: Avoid blisters, use BodyGlide, Vaseline or new Asics Chafe Free. Apply anywhere that rubs…feet, nipples, etc. For more on Asics, see “The End of Run Chaffing?”
28. iPods: The must have for runners (even if you need to borrow from your child). I understand why a lot of runners do not like to use during races , but if you love music, this can be a great way to relax and keep going (ipods are now allowed at some races, see post “Music to my ears”). Be sure to choose songs that work w/ your pace/BPM.
29. Reading about Running: There are so many fabulous books out there on running that are fun to read. They can motivate and excite you. We have a few posted on our Amazon Store.
Racing Tips:
30.Finding a Race: Marathon guide or Racevine can help you find a marathons and other shorter races. These sites not only list races, they rate them.
31. Racing for a Charity: Millions of dollars a year are raised by runners for charity. It can make the race more meaningful if you have someone in mind as you run the miles. Supporting a good cause can also be a way into a sold-out race.
32.Women only Races: More magazine’s Marathon/Half-Marathon (they have the best expo), Zooma Women’s Race Series, Nike Women’s Marathon and See Jane Run are just a few of the women only races out there. They are fun, lively and a bit more polite then the co-ed races:)
33.Pace your Race: It is helpful to know your race goal and have the mile split times easily accessible. PaceTat is a durable, lightweight (actually weightless), and unobtrusive way to keep track of your pace while racing. These are simple transfers that you apply before you race and shows your mile split goals in clear large font. Brilliant idea, and only $2.00 – $2.99 per transfer. Or go the simple and FREE route w/ this tool from Clif Bar.
34.Speed at 40/Beating your PR:There have been numerous articles about how women are older women are getting faster and staying there (see ABC News article on Yale University Study). As we gain experience, we become more efficient runners. We know to run the tangents, prepare properly, and read tips like many we have listed here. We also have more time to train as our children get older.
35.Qualifying for Boston/The Boston Times: Boston is a great, tough race. It is an honor to run it. This is not one to be missed if you qualify. See some of our posts about the Boston Marathon. Check out the “Boston Marathon Qualifying Times.
36. The Race Day Survival Kit: You don’t want any last minute surprises on race day. Having a race day kit can help you to know you are prepared and keep you focused on the race. Assuming you already are wearing your clothes, shoes, have your watch, etc…there are still some items you need. There are two options… you can use a “check-in bag” where you have to wait in-line to get a claim ticket or use a “disposable bag” that has just the essentials and can be tossed. Here are checklists for both:
Check-in Bag:
____Extra Clothes: Nice to have a spare top, shorts, and socks to change into after the race.
____Sunglasses and sunscreen: If it’s a hot and sunny day, you’ll be glad you have these.
____Towel: There may be a shower at the end of the race, but even if not, nice to have to towel off.
____Phone: To contact friends after race
____Money: For any emergency needs
____Pre-race food and fluids
____Post-race food and fluids
____Race Number (if already have) and safety pins: Bring a few extra and you’ll make lots of friends:)
____Race Chip (if already have)
____Course map/Race instructions
____Band-aids/Athletic Tape/First aid
____BodyGlide/Vaseline/Chafe Free
____Deodorant
____Large garbage bag: Helpful if windy or raining before the race or just to sit on.
____Wipes: Useful for nasty porta-potty
____Magazine: Nice to catch up on Vanity Fair while waiting in line for race to start:)
____Extra Goo packets: Use safety pin to keep a couple with you for during the race.
Disposable Bag:
____Pre-race food and fluids
____Wipes: Useful for nasty porta-potty
____Throwaway old clothes: Sweatshirt or long-sleeve shirt. Most races donate discarded clothes to charity.
____Race Number (if already have) and safety pins: Bring a few extra and you’ll make lots of friends:)
____Race Chip (if already have)
____Magazine: Nice to catch up on Vanity Fair while waiting in line for start:) Put in garbage before start.
____Large garbage bag: Helpful if windy or raining before the race or just to sit on.
____Extra Goo packets: Use safety pin to keep a couple with you for during the race
The Running Psyche Tips:
37. Making time for yourself: Running = sanity. Alone or with friends it has fantastic therapeutic results that last all day. I find doing it early in the morning is best as I know I’ll get my run in and “life stuff” during the day will not get in the way.
38.The Running Group: One of my LDFs and I always joke how we are going to write a book about the nuances of our running group. Finding friends to share running with is a wonderful thing and helps you to stay motivated and enjoy the company along with the run.
39. Running Websites/Blogs: There is so much on the web now that you can tap into for running advice, training, support…see our blogroll. It’s a great time to be a runner. If you’re not getting automatic e-mail updates from a bold pace, don’t miss out! Or if you prefer, get our RSS feed.
40. Going beyond your limits: I have to add this because it is the reason I give my son every time he asks why I run…”running for me is about going beyond the limits I have of myself in my mind”. He’s very logical and always answers…”limits are definitive–you can’t go beyond them”…I keep trying to prove him wrong.
Perhaps it is the fresh air or the hours of laboring over one subject with LDFs but from running has come some profound realizations. My LDF Heidi and I have decided that everything our children need to know about life we can relate to running. A life manual in the making perhaps? There is always “One for the THE Book…” decided on a run.
Oil and Gas Royalties – Leasing Mineral Rights
Royalties vs Mineral Rights
Oil and gas royalties are not as complex as most people think. They are actually fairly simple, and I’ll explain clearly what they are and how they generate cash.
If you own a farm, then you own the land also known as the surface rights. Often, when you bought the farm, your deed conveyed the mineral rights under the farm along with the surface rights. Owning the mineral rights means you legally have the right to explore, extract, and sell any oil, gas, coal, uranium, helium or other mineral that rests beneath your land.
Most landowners, however, don’t have the geological knowledge or training to understand the potential minerals under their land. In fact, many landowners forget they own the mineral rights under their land. Further, the average landowner does not have the multi-million dollar budgets to explore for hydrocarbons, or the social networking skills to raise a multi-million dollar exploration fund.
Energy companies do have the knowledge and funding to explore for oil and gas. So when they identify a region that likely contains hydrocarbons, they negotiate with the landowners to lease their mineral rights for exploration. This lease gives the energy companies permission to explore for petroleum and to produce and sell it if they find petroleum in economic quantities.
The Bonus and the Royalty
The mineral owner receives two forms of compensation for leasing his mineral rights. The first is called a ‘Bonus Payment’ which is a signing bonus that is paid on a per acre basis. Typically $200-$500 per acre. The bonus will be paid once at the time of the signing of the lease, and it may be the only money the owner will get.
The second is the royalty which is the percent of the money generated by the oil and gas from his property. Traditionally 12.5%, but more recently around 18% – 25%. The percentage varies upon how well the mineral owner negotiated and how expensive the oil company expects the extraction of oil and gas to be.
However, if the oil company finds no oil or gas, or not any in economic quantities, then they abandon the prospect, and the lease expires which reverts the mineral rights back to the mineral owner. In this case, the Bonus was the only money the owner received.
In the event hydrocarbons are found and the wells produce, then the royalties kick in. So if the well produces 100 barrels a day, and the price of oil is $80 per barrel that month, then the cash flow is 100x$80 = $8,000/day The royalty owner, who agreed to 15% royalty, would receive $8,000 x 0.15 = $1,200/day. Over a month, that brings in $36,000 per month to the mineral owner, who in this case, is the landowner. Now you see why oil is a big business!
Royalties Dwindle Over Time
Royalties paid to the mineral rights owner will often last for decades. The wells will deplete, however, so over time the money received from royalties will drop considerably. The average well is thought to last 35 years. Eventually, the royalty dies, and all the owner has is the mineral rights. Which may get leased again in the future.
Finding Mineral Rights to Buy is Hard
Because of the reliable cash flow stream, oil and gas royalties make for a good investment. Finding mineral right owners who want to sell their royalties is the tough part. The only available data on royalty owners currently is Blackbeard Data Services, and they have all the owners in Texas and Kansas.
How to Import Green Coffee From Origin Countries
Importing starts with green coffee that is completely processed and ready for export from the origin country. Typically, shipped in 20 foot containers of 275 to 320 bags (70kb or 60kg) or less. It could also be loaded bulk, therefore enabling more beans to be shipped, lowering the shipping costs on a per pound/kilo basis.
From the USA, specialty coffees are most often purchased by importers or individual roasters via an FOB Contract. FOB (Free On Board) means that the price paid by the buyer includes all of the costs in the exporting country, including processing, inland transport, warehousing, dock fees, export fees and loading the container onto the ship. Ownership passes from the seller to the buyer once the container passes over the rail of the ship. The ships captain prepares the Bill of Lading that you will present to your bank to prove the coffee is now on the ship.
The exporter will need a bank that can handle international interbank transactions. Preferably one that is experienced in export document requirements. If not well established at this type of transaction, the exporter will not want to extend credit to any buyer, but will require payment terms: CAD (Cash Against Documents).
A CAD transaction enables the exporter to have payment deposited into his bank account after presenting to the bank the required documents proving that the coffee purchased by the importer (buyer) meets the specifications in the coffee purchase contract/agreement. The exporter’s bank will determine exactly what documents are required.
These documents may include:
- Ocean Bill of Lading (from the freight liner after the coffee is loaded on the ship)
- Weight Notes to identify the exact content and weight of that content
- Certificate of Origin (issued by the government Customs authority in India)
- Certificate of Fumigation (if required by importing country)
- ICO Certificate of Origin (Approved by the ICO: International Coffee Organization)
- Invoice sent to buyer identify the details of the purchase and $Value.
- Packing List from seller as evidence of the product shipped.
- Other agricultural certificates as dictated in your country
Typically, the exporter will use an Export Broker in the origin country who is expert in these matters and can arrange all of the issues involved in preparing the coffee and the documents for export. If a broker is the seller/exporter, then he will handle all of the required export documentation. The buyer/importer arranges for payment, ocean freight and transport insurance. It’s also the importer’s responsibility for acquiring all import documentation and arrangement in his country.
Of course, finding buyers is the key when importing for resell. For information to identify coffee importers, office coffee service providers and specialty gourmet coffee roasters in the United States, you can purchase a membership list from the Specialty Coffee Association of America or from InfoUSA.com. You can use networking sites like, TradeKey as well.
Note: there are always risks associated with importing. Although the importer may have received samples representing the coffee purchased, in most cases the actual coffee received will match the quality grade, type and source, every coffee lot is different, even from the same region and farm.
There are a few ways to lower this risk. One is to be sure you have a “green coffee contract” modeled after the Green Coffee Association Contract Terms & Conditions. Second, be sure to get an export sample taken directly from the contain prior to its being loaded onto the ship, since once the container is on the ship ownership transfers to the importer (FOB contract terms). Finally, when you purchase is large enough, personally knowing who your buying from and even visiting the country to physically select and monitor the export process is an option.
CCTV Camera – Do-It-Yourself Installation Guide
Introduction:
This guide is written for those who do need video security and can’t afford costly installation services, or if the CCTV installer is not available in your area – the later is more common than one could think. We will cover most common security equipment types, as it is virtually impossible to go over such a wide rang of different security cameras and recording/video processing equipment available on the market.
I assume anyone considering do-it-yourself CCTV installation has basic knowledge of wiring techniques and practices. I am not to be held responsible or liable for damages to the equipment due to mishandling or misuse. Remember; during the installation always pay attention to safety. Working at heights and using tools can be dangerous, please follow all safety practices. Lets jump right to it now.
Planning: First step of any camera installation is to plan camera and monitoring equipment locations. When planning for camera locations please take in consideration light condition, never install cameras in low light room pointing straight into the sunny area it will add glare to the picture, even if your camera has back light compensation it will not be enough. Use infrared cameras for very dark conditions and/or B/W cameras with as low LUX number as possible. I am not going to discuss proper equipment selection, as this was subject of my last article.
Selecting the best possible camera locations is not easy, and will directly impact the camera views. Besides light conditions, the distance to the monitoring object is equally important. There are many different types and focal lengths of lenses; your selection will depend on light condition and distance from the camera to the monitoring object. In small rooms around 500sq. ft. cameras with standard 3.6mm lens should be OK. Keep in mind that most bullet and board type of cameras come with 3.6mm lens, the greater the distance to the monitoring object the longer focal length of the lens will be needed. There is no ease way of judging lens selection, you can eider guess or buy professional lens selector tool.. Alternatively you can start with your lens selection and if needed get longer or shorter focal length lens later. Other option as far as lens selection goes, is to use variable focus lens, which is very versatile approach and takes the guess out of the lens selection process. For those who do not know what variable focus lens is, it’s basically adjustable focal length lens that will allow to change the focal length within specified range, fore example: 2.6mm – 8mm or 5mm – 50mm.
To maximize cameras coverage and get the most out of the CCTV system for least amount of money minimize number of it by placing cameras in strategic places, unless complete area coverage is needed. Avoid overlapping camera views, do not install them with source of light directly in front of it and do not place infrared cameras pointing at each other to eliminate risk of overexposure. These are the most common mistakes that need to be avoided. After the initial camera locations are predetermined, lets look at cable placement. Make sure that it is actually possible and practical to run cable to each location, if running the cable to any camera location is for some reason impossible opt-out for alternate location.
Wiring: The most time consuming and important part of any camera installation is wiring. Plan your installation carefully to minimize cable lengths and insure good quality video signal. Never run cables alongside high power electrical lines, at least 12″ spacing between video cable and power lines are recommended. Keep the cable lengths below 400ft and use good quality cable, most people take the cable for granted, but it is actually very important aspect of any installation. The CCTV system is only as good as its weakest component. I usually stick with RG59U with power Coleman cable (YES it is US made) sometimes called Siamese type cable. It is combo cable and will transmit video and power, as an alternative it is sometimes possible to use less expensive RG6 standard coax cable with separate run of 18/2AWG for power.
The Siamese cable is less bulky and easer to run, distribution power supply is recommended with this type of cable as power will be supplied from common place right next to monitor and recording equipment. Using Siamese cable makes for more clean and neat installation, as only one line is required for each camera. Running RG6 cable with separate run for power is the likely solution if power outlets are available near each locations. In this case individual plug in power supplies are used to power them with power cable running as separate and independent line to the camera. Both types of cables are available at dvrexperts. When running the cable it is good practice to leave couple of loops of extra cable at both camera and monitoring locations. This extra length of cable is needed if in the future monitoring or location will have to be moved slightly. After the cable is in place, the labor-intensive part of installation is over, now we can get to the fun part of installation.
Camera mounting: Most s come with mounting screws and bracket included, attach the bracket firmly and remember that in some cases different brackets than the ones supplied with the cameras could be needed.
Attach the camera to the bracket and adjust the position approximately at this time, we will come back to it later. Typical security camera is powered by 12VDC or 24VAC and power input type is screw or push terminals or 2.1mm plug. Power connection will differ for each type of power supply and input style. Most cameras are 12VDC, in this case it is important to observe polarity or you may damage the camera. The power cable has two conductors and in most cases it will be red or white and black cable. Use the red or white for positive and black for negative terminals. If it has screw or push terminals power input connect the cable directly observing polarity, if it is 2.1mm plug, a special 2.1MM Female DC Plug with Flying Leads have to be connected to the cable again keep attention to polarity. The 24VAC connection is very similar, with one major difference – polarity is not important.
Next step will involve some special tools and accessories. We will attempt to go over installation process of BNC crimp-on video connector, I will post video demonstration of BNC crimping techniques shortly so please check the web sites mentioned in this article often.
Steps:
1. Remove about 1/2-inch long outer jacket from the end of video cable exposing braid.
2. Slide the crimping barrel onto the cable with the larger diameter facing end of the cable.
3. Pull the braid backwards exposing the inner isolator material and remove 3/8-inch of it so you have now core conductor exposed.
4. The main part of BNC connector has a small hole on one side; push the exposed core conductor of the cable into that hole as far as it will go.
5. Push all the braid folded backwards in step 3 onto the BNC connector and spread the braid evenly around connector.
6. Push the crimping barrel onto the BNC connector all the way.
7. Using crimping tool, squeeze the crimping barrel onto the BNC connector, now the cable braid is compressed in between crimping barrel and BNC connector assuring secure connection.
BNC connector is on, lets hook it up now and repeat the steps for each camera, if you have purchased 16 camera system you may want to get some coffee first.
Monitor and recorder connection:
Cameras are on, its time to make final connections. I will focused on standard CCTV monitor, standalone DVR recorder and distribution power supply, as this is the most popular and likely solution for most CCTV installations.
First we have to install BNC connectors on this side as well – its time for that coffee again. It is good idea to make room for monitor and recorder now and setup some type of desk, shelf or rack to place all the equipment on.
We need the monitor and recorder in place so we can determine proper power supply location. Power supply should be mounted within couple of feet from the DVR video inputs. After power supply is secured separate the power conductors from the Siamese cable, and run it to power supply. Like we did with the cameras if 12VDC power is used, we need to watch the polarity, each terminal on the power supply is marked, so there should not be any doubt. Make sure the power supply is not plugged in to the power outlet yet.
Connect video cables to the DVR video in ports. We need one video cable to connect the DVR with the monitor, if you do not have one you may cut piece of Siamese cable separate the power conductors from it and install BNC connectors on both ends, you now have the cable. Connect the DVR monitor out port to monitor video in. We are almost ready to power up everything; there is only one more thing to take care before we do that.
We need to protect the equipment from power spikes by plugging it into power conditioner or better yet, buttery backup unit. If the installation location is experiencing frequent power outages, the backup unit is strongly recommended. To extend the backup time only plug the DVR and camera power supply to the backup unit and the monitor to regular power strip, this way if we do loose power for some time the DVR and cameras are still functioning as normal while monitor is off. Turning off monitor will not affect DVR and cameras in any way; it is actually good habit to turn the monitor of if not used to extend its life.
Power on and final adjustment: Yes… we are now ready to power it up for the first time, if this is your first installation it may be nerve-racking experience. Start with turning the cameras power supply on, turn the monitor on as well followed by DVR system. The stand-alone DVR, after self-test will show cameras or setup menu on first power up depending on your model.
To setup the DVR refer to the manual for proper settings. Go over each camera view to determine if the view is actually what you want, hardly ever it will be without additional readjustments. To properly and easily adjust the positions, the test monitor will be very handy if not essential tool. Go to each camera location and connect the test monitor to adjust the position to your preferences, if satisfied secure camera bracket adjustment screws – we will not go back to this camera anymore.
Conclusion: Congratulations! You have just completed your most likely, very first installation of CCTV system. Visit our store fore more information on surveillance cameras, DVR recorders, tools and accessories.