It is a fact that outdoor security cameras do prevent crime and are of great assistance in prosecuting it.  These cameras and the systems surrounding them have evolved over the years.  They can see much more than in the past and they can let home owners view the output from almost anywhere in the world.  We’ll look at the night vision and wireless IP capabilities of these outdoor security camera systems to let you know what’s available and what to look at when evaluating for your camera surveillance system.

Let’s face it,  we people have a tough time seeing at night.   Thanks to technology, our cameras can see almost every bit as good at night as we do during the day.  To understand how the cameras work requires a bit of an understanding of light physics.

Humans can see only a small part of the entire spectrum of light.  On the low end of that spectrum is infrared light. This is the type of light emitted by objects in a heightened state of energy.  The heat from that energy emits photons in the infrared Range. All living animals produce heat and thus emit infrared light.

Visible Light Spectrum

The type of night capable camera that detects infrared light is called a thermal imaging camera.  These cameras are great at detecting the presence of humans and other animals in the darkness.  This type of camera, while good in no light situations has little usefulness in most cases for outdoor home security because its images are do not show great detail.

The second, more useful type of night vision camera for home outdoor security camera systems uses image-enhancement technology.  Basically, this type of camera uses light in the ambient light and some near-infrared light.  The camera basically multiplies the number of photons that reach the viewable phosphorus screen by passing the photons through a device called an image-intensifier tube. The phosphorus screen is what causes the eerie green that has become associated with night vision.  The biggest drawback for these cameras is that they do require some light in order to work, even though that level can be very low. That problem can be overcome using low energy LED lights.

Wireless IP camera technology has really moved the home security industry.  Because of its non-wired property, an outdoor wireless security camera is easy to install. It can be attached to the home network via the wireless IP signal and can be viewed from any PC that has access to the network. This makes installing a wireless security system extremely straightforward, just mount the camera and set up a personal computer to receive the signal.  Since there are a number of different protocols, make sure that the IP camera you purchase can communicate to the system it is attached to.  Of course, as long as you maintain compatibility and protocol, some of these cameras can be viewed over your I-phone or PDA Device. The biggest drawback that wireless IP cameras have is that (because they are wireless) they have to run on battery power.  So, a regular schedule of battery maintenance must be set up in order to insure that the system stays up.

Outdoor security camera systems really do have the capability of protecting your home both day and night.  With the advent of wireless, you now have the capability of monitoring that system from virtually anywhere in the world.  The next step is up to you.

Hiring a specialized provider of surveillance services for your shop or office is a great option for super busy businessmen. Admittedly, there are some things that you cannot manage on a 24/7 basis such as the productivity of your employees and the possible theft of goods or services. A good surveillance service is not only reliable; it’s also a worthy investment that you won’t regret. If you are thinking that it’s just an additional cost for your company, you are badly mistaken. The truth is, business experts actually advise corporations and big companies to invest in surveillance services to save money. Such services help minimize fraud, falsification, burglary, and malpractice; which will benefit the company in the long run.

One of the many things that you wouldn’t want to happen is to have employees fraudulently claim to have been injured inside the work premises. You may suspect that these employees are just taking advantage of the law. However, without solid evidence you or your insurance company will have no choice but to pay out thousands of dollars for work-related accidents. Private investigator companies routinely supply evidence that can prove insurance fraud by simply installing a surveillance video camera. With that, activities in every corner of the work place are recorded, like who is coming in and out of your office. Thus, injuries are not only verified, but preventive actions are also taken to stop accident fraud from happening in the first place.

Another advantage of getting surveillance services is the fact that you can monitor the productivity of your employees, even when you are away. Often wondering what your staff is doing while you are in an out-of-town business trip?  Being uncertain about your employees’ efficiency while you are away can stress you out and may hinder you in achieving your business plans. Investing in video surveillance services will definitely give you peace of mind. Modern technology allows such videos to be viewed through the Internet. Hence, business owners are able to monitor the operation no matter where they are. This is especially advantageous to businesses that have branches in different locations because they can be viewed simultaneously from any branch.

For some wealthy businessmen, threats of burglaries follow them even at the comfort of their own house. They become the primary target of burglars and thieves. A home security surveillance system is one of the best things to provide them with the security to have a good night’s sleep. Cameras attached to the home surveillance system are used to take pictures of what is happening throughout the day, giving you a sense of security as if you have your own bodyguards.

All things considered, hiring a professional provider of surveillance services will benefit your business in several ways. Knowing that your assets are well-protected is enough reason to stop worrying. While it is quite true that you cannot keep an eye on your business 24 hours, 7 days a week, having a security system is a huge help especially if you want to spend time doing other things that matter to you. Sure, there are problems that you cannot control such as thievery, employee fraud, etc. Yet, you can do something to prevent such unfortunate things from happening.

Security Camera

Cameras are the eyes of your camera surveillance system.  Without them, you are blind to whatever your system is set up to observe.  There are dozens of types of cameras to choose from and hundreds of models as well.  So, What factors do you use to determine the camera that is right for you?  It all starts with planning.  When determining the right camera for you system, match the camera to the requirements developed from your plan.

• Do you want the subjects to be aware of the camera.  In other words, should the camera be hidden?
• Distance from camera to receiving unit. Any obstructions?
• Lighting conditions
• Level of resolution
• Motion of subjects
• Remote control of camera

• Wired or Wireless
• type of antenna for wireless
• Pinhole camera
• Type of image sensor to determine resolution – CCD (charged couple device) or CMOS (complimentary metal-oxide semiconductor)
• With or without audio
• weather resistance
• color,  black and white, infrared
• Illumination factor, LUX rating
• fixed focal length, varifocal lens or auto iris lens
• video standard – NTSC, PAL or SECAM

Once you have determined the ideal features of your camera,  work with your local supplier to find cameras that best match these features.  Cameras will have a wide variety of options.  Simple is best.  Pick the camera that matches your needs the best without functionality that you will never use.  Use your budget and the features that are most important to determine the camera that works best for you.  If you follow these simple guidlines, you will end up with a camera that meets your needs and integrates beautifully into the rest of your camera security system.

Technology has been racing forward at a breakneck speed.   We are all benefitting from the advances by seeing the price of camera surveillance system.  There are two varieties. The first is PC based as it has a tower and the functions of the system are carried out by (usually) a Windows based program.  The good thing about the PC based systems is that they integrate well with wireless cameras to form home based wireless surveillance camera systems that have all of the power of there wired cousins at a fraction of the cost.

The second and more popular version is based on an embedded DVR. There is no software as all of the systems functions are embedded in microchips.  Up until recently, a basic two camera DVR type system cost over $1,000.  Today, you can get a system that includes the two cameras, a DVR , 120 minutes of looped recording, live viewing from anywhere via the internet, PDA, VGA, and USB outputs for under $400.  Many of these features were not available five years ago, for any price.

The PC based systems are more expensive than the DVR type for two reasons.  First, they come with more hardware than the DVR types, the PC tower and a minimum of four input cameras (sources).  Second, because they are PC based, the software comes with more flexibility and can be updated easily. These systems usually com with image control software that gives you more options on the output side.  All of this functionality comes with a price.  These systems start at over $1,000.  While this might seem expensive, it is an order of magnitude cheaper than ten years ago.

For people willing to take the time to research and install a camera surveillance system, it can be done for a minimum amount of money.  The systems are well worth the amount of money spent for the security and peace of mind that they provide.

First, we have to understand the different camera surveillance system technologies, their operations and benefits. The technologies range from 25 year old “Analog” to cutting edge “Digital”. Your goals and what you want to accomplish will dictate which technology is right for you.  There are three types of surveillance technologies that you have to consider.

The first is analog recording systems.   Basically, these systems consist of the cameras, some sort of muliplexor to comverge the signals, and a VCR.  There are many advantages to this type of system.  No post processing required in the field/lab.   Data storage (VCR tapes) is cheap, $2 – $3 /tape. Changeout time in field is quick, as long as it takes to swap out a VCR tape.  Easily display output on analog monitors.  Most television repair stations can service the recorders.  Sampling techniques can easily be implemented to save storage with the analog camera surveillance system.

The next type is the digital recording camera surveillance system.  Digital recording systems can be broken down into two categories, but they have many things in common.   Most digital video security systems are intended for short bursts of important data (i.e. the five minutes while an entry is compromised) or for some few hours (i.e. while the robber is checking out the casino without his mask on). The video data being stored on the hard drives is immediately available to the police or security for downloading to the internet, digital storage cards, DVD’s, etc.  When the event is over and the small amount of critical data is archived off of the hard drive, the hard drive is then placed back on line to record new video data.  At some point in the future, depending on DHD capacity, it will start to write over the data previously recorded but the small amount of security critical data has been saved.  Many resolution levels are available and they go to much higher levels than most analog systems. Various compression schemes are available MPEG 2 , MPEG 4, etc.  Tremendous range of storage capacities from 20 gig to terabytes.  The variety of hard drive video recorders is growing explosively.  Systems generally require less power than analog systems.  Moisture generally less of a problem because hard drives are sealed.

The two types of digital recording camera surveillance system are PC based systems and hardware based systems.   PC based systems are more flexable and have a wide range of functionality.  Limitations are that the system runs on a PC with the Windows Operating System and all of its flaws and limitations. Also, users must have average or better computer skills.   The hardware based system is built specifically for camera security systems and is much less likely to experience operating system issues.  However it is the more expensive of the two options.

You can install a security camera surveillance system to monitor the activities of your business.  A well placed system prevents employee theft.  Studies have found that the average dollar loss per employee theft is sometimes more than 5 times the amount of the average shoplifting incident.  Whether your business is commercial, manufacturing or retail, the design and implementation of a camera surveillance system should be an integral part of your loss prevention and anti-theft program.  If burglary is an issue, there are motion activated, infrared, security cameras that will take pictures automatically whenever someone moves in front of them and then digitally storing the pictures within the micro-camera.  This allows you to retrieve them later just by plugging the camera into your TV/VCR. A more expensive option is a video camera surveillance system with the same attributes.  Even if you do not have theft or burglary issues at your business, many times you can significantly reduce your business insurance premium when you install a security camera surveillance system.  All you have to do is call your insurance agent.  They will do the leg work for you and check your policy to see if you can save money.  Many times, the savings can pay for the system within a year.

Homeowners are one of the biggest benefactors of camera surveillance system’s.  You can monitor the activities of your home while you’re away, so you will be sure of the safety of your children and your pets while you are away. You can even arrange for a motion detector to alert you via pager or e-mail when there is a disturbance at your home or business or to activate recording.  You can set up a camera surveillance system for your backyard if you have a pool there, or just to keep an eye on the kids.  Setting up a camera at the front door can save lots of needless trips to answer the door for pesty solicitors.

Security camera surveillance system are not expensive anymore.  They can notify you of suspicious activity where ever you are in the world.  Security camera surveillance systems are easy to install. In fact, it takes less than a few minutes to determine the system that’s right for you, and have it installed in your home or business. They can be installed by yourself or by a professional.  If either case, it is most likely that the peace of mind that they provide more than outweighs the costs involved.

Security Camera

When you decide to invest in a camera surveillance system, the best thing you can do is to sit down and write the reasons why and then do a little planning.  This is the best way to make sure that the camera surveillance system you end up purchasing will match your needs.  It would be most unwise to purchase a camera whose level of focus makes it impossible to tell somebody’s head from a pumpkin if you need to identify faces.  You get the idea.  This article will provide an overview of points to consider when planning your camera surveillance system.

First, you have to think about how the video created by your system will be used, where it will go, who has access to it, and length of it’s retention.  Questions, such as:

need to be asked.  All of those questions are concerned with the output of your system.  The camera is the most important piece of the system as far as determining the format and quality of that output.  Now that you know what you want for your video output, what about the cameras for your camera surveillance system?  Here are some questions to ask yourself when planning for the cameras of your system:

There are probably questions that you will need to add to this list based on your unique situation.  Once you have answers all of your questions,  go talk to a professional to make sure you have not missed anything important.  A competent pro will most likely have some suggestions for a camera surveillance system that will fit your needs.   Problems arise mainly when a buyers bring home camera surveillance systems that doesn’t fit their situation and then struggle to make it fit. If you determine your needs ahead of time by answering these questions as accurately and concisely as possible, and then getting competent advice, your camera surveillance system installation should be manageable.