Security Cameras for CCTV Systems

CCTV systems, once the preferred security choice for high-end department stores and others who could afford to lay out the big bucks, have come down in prices to the point where anyone can afford to install an effective CCTV system for enhanced security. A CCTV security system consists of two basic components – the security camera and a way to view and/or record footage from it. While the configurations possible with a good CCTV system are nearly limitless, the actual component parts break down into relatively few types and styles. These are the basic types of security camera available for use with CCTV systems.

Dome Cameras

Dome cameras are nearly ubiquitous in modern security installations. You’ll see them in nearly any chain store you visit. They’re generally housed inside a dark dome that prevents those outside from seeing which direction the camera is recording. Appearance-wise, they tend to be innocuous, but aren’t hidden, so they provide a deterrent as well as simply recording what they view. Dome cameras are among the most popular mid-priced surveillance camera types. They’re slightly harder to install than bullet cameras.

Bullet Cameras

Where dome cameras are discreet, bullet cameras are blaringly obvious. They come in many sizes and styles, but have one thing in common – each one is very obviously a security camera that is very obviously pointed in a certain direction. They provide a strong deterrent, especially when they are positioned at point-of-sale or other areas that may be a security problem. Because it can be mounted easily on a wall or other surface, a bullet security camera is much easier to install than a dome camera. The price for these cameras varies widely depending on the features and quality of the camera, but in general they’re less expensive than dome cameras.

Hidden Cameras

Even more discreet than a dome camera, hidden cameras are designed to fit into another object so that no one knows they’re being recorded. They’re commonly used as nanny cams or for hidden surveillance of employee stations and other loss centers in a business. They vary widely in quality and capability, but are generally very easy to install. They may present ethical or legal questions when used in public/private spaces,  however.

Wireless Cameras

Wireless security cameras aren’t so much a distinct type of camera as they are a capability that some cameras have. A wireless security camera may be any of the three types listed above. The big difference, of course, is that there is no need to run wires from the recording monitor to the camera. Instead, the camera transmits pictures wirelessly to the base station. This makes them among the easiest type of surveillance camera to install and reconfigure later if desired.

When choosing the right security camera for your CCTV systems, be sure to take into account the purpose for which you intend to use it, as well as any limitations or capabilities that it must offer. When you take the time to plan, you’ll end up with a CCTV system that suits your needs for years to come.

Advances in CCTV Systems and Security Cameras

CCTV systems are among the most popular types of security systems on the market today, in part because manufacturing advances over the past decade or so have brought the prices down dramatically. At the same time, technological advances have improved the quality and increased the capabilities of even the low end CCTV systems. You might hear that today’s $300 CCTV camera systems do things that a $3,000 system couldn’t do ten years ago, but it’s even more pronounced than that. Today’s $300 security camera system does things that high-end CCTV system designers were just beginning to imagine.

In fact, for less than $500 today, you can have a CCTV system with multiple security cameras, including outdoor security cameras and IR cameras for recording security footage in darkened areas. And since networked CCTV systems don’t require running wires, installation costs less – right down to nothing at all for the many DIY security camera kits available on the market. These are just some of the advances that are changing the face of the security field today, thanks to CCTV systems.

Digital Recording

Digital imaging can provide an incredible amount of detail that most CCTV tape systems can’t approach. DVR based CCTV systems and PC-based security systems not only record in greater detail, the amount of footage they can hold makes it possible for security systems to hold onto the security footage for much longer in a much smaller space. Thanks to digital recording, a company can now store 3 to 4 weeks of security footage on a PC-based CCTV system with a 500 GB drive. That amount of footage on VHS tapes would have filled most of a small room.

Selective Viewing

DVR CCTV systems allow you to find specific activities and incidents in the footage far more easily. On VHS systems, the only way to find a specific incident or view the footage from a specific time period is to fast-forward through the entire tape until you reach the right time frame. With digital recording, viewing the footage from a particular time is as easy as entering the date and time into the system.

Remote Viewing

Perhaps one of the biggest advances in CCTV system security is the ability to control the security camera and do surveillance from anywhere that has an Internet connection. Thanks to IP cameras and PC-based CCTV systems, it’s now possible to log into your security system remotely, control the camera from your desk at work and view what’s going on from anywhere you can get online.

Advances in CCTV systems have provided more capability at lower prices than ever before. If you’re considering a security camera and CCTV security for your home or business, be sure that you know what the latest advances in CCTV technology allow you to do.

Five Places to Monitor with Home CCTV Systems

As security concerns grow among homeowners, CCTV systems are becoming more and more popular. The newest generation of CCTV systems and security cameras are easier than ever to install. In fact, most security camera installations can easily be done by a reasonable skilled DIY enthusiast. The advent of the wireless surveillance camera has even eliminated the trickiest part of installing a CCTV system – running wires from the recorder/receiver to the security camera.

The ease of installation has also opened up the range of places where you can reasonably install a security camera in your home. If you’re considering installing a home CCTV system but aren’t sure about the best places to install a security camera, these suggestions from security professionals can make your decision easier.

Front Door and Home Approach

In most cases, homeowners should install a security camera that covers the front of the home, the front door and the main approach to the house. This allows you to easily check who is at the door and who is pulling up to your house, a basic security plus.

Driveway

If your driveway isn’t in range of the front door camera, you should consider installing a second camera that covers the driveway and parking area for your car. A visible security camera in an obvious mount can even help deter car thieves and vandals, and allow you to keep an eye on your car during the night.

Back Corner of the House

A PTZ (pan tilt zoom) camera mounted at the back corner (or corners) of your house can provide full coverage of the sides and back of your home, making it more difficult for burglars or vandals to get into your house unseen. Backyard cameras are also a good way to keep an eye on kids playing out back or in the yard. Although they’re not a substitute for active adult supervision and presence, they can provide a valuable backup to mom’s careful oversight.

Baby’s Room

Many new parents enjoy the peace of mind of having a surveillance camera in the baby’s room. A wireless security camera can let you keep a watchful eye and ear on a napping baby and alert you when the baby wakes up.

Living Areas

If part of your intent is to check in at home from the office or on the road, an IP-based CCTV camera that covers the living area provides an easy way to check in and make sure that everything is safe and secure in your absence.

CCTV systems offer many different styles and types of cameras so it’s easy for you to configure a system with exactly the capabilities that you want and need the most. From small IP cameras to full-featured surveillance cameras, you’ll find everything you need when you shop for your security system online.