Surveillance Systems for Home Security:
Video Surveillance Cameras and Residential Burglar Alarms Prevent Home Break-Ins
© 2008 by Kelly Smith all rights reserved
The use of video surveillance cameras, along with a DVR or VCR recording device, helps homeowners avoid
to deter home break-ins or solve crimes that have been committed.
Using surveillance cameras for security around the home allows the homeowner to
monitor whats going on outside the home while remaining safely indoors. These video cameras are
effective.
Thats why it's no wonder so many homeowners use them to complement their residential burglar alarms.
The
technology involved has taken major strides forward and the prices are within an affordable range.
Coupled to a recording device, the camera becomes part of the homeowners
crime prevention/solving solution.
A Variety of Video Surveillance Cameras to Choose From

The application dictates the type of surveillance camera the homeowner should use. Digital
surveillance security device manufacturers have responded to consumer demand with a variety of options.
Many surveillance cameras are so well disguised that a crook has no idea his movements are being monitored.
The homeowner is presented with two choices for video camera connectivity, either wired or
wireless. If the camera is too far away from the display or recording device, or wires would
reveal the presence of the camera, then a wireless connection is the way to go.
Indoor Home Security is Critical
Security cameras arent limited to outdoor usage. Stopping theft doesnt stop at the
front door. They should be utilized inside the home also, disguised inside normal-looking items like boom boxes and transistor radios.
Consider a wireless security camera hidden inside a cassette/radio showcased at the Extreme
Surveillance website. This is a model that featuress 380 lines of screen resolution at a distance of 700 feet. It uses transmitter and is capable of being displayed on a desktop computer or recorded on a different piece of equipment.
A Variety of Recording Methods Choices with Security Devices
Your choice of a recording device communicating with a video camera depends on several
factors such as cost, viewing quality, and recording time. commonly, a VCR will receive
and record digital video data up to 10 hours.
However, recently the Digital Video Recorder (DVR)has found a prime spot in home
security. It is not just for recording reality shows like The Biggest Loser and baseball games from a satellite TV link; it can store an unbelievable amount of digital video data.
The data is recorded on a hard drive, exactly like one inside a PC or Mac. Since available
storage size is rising while the price is falling, its only logical to use a DVR.
If your security camera wont be monitored in real time by a human being (unlikely in a
home situation) and the DVR will be left alone for an extended period of time,
this is an ideal situation.
Putting it all into perspective, a 960 Gig external hard drive will capture thirty fps (frames per second)
and record for a walloping 3,840 hours at minimal video quality! Recording time vs video quality is where the compromise is made.
When the identical camera is rigged to capture 480 fps, time tops out at 240 hours, which works out to 10 days, plenty of time for a business trip.
Using a Surveillance Camera at Night
An evenly distributed light source outdoors is an ideal situation but unfortunately at times impossible. An obvious solution in
low-light conditions is to employ a camera with a digital night vision option. For homes that need to
be monitored both day and night, buy a surveillance camera that operates in both night vision and
daylight/spotlight modes.
Security cameras that employ infrared technology are ideal in low-light situations, particularly with
a watchdog system rigged for a closed circuit television. The video quality wont be as high-quality as daylight
color images, but bottom-feeding, scum-sucking burglars prefer to perform their dastardly deeds in the dark.
Bottom line? Employing surveillance devices for home security, both inside and out, gives homeowners an
added sense of security and safety. With the numerous video camera and recording choices, theres something there
for everyone.
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