Burglar Alarm Tips

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