Security Camera

If you are planning to fit a supervision camera in your residence or in your working area it is wise to study your states privacy rule and regulations and consider area where you may possibly be in violation, which might consequence in huge fines and/or a prison sentence. It is illegal to set up secret or hidden security cameras in part which is considered to be a confidential place.

United States privacy rules classify a secretive place as everyplace one is capable of is assumed to be out of harm’s way from unlawful surveillance. This comprises of areas such as locker rooms, changing stalls, restrooms, bedrooms and lodge rooms. This means that you cannot put in a hidden security camera or voice recording or hearing devices in these areas without prior written down authorization from the person. State regulation regarding security cameras is not standardized across the board. Merely a very few in number of them have regulation concerning hidden camera setting up. Some places like California, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Alabama, Arkansas, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Kansas and Utah.

In nearly all cases facts collected by means of hidden video cameras will still be permissible in a law court if a offense is committed whether authorization was approved or not. Whereas it might be against the law to install a security camera in a vend store dressing room, video recording capturing shoplifters in these areas is still often used to act against unlawful acts. The two circumstances hidden watching is measured against the law are when the possessor of the place has not approved surveillance, or the recorded video/audio is use for banned means.

Privacy law and the utilization of out of sight security cameras is at this time an area of most important argument. This technology has enhanced rapidly in a period of last 10 years and regulations are still being advanced to deal with its execution. Tools that were previously merely obtainable to high end rule enforcement and government spy and are now capable to be buy by everyone.

A completely well-designed wireless security camera setup together with transmitter, receiver, or built in records storage can be acquire for as little as $50. This twofold edged sword has permitted persons and business an intelligence of security beforehand unfeasible, but the trouble-free installation of wireless security cameras have also set way to noteworthy mistreatment. Investigation has exposed that even a large portion of legalized security cameras are often used for voyeuristic purpose.

Regrettably they manner it sits at once there is extremely little that can be made to stop people from setting up unlawful spy camera. As a business or proprietor you can remain yourself out of problem by scrutiny your state laws or consulting a private researcher or public prosecutor about your security system association.

By: Ron Victor

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Surveillance security systems were once only for the rich and wealthy as the cost was so expensive. Nowadays things have changed considerably and now the ordinary household can afford a hi-tech home security solution and security devices. Gone are the days when no-one could afford one – there is now no excuse to not install a home surveillance security system to protect your home and keep your family safe from harm.

Those that do not address their home security needs choose to do so. It is not because they are too expensive. Today’s hi-tech home security systems offer superb functionality and features that were just a pipe dream only a few years ago.

Take home security surveillance cameras. Today it is possible to buy a security camera that is linked via your computer so that the images can be viewed anywhere on the internet. You simply need access to a internet enabled PC or hand-held mobile device such as an iPhone.

Most people have a PC at home these days. The PC can act as a recording device for your surveillance camera so there is no need to buy expensive recording equipment. You can configure the software for your own requirements. For example you may decide to record continuously or only when movement is detected. Every time the camera records it creates a new folder on your hard disk thus managing and organizing your image files automatically.

Why not protect your rights with a dash board camera/DVR? Used by law enforcement agencies, these hi-tech devices are small and discrete enough to be positioned on the dash board of your car or truck to record any wrong-doing by another road user. Protect yourself and prove that if something happens it was not your fault. These super small devices record on to a solid state SD card – like the ones you find in your regular digital cameras.

How about a digital voice recorder built into a pen? When that salesman comes around to your house be sure to capture evidence of exactly what is promised by the product you are about to buy. Use it as evidence if the product doesn’t work out like you thought it would.

For protecting your home and kids then a nanny spy cam will provide evidence if required. They are built into flower pots, stereo systems, lights, computer speakers, air purifiers and clock radios. Be sure your kids are getting the care you expect from your nanny or child minder and keep an eye on them.

By: Andy J Jones

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The popularity of surveillance cameras have been steadily increasing for the past decades. For one reason, they are very useful gadgets that allow you to monitor your property, discourage illegal activities, and keep track of what is going on not only in your neighborhood, but also under your roof. But installing a full security system in your home or roof can be a bit pricey. Below are several questions that you might want to consider before purchasing one.

Will the Camera Be Used For Home or Office?

If you are planning to install surveillance cameras in your business, you need more specialized monitoring equipment, like CCTV systems and other tools that do a better job deterring crime. Surveillance systems for the home do not require a very elaborate setup. As a matter of fact, you can install fake camera systems in not so very important areas in your home.

Are You in a High Crime Area?

However, if you live in a location that is more prone to crimes, it would be more worthwhile to purchase multiple cameras that will scan all the sides of your home or office. In this case, it is not advised to use fake security cameras.

Do You Need 24 Hour Monitoring and Protection?

If you want to be covered twenty four hours a day, you need to install surveillance cameras that have night vision or infrared systems. While fake security cameras do not take actual videos thus does not require night vision or infrared systems, they can still serve its purpose especially when they are in very obvious locations.

What is the Distance That Needs to Be Monitored?

Depending on the distance that you want to be monitored, you will need larger millimeter or verifocal lens to monitor the area better. Bullet or dome cameras are more beneficial for distance monitoring. You can also have actual working cameras hidden and your fake security cameras out in the open.

How Many Cameras Will You Need?

The number of cameras that you need to have installed in your house or office may greatly determine the type of camera that you need to purchase. Frequency limits wireless cameras. C-Mount verifocal lens can scan enough ground which reduces your overall camera requirements. Still, if you’re working on a tight budget, you can purchase a couple of fake security cameras to expand your security network. You can cover more ground, or people will think that you do.

By: Brandy Sean Anderson

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With crime on the rise and troublesome people a part of life, it pays to have home surveillance at times. If you suspect that you are being cheated on by a spouse, stalked, harassed or worry about babysitters with your children, here are some tips on setting up a simple mini spy camera to give you a little peace of mind. It’s not being paranoid but taking care of yourself when you feel uneasy about a security related situation. Only set up cameras where it is legal to do so check your local law enforcement if you have any questions about legalities. It’s always a good idea to make a quick call to the police and ask what the law in your area permits. My suggestions are for law abiding purposes only.

There are many types of surveillance cameras on the market, from the cheap to the incredibly expensive. The more money it costs, the more features and options you’ll have to work with, but for basic purposes, a simple pinhole or mini spy security camera with wireless receiver and an AC adapter should do a pretty good job. Sure, you can buy a teddy bear, clock radio or tissue holder with a camera tucked discreetly inside of it (for a few hundred bucks), but buying a mini spy camera alone is drastically much less expensive and you can disguise it any way you want.

In my situation, my home is wired against intrusion due to an overzealous person in my midst who has been looking into my windows and invading my privacy in multiple ways. To remedy this situation, I first contacted law enforcement and got their opinions, who told me that it was ok to set up a camera if I wanted to. So, never having done this before, I jumped on eBay and educated myself about surveillance systems. Being on a budget, it was important that this equipment was quality but not pricey. I found and bought a new wireless camera kit for around $40.

The discreet box was mailed to me, and it contained a receiver, two AC adapters, a cable and the tiny little camera. Assembling it all meant plugging everything together, an adapter into the camera and separately, another adapter into the receiver. Then, each adapter was plugged into the wall. It was as simple as that. The kit came with a battery hookup if I wanted a totally wireless camera, but in this case it isn’t necessary, the adapters were better for me. The tricky part for me was figuring out how to make the camera and receiver communicate with my television but in the end it wasn’t as intimidating as I first thought.

The receiver on my surveillance receiver has color coded video input plugs, one yellow and one white. I plugged the cable into those then hooked the other end of it to the TV, which has corresponding plugs of the same colors. Then, there’s a knob on the side of the receiver to adjust the picture. “What picture?”, you may ask. All you see is tv programs.

The trick to it is to set the TV through the “Video Source” button on your cable remote, which may go by other names on other peoples’ systems. This button controls your TV to switch over to VCR, DVD or others on channels (not the ones used to go to your programs but frequency channels). My camera is on video (or frequency) 3. My DVD player is on video (or frequency) 2. Just hit the “Video source” button a few times to get to the right channel. You’ll know you have the right one when you can see the (plugged in) camera picture (make sure the camera is connected and on) or a blank screen (this means you need to adjust the frequency of the receiver to see a picture). Then, adjust the knob on the pinhole camera receiver until you see a focused picture, and voila, there’s the closed circuit live picture you’ve been waiting to see.

The next trick is to angle the camera in a way so it is not seen, but is monitoring the area clearly with no interference of any kind. This is best done with a friend; otherwise you have to run back and forth to see if the picture is what you want, on the TV screen. To secure the little camera into place, I used heavy duty, double sided tape. I stuck a blank tape into my VCR (yes, VCRs still have a purpose in this high tech world) and now I can record what the camera sees anytime I want by hitting “record” on the VCR or my tv remote control. That’s it; my space is now being watched by a closed circuit camera, in color, with sound for only a fraction of what it would cost to buy a camera in a clock radio.

Using surveillance equipment isn’t for everyone but is a good idea for anyone who is being victimized, picked on, or stolen from. Don’t let the offenders get away with their bad behavior. If you plan to take a case to court, there is nothing better than to be able to visually show proof of your allegations against another person, otherwise it’s a “he said/she said” deal. Security doesn’t have to be expensive. Just take installing slow and easy, doing one step at a time. Think of it as a puzzle to figure out. Once it’s done, there’s a sense of mastery for those of us who aren’t technically inclined. Now, I think I’ll go tackle re-wiring my rented condo (just kidding), the world is my oyster. And, my place is secure.

By: Carolyn McFann

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A car dealership without video surveillance is a dealership waiting for disaster. This is because the very valuable inventory sitting on the lot is susceptible to theft and vandalism. Because Automobiles, depending on their make, model, year, and features, can range anywhere from a few thousand dollars in price to a few hundred thousand. In other words, a car dealership is leaving millions of dollars in inventory on a paring lot. That means millions of dollars is being exposed to the potential of theft, to harmful weather, and to vandalism for hours at a time.

The only solution to this is surveillance via an IP camera.

What is IP camera surveillance?

An IP camera is a video surveillance security camera that is not like your old fashioned Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) system. An IP camera provides you with a digital picture that can be accessed from anywhere. This is because the camera operates off of an IP network, hence the letters “IP,” which stand for “Internet protocol.”

An IP camera more or less works the same as a Webcam. However, you can tap into this camera from your computer. This means you can go home for the day and keep an eye on your car dealership via your IP cameras by using your PC to login to each camera.

What are the benefits of an IP camera?

- Theft Prevention – Cars cannot be sold at a reasonable price if theft if always taking place. Through an IP camera, protecting the inventory is much easier. Having several IP cameras placed around a lot allows a view of the entire space. There is also the capability to pan, tilt, and zoom the IP cameras over the Internet.

- Keep track of customers and visitors – With an IP camera, keeping track of customers is easier. For example, it is possible to see which cars customers are paying the most attention to. This can be great for marketing, for what kind of inventory you carry, and can keep the sales staff in check. With the remote recording capabilities, it is possible to keep track of customers and count them as they move in and out of the business.

- Protect the property and the employees – IP cameras enhance the safety of the employees and the property. If there is a security staff in place, the cameras help the security staff keep an eye on things. This also allows for the staff to concentrate on those other areas that are important. This means the guards don’t have to sit in front of a screen all of the time while something else needs to be done.

- Integration – Integration is something that is very important and IP cameras take care of this. Any security system operating on a network that uses IP cameras is the key to making sure security systems stay “up with the times.” This is because there are many functions such as motion detection so that the camera doesn’t have to record all of the time. If security guards leave their station, they can receive an email alert on a cellular phone or other device that motion has been detected, and so much more. Even the installation is easy with the wireless functionality. This makes this a camera of the future.

What to Consider When Installing Your IP Cameras

There are several things that you have to take into consideration when installing your IP camera. There are questions that have to be asked:

- How many vehicles have been stolen in the past?

- What part of the dealership seems to be the most vulnerable to theft and vandalism?

- What security systems are in place now? What about them is not working?

- Are there any issues with organized car theft rings?

Strategic Placing of IP Cameras

The placement of IP cameras is everything. It is important to see as much as possible. The following offer some ideas about placing IP cameras:

- Make sure the IP cameras are protected against the wind and weather with protective housings.

- Make sure that the entire car lot is seen and that outlying spaces are seen as well. Different type of footage can be provided by different types of IP cameras that are networked together. It is then possible to access that network remotely from a PC via the Internet.

- Don’t forget the storage and maintenance areas. There is valuable equipment there that needs to be protected.

Copyright (c) 2009 Wes Fernley

By: Wes Fernley

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Years ago, it was quite easy to spot a “hidden” security camera. Although the owner might try to hide it behind something, its large and bulky design made this difficult. However, due to the tiny size of today’s hidden cameras, they can be hidden in almost anything, from a picture frame to a teddy bear. If you don’t know that the camera is there, how can you spot them?

Today, many versions of hidden or “spy” cameras are wireless. With previous versions of these small surveillance cameras, a wire would still be needed to go from the recorder and power supply to the camera itself. No matter how small the camera was, the wire could still be detected. Not anymore! A wireless hidden camera is virtually impossible to detect unless you know exactly where to look. When you get up close, you might see a tiny hole in the object, through which the lens of the camera peers. However, with so many objects in your typical room, it’s essentially impossible to catch such a camera, even if you do think that there is one somewhere in the room.

If you think there is one, and you’re trying to find it, your first step is to consider the potential hiding spaces. Remember, the camera will need a clear line of sight from wherever it’s located to wherever the activity being recorded is taking place. Now, consider the potential areas where such a camera could be positioned to give it the correct view. Try this exercise in your living room – how many different places can you count where you could hide a hidden camera in that one room alone?

With the prices for hidden cameras dropping each year, making such equipment very affordable, anyone can install a hidden camera. These devices make an excellent choice for your living room, your office, or anywhere else where you’d like to watch activities without anyone knowing they are being watched. Hidden cameras are a great way to watch your employees or the nanny as they go about their daily activities.

There are however, some areas where it would be beneficial to have a large and immediately obvious security camera. Smaller isn’t always better. Take, for example, theft prevention cameras in retail locations. A hidden camera would record the theft, just as a regular-style surveillance camera, but because the perpetrator has no idea they are being recorded, the camera won’t stop them from taking your merchandise. Likewise, a hidden camera outside the front door of your home won’t stop someone from breaking in, even though it will provide evidence that you can turn over to the police. In both of these situations, a dome camera or even a dummy security camera might be the better option, because they provide a visual deterrent for crime, theft, and other activities.

Still, there are many great ways to use a hidden camera inside your home, office, or business. Once such a camera is installed, it will be virtually undetectable by anyone in the area, unless they already know precisely where to look. Thanks to the small size of today’s hidden cameras, the placement options are nearly endless.

By: Richard Armen

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Intelligent Video Surveillance represents the next level in security camera protection. Through using IP cameras that record video input as digital data, IVS software displays live video and monitors this data for behavior that’s been pre-programmed as a potential threat.

IVS can be implemented either into analog CCTV systems or IP cameras. Depending on your specific situation, IP cameras can be programmed to fulfill the exact needs or your home, office or property.

Let’s use an example. Say you’re in charge of security for a large train station. Your cameras can be programmed to monitor when people step too close to the edge of a platform while passengers are not meant to be getting on trains. Security staff can then be alerted instantly of this occurring, or a response warning those who caused the breach can be sounded out along the platform. As the specific video image is recorded and monitored by the IVS, it’s possible to implement software that automatically protects your clientele, staff and assets automatically to a degree never before imagined.

Other examples could include a specific customer loitering in a store for an unwarranted period of time, unusual car activity in the car-park of your business or bodily interaction that indicates the presence of physical violence. Audio capabilities can also be engaged and monitored, where if sound levels reach unusual levels, security personnel can be notified and protective measures put in place.

Another feature of IVS is that of motion detection and the tracking of objects. Let’s say, for example, you’re recording a car park at night that shouldn’t have any movement. The cameras can be on at all times while not recording useless data of an empty car park, and only be engaged when movement does occur. This movement can then be monitored automatically, with cameras being able to pan, zoom and tilt to keep a constant, ever-watchful eye on whatever is causing the movement in the frame. Such capabilities were previously only available with an actual human present to perform them, and it’s an unreasonable notion to assume any human could keep such a consistent eye on all cameras, twenty-four seven.

This notification can be made through email and SMS, and it’s not necessary that any human be present at the location in order to watch the footage being recorded. Through video servers, authorized personnel will be able to view live or previously recorded footage from a remote location anywhere in the world.

IVS systems can also be surprisingly cost effective and easy to install. Since the features of IVS come from computer software rather than internet cameras themselves, there won’t be a need to make many changes to the current maintenance and lay-out of your current camera set-up.

IVS is without doubt the cutting edge of security technology. Combined with well placed, well protected IP cameras, your protection has never before had such a watchful eye over it. While many of the technological advances of today could be seen as frivolous or unnecessary, Intelligent Video Servers have created a functional, tangible difference to the way to protect you, your staff or your family against danger.

By: Wes Fernley

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