The Benefits Of Having A Security Surveillance System .

If you want to be able to monitor your house whilst away on holiday or even at work, then remote surveillance security is the solution. This kind of security is ideal for families who are away for long periods of time or even in the workplace to cut down on thefts and vandalism. Where ever you are, you are able to monitor your house, via the internet through surveillance cameras that are watching your workplace or home.

You will, of course, need a computer or laptop if you want to set up an remote surveillance system and whether you use an existing computer or invest in one specially for the surveillance system ensure they are password protected to avoid others snooping into or disabling your system.

The main piece of equipment needed to build a remote surveillance system is, of course, the Digital Video Recorder. This is required to be able to watch the surveillance on the internet.

Depending on your ndividual needs, and whether it is for the home or workplace, security cameras are available in many kinds and your choice of camera will depend on its required performance and location.

To catch night time images, either in dark rooms or outside then you will need to install an infrared camera. More concealable cameras are available for the indoors which are aesthetically pleasing but will help you catch potential suspects.

Cutting costs on cameras is not cost effective as dark images that are blurred and out of focus are useless when wanting to catch perpetrators. Invest in a quality camera, with a quality picture.

Many people set up their own security surveillance system, however pre-made kits are also available allowing numerous recording options such as email and cell phone alerts when an intruder is detected.

Your security surveillance system must be installed properly and once working checked on a regular basis. A expertly built, and installed surveillance system, will help protect both the family, and your belongings, and give you peace of mind at the same time.

If you would like peace of mind when you are out of your house for any period of time then please visit our website for more in information

security dvr, Wireless camera system and Video security system

A Guide to Home Security Surveillance Systems

PTZ Motion Tracking Camera with Night Vision and Built-In Recorder

The technology used in home security surveillance systems has changed dramatically over the years. Video cameras used in surveillance systems today are smaller, better and cheaper. Up until a few years ago video footage was recorded onto VHS tape, but today DVR (digital video recorder) systems record video footage onto a hard drive. The price of home security surveillance system has come down dramatically over the last few years. A home security surveillance system consists of two main parts: the video recording device, and the surveillance cameras.

1. Surveillance Camera Technology

Surveillance cameras either use CMOS or CCD (charge couple device) chips to record video images. In cheaper surveillance cameras CMOS is normally used. CCD surveillance cameras produce better quality video. We use inches to measure CCD camera formats, and brighter images are produced by larger CCD chips. A CCD format of 1/4″ or 1/3″ is good enough for most situations.

The number of TV Lines (TVL) is how the resolution of a surveillance camera is normally specified. This determines how detailed the video picture quality is. The resolution typically produced by surveillance cameras is normally between 350TVL to 400TVL. The number of separate images that a surveillance camera can record per second is said to be the frame rate of the camera. Most camera’s can record at 30fps (frames per second), and video below 30fps is not smooth and begins to look jerky.

Black and white surveillance cameras are better in poor lighting conditions than color cameras. Lux is the unit of measurement used to indicate a camera’s sensitivity to light. The light sensitivity of a camera must be 0.5 lux or less to be able to see anything under nighttime conditions.

2. Surveillance Camera Lenses

The lens of a surveillance camera should match the CCD format of the camera - 1/3″ lenses should be used with cameras with a 1/3″ CCD format. Home security surveillance system cameras normally do not have the facility to zoom in and out, are are said to have a fixed focal length. Cameras with a motorized zoom are quite expensive, and allow you to remotely change the camera’s focal length.

3. Other Surveillance Camera Features

Some surveillance cameras include Infrared (IR) LEDs, which project an infrared light allowing you view video in complete darkness. The range that these camera’s can see in the dark vary, and is typically between 10 to 50 feet. Cameras with a pan, tilt and zoom (PTZ) facility are included with the more expensive home security surveillance systems. PTZ cameras allow you to remotely pan the camera’s view left and right, tilt the camera’s view up or down, or zoom in and out.

4. Surveillance Camera Housings

A home security surveillance system can have large, visible cameras, which are cheaper, have larger housings, and can deter criminals by being clearly visible. Covert (hidden) cameras are generally quite expensive, are very small, and are hidden in other objects, such as a light fixture. Cameras that have a PTZ (pan, tilt and zoom) facility are normally housed within dome cameras. Dome cameras are normally mounted on the underside of ceilings. Weatherproof security camera casings are used by cameras that need to be protected from the elements. Outdoor surveillance cameras need to be waterproof and to be able to withstand extremes in temperature.

5. Video Surveillance Monitors

Using a standard TV as a video surveillance monitor does not produce the best picture quality. Computer monitors produce better picture quality, and also offer an extended lifespan. If you want to display video from multiple cameras onto a single monitor, then a 15″ monitor should be the minimum size you purchase.

6. Video Surveillance System Recorders

Most home security surveillance systems today record video onto a hard drive and not VHS tape. This has several advantages. Firstly, you do not need to fast-forward or rewind a tape to go to a specific point in a recording – you can immediately go to that specific point in the recoding. Secondly, you can playback an earlier part of any camera recording whilst that camera is still recording.

Built-in motion detection is included in some home security surveillance systems. The system can be set to only start recording video when motion is detected. This will reduce the hard drive storage space requirements. The only advantage of purchasing a VCR system today is its cheaper price.

7. PC Based DVR Versus Standalone DVR

There are two types of home security surveillance system, PC based DVR systems, and standalone DVR systems. A PC based DVR system is quite cheap, and is run off an existing PC. A PC board must be installed inside the PC, and special software installed on the PC. A standalone DVR system is normally quicker, and more stable when compared against a PC based system.

The recording on a DVR security camera system is done using hardware, and this eliminates software crashes that you sometimes get with the PC based DVR systems. PC based systems generally do not perform as well, and are not as reliable as DVR systems.

8. Considerations when buying a Home Security Surveillance System

Your first consideration is the quality of the video you want to record. This is the video frame rate (video smoothness) of the recordings, as well as the resolution of the recordings in TV Lines. The second consideration is the number of cameras that you will need for your home security surveillance system. Entry-level systems come with 4 cameras. Your third consideration should be the size of the hard drive of the DVR system. Low-end DVR systems come with 80 gigabyte (GB) hard drives, whilst top-end systems come with a 750GB hard drive.

 

For more information about home security and home safety, take a look at the Feedage.com news feed for Home Security Buff.