Home Surveillance Electronics
With high capacity digital storage and high resolution cameras becoming better all the time, home surveillance systems have never been more accessible. Whether you just want to watch your front door or keep an eye on everything that happens on your property, you can easily put together a system that meets your needs.
Closed circuit or networked security?
Traditional security systems are closed circuit systems, in which all of the video you record is stored locally. Network security systems are a more recent innovation. Network systems upload footage to the Internet. Each system has its own advantages and disadvantages.
- Network cameras are typically capable of much higher resolution than closed circuit systems.
- Network security systems can be set up to respond automatically to motion or other suspicious activities, and also viewed remotely from a phone or computer.
- CCTV systems do not need a fast, reliable Internet connection or potentially expensive online storage.
- CCTV cameras are usually cheaper and simpler than network cameras.
What type of camera do I need?
There are many different types of home surveillance security camera to choose from, and the right one for you depends on your security needs.
- Outdoor security cameras will need to be weather-resistant. If you want to install a camera indoors, this is less important.
- Angle of view is an important consideration. A camera with a narrow field of view might be perfect for monitoring a hallway, but a wide angle camera is more appropriate for watching your back yard.
- Pan, tilt, and zoom cameras adjust their angle to increase their effective coverage area. These tend to be more expensive and have moving parts, but networked models can often be controlled remotely by the owner.
- Some advanced cameras have additional security features like audio recording or infrared capture.
- Large, obvious cameras can act as a deterrent on their own, while smaller hidden cameras are more difficult for intruders to avoid.
What type of storage do I need?
Local storage is a must for closed circuit security systems, but it can also be useful to have a local copy of network camera footage. Different home surveillance security systems will solve this problem in different ways.
- Many security cameras feature microSD card slots for onboard storage. Depending on the camera, it may save footage at all times or only record when it is triggered by nearby events or by the owner.
- Some security cameras, especially CCTV cameras, can back up footage to an external hard drive using a cable or a wireless connection. External hard drives can have much more capacity than microSD cards to store more footage.