What to know before buying a security Camera?

Asking your neighbours to keep an eye on the house while you’re on vacation isn’t a feasible approach to keeping your home secure. Installing a wireless security camera and utilising technology to monitor from anywhere in the world gives you added peace of mind.

Points to Consider Before Purchasing a Security Camera

The camera should come with an ethernet cable (where applicable), power supply, antenna, wall-mount (with the screws), and a set of setup instructions. The following factors should be considered when choosing your camera:

Hardware

  • Resolution: Is the resolution high definition? Upload speeds and image quality are impacted.
  • Night Vision: Whether it has an infrared LED for night vision or not.
  • Microphone: This is particularly helpful when using the camera as a monitor.
  • Speaker: To speak through it (again, helpful for using a monitor).
  • Movement: Is it possible to use a remote control to pan, tilt, and zoom?
  • Storage: Is a memory card slot or other built-in storage available for locally storing recordings?
  • Power: Does it require batteries to operate, and if so, would rechargeable batteries work with it? How long is the power cable, and does it need to be connected to the mains? Is it capable of using power over Ethernet (PoE) cables?
  • Networking: Is it limited to Wi-Fi, or will it function with an Ethernet cable?
  • Mounting: Does it simply rest on a level surface, or can it be fastened to a wall?
  • Expandability: Is it possible to add more cameras and sensors for windows, doors, and motion detection to the system, and if so, to what degree?

Software

  • Monitoring: Do you use a mobile app or a web browser to watch the video?
  • Is there a remote control included?
  • What are the limitations and capabilities of motion detection?
  • Alerts: By SMS or email? For both movement and sound?
  • Clarity of image: Low-light and daylight conditions.
  • Variable frame rates: This can help change the streaming and recording quality and file sizes.
  • Additional service fees: What is necessary to stream from the camera? Does remote video storage and access require a subscription?

Image Quality

If you’re serious about security, you should look into higher-quality systems, which are typically installed in your home and require professional service, even if the majority of consumer-level wireless security cameras are beneficial for general monitoring.

Good image quality is crucial if you’re utilizing your wireless security camera for even light-duty home security monitoring. You will want to be able to identify the intruder if it captures them in the act. Although there isn’t a straightforward method to determine the quality right out of the box, our reviews of wireless security cameras can be helpful.

Night Vision

Having a built-in floodlight or spotlight is the newest trend for outdoor cameras. Compared to infrared night vision and colour, this offers a far superior nighttime image. Having lights that turn on in response to movement can also serve as an obvious deterrent to trespassers. After all, you don’t want to be in the spotlight if you’re up to no good.

A lot of infrared night vision cameras are not very detailed. They provide you with a grayscale image that frequently lacks face details, making the criminal appear unclear. Usable photos and videos can be obtained with high-quality night vision cameras.

Shine a Light

Having a built-in floodlight or spotlight is the newest trend for outdoor cameras. Compared to infrared night vision and colour, this offers a far superior nighttime image. Having lights that turn on in response to movement can also serve as an obvious deterrent to trespassers. After all, you don’t want to be in the spotlight if you’re up to no good.

Remote Access

Since you won’t have access to your home computer while on vacation, being able to watch your camera’s footage remotely is a crucial function. Look for the following features in remote access:

  • Can you configure the camera to send email, SMS, or MMS alerts when it is triggered? Is it possible for the warning to automatically include a captured image?
  • Mobile availability: The simplicity of being able to inspect your house using a smartphone or tablet remotely is unmatched. Make sure the software is compatible with your system, as most cameras come with apps for iOS (iPhones) and/or Android OS.
  • Internet access: Is it possible to see the wireless security camera video feed online from a computer that isn’t connected to your home network?

Battery Life

It’s crucial to have a motion-sensing schedule and the option to adjust the motion’s sensitivity because battery-powered cameras aren’t made to record continuously, as doing so would quickly drain the battery. Place cameras without a scheduler in an area where they won’t be constantly triggered.

The batteries will run out faster if the camera detects excessive motion within the allotted monitoring time. It will also drain quickly if the motion sensor is set to high sensitivity, as it will be able to detect motion from a greater distance and may be triggered more frequently.

Many cameras do not have their image quality set to high quality by default. High-resolution photos will use more battery life in addition to demanding more bandwidth to broadcast video. The following factors may have an impact on battery life:

  • When the camera is on standby, a weak or overloaded Wi-Fi signal may result in increased usage.
  • When the camera is in night mode, more power will be used.
  • An excessively high sensitivity will result in more recordings, which will accelerate battery drain.

Conclusion

You need to consider the demands you have, consider such features as the resolution, storage, and networking, and ensure that the security camera can fit into the existing system, and only then make a buying decision. Consider long-term costs, convenience of installation and privacy opportunities. A sound choice will ensure a quiet mind, worth spending your cash on and effective security of your property. At Wireless Camera Solutions, we not only advise but also help you with the proper installation services. Connect with us to know which camera best fits your needs.

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