How to Choose the Right Security Camera for Your Home Or Business
Security cameras are a large category, including options from professional firms like ADT and Vivint and standalone DIY devices like cameras, sensors, and locks from companies like Frontpoint and Wyze. Narrowing down your choices involves factors like a field of view, wireless versus wired option, and extras such as two-way talk and weather resistance. Click the Mobile Surveillance Cameras to learn more.
Many security cameras include a microphone, which allows them to record audio. However, this feature can be illegal in some states, and recording audio may be subject to wiretapping laws.
Traditional CCTV, which uses coaxial cables, doesn’t usually have sound recording capabilities, because the technology can’t natively support it. However, IP security camera systems often come with microphones, and many of these have two-way talk functionality, too.
The easiest way to check whether a particular camera has recording capability is to consult the device’s manual, which should state clearly if any built-in microphones are present. You should also look for any on-screen indicators within the live feed that indicate when a camera is recording. If there are none, you can create a controlled environment and manually test the camera to see if it picks up sound by speaking or making noise near the lens.
Another way to check for a security camera’s ability to record audio is by looking at the mic hole. It’s usually a cluster of holes arranged in a shape, though the location can vary depending on the camera. Regardless of the shape, any microphone should be capable of picking up sound at a distance of up to six meters.
The audio quality can improve with the use of a higher-quality microphone. Most brands recommend using a microphone that has a high dynamic range (HDR), which can help to make voices sound clearer and crisper. Some microphones will also have a noise reduction filter, which can reduce the background noise from the surrounding area, so you can hear your loved ones or neighbors more clearly.
Motion Detection
Motion detection capabilities are a great way to protect your property. They can trigger your camera to record and send notification alerts to your mobile device when movement is detected. This helps to prevent burglars, trespassers and vandals from gaining access to your home or business and can be an effective deterrent. It can also be used in conjunction with other security systems, like alarms and sensors, to provide more advanced alerts.
Most motion sensors can be configured to ignore minor scene changes and only record when something significant occurs. This is a good way to reduce bandwidth usage, as well as storage space. Many sensors are pet immune, which can help to avoid false alarms caused by pets or other non-human movement. You can set the sensor sensitivity in the app or ask one of our professional installers to adjust it based on your specific needs.
The location of the motion sensor can have a big impact on how it performs. Try to install it near areas where intruders are likely to enter, like entryways and hallways. Be sure that there are no obstructions such as furniture or walls blocking the sensor’s path of motion.
It’s important to test your sensor before it’s fully installed. Walk in front of it to make sure that it triggers correctly and is not too sensitive. You can also set the time delay and sensitivity in your app or refer to the manufacturer’s instructions. If you opt for a power over Ethernet (PoE) system, your sensor may not require any wiring, so the installation process can be much faster and easier.
You can choose a motion sensor that connects to your Wi-Fi network or one that uses cellular data. Most people choose the latter option because it doesn’t limit them to monitoring their security from a single location, and they can use their mobile devices to track what is happening on-site or remotely. Most analog cameras, on the other hand, will only work when they’re connected to power and have a hardwired connection to their DVR.
Cloud Storage
Unlike on-site storage devices that have fixed capacity limitations, cloud security camera systems have unlimited data capacities. This flexibility allows property managers to accommodate changing storage needs without having to invest in new equipment or implementing costly data archiving processes.
The high-resolution capture capabilities of modern CCTV cameras create large file sizes, which makes data storage a critical element for the success of a surveillance system. Traditionally, security systems have required either a network video recorder (NVR) or digital video recorder (DVR), which are wired to a local network and have fixed capacity limitations. While both NVR and DVR have some advantages over standalone CCTV cameras, the cloud storage capabilities of a security camera enable property owners to deploy and scale a solution quickly with minimal capital expenditures.
A security camera with cloud storage enables users to access live and recorded footage from anywhere, at any time on an authorized device. While this convenience is a major benefit, it also presents some challenges that must be addressed. The first challenge is the need for sufficient bandwidth to support data uploads and downloads from the cloud. This is especially important when dealing with security scenarios that require rapid access to the highest-quality video resolution possible.
Second, property owners must understand that when they use cloud-based surveillance, the footage is routed over the internet and susceptible to unauthorized viewing. With the right IT support solutions, however, property owners can take steps to mitigate this risk.
One way to protect the security of a cloud-based surveillance system is to implement strong password protection and encryption. Additionally, security professionals should consider implementing an access control system to ensure that only authorized personnel can view the recordings and live feeds.
Some of the best security cameras provide event recording, which saves short videos triggered by motion detection. This type of storage uses less bandwidth than full-length videos and can help battery-powered cameras go longer between recharging. Examples of popular event-based security cameras include Arlo and the Ring Stick Up Cam. Security camera systems that provide cloud storage offer many benefits to business owners, including the ability to easily access recordings from any location—whether it’s your office, your home or even an airplane on your way to a meeting.
Two-Way Talk
When it comes to home security, visual monitoring is important, but hearing what’s going on outside of your door is equally as valuable. That’s why two-way talk capabilities are becoming more and more popular among security cameras. Two-way communication allows you to speak with visitors in real time — whether you’re in your living room or halfway across the world.
Wireless security cameras that offer 2-way audio are ideal for both indoor and outdoor use. They usually connect to a WiFi network or cellular networks and allow you to access live footage from your phone or computer. They also include a speaker and microphone for communicating with those in front of the camera. Many of these cameras feature a push-to-talk (PTT) button, which lets you communicate with those in front of the camera in a similar fashion to how you would make a phone call.
To activate the 2-way audio feature, open your security camera app and view the live feed. To start talking, press and hold the PTT button until the audio bar wavers in your mobile device’s screen. To stop talking, release the button. Keep in mind that the quality of your voice may be affected by your Internet connection and that using two-way audio with a security camera can be regulated or illegal depending on your location.
While audio features might seem like a nice-to-have, they can be essential when you need to communicate with someone who’s visiting your home or business. Whether it’s a delivery driver or the neighbor whose car is parked in your driveway, you’ll be able to give instructions remotely and ensure that they’re taking care of things properly. Plus, if you’re away from your home and feel that there might be an unwelcome intruder on the premises, you can use the two-way talk function to warn them or scare them off before they cause any harm. This can help keep your property safe, and it’s a much less expensive option than calling the police. It can also prevent unnecessary panic on the part of either party if one of them accidentally triggers the alarm.