Choosing the Right Surveillance Camera System

There are many options when it comes to choosing a surveillance camera system. Monitoring outdoor events requires a different camera than indoor surveillance. Do you want to observe people’s faces, or a wider angle to monitor the full body of the person? These questions must be answered before you choose your surveillance system. Of course, the cost of the system plays an important part too.

Monitor the Babysitter

Perhaps you want to discreetly monitor your child’s babysitter, or keep an eye on the cleaning person. Spy security cameras are ideal for this type of surveillance. These are cameras that are built-in to a clock, or sometimes in a stuffed animal.

Audio and Video Surveillance

IP cameras, while still expensive are a good indoor camera. The IP camera connects directly to your computer. The best part of this type of system is you not only observe video, but the system will record audio too. Some systems provide their own software for the actual monitoring. Others allow you to use the computer’s browser for surveillance.

Outdoor Monitoring

Outdoor surveillance has important uses for both business and for home owners. Businesses may want to monitor a loading dock, or the entrance where employees enter and exit the building with CCTV cameras. A good place for outdoor home surveillance is around a swimming pool, or other exterior areas that can be dangerous to children. Black and white cameras are best suited for outdoor surveillance. This is because black and white cameras will pick up images even in low light conditions, while a color camera requires a well-lit environment.

The Cost factor

One way to keep costs down is to have a wireless system installed. This eliminates installing cable and you save on the labor charges. Another cost- effective method is to use fewer cameras by placing them at only the most vulnerable points, and use wider angled cameras. Another alternative is to use the most basic of CATV setups. A traditional analog system consists only of a camera, VCR, and a monitor. While a bit outdated it does work.

High Quality Video

Some s surveillance tasks require that the images be of high quality. Select a high-resolution camera for this type of monitoring. Consider a camera that will produce at least 400 lines. Be sure to select a monitor that is compatible with the resolution of the camera.

As has been mentioned, you must be specific with your surveillance goal. If you are not sure what exactly you want to achieve with your surveillance project, you most likely will install the wrong system, and spend too much money.

Cheap Surveillance Camera System Mitchell SD

Cameras are just about everywhere in today’s day and age. There are few places you can go in public that you are not being recorded by a camera. From the streets to the local fast food restaurant you are likely being recorded. Surveillance systems have also been part of the security systems for the wealthy for many years and now they can be an affordable part of your homes.

There are several things you must consider when choosing your camera system. Just like most technology you can get more features for more money. Choosing a system will require you to consider budget along with wanted features and find a happy median of the two.

The first step is deciding how many cameras you plan to use. A system for just one camera can be set up for very little cost and be very effective. If you choose to have more cameras like 4, 8 or 16 then there are complete packages available that make cameras more cost effective. Once you know how many cameras you want, you will need to decide if you want to run wires or not. Most cameras are available in wired or wireless versions and normally the wired cameras are much more cost effective.

Surveillance cameras can come with many different functions including night vision, covert, color, black & white, weatherproof, high power wireless, pan tilt zoom cameras and many other options. If you need special application cameras they are likely available at a cost. Currently the most commonly used cameras for homes and businesses are dome cameras, bullet style cameras and hidden cameras. The type of camera will greatly depend on the application.

Next you will need to find a way to record your cameras. Recording is not necessary and it is possible to just view the cameras using a monitor, but you will find that having a recorded system has many advantages. The cost of recording can vary greatly depending on your choice of recorders. Below are the different recording options you have to choose from.

VCR The cheapest may be an extra VCR you have lying around. Most cameras can be plugged directly into a VCR or TV’s video input. If the connection is not the same then there are adaptors available. You may be limited when using a VCR to just one camera. You can split the video of more cameras and use them with a VCR if you purchase a quad. A quad splits video inputs so they take up just a portion of the screen. Most quads are 4 channel, but more channel quads are available. VCRs can’t be viewed over the internet.

Surveillance Software and Hardware – This method of recording can also be a very cheap way to record. You must have a computer with some extra RAM and a USB port . This software will turn your computer into a feature rich DVR or digital video recorder (more on this later). To connect a camera to the computer you will need a analog to digital video converter. Just plug the camera into one end and the other end into the USB port on the computer. Most software will be able to see the camera as soon as it recognizes the video converter. If you have more cameras, you will need more converters and more free USB ports. You can also use a quad between the cameras and the video converter cord to increase the number of cameras you can view using this method. This is a great economic way to go if you only have a few cameras. These systems can be connected to the internet and viewed from anywhere in the world that has an internet connection.

DVR Card – a DVR card will need to be installed into one of the PCI ports in a PC in order to work. If you can’t add a card to the inside of your PC, then this may not be the best solution for you unless you can get some help. There are many people that have the ability to install a PCI card so help should be easy to come by. These cards range from 4 to 16 cameras and some can be used in sets for systems up to 36 cameras. The exposed part of the card on the back of the computer will allow you to connect the number of cameras the card allows. Most DVR cards will also allow audio microphones to be connected along with the cameras. DVR cards can be full of features and can compared with a high end DVR. DVR cards usually can be connected to the internet and viewed from anywhere in the world that has an internet connection.

DVR – is a digital video recorder. This device basically allows your cameras video to be recorded onto a hard drive or internal disk. There are 2 types of DVRs, windows based and embedded. Windows based DVRs are similar to a computer and use the Windows operating system to run surveillance software. Most people find Windows based DVRs much easier to use than embedded DVR. The embedded DVR does not use any software and all functions are embedded on software encoded computer chips. Embedded DVRs are cheaper than Windows based DVRs in most cases. DVRs are generally the most expensive way to record your cameras. Both types of DVRs allow you to connect the cameras directly to the back of the DVR. Some DVRs can be connected to the internet and viewed from anywhere in the world that has an internet connection.

You may also want to hook a monitor up to your system. The monitor will allow you to review the recorded video and also watch it live. Depending on the system you are setting up, the monitor may be a TV or may be a computer monitor. Monitors are available in all different sizes and qualities. If you plan on building a surveillance system you may want to consider one of the many systems available that provide everything you need in one discounted package. For the beginner it is many times easier to purchase a complete surveillance system then to try to piece together each thing individually.

These basics should be enough to get you started on finding a home surveillance system to meet your budget. Many times if you speak to a surveillance expert you can simply tell them your needs and your budget and they will put together a system that will work well for you. There are a lot of options for you to protect your home and family, be sure the system purchase will meet your security needs.

Home Security Surveillance Camera Systems

Is it any wonder why home security is such a huge problem in the United States when 60 percent of all home burglaries happen through unlocked doors and windows. Law enforcement personnel tell us that 90 percent of all home burglaries can be prevented.
There many things that homeowners can do to reduce the risk of a home burglary. I call it 'hardening of a target' which means basically making your home less attractive to a burglar.
You can start by the obvious. Lock your doors and windows. Join or start a neighborhood watch. Eliminate potential hiding places around your home especially lower level doors and windows. Put up a sign in your front yard warning of a vicious guard dog. Install some motion activated spotlights in areas that are dark around your home.
But the best way to improve your home security is to install a surveillance camera system or security camera system. These systems make good economic sense because as a package they save you money. And prices start at under $400.00 so they are very cost effective.
Systems are available with color cameras that can be used indoors and outdoors. The systems can be wired or wireless and there is even one that it's completely portable.
These systems have a minimum of four cameras and a maximum of 16 cameras so you can imagine the amount of coverage you can get in and out of your house even covering outbuildings like a detached garage.
Almost all of these systems are networkable which means that once they're hooked up properly they can be viewed on the Internet from anywhere in the world. This is a great feature if you travel a lot or just if you want to see what's going on when can't be there.
It is possible that you can get a good reduction in your homeowners insurance with video cameras around your house. And the number one reason why you should get one is when burglars see cameras around your home they would have to be nuts to try anything.
When are you getting one?

How To Choose The Right Surveillance Camera System

Surveillance Camera Systems come in all shapes and sizes and trying to figure out which surveillance system that will fit your needs can be very frustrating, but most cameras and systems today requires very little experience to install and operate. This article describes several factors to consider before purchasing a surveillance camera system.

General things to ask yourself:

- Should I buy Wireless or Wired surveillance cameras? Wireless is much easier to install than wired.
- How many cameras should you buy? Using too many cameras will be expensive, not enough will only give me limited coverage.
- Should I use Indoor or Outdoor type cameras?
- Does my application require recording of the surveillance activity? If not, the cost can be reduced because a DVD recorder will not be necessary.
- Does my surveillance system require that I can monitor over the Internet when away from my business or home.

Let's describe the different types of surveillance cameras and systems which will be helpful to determine which one to buy depending on the type of use.

Hidden Cameras: These types of cameras are for indoor use only and come in a variety of different kinds of ordinary looking objects. For instance a small hidden camera are embedded in everyday objects like an Alarm Clock, Air Freshener, Fan, CO2 Detector or even a vanity Mirror. They are usually installed in one room and used to catch any suspicious activity in the room installed. Most of them use a 12-hour rechargeable battery pack with no wires or cords to plug in. Most all of these type of cameras are wireless but some can be wired. By far, you are better off choosing a wireless kind, which takes minutes to set up. To view or record the activity a 2.4 GHz Receiver attaches to your TV or VRC or DVR, which also only takes just a few minutes.

Surveillance Camera Systems: For business type applications you make want to consider a bundled system that includes all the components need to watch you business when you are there or way from it. Your business may need 4, 8 or 16 cameras also referred to as channels. For instance a small but location may need 8 cameras or as many as 16. They can be wireless or wired. If you are looking for an easy installation choose wireless, that way no messy wires to deal with.

A 4 Channel Wireless Complete System is also perfect for a small business or even a small house. A wireless surveillance camera system will allow you to install 4 wireless cameras to digitally record all the activity in your business. These types of systems come with a DVR with full networking capability and use a GeoVision DVR card, which allows you to view live video surveillance on the Internet. This type of system is designed strictly for indoor use only, and the perfect video recording system for smaller areas. You now have the flexibility to leave and still record activity and store and retrive for later viewing. Many businesses have a panic button they press when they see a would be thief in their store and now have the proof stored if needing to use in it in court.

For Personal Home Surveillance Camera System, there is the 4 Channel Wireless VISEC Surveillance System that is perfect for monitoring 4 rooms in a small house. The cameras that come with type of system work in day or night because of the high quality digital CCD chips that automatically switches from color to black & white in low light conditions. This type of a system requires what known as a 'quad'. A quad is an accessory to your surveillance system that splits a video monitor into 4 screens. Without a quad viewing would only be able possible with one camera at a time. This type of a system also comes with a GrabBee II. It allows wireless or hidden cameras to connect your camera(s) to your computer. The GrabBee II is the bridge between the wireless or hidden camera and your computer. This device converts analog video signal to digital through a USB port.

Designed For Simple Personal Use, there is a camera called the Cyber Eye. This infrared B/W digital surveillance camera takes pictures automatically whenever someone moves in front of it and then digitally stores the pictures within the micro-camera. You can then extract the images later on just by plugging the camera into your TV/VCR to either view or record. This type of camera is great for catching someone snooping around your house. It is so small and compact you can even put it in your car and aim it out the window. This personal surveillance camera works by changes in the picture and not motion. Video images can be even taken through glass and the wireless surveillance camera will still work like a charm. The pictures are taken at 1-60 second intervals (UP TO 680 pictures). Video images will even have the time and date stamp added to each picture.

For Outdoor Surveillance Cameras, Dome cameras are used in many places including retail stores, restaurants, casinos and apartment buildings. You can even see them at your local McDonalds restaurants. Dome cameras are simply board cameras built into a weatherproof dome housing. In addition to these surveillance cameras being weatherproof, many of these types of dome surveillance cameras are vandal-proof dome and built with protective casing that can withstand the direct hit of a sledgehammer or other brute force means to disable it. Dome Surveillance Cameras are generally wired and can be connected to a Digital DVR to record all suspicious activities.

Surveillance Camera Recording - One of the most important pieces of a surveillance system is the surveillance video recorder. Whether you have one, four, eight or sixteen cameras you have to take what those cameras see and store that video for reference or possible evidence. Obviously DVR system can record much longer than old style VCR tapes. Generally these recorders come in 4, 8 and 16 channel models. Channels refer to amount of cameras that can be attached for recording. Some units are small, some large and have different features. One of the best DVR portable surveillance camera recorders perfect for body worn & covert applications and fits easily into a purse, pocket or backpack is the DVR-9800 touted as the Worlds Smallest Wearable DVR Recorder. This recorder can record a whopping 40 hours of video and about 910 hours of audio.

This article gives you the basics on what to look for when shopping for a surveillance camera system for either personal or business use. In a future article, we will discuss detailed directions on how to connect and set up the most common types of surveillance camera systems.