Home Security Cameras
How to feel safe - by installing a security camera
More and more people these days are choosing to install a home security camera in their homes to protect themselves and their property. There are a lot of choices when it comes to these products, and there is also a wide range of prices, depending on what you end up choosing.
Some cameras are designed to monitor a specific area of the house and can be integrated with your television or computer through a cable. Other products are wireless and will broadcast through the internet, so you can monitor your home from the convenience of your computer at work. Another option is a dome camera that is able to monitor a much larger area than a regular security camera due to its shape. However, these are more commonly used for businesses rather than as part of a home security system.
Many people install hidden cameras, also known as nanny cameras. These devices are deliberately concealed within the home so that you can monitor remotely the behavior of people in your home without them being aware of it. The reason they are called nanny cameras is that they are frequently utilized to keep an eye on the nanny or babysitter who is looking after the children while the parents are at work or otherwise away from the home. They can be very useful if you suspect that there is negligence or abuse taking place.
Some other kinds of security cameras are wireless and are connected to your security system through routers so that the video can be viewed on a screen by way of the internet. These cameras are often part of a total home security system that is monitored by a company for a monthly fee. If the system indicates a problem, the company will alert the police or fire department on your behalf.
Some cameras broadcast in black and white and others can be viewed in color, depending on your preferences. The monitors that they are connected to can be arranged so that more than one view is displayed at any given time. Or you can switch to a new channel for each camera view. You can also receive notification by email or text message if movement is detected on your property, as is the case with a motion detection camera.
Some people, however, don't have piles of money to spend on a home security camera. There's an option for them as well - it's called a dummy system. You can purchase realistic cameras that don't actually function and set them up around the house. They cost about fourteen dollars each. These products have lights and they can move, so an intruder will believe that he is being monitored. There are even wires that make the cameras look more lifelike. They're considered to be a very good deterrent to those who are thinking of breaking into your home.
written by expert - Sean Davids
Home security video cameras for beginners
Home security video cameras are a great way to keep your house, your property, and most importantly your family safe. In this current period of economic downturn crimes such as break-ins are markedly on the rise; therefore, it is absolutely imperative that you have adequate surveillance and security in your home. In this article you are going to learn about the best options for you when it comes to installing a home video surveillance camera.
Most people choose to purchase home surveillance cameras from electronics stores or specialist security shops as these tend to offer quite a large range of different products and models to suit any price range, as well as expert service. This can make it a lot easier to purchase your first home security video camera as it can be a daunting process. However, on the downside you will pay a massive premium compared with the cost of buying online (although you don't have as much convenience.
Frankly, the best option is to actually make your own surveillance system. This might sound crazy, and the idea has probably never crossed your head, but it is most definitely possible and is catching on. Firstly, it is a lot cheaper than purchasing a professionally made home security video camera; you are looking at around 300 pounds+ for a good store purchased system, whereas you can make your own for less than 100 pounds
Secondly, because of the fact that a homemade security camera is constructed using an everyday webcam, then monitored from a computer or cell phone, it is a very covert way of keeping an eye on things. Nobody would suspect a web cam as operating as a surveillance camera, and it is for this reason, as well as the issue of price that you are recommended to build your own. It really isn't that hard to do, and the end result is worth it.
written by expert - William Jones
How to install a security camera on a budget
When looking for a home security camera system, it is important first to consider what you want to get out of the system. Many people will tell you that you need to spend thousands of dollars, and get cameras that have PTZ capabilities (Pan/Tilt/Zoom) in order to truly secure your home. The problem with that theory, is that in the meantime while you are waiting to save up the thousands of dollars for the system that some people tell you that you need, more vandalism and theft might still be occurring on your property. PTZ cameras are great, but for home installations, they are generally too large and too costly to be effective. So instead, lets look at what you want to get out of the system, because this will really determine what is necessary, and what is not for your system.
If you are looking to provide basic coverage of your property, so you can see if someone is on your property, then a wide-angle view is probably best for your circumstance. These cameras cover a wide view, allowing you to use a single camera to cover the whole yard. However, wide-angle cameras are not for every installation. These cameras provide a great coverage to see "What" is happening, but will have a hard time delivering "Who" is doing it, unless they are within 10-25 fee of the camera. As you get further from the camera, the person will appear smaller and smaller, because a wide-angle camera makes everything appear smaller in the viewport.
If you have a narrow "pinch-point", gate or walkway that people must travel through during ingress or egress from your property, then it might make sense to complement the wide-angle cameras with a camera that has a narrower width of view, providing coverage of the specific narrow area with a fixed-zoom lens. This permits you to get more information and footage on the "Who" so that you can tell who is entering your property. When complemented by a wide-angle camera, which shows what is happening, then you can easily get the whole story. These narrower angle cameras (generally 8-12mm depending on distance) are very common to use for driveways, entry gates or even the side alley between your house and the neighbor. These cameras will give a much better view by bringing you closer to the action and delivering a higher quality picture for these narrow areas.
For recording, there are two main types of DVRs (Digital Video Recorders). These are not the same as your "Tivo" or other Cable/Satellite DVRs, these are devices that are designed specifically for recording from your home security cameras. The first type of DVR is the Standalone DVR. This DVR is a VCR-Sized digital video recorder that will record from the cameras onto an internal hard drive digitally, so that you can record when motion is detected and easily view live cameras and playback recorded footage right on your TV screen. These DVRs provide a great basic system for home users. The next type of system is a PC-Based DVR system. With the PC-Based DVR Cards, it is a card that installs into your Windows XP or Windows Vista PC to provide inputs for the security cameras. The cameras then record through the included software onto the hard drive of your PC. The PC-Based DVR Systems are generally slightly more advanced than the Standalone DVR systems, as they provide higher resolution recording and more remote viewing options generally. With PC-Based DVR systems, you also have the capability of expanding the system as needed, so you can start with 1 or 2 cameras to cover the most important areas and continue expanding the system as your needs and budget grow. With Standalone DVRs, you will be limited to the number of inputs provided by the DVR that you select.
Regardless of what system you choose, make sure that you are carefully selecting a system that will suit your needs and will provide the video quality and remote viewing capabilities that you require. Too often, we hear from customers who have bought systems for their home elsewhere, who are unhappy because they did not get a system that really suited their needs, even if it met their budget. So appropriate planning will ensure that you get a system that will perform as desired the first time...helping you stay within your desired budget for the home security camera system.
written by expert - Michael Duteman
Home Security Cameras
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