Versatility, economic pricing, and Innovative technology are making home video security systems the number one choice for residential security and surveillance. Home video systems are no longer just for the extremely wealthy; and, their abundance of features and options makes them suitable for use in almost every environment and for any need.
Today’s home video security systems are basically component systems. There are several benefits to component systems, but the greatest is the ability to customize each component to suit your needs.
Thanks to great advances in the electronics industry, especially with semiconductors and integrated circuits, cameras can perform a variety of functions that 15 years ago would have been extremely expensive or simply unavailable. Processors and DVRs are becoming exponentially more powerful with each new design.
Typical home video security systems usually have from one to several cameras, a processor/Digital Video Recorder or DVR, and a monitor. The digital video cameras send their digital video signal to the processor/DVR. The processor converts the cameras’ signals into digital video files that can be viewed on the monitor and/or stored on the DVR for later viewing and/or archiving purposes.
Cameras
The cameras used for home video security systems are usually digital video cameras. These cameras produce high quality color video under normal lighting conditions. Cameras can be purchased with extremely high resolutions that create extremely high quality video.
Cameras are also available for special lighting conditions. There are cameras that can produce high quality video under conditions of very little visible light or cameras that can produce high quality monochromatic or black and white video under conditions of total darkness. These “low light condition cameras” may be useful for perimeter coverage of the home and yard and other outdoor applications.
Night vision infrared cameras are useful for monitoring areas outside or inside the house that are normally not illuminated at night. They are also great for use as a baby monitor camera, nanny cam, and monitor for rooms that are normally not lit such as closets, storage areas, garages, stairwells, etc. These cameras use infrared Light Emitting Diodes or LEDs to illuminate their target area with infrared light. This “light” is invisible to the human eye but can be seen with the camera’s special sensor.
Another useful camera option is a camera with a motion detector. These cameras have small infrared sensors that detect a change in infrared radiation from moving objects. These motion detectors are connected to a relay that can turn the cameras on and off. These can be used to record video only when motion is detected saving DVR storage space. They can also be used to alert you when someone or something is present.
Other available options for cameras include:
• Indoor or Outdoor use
• Wireless transmission technology
• Audio recording in addition to video
• Pan-Tilt-Zoom or PTZ functions that allow the camera’s position or field of view to change
• Hidden or disguised cameras (often used as nanny cams)
• IP or Internet Protocol ready cameras can transmit their images over the internet to anywhere in the world there is internet access
Processor/DVRs
This is the heart and brains of the system. It normally contains the utility that compresses the digital video files to make them smaller. There are many different options for different types of compression utilities. DVRs can also be purchased in a variety of storage capacity options. In addition, other “peripheral” items such as CD, DVD, or Flash card writers can be added to the units.
There are also home video security systems that eliminate the need for a processor/DVR and monitor. These systems utilize your personal computer for these functions instead, making the system all the more affordable.
IP camera home video security systems can be used to monitor the home when you are at work, on travel, or away for extended periods. They are also great for 24/7 monitoring by professional companies. They can eliminate the added expense of a proprietary camera system that would otherwise be required.
If you are interested in protecting your home with a home video security system talk with one our experts today.
