Installation

Wireless cameras offer added functionality and mobility that wired cameras can’t match, especially when it comes to location installation options.  Having the ability to place your camera virtually anywhere ensures that you have the best coverage possible for your home or business.  What are some of the essential things to keep in mind when choosing a wireless outdoor security camera?  We’ll discuss those points below:

Of course, one of the more important things to consider when choosing an outdoor camera, be it a wireless or a wired camera, is the housing.  Make sure it can withstand the outdoor condition of your environment.  If you live in a colder climate, ensure that the camera can hold its own against below-freezing temperatures.  If in a hotter climate, be mindful of extremely hot temperatures.

One advantage of having a wireless camera is that it likely is Internet-enabled (this mainly applies to IP-connected cameras.)  This means that you can view your camera feed from anywhere in the world where you have access to an Internet connected computer.  Be mindful, however, that you must establish strong, complex log-in passwords.  You certainly don’t want to leave open the possibility that an easy to guess password gives the whole world access to your camera interface and video feed.

Be aware that most wireless security cameras can transmit their signal up to about 300 feet from the receiver.  This distance applies if the camera has an unobstructed, clear line of sight to the wireless receiver.  Any obstacles, such as walls, furniture, etc., will only further diminish the range of your wireless camera.  It is best to test the signal and feed before you commit to permanently affixing your wireless camera to your desired location.

As you can see, wireless outdoor security cameras offer the advantage of flexibility in the location they are to be placed and accessibility from even the most remote corners of the world (provided you have Internet service where you are that is.)  Compare features, and research, and it is likely that you will end up with a camera you’re thoroughly satisfied with.

The great majority of those that choose to install security cameras do so for security reasons. Maybe they have been victims of vandalism, robbery, theft, or know someone that has been victimized. Once you have installed an outdoor security camera, it is important to protect it adequately. We will now discuss the finer points of SECURING your security camera.

Usually, camera manufacturers, when designing their product, take into account possible vandalism by intruders. However, this is not always the case. Cheaper cameras will have cheaper housing, i.e metal housing versus plastic housing, which will fail if a vandal tries to damage the camera. Take design into consideration and look for cameras that are tough, well-designed, and hard to break. If the lens or movable parts are tough to target, you’ve got yourself a good start.

The next point to consider is camera location. It is tempting to put a camera juuuuuust out of reach, in order to facilitate maintenance, such as battery changes. If it is easy for you to reach, it will be easy to do so for vandals as well. Protect the camera, but don’t forget to protect cabling as well. Usually, flush-mounting a camera is a good solution, even though it may require a bit more work and might compromise the viewing angle of the camera some.

One feature worth looking into when buying a camera will be active tampering detection. A camera with an active tampering system will alert you if the camera has been moved and pointed in another direction, if the lens has been obscured, or if it has been tampered with in other ways. This is specially useful if you have many cameras to monitor simultaneously.

As you can see, placement is very important, both to the safety of your home or office, as well as the safety and security of the camera itself. You want to protect your likely expensive investment as best as you can, so that it can provide the peace of mind, and deterrence, that outdoor security cameras provide. A little planning before installation goes a long way towards achieving that goal.

As discussed earlier, there is a wide variety of security cameras.  There is at least one big aspect that differentiates outdoor security cameras vs. indoor security cameras: toughness.  Outdoor units, by design and purpose, must be able to hold their own against what can be extreme weather conditions.  Outdoor cameras are built with specially engineered heavy-duty casings to ensure that they will remain damage-free in spite of extended exposure to the elements.

Once you’ve established which particular areas around your perimeter you’d like to monitor, then the next step is to locate and assess potential camera locations.  Depending on this assessment you will choose either a wireless camera, a wired camera, or both.  Let’s delve into what are the advantages and disadvantages of each type.

Wireless Cameras

Wireless systems are very popular due to their ease of installation.  This is because wireless cameras do not require a connection to an electrical power supply.  Another advantage, because of the reason stated previously, is that this makes wireless cameras easier to move them around and in locations not possible for hard-wired cameras.  This mobility however, may come at price, since most wireless cameras operate on batteries.  These batteries will have to be replaced, or in some cases, recharged regularly, which is something to keep in mind if the camera is placed in a hard-to-reach place.  This issue can be solved, however, with the use of solar-powered battery cameras, which will recharge themselves using solar energy.  Be aware that obstacles between the camera and the transmitter, as well as interference from devices on the same frequency, can affect the performance and range of a wireless camera.

Wired Cameras

If you choose to install a wired camera, be aware that installation may be difficult, depending on  the location of your wired camera.  Wiring has to be run to these cameras, although you may be lucky and already have a power source in or near the location where you are planning to install the camera.

A word of advice regarding camera installation, wireless or wired:  Consider the deterrence factor of having a camera installed on a high visibility area.  Prevention of crime can be the best benefit a camera can offer, rather than their ability to record acts for investigative purposes.  Worth mentioning are a third type of “camera”, the fake, or ‘dummy camera.’  This camera can be used in conjunction with real cameras to provide additional deterrence.

As you can see, wireless and wired cameras have their pros and cons.  Mostly, it depends on whether you want to front the initial installation cost for wired cameras, or know going on that some wireless cameras will require continued upkeep because of the batteries.