Your circumstances have changed and you are now considering the purchase of a security camera system. Maybe crime has been on the rise in your neighborhood or near your place of business. You want to protect your newly established retail store. Perhaps shrinkage in your existing business is increasing. The CCTV system you installed years ago is no longer providing you with acceptable quality and you want to upgrade to a more featured system. Whatever the reason you're considering to purchase a video surveillance solution, you will have to figure out which camera system will meet your requirements. Before you buy, take the following into consideration:
Security Camera System For Your Home or Business. Do you need a surveillance system for your home or place of business? Seems like an obvious question , but most camera systems for the home need outdoor cameras, where businesses typically use both indoor and outdoor cameras. Even if you do require an indoor security camera for your home, your lighting requirements may differ greatly from that of your business.
Area To Be Monitored. The area to be monitored will determine what kind of video quality and camera lens type, and the light sensitivity and camera lens type. The questions you need to answer are: Are you monitoring an indoor area? Outdoor area? In the daylight? During the evening? Some or all of the above? Should the camera be placed on the ceiling? Would it be better located on a wall? Does your surveillance requirements need a camera to be installed on the roof of your residence or business? Would installing a camera on a pole be a part of the solution? Will the area you want to monitor require a wide angle lens? Or a telephoto lens be needed because the area to be monitored spans a large area? The best camera type and placement can be determined when you understand how narrow or wide the area to be monitored is.
Coverage. If the area needs normal coverage, a fixed focus camera will work well. If the area requires a wider coverage, then a pan-tilt-zoom camera will be a good choice. Understanding the lighting conditions of the area(s) you want to cover will determine whether you need cameras that automatically adjust for lighting, or cameras that produce color images during the day, and black and white images at night.
Viewing Video Surveillance Footage. Is your viewing requirement a local one where you'll be present to view activity on a CCTV monitor? Would you rather have a system installed that lets you view activity over the Internet on your PC, tablet or smartphone while you're away? Do you want to be notified when activity is taking place? Answers to these questions helps to determine what type of solution you require: analog security cameras with a DVR (digital video recorder), analog security cameras with an NVR (network video recorder), an IP video solution or a Hybrid, which is a combination of Analog and IP. How often do you need to record? Whether you need to record every day, 24 hours a day, or only after hours Monday through Friday, defining this helps to determine what type of recording hardware (PC, DVR, NVR) and video management software you require and how much storage you will need.
Security Camera System Install. Installing a video surveillance solution can be as simple as running a single cable from the camera to a PC or it can be more complex. It could involve pulling Ethernet cable or coax cable above ceilings, through walls or even through the ground. If your requirement is large solution, such as a securing a school campus, or a parking garage, or an historic building, it can be quite expensive, but considering a wireless security camera system could keep those costs down while still achieving the required video security quality.
Security Camera System For Your Home or Business. Do you need a surveillance system for your home or place of business? Seems like an obvious question , but most camera systems for the home need outdoor cameras, where businesses typically use both indoor and outdoor cameras. Even if you do require an indoor security camera for your home, your lighting requirements may differ greatly from that of your business.
Area To Be Monitored. The area to be monitored will determine what kind of video quality and camera lens type, and the light sensitivity and camera lens type. The questions you need to answer are: Are you monitoring an indoor area? Outdoor area? In the daylight? During the evening? Some or all of the above? Should the camera be placed on the ceiling? Would it be better located on a wall? Does your surveillance requirements need a camera to be installed on the roof of your residence or business? Would installing a camera on a pole be a part of the solution? Will the area you want to monitor require a wide angle lens? Or a telephoto lens be needed because the area to be monitored spans a large area? The best camera type and placement can be determined when you understand how narrow or wide the area to be monitored is.
Coverage. If the area needs normal coverage, a fixed focus camera will work well. If the area requires a wider coverage, then a pan-tilt-zoom camera will be a good choice. Understanding the lighting conditions of the area(s) you want to cover will determine whether you need cameras that automatically adjust for lighting, or cameras that produce color images during the day, and black and white images at night.
Viewing Video Surveillance Footage. Is your viewing requirement a local one where you'll be present to view activity on a CCTV monitor? Would you rather have a system installed that lets you view activity over the Internet on your PC, tablet or smartphone while you're away? Do you want to be notified when activity is taking place? Answers to these questions helps to determine what type of solution you require: analog security cameras with a DVR (digital video recorder), analog security cameras with an NVR (network video recorder), an IP video solution or a Hybrid, which is a combination of Analog and IP. How often do you need to record? Whether you need to record every day, 24 hours a day, or only after hours Monday through Friday, defining this helps to determine what type of recording hardware (PC, DVR, NVR) and video management software you require and how much storage you will need.
Security Camera System Install. Installing a video surveillance solution can be as simple as running a single cable from the camera to a PC or it can be more complex. It could involve pulling Ethernet cable or coax cable above ceilings, through walls or even through the ground. If your requirement is large solution, such as a securing a school campus, or a parking garage, or an historic building, it can be quite expensive, but considering a wireless security camera system could keep those costs down while still achieving the required video security quality.
About the Author:
If you don't have the time or the skills to configure and install your security camera system, consider contacting a security camera systemsprovider in your region. Most offer free, no obligation consultations. They'll walk through all of the above with you and provide you with a quote on what it will cost for a video surveillance solution that meets your needs.