Planning

You have decided that you have a need for a camera system. Most likely you want to have piece of mind and protect your home or business. Consider a few key questions while you go about purchasing your system.

1) Assess your security situation

What security measures do you already have in place? Think of your home or business as a potential target and assess how a threat might gain entry or damage something

2) Evaluate Entry and Exit Points-

Where is your main entrance and back entrances? What are the access points to it? How well lit are these areas? How about windows? Are they accessible from the ground? Are they lit?

3) What are your needs?

You want to take a methodical approach to assessing your security needs. Consider using this guide for home and this guide for businesses.

Wiring Considerations

Wired security system cameras will include necessary cabling. The length of the cabling can impact your choices depending on your residence, building, apartment.

NVR systems require Ethernet cables such as cat5 and cat6. Ethernet cables have more flexibility as network switches can be used to extend the cable length without impacting image quality. Make sure you use high-quality cables, as it can affect the distance at which you can install a camera and still have seamless functionality with no signal loss. Keep in mind that DVR systems usually require more installation time than NVR systems due to the larger cable required.

Camera Locations

The best locations for security cameras is going to depend on the layout of your property. Your system will come with a limited number of cameras so you will want to use them and place them wisely. You will certainly want to put them at the entrances and exits and direct them so they cover the paths to them.

You will want the cameras high enough so that they cannot be interfered with but close enough to key areas to get good images. You also want cameras to be visible. As much as 60-75% of burglars change targets when they see a camera on site.

Be careful that cameras outdoors are placed to avoid backlighting or flares. This can occur when bright lights are in the cameras view path. This can include streetlights or even the sun!

DVR or Cloud based?

DVR systems are a physical device that records video signals from a security camera. When video is recorded, the footage is converted into a digital file and sent through a wire to the DVR. There is no Internet connection involved. This gives the owner more control of the video footage and there is no internet connection involved. This does mean that location and security of the DVR will be one of the most important decisions you will make. This would be a slightly higher initial installation cost, but no subscriptions are required.

Cloud Based Systems Cloud surveillance is the remote storage of video recordings on the Internet. It does not require any physical equipment or wires—only an Internet connection. This means less control of your images. The images will typically be easily accessible and secured on the cloud but this may mean a subscription will be required to maintain the system.