Living in the limelight goes with the territory for celebrities, sports stars and movers and shakers when they're out in public. But when it comes to their homes, they insist on total privacy and protection from prying eyes, predatory paparazzi, prowlers and would-be kidnappers. They also insist on the most advanced video surveillance technology to see what's going on in -- and around -- their multimillion dollar mansions, 24/7.

Increasingly, the technology of choice comes from Extreme CCTV, whose Integrated Day Night™ (IDN™) cameras with patented infrared lighting literally let them see in the dark - whether they're at home or half a world away. Highlander Security of Nevada City, CA, has been installing security and entertainment systems in the homes of the rich and famous up and down the California coast from Beverly Hills to Sonoma for more than a decade. Highlander supplies these residential clients with the same technology that the Survivor reality TV series used to provide full motion video in the dark.

"Our clients are the elite of the business and entertainment worlds,'" says Shawn McClain, Highlander's VP of Operations. "These are the people you see on CNN and CNBC who do $100 million deals. They're used to getting the absolute best in life, whatever they do. Privacy and security are very dear to their hearts."

Not surprisingly Highlander is not at liberty to name names. In fact, the high-end home security business is so sensitive that their firm is not even listed in the phone book. The family business that his father founded (Shawn's brother Steve is President) is part of a closed network of specialists that comes recommended only by word of mouth. This ensures 100-percent privacy and security for their clients.

The handful of firms that serve this high-end market demand total discretion - and flawless performance, says Virgil Sayre, a manufacturer's sales rep for Extreme CCTV, which has offices in Canada, England and Barbados, and designs and develops precision-engineered surveillance equipment for security solution providers around the world.

"The main issue with residential surveillance has been that when there is no light, there is no picture," says Sayre. "In the past residential clients had to use bright floodlights that were triggered by motion to light an area so a picture could be captured. Now, with Extreme's cameras, they don't need this cumbersome and costly solution as one camera does both. Extreme is the pioneer of high end 24/7 security. An intruder would not even know he or she can be seen by Extreme's infrared-illuminated camera."

Extreme's IDN cameras act as "the unseen floodlight," explains Shawn McClain. "Highlander only uses cameras that can 'see in the dark' and we always use Extreme. They are the best no-light cameras on the market today and provide the best night vision possible. There is nothing better -- and Highlander is always on the look out for better."

High-end clients also want color images for their systems, adds Sayre. "In the past this meant one color camera for daytime and one black and white camera and a floodlight for night time. Extreme IDN technology can deliver color images in the daytime that switches to infrared illuminated monochrome at night. It does not need a floodlight because it can see in the dark."

With a unique dual-CCD sensor technique, Extreme delivers an accurate, impressive color image in daylight and excellent high-signal black and white video in complete darkness without any chance of focus shift during the transition from color to infrared scenes. This delivery of high performance surveillance, explains Sayre, is what raises Extreme products above the competition.

Highlander uses several different Extreme models in their installations, depending on the requirements. Usually they are permanent, but sometimes a star on a six-month location shoot will want video surveillance for the house they're leasing. Occasionally, there are emergency installations at home in which there has been a threat to someone's life or property. In all, there are more than 25 Extreme products customized into more than 200 Extreme models. Here are three that Highlander often uses:

• The EX82 is great for long-range areas, large areas, front and back yards, wide locations and around the perimeter of the property to see if paparazzi are there.
• The EX11DXL covers side yard areas with its 40-foot infrared projection and is great for viewing electrical and phone service panels.
• The EX27 with UF500 infrared is excellent for viewing front and back gates.

Highlander President, Steve McClain, is also a user having had several Extreme IDN cameras installed at his home in rural California. Some provide surveillance for the property, others keep an eye on his livestock and one - the 'nanny cam' -- monitors the room of his two young children.

Because Highlander always has a senior person on-site during installations, Steve McClain is often away from his own home. But he can still check his kids, property and livestock whenever he chooses because all his Extreme cameras are linked to the Internet. Steve programs digital video recording equipment linked to the Extreme cameras to start recording when it senses motion or has it record for 60 seconds every five minutes.

"Extreme lets me be very flexible so I can play with the technology to do exactly what I need, at home and on the job," says Steve McClain. "These cameras are really, really cool toys with some pretty serious benefits."

Highlander often engineers the Internet linking of Extreme cameras for clients who are either often away from home - or have multiple properties to monitor. One client has a mountain home near Lake Tahoe - and another in Hawaii. At Tahoe, they have a boat, which they moor on the other side of the lake. They have an Extreme camera mounted outside the home with a zoom lens that allows them to see the boat clear across the lake. The Internet link lets them check the boat even when they're in Hawaii - nearly 2,300 miles from Tahoe. If it looks like the weather is going to get nasty, they can have the boat moved to a safer place.

Although high-end homes lead the way in security innovation, more and more homeowners have recognized the value of installing Extreme cameras that can see in the dark, says Sayre.

"Even medium sized homes now have cameras on the pool and the front door," he explains. "Whether you're famous or not, when you can see in the dark, you don't have to be afraid of it anymore. What the rich and famous do first trickles down to the rest of us."

CCTV is a registered trademark and Integrated Day Night and IDN are trademarks of Extreme CCTV Inc. All other registered and non registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

©Extreme CCTV Inc. 2003