Components of video surveillance systems.
These days, video surveillance systems have come down so much in price that they’re affordable add-ons for home burglar alarm systems. If you’re concerned about security or live in an unsafe area, home video surveillance can provide an extra deterrent that convinces intruders to pass your house by.
Video surveillance cameras are the heart of the system and there are several different kinds to choose from. The most robust are Pan-Tilt-Zoom cameras, better known as PTZ. These can move up and down, right and left, and zoom in and out for a better look at things. Like your point-and-shoot digital camera, they use a combination of optical and digital zoom. But this capability is overkill for most residential application, where fixed cameras are sufficient.
Dutch video surveillance camera
Because PTZ cameras are several times more expensive than fixed ones, you should choose them only if you have valuables that are likely to be targeted by burglars.
Unless you need to record video in very low light, color cameras are your best bet. For sophisticated installations, thermal and infrared cameras are available, but unnecessary most of the time.
The next decision you’ll need to make is between analog and IP technology. IP cameras are more expensive, but most users agree that they’re worth the added cost. IP cameras can connect to any computer jack on a local network. Each camera has its own IP address, so the video feed can be monitored from anywhere using a web browser.
They’re everywhere
In most cases, IP cameras are still physically connected to the network, but wireless cameras that are in the line of site of the Digital Video Recorder (DVR) or monitor are gaining acceptance. IP cameras are available as domes that are mounted to walls or ceilings, or bullets, which are a little more conspicuous. Megapixel cameras are extremely small and offer excellent picture quality, even in low light.
You’ll also need some kind of system to manage the video you capture. The most common choice these days is a DVR, which combines the necessary hardware, software, and storage capabilities. In fact, some DVRs can capture a month’s worth of video – or more. But DVRs only handle analog video. For digital feeds, you’ll need to move up to a high-definition or HD-DVR.
The advantages of HD include better resolution, easier searching, and built-in multiplexing, which enables simultaneous input from several different cameras. DVRs with from one to 32 channels are available.
Now that you know the video surveillance system options, your home security professional can help you set up your system.
Dutch video surveillance camera Image Flickr: centralasian
They’re everywhere Image Flickr: anarchosyn
Video surveillance cameras for residential use.
Most Americans recoil at the idea of Big Brother. But after video surveillance cameras helped the FBI find the man who parked a truck full of explosives in Time Square, many people began to view them more favorably.
Video surveillance systems first caught on during the 1970s and 1980s, when banks, gas stations, and other businesses that were frequent victims of theft started using them. These early systems recorded video on VHS tapes that were often used as evidence in court cases. Within a couple of decades, most ATMs had video surveillance cameras that recorded every transaction.
Video surveillance camera
Advances in digital technology brought many improvements in video surveillance, including better image quality, easier storage and retrieval, and less expensive installation. Internet Protocol (IP cameras) let those with a network video camera monitor the feed live from any PC or device with Internet access.
These days, IP video surveillance cameras are much more affordable than they were in the past, and they can help prevent crime or convict criminals if a crime is committed.
Cameras should be positioned at “chokepoints,” which are places people or vehicles must pass through to enter or leave an area. And they should also be pointed at items that are most likely to be targeted like safes, or other valuables.
There are several kinds of video surveillance cameras to choose from. Because wireless security cameras are easy to install, easy to relocate, and portable, they are usually preferred for home installation. Cameras that pan, tilt and zoom (PTZ) are significantly more expensive than fixed cameras, which are sufficient for most residential situations.
In most well-lit areas, color cameras are used. In places with low light, night-vision or infrared cameras which record in black and white are a better choice. Both standard definition and high-definition (HD) models are available.
IP video surveillance cameras transmit digital images over an IP (Internet Protocol) network and have the advantage of providing live feeds to any Internet-enabled device.
Surveillance cameras that are disguised as something else – an alarm clock or smoke detector – are also popular. Also known as nanny cams, these cameras let you record events without anyone’s knowledge.
Adding video surveillance to your home security system can significantly enhance your home’s security. Talk to your local service about how much it would cost to upgrade.
Video surveillance camera Image Flickr: Shaun Greiner