Posts Tagged ‘ outdoor security camera installation ’

In this day and age, crime rates have increased in most cities. This is due in part to human nature and according to others, in part to the current economic difficulties some are facing; however this has occurred, crime has happened ever since humans started walking on two feet. The scariest thing that can happen as a result of this is when people realize that they are not even safe in their own homes.

A man’s home is his castle. It should be a place where everything that defines him stays and where his loved ones are kept safe.  Well, how do you keep your house safe? A possible answer to this question lies in the use of outdoor wireless security cameras. Technology has alleviated our fears when it comes to keeping our homes safe with the development of security cameras. Our lives have been made more peaceful with the innovation outdoor wireless security cameras have produced.

Research has shown that the chances of experiencing a home break-ins have decreased by as much as 85% when security cameras are installed. When potential robbers see that you have wireless cameras around your house, the don’t feel as confident targeting you, thereby decreasing the motivation to push through with the job. Outdoor wireless security cameras can provide you with around-the-clock protection and give you a peace of mind.

There are three basic types of outdoor wireless security cameras:
 
1.    Dome Cameras: These cameras were designed to provide a stronger durability and are able to resist vandalism attempts by would-be robbers. This is a more expensive model than the other types, depending on the added features it comes with.

2.    C Mount Cameras: These cameras are fairly customizable. You can choose the lens you want installed with it separately. It will allow you to view a live feed in a remote location too. C mount cameras’ prices are in the mid-range.              

3.    Bullet Cameras: These cameras have a narrow and sleek design. They are encased in a tough material that makes them weatherproof. Among the three types of outdoor wireless security cameras, it is the most inexpensive.
             
Outdoor wireless security cameras are can also be classified as Analog or Digital. The difference between them is substantial but they both function the same way – transmitting video and audio feeds.

Analog wireless security cameras transmit through a regular radio frequency and have a transmission range of around 300 feet in open space. If there are obstructions like walls, ceilings, furniture or people, then the signal may become diminished. Analog is considered Wi-Fi friendly because it will not bother your wireless Internet signal. Compared to Digital, Analog wireless cameras are cheaper. However, analog transmits average or poor images and is greatly affected by interference.

Digital wireless security cameras transmit audio and video feeds using a higher bandwidth of radio frequency, meaning they are not as susceptible to interference as the analog cameras are. It is 100% secure in the sense that the neighbors cannot pick up your transmission. It offers a significantly better quality of audio and video. Lastly, it offers a 450 feet transmission range. The downside to this technology is the price. It is a lot more expensive than the analog wireless cameras.

Outdoor wireless security cameras will provide the security that everyone requires. Your house is monitored 24/7 and it even drives away mischievous people by the mere sight of it. The best thing about these cameras is that they are completely wireless. No more hassles of drilling holes, running and stamping wires from the camera to your receiver. It saves you a lot of money in the long run as it keeps your home or business safe. Wherever you are or at whatever circumstance, security is always a good investment.

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.

There are many types of security cameras in the market, for all types environments and budgets.  This article will focus on security cameras that can be used outdoors.  On this site you will learn what are the key points to consider to acquire the right camera for your environment, what to look for in a security camera, and how to decipher the technical jargon to determine what sets apart one security camera from another.  Here are some important things to consider before choosing a security camera:

Have you considered what is it that you want to monitor? It may seem obvious at first, but it is worth thinking about a little bit.  Are you concerned only about the front entrance?  What about any rear entrances?  Is it possible to access the inside of the location via a broken window?  Any entrances to the building from the roof?  Depending on what you want to do, you might need more than one camera for what you want to accomplish.  For example, one camera pointing to the front entrance may not be enough if the intruder can easily jump from an adjoining building, onto your building, and enter through a roof access door.

Another point to consider is your camera’s viewing angle.  The wider the ‘shot’, the more your camera can capture, as well as additional details in the periphery of the camera.  A wider viewing angle is generally preferred, as it will record more detail.

Something that can drive the cost of the camera up is its picture quality or its resolution.  This is the difference between a grainy, blurry picture, and a sharp, high-quality image.  The higher the resolution, the better the picture (and higher the price).  Keep in mind that if you’ll be recording the images to save for posterity, higher resolution cameras will require more storage space.  More on this in another article.

Will the layout of your location allow for wired cameras, or will it require wireless cameras?  This is an important point to keep in mind.  Wired cameras will cost more to set up depending on what location the cables have to be run to.  Wireless cameras offer flexibility because you can place them virtually anywhere, as long as they’re within range of the transmitter/receiver.  Remember though, wireless range is affected by walls and other obstacles, which can severely reduce the advertised range for the camera you’re considering.

Another camera feature that you should consider is whether the camera has the option to be motion-activated or not.  Keep in mind that if a camera is continually

recording, demands for video storage will increase.  This might require you to store less in the way of recorded footage in order to have enough storage space.  A camera with a motion-sensor won’t record all the time, which can be a storage-space saver during periods of low activity.

Additional features that might help you narrow down your choices are:  ability to zoom, sound-recording capability, night-vision capability, among others.

As you can see, there are many things to consider when choosing a security camera.  Research well and gather all the information you can in order to compare cameras.  Note what cameras security companies choose to install, as this can be an indicator of reliability.  Check out the resource links above and below and feel free to leave your questions in the comment sections.