Five Reasons to Install a CCTV Security System

Did you know that according to the experts, a CCTV security system can stop up to 67% of break-ins and burglaries? When a major CCTV camera maker surveyed 30 convicted burglars, two-thirds of them said that they avoided properties with an obvious burglar alarm or CCTV camera in evidence. Despite that, only about 9 percent of homeowners have a CCTV security system installed in their homes. If you’re not one of them, maybe one of these four other reasons will be enough to convince you.

Out of 1,000 homeowners questioned in the same survey, 25 percent of them had been the victims of a burglary. One in five of those said they would never get over the burglary and more than 50 percent of them said they still worry that it will happen again. In fact, based on the answers provided in that survey, burglary is more stressful than divorce, job loss, moving and getting married. Isn’t it worth the small cost of a CCTV camera and DVR to avoid all that stress and fear?

A stolen car can have far-reaching effects. Most stolen cars are never recovered, and when they are, they’ve often been damaged or destroyed. Even if you have theft insurance, you’ll have to deal with the hassle of a replacement. It can take weeks to get through all the paperwork for the insurance. In the meantime, you’re driving an unfamiliar vehicle, probably at a high cost. If you rely on your vehicle to get to work, a stolen car can put your job in danger. And, say experts, having your car stolen has unexpected emotional effects. And of course, your car insurance premiums are likely to increase. A CCTV camera trained on your driveway could avert the whole problem. Car thieves are every bit as wary of being caught on camera as burglars. Those that are caught on camera are far more likely to be caught in real life as well.

A security camera can allow you to check in on your kids and your home while you’re at work. If you chose an IP security camera, you can log in from any Internet-enabled device and make sure that everything is going well at home. The peace of mind and increased safety is priceless.

The cost of a CCTV security system is far lower than you’d expect. New technologies have brought prices well within the budget of nearly any homeowner – and your insurance company will often decrease your premiums if you install a burglar alarm and CCTV camera system.

Why leave your family and belongings unprotected when it’s so easy to reduce the chances of burglary by almost two-thirds? Talk to a professional about CCTV cameras and security systems today.

Five CCTV Camera Features to Look For

The price point has come down considerably on CCTV security systems and cameras. The best CCTV systems are only as good as the security camera you choose for them. Today’s surveillance cameras offer lots of features and options that can improve your overall security, if you know what to look for. These five key features can make a big difference in the quality of your CCTV security.

Night Vision or Low-Light Viewing

If your camera will ever be recording in low light situations, look for a camera with a low lux rating. The lower the lux rating, the better it can see in the dark. This can be important if you’re using CCTV to monitor outside. If you want a camera for total darkness, choose one with a 0 lux rating and a built-in IR illuminator.

Minimal Wiring

Even a wireless security camera requires a power outlet. If you’re installing a new security system, look for cameras that require minimal wiring. It’s always easier to pull one wire than to route two.

The Right Style

Your camera doesn’t have to be a fashion standout, but its style should suit its intended purpose. If your intent is to deter shoplifting or warn intruders away from your home, choose a bullet camera mounted very visibly. If you prefer your surveillance to be unnoticed, there are many covert security camera styles available.

Adjustability

Choose a security camera that suits your needs. If you only intend to monitor a limited area, a fixed surveillance camera may be just fine. If, on the other hand, you need to keep watch over a wider range or want to be able to get a closer look at suspicious activities, choose a PTZ security camera that can be panned, tilted and zoomed to get different views of the area.

Viewing

Consider whether you only want real-time monitoring or whether you need to record surveillance for later viewing. If the latter, choose a camera that can record captured images to a hard drive or DVR. Likewise, if you want to be able to view your camera feed remotely, choose a web access or IP CCTV camera that will allow you to access the video feed and control the camera from your Web browser, smart phone or other media device.

In addition to those key features, you should also consider such things as durability, picture quality and, for an outside CCTV security camera, weather resistance. When you take the time to  consider your needs, you’ll find it much easier to find the right surveillance camera for your security needs.

Seven Tips to Help You Select the Right CCTV Security Camera

CCTV security systems are becoming very popular as crime-fighting tools, with DIY security camera systems becoming commonplace. While CCTV surveillance can be a powerful tool, it’s important that you choose the best security camera to obtain the kind of security footage that you need for your situation. These tips can help you choose the right surveillance camera for your CCTV system.

Determine the Coverage Area

Before you buy a security camera, consider how much of an area you want to be able to cover and how far the camera will be from the target. Chances are that you’ll find you need multiple CCTV cameras, with each covering a specific area.

Select the Focal Length for Your Security Camera

The quality of the video you capture will be dependent upon getting the right focal length for your surveillance camera. The best way to determine that is by using an online CCTV lens calculator.

Choose the Right Security Camera Type

There are dozens of styles of security cameras on the market today. They include bullet cameras, dome cameras and box cameras. The type you choose will depend upon whether you’re planning to use your camera indoors or outdoors, and how visible you want your camera to be, among other factors.

Choose the Best Camera Resolution

The higher the resolution of your camera, the more detail you’ll be able to see in your surveillance videos. For general use, choose 480 to 525 lines of resolution. You’ll get decent detail without using up too much valuable storage space for your security videos.

Choose Night Vision Cameras With Good IR Lighting for Night Time Surveillance

Infrared LEDs illuminate the area for good filming, but is invisible to the human eye. If you’re going to be doing nighttime surveillance, IR lighting is worth the extra investment.

Consider the Pros and Cons of Wired vs. Wireless CCTV System

A wireless security camera gives you flexibility in designing your security setup and is easier to install than wired systems. However, they are more  prone to outside interference, and require a transmitter and receiver, which add to the cost of the security camera system.

You Get What You Pay For

While you can find very cheap CCTV camera systems online, keep in mind that you get what you pay for. At the same time, the most expensive option isn’t always the best CCTV security setup for you. Find a vendor who is willing to answer your questions and work with you to design the best CCTV security system for your needs.

Types of CCTV Security Cameras for Your CCTV System

Among the most important components of CCTV systems are the camera or cameras you choose. There are hundreds of brands and models of security cameras on the market, but most fit into several different types. The cameras you prefer can dictate the other components of your surveillance system, or vice versa. Either way, it’s important to choose a CCTV camera and DVR or PC-based recorder that will be compatible with each other. Aside from issues of compatibility, you’ll have to consider how much detail you want to be able to view on surveillance tapes or live surveillance systems and a number of other factors. These are a few of the factors you may want to consider when deciding on the type of surveillance camera you want to buy for your CCTV security system.

Fake Security Camera

Technically, these aren’t security cameras at all. They’re a cheap option for those who think they can’t afford actual surveillance. They’re nothing more than a fake camera and won’t provide any security at all. Even their deterrent value is questionable. At today’s prices, you can get a real, working security camera for not much more than you’d pay for one of these. Don’t even bother.

Covert Surveillance Camera

The simplest of these are the wireless nanny cams that have become more and more popular in recent years. This type of security camera is designed to be hidden in a household object or may be made in the shape of a common household object. The aim of a hidden surveillance camera is to record things secretly. They don’t offer any deterrent value since they’re not visible, but they’re a good option if your intent is to watch what your employees do when they think no one is watching.

Wired Security Camera

Wired security cameras are ideal for use with analog CCTV security systems. Wired systems are more difficult to install than wireless systems, but they offer superior transmission, picture quality and reliability. They’re the best option if your security camera setup isn’t likely to change and you require high quality video output.

Wireless Security Camera

As one would expect, a wireless security camera doesn’t require cabling to connect it to the DVR, PC or base of the security system. It transmits images and audio wirelessly to a DVR or receiver located within range. The biggest advantages offered by a wireless security camera are portability and ease of installation. They’re a good option if you want to be able to reconfigure your CCTV system when necessary.

Those are the absolute basic options when you’re considering CCTV cameras as part of a security system. Other considerations include color or black and white, low light or night vision recording, video resolution and other capabilities. A knowledgeable CCTV professional can help you make decisions about the best options for your needs.

A Quick Guide to Home Wireless CCTV Systems

Not long ago, installing home CCTV surveillance systems was a complicated and time-consuming affair, only available to those with the money to lay out for expensive equipment and technicians to install it. CCTV camera options and recording devices were limited by the capabilities of the equipment, and few individual homeowners could afford the expense of installing the necessary security cameras and involved wiring. Today, CCTV systems for home security purposes are easy enough that many homeowners can easily install their own, and you can purchase an entire surveillance system with several security cameras for less than what you’d have paid for a VCR to record security tapes just ten years ago.

As the quality of CCTV systems improves and the price drops, more and more people are opting to protect their homes and families with a security camera and surveillance system. With the arrival of wireless IP security cameras, sensors and various recording options for surveillance footage, there are CCTV systems available that fit into nearly any homeowner’s budget.

What Kind of Security Cameras are Available?

Among the most popular options for surveillance cameras in the home are wireless security cameras and nanny cams. The advantages of wireless IP cameras are many, but the biggest of them all is their portability.  Because they don’t rely on wires to transmit images to a monitor or recording device, you can easily move wireless security cameras to anywhere they’re needed as long as they are within range of the device to which they’re transmitting. They’re priced between $100 and $500, and transmit a video signal to a local base station. You can view those images on a television, monitor, mobile phone, desktop or laptop computer.

These wireless security cameras can be mounted visibly on a wall, shelf or ceiling, or hidden in a clock, smoke detector or other device for secret surveillance. Their biggest drawback is that the low end wireless IP security cameras sometimes transmit on an unsecured frequency that can be picked up from outside the home. Higher end cameras tie into IP networks and transmit encrypted video that’s more secure.

Special Capabilities

While low end CCTV systems with wireless cameras are “always-on”, higher quality CCTV cameras offer many other options for recording surveillance videos. The most common of these are systems that switch to recording mode when the security camera senses movement. These infrared motion sensor cameras are quite affordable and no more difficult to set up than standard CCTV systems.

Today’s homeowner can choose from many different CCTV surveillance options to increase their feeling of security and help protect family and property. The price ranges on CCTV security systems are well within the range of most homeowners, offering an affordable, easy way to keep your family safer and protect your property when you’re not at home.

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.