How Home Video Surveillance Works

When they were first introduced, video surveillance systems were mostly used with medium to large businesses. These days however, they are becoming more and more common in homes. Video surveillance security systems are also known as Closed Circuit TV (CCTV) and are used to monitor certain areas around the home and help to protect it from burglars and thieves.

The monitor is a key aspect to the video surveillance setup. The monitor will feed the video from the cameras that make up the system. The monitors are normally black and white and feature a higher resolution than that of a standard television set.  Monitors vary in size and resolution, although the standard resolution is between 500 and 1000 lines.

Cameras are also important. When setting up the home video surveillance system, the cameras are placed strategically around the outside of the home, in the most vulnerable areas. They should be set up in areas where they are nearly impossible to see. The cameras are always working, sending the video transmissions to the monitors on a frequent basis.

Coaxial cables are also a must have for video surveillance systems. The coaxial cables are what transfers the video signals from the camera to the monitor. The cables are available in a variety of sizes. You can find them at a local electronics store in your area. Your home video surveillance system will come with coaxial cables, although you may need more depending on where you plan to set the cameras up at.

Home video surveillance systems also use switchers. Switchers allow you to run multiple camera feeds to one monitor. Normally, a switcher will cycle through feeds unless it detects movement going on around a camera. When the switcher detects any type of movement, it will automatically lock in to the camera that has detected the movement.

There are some video surveillance systems that you can get for the home that make full use of VCRs.  These systems will use the VCR to record any live video feed that you program. This can come in handy if you travel a lot, as the VCR can capture a break in as it happens. If you end up going to court or to the police, you can use the video tape as evidence. VCRs can catch burglars in the act – especially if you set the camera up to a location that is hard to see.

By utilizing the combination of a monitor and video camera, home video surveillance systems can easily catch burglaries and break-ins. They are very affordable these days, and used in thousands of homes throughout North America.  If you’ve been looking for the ideal way to protect your home – a home video surveillance system is something you should look into immediately.

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The Internet and Home Surveillance

In the past, many have often wondered how they can keep check on things at home while they were on a trip or vacation – hundreds of thousands of miles away. These days however, keeping tabs on your home while you’re away is quite possible.  With the Internet and today’s technology – you can keep watch on your home no matter how far away you may be.

Although the technology may sound a bit out there at first, this day and age it certainly isn’t out of reach. The hardware used for surveillance is inexpensive these days, and ready to use all over the world. All it takes is someone with a bit of common sense and the curiosity to try new and exciting technology.

To use these types of equipment, you’ll need a reliable connection the Internet. The Internet is the heart and soul of distance surveillance equipment, enabling you to keep a check on your home from hundreds of thousands of miles away. If you are planning to invest in an Internet powered surveillance system, you should first make sure that you can get a high speed Internet connection to your home. Dial-up isn’t recommended, as the speeds are far to slow to broadcast video.

There are two solutions that you can choose from, each one varying in features and complexity.  The first solution utilizes a personal computer.  Several home surveillance cameras are connected together to a system that will survey their areas and record what they see at either a set rate per second, or going by movement they detect.  Depending on the system you get, you may or may not be able to adjust these settings.

The computer will play back the video via the monitor, and record the video to the HDD, or hard disk drive. You’ll need to connect the computer to the Internet through an ISP (Internet Service Provider), in order to watch the video from a distance. To watch the video while you are away from home you will need to log into the computer with a unique username and password. You can log in at any time, and to operate the computer or watch the video images that the computer surveillance system has recorded.

The other solution you have available is much easier. Normally, this solution is used to check on a home through a single surveillance camera. Setting things up this way will allow you to use a single camera through your IP (Internet Protocol) address. By setting it up through your IP, all you need to do is check on things is to link directly to your IP.  Once you have brought up your IP address, you can see live views through the camera. This method works similar to a webcam, in the sense that it streams video around the clock.

No matter which solution you choose, both are somewhat easy to use. Of course the second solution is much easier to use and setup, although it does have it’s downsides as well. Both have great things to offer you as well, including the ability to log in at any time. You can check video any time you wish, even chance your preferences based on what you need.

Anytime you need to monitor your home from far away, home surveillance and the Internet is all you need. The Internet is a common commodity these days, capable of doing far more than anyone ever thought possible. By investing in a surveillance system that utilizes the Internet – you’ll be able to keep a watchful eye on your home from wherever the road takes you.

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Guard Dogs for Home Security

These days, home security is simply a must have. Burglaries and crime are always on the rise, which makes it all the more important to protect your home. There are various burglary alarms and home surveillance systems available, designed to help you protect your home. Although they are good in their own rights, nothing compares to an old fashioned guard dog. Guard dogs have been used for generations – to help people protect their homes and their belongings.

For many years, guard dogs have helped to scare off burglars and thieves. Although most have gotten used to dogs now days, nothing fends off a thief more than a vicious dog grabbing his ankle and clamping down.  Almost all guard dogs have serious bites and can seriously injure a burglar. Guard dogs are trained to protect one’s home – and they will do so no matter what.

When you get a guard dog, you should always make sure that you let him know who is safe to be around your home. You don’t want the dog to be vicious towards everyone, as friends and family are certainly allowed to be around your home. Most guard dogs are left outside of the home, with some deciding to keep them indoors. Indoor dogs are great, as they will instantly catch a burglar the second he decides to break into your home.

If you plan to keep your guard dog indoors, you should always have a supply of food and water available, as he will be there when you aren’t. You will also need to give him access to an outdoor area as well, so he can use the bathroom. A fenced in yard is an ideal place for a guard dog to go outside, as he can come and go as he pleases. Sometimes, a burglar will try and sneak around the back entrance – which is where giving a guard dog outside access can really come in handy.

Before buying the dog, you should always carefully research the species and where you plan to get your dog from. Police dogs or dogs that have been trained for protection are ideal, as they already know how to defend things. Dobermans and Pit Bulls are great for protection as well, simply because they are well known for being very vicious. 

If you carefully research your options and get your guard dog from a reliable source, you shouldn’t have much of anything to worry about. You should never get your dog from a lesser known or poor source, as the dog may be poorly trained or not in good health. A guard dog can be a great addition to any home – providing you get a dog in good health and more than capable to fend of burglars.

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Home Protection with Spy Cameras

With crime on the rise, technology has lead to a decrease in home security prices. Although many devices have dropped in prices over the years, the spy camera is one of the most popular to experience a decrease in price. What was once only dreamed about in movies such as James Bond is now a reality that is very affordable.

The spy cameras of today are included with pin cameras, pens, and even cameras that are hidden in a pair of sunglasses.  Most kits cost a few hundred bucks and will come with sensors and remote Internet access – complete with alarms.  This way, you’ll have the chance to hook up your house wide cameras to your main cable system and watch the spy camera from any screen in your house. To watch the video though, you’ll need to have your television set to a specific channel.

Along with spy cameras there is also a variety of other devices that you can use to protect your home and yourself such as motion sensors, alarms, trip wires, spy cameras, surveillance cameras, finger print locks, digital locks, and many more. Almost everything is available at an affordable price, unless you choose to have professional installation.  Professional installation will cost a lot more money, possibly even thousands of dollars if you have a big house.

If you aren’t familiar with the way spy cameras and other spy related security works, it may be in your best interest to hire a professional.  A professional can show you how to work the equipment and answer any questions that you may have.  Even though it will cost you a lot more than if you were to do it yourself, it would be a lot better than messing something up.  Spy cameras and equipment can be very tricky – especially if you have no experience with home security.

The pin and sunglasses spy camera is among the most popular.  These cameras may require professional installation, as you’ll need to hook the wireless panel up to a monitor or your computer.  Depending on the type of spy camera that you are using, hooking everything up can be anywhere from novice to professional level.  Sunglasses can be great to use at home or anywhere else you travel within distance, as the camera is completely undetectable to those who are standing within your field of vision.

For protection around the home or anywhere else you travel, a spy camera can be a great investment.  These cameras are becoming more and more popular these days due to the drop in price.  Although they were very expensive when they were first introduced, those times have changed.  You can get a spy camera now for just a few hundreds bucks – making it an investment you can never go wrong with.

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Houses with Wireless Security Systems

With crime on the rise, home security systems are a must have.  With burglars becoming more and more common, you simply must protect your loved ones as well as your possessions.  There are several different types of security systems available for you to choose from.  For your home, there are wired and wireless security systems available. Each one has its advantages and disadvantages, along with the differences in price as well.

The driving technology found with both wired and wireless security systems are quite different.  Wireless security systems don’t need to be wired through the house; they will instead send transfer messages to the control panel through radio signals. When they were first introduced, wireless security systems were proved to be unreliable when compared to the wired systems.  As time went by and more and more people looked into them, wireless systems began to take form.

When compared to wired systems, wireless security systems are a lot easier and more convenient to install due to the fact of there being no wires. Wireless systems can save you a lot of money, time, and effort due to there being no ripping of the floors or walls in your home. Wireless systems on the other hand are more expensive than wired systems and you’ll need to replace their batteries on a periodic basis. The primary advantage to wireless security systems is the fact that they are easy to relocate, meaning that you can easily shift them from one home to another.

Wireless security systems use the same components as other security systems such as the touchpad, control panel, cameras, detectors, and alarms. Wireless systems rely on radio frequencies that are transmitted by the door contacts, windows, and motion activated sensors. The touch pads that are located at the entrances to the home will provide activation and deactivation of the system. In the event of the power failing, a backup system will take over the wireless system and continue to provide security for your home.

To use a wireless system, all you need to do is input the code through the control panel.  Normally, this is done prior to entering and leaving your home. Once the code is input into the control panel, the control panel will send remote signals to the rest of the system that will activate the alarms. Depending on the system you have, an alarm will go off either by motion detection or a window or door being opened.

If you look around you can find several different wireless security systems, many of which you can install yourself.  Before you buy a system though, you should always consult a professional who can survey your home and suggest the equipment you need. Even though it may cost a bit more money, it will be more than worth it down the road.

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The Importance of the Home Location and Crime

When looking to buy a house, the location of the home is very important.  Most people want to buy a home in a decent neighborhood, as they have the intention to remain at their home for many years to come.  If someone is planning to buy a home strictly for the resale value, then the location will prove to be even more important.  The resale factor of a home is very dependant on the location, simply because someone wouldn’t want to buy a home that wasn’t in a decent neighborhood.

When buying a home, the general rule of thumb is to purchase a home that will appeal to a large number of potential buyers.  To do this, you’ll need to look at the location of the home.  The community is very important, especially in terms of crime.  If you buy a home in a neighborhood that is well known for crime you’ll more than likely have difficulty when you try to sale.  Bad neighborhoods generally spark little to no interest.  These days, people want to buy homes in the best possible neighborhoods that they can afford.

When buying your home, you should always narrow the choices down a few of the best cities around you.  You’ll want to buy your home in a community that has a very stable economy and plenty of commercial and business districts.  This way, when you decide to sell your house, you can rest assured that your house is in a good selling area.  You should also look at the crime statistics for the area as well. If the crime rate is high, you should look into another area.

You should also look into the local school system as well.  Even though you may not have kids now, you should always think about the future.  A home that is within a short distance to shopping centers and quality schools are always easy to sale. If you buy a home that is in a bad neighborhood and has poor schools, you’ll quickly regret that decision.  If you can’t afford to purchase a home that is in a good location, you should work on your credit and save up some money until you are able to purchase a home that is in a desirable location.

Although the size of a home is important, the location is one of the most important aspects to buying a home.  The location is important for those living in the home as well as the resale value.  A home that is in a desirable location is always easy to sale, for the simple fact that the location speaks for itself.  If you’ve been thinking about buying a home for the resale value – you should always make sure that you pay close attention to the location.

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Knowledge About Home Surveillance System

If you are interested in protecting your home with a surveillance system, you should first grasp the concepts of the technology.  There are several home surveillance systems to choose from, making it in your best interest to learn all you can.  Most aren’t hard to install or monitor - providing you have the right guide to assist you.

No matter how hard you may try, it can be nearly impossible to ask the right questions or complete your goals without first finding yourself overwhelmed by possibility.  There are many alternatives and “what ifs” to any home surveillance system.  Selecting which type is best for you can be a bit easier, if you know what they offer and which one will work the best for you.

Closed circuit television and several other types of electronic devices are much more common these days, and easier to operate than ever before.  They are also more affordable as well, and becoming more and more popular with home owners everywhere.  The basics behind closed circuit systems lets you know that the signals the camera picks up aren’t broadcast through the air, but instead sent directly to the monitor, which can be observed from virtually anywhere - at anytime.

If you learn more of the basic concepts involved with home surveillance systems, you can make more sense of the language when you talk to salesman and others in the trade.  If you aren’t familiar with any of the technology or systems at hand, you won’t know what salesman or others in the trade are talking about when you inquire about your home surveillance system.

Therefore, you should always strive to learn as much as you can about the terms and subjects of home surveillance.  It’s actually easier than you may think, as long as you keep it simple.  Once you have built the foundation, you’ll find it easier to learn more. 

The first thing to know is that the camera is responsible for all images that are displayed on the monitor or captured.  The performance of the camera will vary on the reflected light available on the area that you are surveying, the quality of the components that you are using, and the overall performance of the camera.  Some cameras are high quality, while others can be very poor and lack in direction.

Overall quality with a home surveillance system however, will greatly depend on the weakest area of the chain.  To get the most from your system, you should always make sure that each and every component is of the same quality.  This way, you can get great display images without having to worry about shoddy quality.  If you do your research and compare, you can even get great quality at very affordable prices.

When you select the home surveillance system that you will be using, you should always take the time to research and compare.  If you understand the basic concepts of home surveillance, you’ll have a much easier of time of selecting your equipment and components. 

To make the best decision possible, you’ll need to look at certain areas of home surveillance systems, such as the illumination, lighting, resolution, sensitivity, and the video signal that is sent to the monitor.  The quality will vary among the different options you have available, which is why you should always look for the best system that you can afford.  This way, you’ll have the surveillance protection you need for your home - at a price you can afford.

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