Camera Surveillance

The advances in high-tech surveillance and recording equipment have provided a very viable alternative to protecting ones property while the owner or occupant is away. Current technology offers not only wired cameras (i.e. cameras connected to a recording device via wire or cable), but also wireless cameras, that may be hidden from sight, or alternatively, highly visible, that send a signal to recording devices and/or to a high speed internet-connected computer which allows for real time monitoring of the area under camera view. One can actually observe activity at a particular site while it is happening!

These cameras transmit the video image to a recording device using a specific radio frequency and therefore eliminate the need to install wiring in places that may be difficult to access or where visibility of a wire is not desired. As might be expected, the wireless camera installation is the more expensive investment, but due to simplicity and flexibility in installation and some aesthetic value, it may be well worth any difference in cost. Most installations are comprised of a “system” of full color cameras ranging in size from as few as two to as many as sixteen with some capable of of capturing video in extreme low light scenarios. With planning, cameras can be placed in such a way as to provide complete coverage of the property.

Cameras that are placed where they can be seen provide a deterrent effect as well as providing video images of of activity at the site being monitored. If someone with ill intent sees a camera they are less likely to proceed with their planned activity. On the other hand, if the desire is to monitor an activity without the knowledge of persons who might be in the covered area, then there are a wide variety of cameras that are referred to as “hidden”. These cameras can be hidden in everything from clock radios and thermostats to ball point pens or even ***** heads and many, many more configurations.

The scene that is captured can then be stored on a digital recording device (usually purchased as part of a system) for later review or can be viewed at any time via the internet from any computer having a high speed connection and access to the internet. In the early days of video capture of this type, the scenes were stored on magnetic tape on a recorder that operated continuously. That is no longer the case since the video images can now be captured digitally and the cameras can be set to record to send a signal only when motion is detected in the covered area and the recorder only operates when it is receiving a signal.

The ability to monitor activity as it happens (referred to as “real-time”), which the internet viewing option provides has, in documented cases, allowed an owner to call the police from their location hundreds of miles away and have the police arrive at their property and catch the criminals either in the act or as they were exiting the property. This is the ultimate payoff, but even if just being able to provide video to the authorities is the only option, it becomes a tremendous aid in catching the criminals since the video provides physical information regarding those for whom they will be searching once they are brought in to investigate.

Using video cameras and recording equipment as one of the measures to safeguard ones property puts the owner in total control of the monitoring activity. It eliminates the need to rely on third parties whether they be family, friends or a paid service and the monitoring is 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and 52 weeks a year (or 24/7/52 as has become the popular vernacular). Do not get caught in the “it will never happen to me” trap. I know of no one (save some involved in insurance fraud) who actually thought it would happen to them, but the fact that they did no think it would happen to them did not prevent it. This type of surveillance equipment has become very reliable and affordable. It is definitely something every homeowner, or even business owner, should seriously consider.

By: Curtis Roberts

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The bad news is that crime statistics, death, injuries, home intrusions, and loss of property continue to rise. It is hard to believe, but according to FBI statistics a burglary occurs every 15 seconds in the United States.

The good news is that there has never been a time when such a variety of quality security equipment has been available, and at such affordable prices. Let’s fight back!

When talking about home security equipment, one size does not fit all. Security equipment must be tailored to meet the particular needs of each house or company. One may need entry detection, while another needs camera surveillance, and another may need motion-detection floodlights. Let us look at some of the many choices available.

Home Security Systems – Many articles have been written on this subject and the basics are probably known by most readers. Systems are either wired or wireless, just as the names imply. For a renter, a wireless system is the logical choice, as the installation does little if any damage to the premises. And, the system can be taken when the renter moves. Wired is the system of choice in an owned residence, but it has its pros and cons. Because wires are run from every protected point to the alarm control panel, holes must be drilled and wires fastened.

However, when done by a professional company, the work is done with care and is mostly concealed. Labor is the main contributor to the high cost of a wired system. At today’s labor rates, several technicians working in your house for a week can run up quite a bill. A money saving tip here is do-it-yourself. If you have the basic knowledge to fix a lamp cord, you can read the wiring diagrams and install a wired system at a budget cost. Your car, motorcycle, camper, or boat on trailer, can also be connected to the security system. Many types of motion detectors are available, some even “pet friendly”. Regardless of wired or wireless, ultimately either system can sound a local alarm, connect to a monitoring station, call your mobile phone, or be custom tailored to meet the exact needs of the user.

Surveillance Cameras – Like home security systems, cameras come in two types, wired or wireless. When the door bell rings, how comforting to see who is at the front door. Now, even low cost systems can view multiple points, and display all cameras on just one split screen monitor. Camera products change rapidly, offering more and more features at lower and lower prices. One of the best recent offerings is an outdoor motion-activated floodlight and color camera combination. It does not get any better than that! Disturbing statistics show that we cannot always trust persons in our house, like the baby-sitter or a serviceman. A wireless hidden camera provides an ideal solution for this case. It is, in fact, one of the most popular home security items. Other uses for an indoor camera include keeping watch on your prized possessions, and of course keeping watch over your baby.

Home Automation – Here is an area of products you will want to look at while security shopping. The evolution of security products has blended into a new category of home automation products. We have traveled well beyond the wireless garage door opener. Your home computer can now be used to control appliances, lighting, cameras, store camera video files, check on your home, turn on and off your security lighting and even your sprinkler system!

By: Brian Bees

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Have you been considering buying a dummy security camera for your home or business? Are you unsure whether or not these cameras really work? Well, here is some good information that will help make your decision a little easier.

Just like their regular counterparts, dummy security cameras can be of high quality and very realistic, or they can be of poor quality and look so bad that even a dummy would know the difference.

Like most things in life, you get what you pay for. Even with that being the case, a top notch dummy camera is much less than a real model. The bigger question is, do they work?

For the serious criminal who is determined to steal or destroy property, the answer is no. For this type of thug, no form of security camera or surveillance is going to stop them. In fact, it sometimes seems that these individuals want to be seen on video.

While a dummy camera won’t deter these types, it also won’t monitor their activity either, meaning you won’t even get a look at who they are.

Keep this in mind if you own a business and theft is a big issue. Trying to protect high value inventory with a dummy monitor really isn’t the best solution. It’s the same for the homeowner who has lots of expensive valuables in the home.

So, who are these cameras for then? They will protect your home or business from petty criminals, or small-time thieves who look for an easy opportunity. When these types of people look around and see a camera they take off. So, in this type of situation a dummy security camera will be ideal.

It really comes down to what your needs are. Why do you need a camera? How safe and secure do you feel you need to be?

Once you determine your needs, making a decision will become easy.

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By: Terry Edwards

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Surveillance cameras are being used every where these days, all the malls and almost all stores and small shops have installed surveillance cams to stop thefts and burglaries. You must have probably heard of the net of cams in the Las Vegas casinos, yes without cameras the surveillance staff won’t be 1/10th as effective.

Taking the cue from the commercial segment many companies introduced home security camera a few years back, but, back then only the rich could afford the expensive home security camera systems. However, nowadays with development of technology, as home security camera is getting cheaper more and more people are able to afford them. Yes, today even a $30 cam can be turned into a home security camera, it’s no more a rich only option.

When selecting a home security camera, make sure it can take clear pictures in the radius you want to set it up. Systems like analogue closed circuit television may run cheap but it’s not worth the money. It saves recorded coverage to tapes which are not only expensive in the long run but will also take up a lot of space.

With the advent of internet and like I said earlier, development of technology, we have cheap yet good quality home security camera available that send live feeds to the internet and save coverage at a secured location. You can either watch the feds live or browse through the saved data at any point of time. Install two-three home security camera in a room depending on how big the room is and you can watch what is going on in your house from 5 miles or 5,000 miles away.

For those on a very tight budget, there are the fake home security camera which are very much like the original ones and some even swivel on their axis like the original ones but this strategy is only effective in preventing the crime rather than catching the crime.

However, if you aren’t on a budget you should go for tiny cams which can be hidden behind or within objects and are hard to find. These cams when combined with the right software can give you the perfect home security camera system. On the other hand if you want to make it clear to the burglars that your house is not a good choice, install a large cam, a must do for people installing fake cameras, at a location where it can easily be seen.

By: Arturo Ronzon

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When you monitor your home or office with closed circuit television (CCTV) surveillance, it’s like you have an entire television network devoted to the safety of your home. CCTV broadcasts your security surveillance on a private in-home network. Unlike broadcast television, CCTV components are hooked directly to each other via cables or direct wireless means.

Already popular in large public places where security is heightened, such as at airports or casinos, Surveillance systems are becoming more and more widely used in private home settings as well.

CCTV is inexpensive and simple to use, and it will help increase your security and your peace of mind.

Technology and Crime

Many independent studies in the United States and United Kingdom have suggested that CCTV surveillance acts as a powerful deterrent, stopping crimes before they happen. Studies also show strong evidence that CCTV can be an extremely effective tool in detection and prosecution. The men believed to have been responsible for the July terrorist attacks on London’s public transport system were later identified on the prevalent CCTV networks in the U.K.’s public places.

Security into Your Home

The same video surveillance technology used in our public venues is available for your home. We offer systems that can monitor every room in your home with clear, high visibility images. CCTV surveillance is available for 4, 9, or up to 16 rooms in your home. By monitoring your family’s security on a camera network, you are able to record suspicious activities as they occur. Monitor your yard, front door, garage, even your mailbox.

Camera offer the following features that allow you to monitor multiple areas of your home simultaneously and in real-time:
(1) Multiple channel video input
(2) Multiple channel audio input
(3) Real time display
(4) Pan/tilt/zoom
(5) USB backup

Camera Surveillance Laws

Video surveillance is subject to the laws regarding a person’s right to privacy. We strongly believe that camera security is a powerful addition to your home security system. Your home is your castle, and you have the right to protect it. However, you want to remain on the right side of the law. Therefore, when installing a camera system in your home, it is important that you are certain of the legality of your surveillance. Consult with a lawyer or your local law enforcement to ensure that you are meeting all the requirements of local, state, and federal CCTV laws.

Benefits and Technology

The benefits of installing CCTV technology in your home include: Easy video surveillance and security that fits any sized home.

By: Ralph Winn

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An IP, or Internet Camera, records surveillance video onto an Internet video server, and is now replacing the old method of storing to tape. The need to monitor ATM machines for instances of theft is obvious, and IP cameras offer the best protection from money being stolen from automatic teller machines.

The Practical Advantages of IP Cameras

Monitoring ATMs at night is where the true advantages of network cameras can be noticed. Consider that a video server system recording to tape will be required to record twelve hours of footage if the entire night is to be recorded. In the case of Internet cameras, only a few gigabytes of data would be required, rather than between six and twelve tapes for the old system. Not only this, but Internet cameras can also come equipped with motion detector technology, which will only recorded video when motion is detected on the screen. So if, for example, a smash and grab robbery occurs at an ATM, the video footage will instantly be saved, and security personnel will not have to spend time looking for the moment the robbery occurs on the tapes.

“Smash-and-grabs” are a common method for stealing money from ATMs. In fact, not just money but the entire ATM is stolen! Criminals achieve this by driving a truck or other large vehicle into the building holding the ATM, and carry the machine off with them.

Here’s where another great advantage of this technology comes into play. Motion detector cameras can send an email or SMS to security personnel or police notifying them of movement taking place within the recorded area, so they will be told if there is a smash and grab robbery occurring. This will mean the correct authorities will be notified almost instantaneously of the occurrence of the robbery. Since the video is being recorded over the Internet, it could also be accessed remotely via a designated computer, so the vehicle committing the crime can be identified straight away. There’s no longer a need to worry about a security officer falling asleep in his office while a robbery takes place.

Setting up the Network Camera

While these cameras are extremely helpful, they won’t replace all human thought that needs to go into protecting ATMs. A person will still need to consider how to best position the camera to get a clear image of the individual or vehicle that engages in the crime, how best to achieve a shot with a full image of the face of the perpetrator or number plate of the vehicle. This could mean the difference between money being stolen and lost forever, or money returned and criminals brought to the authorities.

IP Cameras are not just convenient; they’re a necessary force against those engaged in criminal acts. With the ability to maintain and access a video server remotely over the internet, become instantly notified of crime taking place, and notify authorities just as quickly, the growing popularity of internet cameras should come as no surprise.

By: Wes Fernley

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No matter what kind of vehicle you drive, there are still blind spots that prevent you from seeing what you need to see in order to prevent a car crash. Many car crashes could have been prevented over the years if only today’s technology had been available. Now that it is available in the form of a rearview mirror hidden camera, you can feel more secure when driving. The use of a hidden camera attached to your rearview mirror will give you better vision for what is coming up around you and aid in preventing an accident.

Since even today’s newer cars have blind spots, the option to add camera surveillance in the form of a hidden camera aids in better vehicle security and safety. It is a safety precaution we all need in today’s world. Now that you know how a rearview mirror hidden camera can benefit you in preventing an accident, we will cover how it works and the product features.

This particular hidden camera attaches to your rearview mirror and has front and rear color cameras along with built in DVR functions as well as audio. The following is an overview of the features available on the rearview mirror hidden camera.

* Built-in Color Camera – Featuring digital technology that is compatible with an SD card (8 MB card included but accepts up to 16 MB card) all contained in this small 1/4 inch color camera.

* Rotation and Recording – This tiny color camera rotates 330 degrees and allows for recording via built-in DVR. The rotation includes interior and exterior views so you can see inside and outside of your car with no blind spots.

* External Wireless Camera – Included with this is a wireless camera that can be mounted in the rear dash or to an area on the outside of your vehicle.

* Easy to Read LCD Monitor – The monitor is a 3.6 inch LCD Thin Film Transistor style that plays or replays activity on your rearview mirror. You can switch from external to front camera options with the touch of a button.

* Battery – This also includes a convenient built-in rechargeable battery that you can charge through your cigarette lighter or a USB option for your computer. This is completely portable and easy to use.

This rearview mirror hidden camera is truly the most revolutionary way to provide yourself with more effective vehicle safety and peace of mind. You can get more information on this amazing piece of vehicle safety equipment and even see videos of it in action online.

By: Charles Dougherty

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The usage of ubiquitous Cell Phones is spreading at high speed all over the world. Their main application is obviously for communication and for exchanging messages. In certain cases the capability provided by these instruments, to call urgently for help or to find promptly someone who went lost, can really save lives.

That is why children and elderly people, even if less technically savvy than young and active persons, should be instructed in the practical functions of these gadgets and helped in mastering at least the essential features.

It is true that an operating cell-phone emits interceptable signals that can help in locating the whereabouts of the owner of that instrument. This use is more linked to spying than to the classic meaning of Surveillance and it may be forbidden by law.

It was almost inevitable that the addition of a tiny camera and a mini screen to the basic cell-phone would prompt enterprising inventors to implement surveillance capability.

In fact, there is a relatively recent application that permits to every owner of a modern camera cell-phone to set it up so that it shows whatever is seen by a simple webcam placed at home in a strategic location.

Imagine looking at will at streaming videos of whatever happens, or does not happen, at the selected location surveyed by the camera at home. The webcam is connected to the Internet and therefore the system enjoys continuous functionality almost everywhere on the globe.

Although somehow limited in it’s capability, if compared with more complete Surveillance systems, nonetheless the images can have real importance in certain instances, with the invaluable advantage that the basic setup can be implemented easily at a limited cost.

Would it be interesting to discover what has to be set up and how, to obtain a usable system and enjoy the good feeling of knowing at each instant what is going on at home?

A commercial enterprise prepared an instructional Guide containing all needed information to set up and operate just that system. It offers it for sale to any person interested in this solution. Of course prospective customers should be aware of all advantages and limitations, relative to more complex systems.

Some choices are left to the user, that will select the combination best apt to provide the most complete and friendly answer to the required Surveillance level.

This approach can be an inexpensive surveillance solution for users who can imagine the kind of information that they would like to gather when they are on the move, and agree that this is what they want.

The Guide is meant to help everybody, even if not technical expert and it comes with the usual 60 days guarantee and with the promise of individual help by email in case any difficulties arise.

It seems so promising a system that it is quite possible that other entrepreneurs will jump on the idea and try to develop similar applications with their own special features.

By: Elia Levi

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