Home Security Cameras

Most homes have as many as 15 locations that can benefit from a security camera. In the right place, it only takes one. Recently, a hapless burglar in Tampa was recorded walking around a living room picking up objects in full view of a security camera that captured his every move. Police got quick assistance from the community to identify him. The New York Times cited the number of homes that have security devices at 17 percent. Those homes can give police more to go on than others that have no picture or physical evidence of a burglary.

Advances in technology make it possible for cameras to alert you in real time when they see something going on that you need to know. The motion detection in security cameras lets you do something about it immediately instead of after the damage occurs. You can live-stream camera footage from your smartphone to get a view of the inside or outside of your home or business whenever you want to access it. High-quality security cameras can capture and store recorded images of intruders, providing evidence of their presence for the police. Click here for the Best-Selling Home Security Products.

Whenever any suspicious event occurs, you can access it and play it back to see what happened and who did it. If a “picture is worth 10 thousand words” in a 1927 trade journal, you can calculate the value of a video that lets police identify an intruder who intended to steal your valuable possessions.

How Many Cameras Do You Need?

Whether you call them security, surveillance or video cameras, the meaning remains the same. Shakespeare’s opinion that “a rose by any other name smells as sweet” confirms that a camera that takes a picture of an intruder provides proof of illegal entry. The reasons for wanting a security camera can determine the number that you need. Deterrence may rank as one of the most important reasons to install security cameras in your home or business. Cameras that remain visible in the outdoors but out of reach of vandals and those at entry points may help deter burglars who know what they mean. Indoors and out, they can gather vital information from these locations:

• front and back doors

• porch or doorsteps

• living room

• bedrooms

• baby’s room

• dining room/kitchen eating areas

• basement

• garage

• front or backyard

• traffic choke points

• first/ second-floor halls

• emergency exits

• areas that present a view of any high-interest asset

Indoor Home Security Cameras

Price usually does not receive top billing when something that you want to buy comes up for discussion, but it certainly deserves consideration. The adage that “you get what you pay for” applies to security cameras as it does to any other purchase. The value of cheap equipment may not equal what you pay for it, and you end up getting nothing for the money that you spent. Low-grade cameras that cost less than 20 bucks can disappoint you with blurred images, poor video quality and signal loss. Many high-quality indoor security cameras come in a range of affordable options, and you can expect to pay prices like these:

• Battery Security Camera $40 – $150

• CCTV Camera $15 – $200

• Cellular Security Camera $130 – $400

• Digital Video Recorder Security System $99 – $800

• Hidden Security Camera $60 – $150

• Monitored Security Camera $180 – $300

• NVR Security System $120 – $1300

• P2P IP Camera $40 – $300

• Solar Security Camera $40 – $200

• A 360-degree Security Camera $35 – $180

• A 4K Security Camera $130 – $200

With budget matters somewhat settled, you can focus on other factors that affect your buying decision. One of the most significant choices regards whether to use a wired or a wireless camera system. Wireless allows you to place the cameras anywhere without drilling or running wires. Wired devices let you use your DIY skills or hire a contractor to do it for you.

• Tips on Choosing An Indoor Security Camera.

• Resolution

The bottom line for the best wireless security camera for indoor or outdoor use has 1080p (1920*1080), a resolution that gives you the detail you want even in a darkened room. Higher resolution gives you more explicit videos, and you may want to choose an indoor IP model with a resolution of 4 or 5 megapixels.

• Audio

To answer the door with a phone that connects to a camera or to warn strangers to stay away, you can use a system with 1-way audio. If you want to listen and reply in real time, you need a camera that has 2-way capability.

• Night Vision

For color night vision, choose a camera with a starlight image sensor. If black and white images satisfy you, then you can use a lower priced unit without starlight.

• Viewing Remotely

Smartphones and computers with compatible software can let you access your camera from any location, and all P2P cameras can do it.

• Recording or Storing Locally

Indoor security cameras with recording let you see what happened, and you have five options to store the information. It can send motion events to an SD card, an NVR/digital video recorder, a computer, an FTP server or the cloud. Indoor security cameras must support at least three of the five options.

Outdoor Home Security Cameras

Concerns about exposure to the elements make the selection of an outdoor home security camera different from those for indoors. Since waterproof and weatherproof do not mean the same thing, the cameras do not get the same degree of protection. You get an IP66 rating with waterproof cameras, a classification that protects them from dust, heavy rains, water jets, high wind, exposure to the sun, heat or chill.

Your choice of an outside home CCTV security camera needs a rating of at least IP65. Weatherproof cameras may have lower ratings, but they can still protect against water jets and have a guarantee for use outdoors. Keep in mind that some wireless cameras need access to a power source.

• What You Need to Know About Outdoor Security Cameras.

• Resolution

Weather conditions can affect the clarity of videos that an outdoor camera captures. You need high resolution, and 1080p (1920*1080) or full high-definition produces excellent results; specific needs may lead you to prefer something more powerful.

• Audio

Two-way systems let you communicate with someone at the camera location while one-way cameras record only the voice.

• Night Vision

Two key factors in selection relate to the range and video footage. An outdoor home security camera needs an extended range of at least 30 feet for color or black and white videos. Before you decide, make sure to preview a video sample that reveals a camera’s performance.

• Network Connection

Wi-Fi can present problems that may require switching to a 4G mobile outdoor home camera. Unless you want to view camera activity on your tablet, computer or mobile phone, you may not need an internet connection to use a wireless Wi-Fi security camera. You may use a wired IP camera without it as well.

• Vandal Proofing

The RLC-422 outdoor security cameras comply with the vandal-proof IK10 standard to deter attempts to damage them. The RCL-410 and the Argus 2 resist damage as well.

• Storage

An outdoor security camera needs at least one storage option for recording and storing video footage.

• Location

The most frequently breached locations need the protection that an outdoor security camera can provide. Burglars usually choose the front and back doors as well as first-floor windows for illegal entry. Access through a garage or second-floor windows, while infrequent, can destroy the peaceful enjoyment of a home.

Wired Security Cameras

Most owners of security cameras choose the traditionally wired option, especially for larger properties. The methods for powering a wired system include a separate cord or a Power Over the Ethernet (POE) cable. The POE cable provides power as well as a connection to the internet. The time involved in wiring a home or business makes it an investment that complements a permanent location.

For multiple cameras, placement of each unit requires running cables, installation and equipment mounting as well as access to power and connectivity between cameras and the recorder. Wired cameras require the installation of cables, and they offer less flexibility than wireless systems. However, their reliability may offset those concerns. Both types of systems have something that you may like or reject.

• Things To Consider About Hardwired Security Cameras.

• Reliable Performance

The connections between the camera, recorder and router on a wired system make it unlikely for wireless signals to create interference. The highly reliable performance of wired security recommends it as a desirable choice.

• Capacity

The ability to link four or more cameras favors the choice or a wired system, especially for sites on large properties that require comprehensive coverage instead of surveillance of selected areas. A wired network can support up to 16 cameras and store the footage on a digital video recorder or NVR recorder.

• Time Requirements

An investment of time and money into installing a wired system may deter you from choosing it. The difficulty of relocating cameras that require multiple cables, mounting and access to power may present obstacles to using wired cameras.

• Power Loss

A backup generator can ensure a constant source of power in case of an electrical outage. While power outages may occur only infrequently, they prevent a wired system from capturing any information.

Wireless Security Cameras

A maximum of four cameras on a wireless security system may satisfy your needs, and the choice lets you avoid the hassle of a time-consuming installation. However, even though a wireless system connects a camera to a recorder without the extensive wiring that wired systems require, it still must have a wired connection to power. A wireless camera setup may offer convenience and flexibility, and it may provide the most significant advantages to homeowners or renters who prefer to set it up, take it down or move it quickly.

• The Advantages Of Wireless Video Security Cameras.

• Ease of Installation

Wireless connections to the Wi-Fi network let cameras transmit footage, making a cable from the camera to a recorder unnecessary. However, it still needs access to a power source.

• Interference

Wireless security cameras have more susceptibility to interference than wired systems. A signal from your router and others on the same bandwidth can present complications in densely populated areas where many homes have more than one wireless signal often on the same bandwidth. Wireless cameras need a location within Wi-Fi range, and metal buildings can create connectivity issues. Wireless repeaters may strengthen a signal by rebroadcasting from different places.

Recording Your Security Camera Footage

Today’s technology gives you an option to record your video data on a Digital Video Recorder or a Network Video Recorder (NVR), and both systems can record video data reliably. The differences between the two types that may help you make a purchasing decision relate to cost, a method of data transmission and type of camera. Your specific security needs may dictate which is better. NVR systems usually provide better picture quality. More expensive, they have native support for each camera that has a microphone, and they offer increased flexibility.

• Security Camera Recording Systems – The Latest Technology.

NVR systems can process the video data at the camera level and stream it to an NVR for storing and remote viewing while digital video recorder systems use the recorder to process the video data. You can use an NVR as a wired or wireless system, but the digital video recorder option requires wiring. It may provide adequate security if you want reliable performance at a lower price than an NVR system. A low price point may seem attractive, but you can compare the trade-offs that may help with a purchasing decision.

Understanding Security Camera Resolution

A security camera’s resolution makes a difference because it defines how much visual information it can capture. It matters as a significant factor in overall video quality as well. Manufacturers assign a number as a measure that lets you know a camera’s resolution quality. A higher number means that a camera can capture more information and provide better clarity. It allows you to zoom in to inspect a specific image without distorting it.

The resolution of analog and digital (IP) cameras differs. The IP technology allows you to capture more detail and from a greater distance than you can with analog cameras. An IP camera has no resolution limit on the data that you can obtain. Your only restriction relates to how much of it you can store. The higher resolution feeds require more storage space. Manufacturers measure resolution on analog cameras in TV lines (TVL) or pixels.

The resolution ratings on security cameras range from 420 TVL for a lower resolution to 700 TVL for the highest. The higher the number of pixels or TVL that a camera description includes, the more precise the picture that it can produce. Your decision may need to include consideration of the limitations of older DVRs. You may find that, while your analog camera can capture higher resolutions, an older digital video recorder may not have the capacity to process it. The limit on older DVRs of 540 TVL or lower cannot take advantage of the extra camera resolution.

Night Vision Capabilities of Security Cameras

Specific ways to verify the capability of a security camera to provide top quality night vision allow you to make a well-considered buying decision. Digital (IP) cameras can see at night, but you may need to know if an analog (CCTV) camera can do so as well. A high-quality CCTV offers a long-range IR distance night vision of 100 to 190 feet that can monitor your front and backyard, garden and garage day and night. Most CCTV cameras use infrared (IR) bulbs to flood an area with the light that the camera can recognize though invisible to humans. While most outdoor infrared night vision security cameras capture images in black and white, models with a starlight image sensor can record in color. Features that can distinguish the best outdoor night vision camera from others include these:

• Quality Imaging

A CCTV camera produces better image quality in black and white than in full color, but a starlight image sensor can make it provide much better color night vision.

• Storing Images

The elements in color night vision footage require more storage space than black and white. Where storage space presents limitations, you may get better results with black and white night vision.

• Range Comparison

Black and white night vision covers a more extended range than color night vision.

• Pricing

Cameras with starlight image sensors offer more technology with prices that reflect it, but manufacturers provide models in a reasonable price range.

• Influential Factors

The best cameras give you a high resolution of at least 1080p (1920*1080). The higher ratings mean more explicit footage and details such as license plates and facial features. A weatherproof rating of IP65 provides protection from the elements for a CCTV Wi-Fi IP camera. A high-quality long-range night vision security camera needs an IR range of at least 30 feet.

Focusing on Field of View

The images that a security camera can capture depend on its field of view (FOV) or viewing angle, and manufacturers specify it in degrees. A wider FOV does not necessarily provide a better picture. Lens size affects the FOV and may influence the type of lens that can produce the results that you expect from a security camera.

• Wide-angle Lenses

A smaller or wide-angle lens produces a bigger field of view than a camera with a larger lens. The wide-angle captures a large area such as a front or backyard, warehouses, parking lots and foyers in large buildings, but objects appear smaller in a photographic image.

• Narrow-angle lenses

For coverage of a limited field of view, narrow-angle lenses can serve a specific purpose. They can capture a smaller area and allow the objects to appear larger and have more detail. Their ability to focus on smaller targets makes them appropriate for a home’s doorways and entrances, hallways and valuable objects.

• Focal Length

The lens size or focal length determines the FOV. For example, a focal length of 3.6mm produces a FOV of 78 degrees while a focal length of 9mm provides a FOV of 39 degrees for a much more detailed image. A fixed lens has a permanently set focal length that prevents it from changing for different applications. A varifocal lens can accept manual adjustments with screws or knobs on a camera.

Advanced Features and Must Have Extras

Security cameras offer a range of simple to complex features that let you settle for a reliable system or tweak it to a highly sophisticated asset for your home.

• Remote Viewing

A list of steps and some video clips from the Dummies Guide series can let you act like you understand the complicated world of security camera technology. Basic knowledge about how to remotely view your camera’s images can let you watch from anywhere on the globe.

• Motion Activation

False alarms from security cameras that alert you to wind and sun, light and snow can diminish your appreciation for the technology. You can learn about hidden motion-activated cameras that use scientific method to prevent them. One type compares changes in the number of pixels between frames (software-based motion detection). Another type detects infrared body heat (PIR sensor-based motion detection).

• App Support

Creative software developers have seen the need for innovative apps that let you remotely view CCTV and IP cameras since the development of mobile devices.

• Motion Tracking

Indoor or outdoor auto-tracking cameras can increase the level of security in your home. Activating only when they detect something, they conserve power the rest of the time.

• Video-surveillance Refinements

As you refine and enhance your camera’s video-surveillance capabilities, you have many choices of features. Among them, the type of iris controls the amount of light that reaches the image sensors, and it can affect the quality of videos. PTZ cameras can pan, zoom and tilt to provide the flexibility that traditionally fixed cameras may lack. A high frames per second (FPS) rate lets your videos capture fast-moving objects. Read More https://homesafetydot.com/security-cameras/