Surveillance Cameras for Security

Using a Video Camera Coupled to a VCR or DVR Deters Crime at Home

Sep 18, 2007

The use of video surveillance cameras, along with a DVR or VCR recording device, helps homeowners 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 what's going on outside the home while remaining safely indoors. These cameras are effective; it's no wonder so many homeowners use them to complement their 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 homeowner's 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. 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 wireless is the way to go.

Security cameras aren't restricted to outdoor use. They can be used indoors as well, disguised inside common devices such as boom boxes or radios. For example, a wireless security camera disguised inside a cassette/radio showcased at Extreme Surveillance achieves 380 lines of screen resolution at a distance of 700 feet. It incorporates a 2.4 Ghz transmitter and can display on a personal computer or record on a separate device.

Choices of Recording Methods with Surveillance Cameras

The choice of the recording device coupled to the surveillance video camera is dependent on several factors – cost, viewing quality, and recording duration. Generally speaking, a VCR can receive and record video data as long as ten hours.

But in the past few years the DVR (Digital Video Recorder) has found a new application in home security. It's not just recording those soap operas and football games; it can store loads of quality video data. The data is written to the hard drive, just like the one inside a computer. With storage capacity going up and price going down, it makes sense to go the DVR route. If the security camera is not going to be monitored in real time and the recording device will be unattended for long periods of time, this is ideal.

To put this into perspective, a 960 Gigabyte hard drive will capture thirty fps (frames per second) and will record for 3840 hours! Video quality versus recording time becomes the issue here. Using the same camera capturing 480 fps tops out at 240 hours.

Surveillance Cameras in Low Light Conditions

Evenly distributed light outdoors is an enviable condition but often not possible. The solution here is to use a surveillance camera equipped for night vision. If the home is being monitored day and night, some security cameras operate in both modes: night vision and daylight/spotlight.

Surveillance cameras using infrared technology work well in these low light conditions, especially in a system set up for closed circuit television. The video quality will not be as revealing as daylight color images, but crooks like to work in low light conditions.

In summary, using surveillance cameras for security inside and outside the home gives homeowners an added sense of security and safety. With all the video camera and recording options, there's something for everyone.

The copyright of the article Surveillance Cameras for Security in Home Renovation/Repair is owned by Kelly Smith. Permission to republish Surveillance Cameras for Security in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.