Video surveillance is an increasingly important element in many residential security systems. It has important functions both when you are at home and when you are away from home. It can be monitored live and recorded, and it can be viewed in your home or remotely on a laptop or even a smartphone or iPad.
Exterior video surveillance cameras can be installed in a way that leaves them visible or hidden. Visible cameras are a very effective deterrent to possible intruders. Hidden cameras can be very effective, as well, to monitor activity on your property and in detached garages, barns, pool houses and other accessory buildings.
Video surveillance systems can be used for live monitoring on your home computer or on your television. Other systems are designed for recording and may be motion activated, much like your security lights. You system might include cameras in certain rooms (such as a nursery) that can be controlled manually and operate only when needed.
There are many benefits of a video surveillance system:
- Monitor when your children get home from school
- Deter thieves and other possible intruders
- Monitor safety and activity of pets or farm stock
- Monitor the perimeter of your property for protection
- Monitor activity at all doors to your home
- Monitor a play room or yard to keep an eye on your children while you are busy elsewhere in the house
- Monitor activities of babysitters (the famous nanny-cam)
- Monitor the safety of elderly or disabled family members
- Monitor activity of pets when you are away from home
- Protect your family from intruders when they are at home
- Protect your property when you and your family are away
- Know who your teenager is spending time with while you are at work
- Monitor pastures where animals are kept
These and other benefits make video surveillance cameras very desirable to many homeowners. Cameras outside exterior doors to homes and apartments allow you to verify the identity of a visitor before you open the door. This feature would enable your children to see if they know the person at the door before they open it.
Your video surveillance system will likely include some combination of indoor and outdoor cameras, spy cameras and surveillance cameras, closed circuit cameras and PC based closed circuit systems, and various recording methods. Video surveillance will probably be part of a more comprehensive home security system. Recordings from video surveillance cameras can be important to police if a crime is committed near your home to see if someone passed through your property.
Despite recent advances in video security equipment, it remains true that you get what you pay for. You will need to use cameras that do what you need them to do, regardless of price (to some extent). The quality of the picture will be determined by the quality of the lens.
You will need to decide if your video surveillance monitoring needs indicate a stationary camera or a motion sensitive camera that follows the movements of the person who activates the camera. Indoors in particular, you will want to consider how the camera is activated – always-on, motion-activated, sound-activated, timer activated. You also need to think about how you want to monitor and/or record activity with your video surveillance system.
When you choose equipment for your video surveillance system, there will be many options available. You will need to choose the types of equipment you need and the price range you can afford. Our home security professionals can help you make these choices.
Your video surveillance system should be installed by an expert to ensure functionality and safety. You might decide to use a hard-wired system, a wireless system or some combination of the two. Many homeowners install wireless systems.
When choosing equipment, keep in mind that your total security system is only as good as the component of the lowest quality. Protech Security Systems can help you select the optimal equipment, monitoring and recording to meet your personal needs. Video surveillance as part of your total residential security system is an excellent option.
