Outdoor Security Camera

Keep Your Home Safe With Outdoor Security Cameras

An outdoor security camera has many uses, in additional to providing your home with an added layer of security. Not only can you monitor your house from the inside and find out what's going on in your front and back yard without having to open the door, but the camera itself can control access to your home when it's connected to the locking and unlocking mechanism of your doors. Many times such complex use of an outdoor security camera is for high security locations such as jewelry stores; however, some homes also utilize this technology to ensure that high profile individuals or those with mobility issues are given more security. Regardless of whether or not you choose to install a link between your outdoor security camera and your building entrance, an outdoor camera mounted at the entrance points to your home or business can help your family feel safer by serving as a deterrent or at least by capturing intruders before their entry to the structure.

Required Features of Outdoor Security Cameras

The type of outdoor security camera that you will purchase will depend upon your individual needs, for example are you looking to secure a small home or a large business? Are you looking for a camera that can zoom or simply capture the image of a potential intruder? Regardless of the answers to these questions, though, there are many features that all outdoor security cameras have in common. Any camera that is being sold as an outdoor camera but does not feature these qualities is not worth purchasing because it will likely fail in a very short period of time.

Weather Resistance

The most important aspect of a camera or any piece of security system that is going to be placed permanently outdoors is that it should be weather resistant. The degree of weather resistance may differ from camera to camera, but it is imperative that whichever camera you purchase is able to withstand mild winds, rain and snow. Often these types of cameras feature a hood that protrudes over the lens of the camera to make sure that the lens is not obstructed by precipitation. One thing that this type of hood cannot prevent; however, is the formation of icicles but the chance of someone approaching your home in stealth mode with thick layers of ice on the ground is unlikely.

Certification

Any security camera that is to be utilized outside the home should always be a certified camera. Certification ensures that the camera that you purchase is constructed with outdoor usage in mind and these types of cameras also generally come with some type of warranty that covers the cameras functionality for a predetermined period of time.

A Power Supply

The fact that a security camera needs a power supply should be common sense; however, if you attempt to purchase a second hand camera you should be aware that not all second hand items will include all items such as power supplies. Power supplies may come in the form of batteries or a system that needs to be plugged in to an outlet. Whichever of these options you choose for your outdoor camera, you will want to keep in mind the layout of your building and the accessibility to a power supply if you choose a system that requires an outlet.

The Three Basic Types of Outdoor Security Cameras

When it comes to choosing a camera to secure the outside perimeter of your home of business there are three basic options that you will have to choose from, a wireless camera, a wired camera and a dummy camera.

Wireless Cameras

Wireless cameras are the newer models of the three available options; they are also particularly versatile in terms of where they can be placed outside the home. Since the wireless outdoor camera is not limited by the placement of wires and access to power sources they are easy to install for even the amateur home improvement practitioner. Wireless cameras are also more covert since they cannot be traced by wires that protrude from the system; this lack of wires also means that the cameras can easily be relocated if they are not capturing the appropriate area of the home.

Wired Cameras

Wired security cameras must be installed in a place where the necessary wires can meet with the necessary outlets, unfortunately the presence of these wires often tips off potential thieves as to the location of the camera. In a home situation a thief knowing the exact location of your security camera is not as much of a problem as it is in other more high security settings where thieves can cut the wires to the system to avoid being detected. Wired cameras are, by virtue of their name, something of a permanent feature and once they are set up they are particularly difficult to move. Whereas wireless cameras are easier to install, the wired cameras are not as easy to install and often require professional assistance for the installation process.

Dummy Cameras

Dummy cameras are not as common as they once were when they first came out, at that time the technology behind security cameras was still rather expensive. Placing a dummy camera or “fake” camera outside a location would save the expense of placing a real camera outside but still serve to scare away potential thieves. Dummy cameras are made to imitate genuine cameras and while many do a good job of doing this, none of them offer the same type of protection that comes from a genuine camera. On some occasions a dummy camera may serve to deter a thief; however, if the presence of the camera itself does not deter the thief then there is going to be no evidence recorded by the camera to prosecute the offender.

When choosing the right outdoor security camera for you there is a variety of different options that you can choose from regardless of whether you choose a wired or a wireless system. Some of these features include: color vs. black and white, infrared illumination with a passive infrared detector, wide angle lenses, a variety of broadcasting abilities, speaker and microphone systems, thermostatic controls, and pan and zoom functions.

Color Vs Black and White

When choosing between a color and a black and white security camera you need to weigh out the cost versus the benefits of purchasing a color system. For the most part the color cameras that are worth their cost are much more expensive than black and white systems; however, the color systems also provide much more accurate information. For example if a burglar were to enter your home when it was vacant, you would be able to determine the color of their clothes, the color of their skin and possibly the color of their eyes; whereas with a black and white camera you would only be able to distinguish between light and dark tones. In high security situations such as retail or wealthy or prestigious families there is generally no question that a color camera is the best option, but for the average home it usually comes down to a matter of what type of system fits the available budget.

Infrared Illumination with a Passive Infrared Detector

This option for your new outdoor security camera sounds like something out of a science fiction movie, but it’s not. Some outdoor cameras have this advanced feature which allows them to tape live video footage in the blackest of night by lighting up moving objects that are moving within a 10 foot radius of the camera. The infrared illumination is the part of the camera that is responsible for lighting up the moving objects while the passive infrared detector is what allows the system to detect movement in the dark and capture it. Some cameras do not combine both of these features and instead have only the infrared footage ability, these cameras will generally record in color during the day light and take infrared footage at night. These types of cameras are particularly useful in areas that are not well lit because they can record footage in dimly lit or unlit areas of the perimeter of the property. If; however, you make use of a motion detector spotlight then this expensive technology may not be necessary particularly for your residential location.

Wide Angle Lenses

Wide angle lenses are an option that is very prominent in the security camera market since, depending upon your needs, you may find that a normal lens camera does not capture enough of an area to be useful. Installing a wide angle lens camera will allow for larger areas of your property to be monitored in one single snapshot, generally this covers 104 degrees of movement and can record for up to 40 feet in distance. The arc of viewing with the wide angle lens security camera is approximately 92 degrees. Wider lens cameras are generally not required for residences that wish to monitor the entrances and exits to the home; however, if the entrance to the home includes a large gated entrance, a wide angle lens may be required to capture all activity. Wide angle lenses are also not particularly useful in some retail locations, such as at the front entrance to a jewelry store, in this situation cameras are often utilized to identify faces and individuals in close range so it is not necessary to view an extended snapshot of the area. Wide angle lenses can be useful when surveillance is being done on a larger portion of the property, such as an estate or a portion of farmland.

A Variety of Broadcasting Abilities

It used to be that outdoor security cameras only came in wired form and footage from the camera was recorded on to a video cassette which could then be played back. Currently; however, as technology has advanced there are many more broadcasting options available for video camera monitoring. There are still some security cameras that record to a video cassette which must be changed out after a certain period of time; however, with the phasing out of VCR’s and video cassettes there are not many of these available anymore. The most current method of broadcasting footage is for a camera to stream directly to a computer or a hard drive where the footage can be stored without having to be replaced as often as a video cassette would have to be. The trouble with video cassette recording use to be that after a week or so stores would reuse video cassette tapes making it particularly difficult to determine if an individual who committed a crime had frequented the store previously. Utilizing hard drive footage allows for much more storage space and it allows much more data to be stored while using much less physical space. With hard drives taking up so much less room than video cassettes footage can be stored for much longer periods of time which is extremely useful in commercial settings.

Speaker and Microphone Systems

Speaker and microphone systems are not built in to all security cameras and other security cameras are linked up to intercoms that also allow for monitoring via verbal contact. The benefit of using a security camera that has a speaker and microphone system is that it not only allows for direct communication with individuals outside the home, but it also allows you to eavesdrop on any individual that is prowling around the perimeter of your home. Some people use cameras with speaker and microphone systems at the front entrance to their home in order to question individuals that approach the door, but these systems are also helpful in determining specifics about an intruder when they succeed in breaking and entering a home. To catch an intruder on video with their voice allows for more precise identification of a suspect in a lineup situation. With that said, however, the purpose of a security system of any kind is to deter burglary, not catch details should there be one so whether or not you want to shell out the additional cost for this feature is up to you.

Thermostatic Controls

Thermostatic controls are a feature that is specific to outdoor security cameras. The presence of thermostatic controls allows for a camera to heat or cool in order to prevent condensation from forming over the lens. When a camera lens becomes fogged with condensation it is pointless in having a security camera because nothing determinable is being seen. Of all of the additional “features” that are available on security cameras thermostatic controls are the most beneficial when it comes to cost versus benefit.

Pan and Zoom Features

Pan and zoom features are becoming increasingly popular on more modern surveillance cameras because they are in increased demand. The cheaper security cameras on the market are fixed without the ability to move and capture different angles on one location, these types of cameras work well for small or narrow areas; however, they do not allow for zooming. Zooming can be a useful tool in a security camera particularly when the camera is being used to monitor a front entrance because it allows you to obtain details about individuals approaching the front door. Depending upon the flexibility that you wish to have in your camera, purchasing one that offers panning and zooming capabilities may or may not be worth the investment.

Always Buy a High Quality Camera from a Reputable Brand Name

When it comes to setting up a security camera outside your home or your place of business there are quite a few options that are available to you depending upon what type of monitoring service you require. Many people find that the most basic camera system works for their needs; however, it is generally recommended that you consult a home security professional before purchasing your security camera to ensure that you are meeting all of your needs. Many local home security companies are happy to come out to your property and inform you as to which system would be best for your setup for a minimal fee. Some may turn their nose up at the idea of paying a professional to tell them which security camera would work best for their property; but, the fee is generally low and less than the money saved in getting a professional opinion on the technology you are going to install. Purchasing an upgraded camera on the recommendation of a professional, results in added protection and less loss should an intruder attempt to enter your home. Purchasing a cheaper system than the one you originally intended to purchase saves you money immediately while still keeping your home safe. Regardless of whether or not you choose to consult a professional in your security camera choice one thing you should always do is research the security camera market to make sure that you are purchasing a quality camera from a quality brand.