Posts Tagged ‘ security camera recording ’

There are many options when it comes to recording the video feed from your outdoor camera(s).  Mostly, it will depend on the storage capacity and features as well as the technology you choose to use.  Let’s review the options:

STANDARD VCR, TIME-LAPSE VCR, DVD RECORDER: VCRs are not widely used anymore to record security video.  Compared to the devices described below, they offer much shorter recording times.  Another disadvantage is that tapes or recording media must be changed constantly.  I speak from personal experience when I say that searching through tapes or discs manually for a specific event can be a tedious affair, specially if your tape or DVD media collection is rather large.  Time-lapse VCRs can record for much longer than 24 hours.  This also means that they will be more expensive than your standard VCR.  This technology can be used as a temporary measure if you need to start recording quickly and it’s all you have on hand at the time.  If you choose to do this, think about upgrading it as soon as possible.

STANDARD PC: There are various camera packages that will allow you to monitor your cameras directly from your computer.  Additionally, this option allows you to use your computer hard drive as a storage option.  This can be a drawback, however, depending on the storage available in your computer.  Video files can occupy a lot of space, specially if you choose to record video at a higher resolution for more detail.  Also, keep in mind that your computer must remain on at all times in order to record.  An added benefit is that it will be fairly easy to set-up your computer in a manner that allows for viewing live video via the Internet, if you chose to do so.

DEDICATED DVR: If you are looking to use several cameras at once and record for longer periods of time, the choice for you like will be a dedicated Digital Video Recorder (DVR).  They usually have larger capacities and come with additional features, such as the ability to record with more than one camera at a time.  The drawback is the added cost for the technology.

As you can see, you will most likely be limited by your budget.  You might be able to leverage the equipment you already have while you search for a better solution.  Maybe the lower-end technology will be enough to satisfy your present-day needs.  Whatever your choice, make sure you have a clear plan in mind, so that you don’t find it necessary to later reinvest in more equipment in the near future.