How To Choose a Suitable Security Camera

If you are trying to choose a security camera, the choice can be mind-boggling. Here are some tips to help you out.

Steps

1. 1
   Understand the variety of security camera types available:
   • Infrared (IR) security cameras.
   • Dome cameras
   • Pro box cameras
   • Pan tilt zoom cameras
   • Hidden cameras.
2. 2
   Consider the advantages of using an infrared (IR) security camera. This is a popular type of camera for both business and home.
   • Infrared Cameras produce high resolution color video during the day. In low lux (light) or no light conditions they are the preferred camera type.
   • They are able to “illuminate the area” by automatically switching from color to black and white. The infrared illuminators turn on and allow you to see much cleared that the human eye in both low light and no light.
   • Whether being used indoor or outdoor, they provide a huge advantage in low light or no light situations.
   • They can be weatherproofed and can withstand hot and cold temperatures without any additional camera housing needed.
   • Indoor infrared cameras offer a clear video image in the light and in the dark.
3. 3
   Consider the advantages of a dome cameras. The different styles of domes include infrared domes, indoor domes, outdoor domes, vandal proof domes, and pan tilt zoom controllable domes. Classic “smoked” dome cameras offer an additional degree of surveillance as friends, customers, employees, and burglars have a difficult time seeing where the lens is actually pointing. The smoked cover does not affect picture quality.
   • Expect a clear color high resolution picture with the dome camera.
   • Most pan tilt zoom cameras are in a dome type housing as well.
   • Professional “box type” cameras are used both indoor and outdoor with a camera housing.
4. 4
   Consider the advantages of a pro box camera. These cameras are known for their high video quality. Pro box cameras are often found in banks, supermarkets, convenience stores, etc.
   • Lenses can be changed on the pro box camera based on the viewing angle and zoom that is required.
   • Some Pro Box Cameras are called day / night cameras as they can switch from color during the day to black and white in the evening or in low lux (light conditions).
   • The lower the lux, the better the camera can see in complete darkness.
   • Infrared cameras are considered night vision cameras and have a 0 Lux rating. You might prefer a box camera if you do not need or want infrared and are more concerned with quality daytime video.
5. 5
   Consider the benefits of a pan tilt zoom camera. These are cameras that can be controlled through the DVR, remote viewing software, and/or a joystick. They can go up, down, left, and right. They also have zoom capability.
   • For example, you can capture a license plate or zoom in on a face from far away.
   • You can also program them to do preset tours where you can have them monitor certain areas while you are away.
   • Airports, casinos, large department stores such as Target or Walmart are examples of places that use PTZ (Pan Tilt Zoom Cameras).
   • Pan tilt zoom cameras are expensive, starting at $500 and up. The question is, “do you need a pan tilt zoom camera”, or can you use fixed cameras to get the desired solution?
   • Pan tilt zoom controllable cameras require one additional cable for operation. A CAT5 cable is needed in addition to the power/video RG-59 Siamese coax cable in order to control it live and over the internet. Simply run a CAT5 cable next to the RG-59 to control your pan tilt zoom camera.
6. 6
   Consider the benefits of hidden cameras. These offer perhaps the highest degree of surveillance. If you do not want someone to know that there is a camera, use a hidden camera. Fake smoke detectors, motion detectors, clocks, sprinklers, EXIT signs are examples of the type of hidden cameras that are used.
   • The main disadvantage is that hidden cameras do not have infrared capabilities which limit their performance in low light.
   • In addition, many hidden cameras are not weatherproof, so they take are not as useful as infrared bullet and dome cameras when being used outdoors.
   • Pharmacies, hallways of hotels, assisted living facilities, and homes are examples of some of the applications in which hidden cameras are used.
7. 7
   Decide whether you want wired or wireless cameras. Wired cameras offer a larger selection of cameras and more importantly, much better video quality than wireless cameras. Wireless cameras can somewhat be misleading as they need to be powered at the camera location. In addition, they require a line of sight with no obstacles, which often poses an issue.
• Reliability and video quality are the main reasons that you should use a wiredcamera. Wired cameras are powered back at the DVR location and only a single cable (RG-59 Siamese coax power/video in one) needs to be run from the DVR to each individual camera. You can run cameras up to 800 feet away with this particular cable. If going over 800 feet you will need to use CAT5 cable with video baluns and/or amplifier.
• Expect a much longer lifespan and much higher quality with wired cameras.
• Obstacles are not an issue with wired cameras. With that in mind, occasionally you may have a location of two that absolutely need it. In that case, you can plug the transmitter to the back of the DVR.
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How To Increase Your Home Security

Prevent your home from being robbed. Increase your home's security without spending anything.

Steps

1. 1
   Think like a burglar. Pretend to be a burglar yourself, and try to think of ways to break into your own home. Study your home and observe any weaknesses in its security.
2. 2
   Lock your doors. Even if you may have grown up in a place where it was okay to leave your door unlocked, the world is different now.
3. 3
   Lock the windows. Ground level windows and sliding doors are easy to open from the outside. A slightly more motivated thief will check.
4. 4
   Lock the balcony door. Never leave the balcony door unlocked at night or when going out. Balconies could provide easy access to burglars.
5. 5
   Lock garage doors. Garage doors provide access into your home, so treat them as any other door; make sure they are locked properly, as well as the door that leads from the garage room into your house.
6. 6
   New home, new locks. When moving into a new residence, change all locks as you never know who has a copy of your key.
7. 7
   Leave the lights, TV, and stereo on. When you go out, leave a light on in any room in the house or invest in a light timer to automatically turn on lights at whatever time you want. Let the thief hesitate about breaking in.
8. 8
   Don't leave notes on the door. For example: "Hi delivery company, I won't be home all day just leave my packages on the back porch." To a robber, that says, "Hi robber, I'm not home for the day so you can rob my house." Not only will a thief look on your porch, he'll also know definitively that you won't be home for the day.
9. 9
   Close drapes. Keep drapes closed in rooms with expensive equipment that could give burglars a peek into your home.
10. 10
    Report strange things to the police. If you see a strange car driving through the neighborhood several times a day, report it! If someone is sitting in their car parked on your street for a long time, report it! A moving van at your neighbors house with no for sale sign, report it!
11. 11
    Install security lighting to your yard. It is harder for a thief to break in if there are lights placed at entry points to your house.
12. 12
    Get an alarm system. If a burglar managed to break into your house, an alarm system could deter him from proceeding.
13. 13
    Change your lock if you ever lose your key. Someone else might have picked it up.
14. 14
    Make sure your hedges are trimmed below the level of the window sill.
15. 15
    Get a dog. A dog bark can serve as a warning and attract attention, something burglars try to avoid.
16. 16
    Never leave a spare key. It is not recommended to leave a spare key left anywhere around your home, especially in obvious places such as under the welcome mat.
17. 17
    Get safety bars on windows. Especially if your home is located in a bad area. These will prevent burglars from breaking in through the windows.
18. 18
    Get a safe. A safe can help protect not only valuables but also important paperwork, cheque books, bank statements and financial records.

Tips

• When buying any appliance such as a computer or TV, do you just throw the box outside? Anyone can drive by and see a Plasma screen TV box in your garbage and know you have a new TV. Same thing goes for a computer, stereo, video game and any other item that is easily portable and may be expensive. If the average thief sees you have just gotten new stuff why would he go next door to steal?
• Mow the lawn. If a potential thief comes by and sees that the grass is not cut and the newspapers are still on the porch, he sees an opportunity. Nobody's home or nobody cares. This is especially important when selling your house or going on vacation. Ask your neighbours if they can collect your mail, or ask the post office to hold your mail, and mow your lawn make your house secure by making it look lived in. People being home means the thief will move on to easier pickings. Thieves are generally lazy they try to make the easy money in the easy way. Don't give them a chance.
• If somebody calls and says they're doing a home security survey, always say you have a security system hooked up to both the fire department and police department, as well as smoke detectors and fire extinguishers, because you never know who is really calling. It is easy for a potential burglar to pose as a telemarketer.

Warnings

• Simple and effective security is mostly common sense. You would not leave your house with the keys in the door would you? Then why would you leave your keys in your car with the engine running and you inside. Get an extra key for the door or get a remote starter. Don't make it easy for your car to be taken. Keep your wallet in your pocket and some money in your other pocket.
• Don't post on Facebook or other social networking sites that you're going on vacation. Others will see that you won't be home for a while, and will see this as an opportunity to rob your house.

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