Security Camera Installation Guide

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2. Table of Contents 5 Practical Steps to Follow For an Effective Security Camera Installation 5 Must-Have Elements of an Effective Security Alarm System Best Practices You Need to Know in 2019 Unusual Tricks You Haven’t Thought Of U Un nd de er rs st ta an nd di in ng g Y Yo ou ur r W Wi ir re el le es ss s C Ca am me er ra a’’s s R Ra an ng ge e W Wh ha at t D Do oes es A A W Wi ire rel less ess C Ca am mer era a R Ra an ng ge e I Im mp pl ly y? ?

3. 5 PRACTICAL STEPS TO FOLLOW FOR AN EFFECTIVE SECURITY CAMERA INSTALLATION Drilling holes through walls and arranging cables to connect various security devices seems like a tall order. Nonetheless, modern security camera systems are modified in a way homeowners can install the devices without hassles and professional skills. A full security camera system includes cameras, cables, storage device (DVR) and a monitor to display the surveillance videos. The complexity of the devices will depend on your preferences and needs. Without further ado, follow the following practical steps when installing a security camera(s) in your home;

4. 1. Preparation Preparation involves planning the surveillance areas and buying a security kit. A plan determines the kind of camera system to purchase for your home or business. Undoubtedly, monitoring every square meter of your house will prove power- inefficient and utterly expensive. Hence, it’s critical to determine the key areas that you want to monitor throughout. It’s advisable to draw a rough sketch of your house and pinpoint the area of camera installation. Subsequently, purchase the appropriate package to suit your surveillance needs. A basic system comprises a DVR, suitable cables, one to three cameras, and power cords. 2. Install the Cameras The best security cameras offer a wide angle of view. Mount your indoor cameras near the corners of your rooms. Some cameras come with sticky pads to attach on the walls, but it’s best to screw them in place. Mount your outdoor camera at least 10 feet high on the wall to prevent easy access by intruders. Moreover, ensure that you install the camera near a power socket. Subsequently, attach your cameras to a power source. Each camera comes with a power cord that can fit in the standard power sockets.

5. 3. Install the DVR You will need a DVR (digital video recorder) to store the surveillance footage. A DVR receives video feeds from the installed cameras and then broadcasts the feeds on a monitor which can be a small TV or personal computer. DVRs have varying memory capacities which affect the length of stored videos. Placing the DVR inside a protective compartment is essential. This prevents a burglar or an intruder from tampering with the device or deleting the recorded videos.

6. 4. Connect Your Camera to the DVR Conventionally, BNC connection is used to connect security cameras to the DVR. BNC cables have identical ends and are easy to use. There is a BNC port in the DVR for each security camera you install in your home. However, you find that your camera cables lack a BNC connector. Consequently, purchase a BNC adapter online or from nearby hardware. During the connection, plug one end of the BNC cable to your camera’s output and the other end to the DVR’s input port. Ensure you lock the BNC in place by turning the small nut at its end.

7. 5. Attach the DVR to a monitor The step completes your camera installation. The monitor displays the feeds from the security cameras with the help of the DVR. BNC cables are commonly used to connect a DVR to a TV monitor. Nonetheless, you may use a VGA or HDMI cable to connect your storage device to your computer. Lastly, troubleshoot your camera system and power all devices. As you can see, security camera installation isn’t that hard. Before buying your package, ensure that you have a plan that outlines all key areas that you want to monitor. Then, proceed to buy a package that suits your needs and as per your house blueprint. Subsequently, follow the steps outlined above to complete the installation.

8. 5 MUST-HAVE ELEMENTS OF AN EFFECTIVE SECURITY ALARM SYSTEM Installing a security alarm system is a fundamental step to protect your home, family, and business from a variety of threats. The security assurance comes with peace of mind, allowing you to concentrate on your day- to-day activities with the knowledge that your home is under watch. Additionally, it’s now possible to monitor the situation at your home remotely with the incorporation of smart security devices. This said, an effective security alarm system should have the following elements:

9. 1. Control Panel The control panel serves as the “brain” of the security system. The control panel determines when to sound the alarm or contact an emergency authority. Moreover, cables running through your system enter and leave the panel. Typically, it’s installed in a secure place such as the basement or a utility closet to prevent any malicious tampering. Besides, the package consists of a circuit board and battery pack, all put in one box. Notably, several security companies have evolved their services to incorporate online and remote control, consequently, eliminating the need to install an on-site panel.

10. 2. Sensors A sensor detects a threat and sends a signal to the control panel which determines the next appropriate action. There are several types of sensors that you can employ in your system. Door and window sensors will trigger an alarm when someone opens your door or window. Additionally, you may consider adding a glass break sensor to detect vibrations and noise of glass shattering. It’s recommendable to connect the smoke sensor, motion detector, and water sensor to your alarm system.

11. 3. Keypad A keypad offers you essential control over your alarm system. You should use it to deactivate or activate the system. Moreover, a keypad features a panic button to summon the monitoring company immediately. It’s highly advisable to install more than one keypad in your home. This will allow you to control your system from several sections of the room. Additionally, several data input devices ensure that you still have control over your system when an intruder tampers with one of them.

12. 4. Output Devices The conventional output devices for security alarm systems are the strobe lights and siren/horn. A horn serves to alert your neighbors about an emergency in your home and also scare away burglars and intruders. Strobe lights can also notify your neighbors about the activation of your alarm system. Besides, strobes are fundamental visual devices to warn people with hearing impairments of a security breach. Hence, you may install a strobe inside or outside your home, depending on your intended purpose. Nonetheless, consider mounting a siren/horn outside your home.

13. 5. Central Monitoring Service An alarm company offers central monitoring services to enhance the effectiveness of your alarm system. The service comes between your system and the emergency authority and serves to assess and verify alarm triggers before contacting the authorities. This helps to avoid contacting authorities in case of false alarms which can be caused by user error.

14. BEST PRACTICES YOU NEED TO KNOW IN 2019 You have managed to buy the surveillance system that you have always wanted. Now, you are thinking that the hardest job is behind you. Well, it’s not. For most people, the biggest challenge is the installation. From deciding how you’ll mount the security cameras to how you’ll run the whole system, it’s never easy. You need to observe the best practices. While prioritizing on monitoring your premise, you also have to prioritize on securing the devices. Generally, here are the top 6 best practices for 2019 you should know:

15. 1. Physical Security One major thing that thieves and vandals target when they invade a property is the surveillance system. So, they’ll probably attack the cameras if they are within reach. To ensure that this doesn’t happen, you need to physically secure them. You may choose any of these approaches: • Securing them in tamper-proof enclosures • Installing them at higher points • Integrating the camera system with the alarm system

16. 2. Cyber Security Just as much as it’s important to physically secure your surveillance system, it’s also important to protect it from cyber criminals. This protects the information captured by your cameras. It’s also important in preventing unauthorized persons from accessing your system. Some of the things to do include: • Password: Protect your surveillance system • Always update your operating system • Invest in the right cloud-management solution • Ensure your system is protected by firewalls

17. 3. Power Backup It’s not unusual to suffer power surges, blackouts, and other power issues. All these are interruptions to your surveillance system and may compromise your security. So, you need a backup plan. One thing to consider is buying a UPS (uninterrupted power supply) machine. It’ll provide power backup in case of a disruption.

18. 4. Proper Placement Whether you decide to mount your CCTV camera on the front door, on the gate or on the wall, you have to ensure that it’s well positioned to provide the best coverage. Here are some of the things to do: • Position the camera at eye-level • Ensure they are not obscured • Target high-traffic areas like the balcony, the front part of the house, and the main gate. • Cover the corners and all possible blind spots • Position the cameras away from direct light

19. 5. Camera Storage It’s very important to consider the storage of your CCTV footages upon installation. If you are installing multiple cameras on your property, you need to ensure that you have enough storage to accommodate the daily recordings. Sometimes, you may have to backup past recordings on an external source like a CD or DVD. The whole idea is to ensure that you never run out of storage memory.

20. 6. Hiring a Certified Installer Lastly, you can save yourself a lot of trouble by hiring a certified installer to install the surveillance system for you. The expert will help you in the following ways: • Picking the right mounting surface • Adjust the angle of view • Facilitate remote monitoring In general, the performance of your security cameras depends on the practices that you observe. So, to get the best performance, you have to leverage the best installation practices. It starts with the above ideas. They are instrumental in securing your property as well as the devices themselves.

21. UNUSUAL TRICKS YOU HAVEN’T THOUGHT OF Over the last decade, the installation of security cameras in homes has improved significantly. This has seen the rate of home break-ins go down. However, there’s a challenge. Burglars are becoming smarter by the day. They know that there’s the possibility of being watched and so these devices are the first thing that they target. They either destroy them or avoid facing their direction. So, what should you do when you really want to catch burglars? It’s simple: you have to change your strategy. The cameras shouldn’t be fitted in obvious places. You need to mount them in unusual places and use unusual hacks to disguise them. Here are 6 installation tricks you haven’t thought of:

22. 1. Mount on a Plant Whether it’s potted plants inside your house or trees outside, they are all unusual places to mount security cameras. Since burglars are always in a hurry to invade and steal, they won’t have the chance to check the plants, especially if they are many. Before they know it, their faces are caught on camera. 2. In a Bird House Do you have a birdhouse at home? It’s a great surface for mounting your outdoor security camera. Hiding your camera there allows you to catch burglars when they sneak into your compound. You just need to place the birdhouse strategically so that the camera can have better coverage.

23. 3. Under Your Ceiling There are a number of mini cameras in the market that you can use at home. Such options are easily mountable under the ceiling. Most of them come in colors that easily blend with the ceiling. You are required to position the camera at the end of the ceiling to ensure wide coverage. Besides, if the ceiling is raised, chances are that burglars wouldn’t raise their head to see the devices. 4. On a Photo Frame We all love photo frames at home. They are not just a great décor but also remind us of memories that we hold profoundly. You can take advantage of their existence to mount mini home security cameras there. When the burglars look at the frames, all they’ll see are beautiful photographs that are meant to improve the appearance of your house.

24. 5. Behind Glass Glass windows can disguise security cameras really well, more so when they are a little darker.. But you should be aware that motion sensing and night vision can be affected. But still, the footages that you get are enough to launch an investigation into the burglary. 6. On an Electric Outlet The last place that a burglar can check for a security camera is an electric outlet. So, it’s always a smart place to disguise your camera. The installation can be done both indoors and outdoors. It depends on where the electric outlets are situated and how many cameras you want to install. Clearly, it takes unusual strategies to keep your security cameras hidden in the eyes of burglars. Let them not suspect that they are being watched. This is how you improve the chances of catching them and seeking justice if it ever gets to that. You can start with the above tricks.

25. U UN ND DE ER RS ST TA AN ND DI IN NG G Y YO OU UR R W WI IR RE EL LE ES SS S C CA AM ME ER RA A’’S S R RA AN NG GE E Home security is no longer a luxury in today’s world. According to Safewise, a burglary takes place every 18 seconds in the United States. This translates to 200 per hour and about 4,800 per day. While a security system will do nothing to avert crime, it acts as your eyes and ears when you are away or asleep. A report by the University of Carolina showed that approximately 60% of burglars tend to avoid homes with security systems. With this in mind, it is important now more than ever, to have a working security system as a home or business owner. One of the elements that make up a security system is a wireless camera. Having a security camera means you rest easy knowing your family or office is safe at all times. Today, there are numerous options to choose from. Let’s talk about a wireless camera’s range. What is it and how do you know the right one for you?

26. W WH HA AT T D DO OE ES S A A W WI IR RE EL LE ES SS S C CA AM ME ER RA A R RA AN NG GE E I IM MP PL LY Y? ? Wireless security cameras are the most preferred option for many homeowners because they are not only easy to install but are cost-friendly as well. However, a good understanding of the range of a wireless camera is an important factor of the installation process. Ideally, every camera has a standard range that ensures a clear line of sight from the receiver. The minute the camera approaches the edge of this set range, you’ll start to notice errors on the camera feed. Before you purchase a CCTV wireless camera, you will need to keep the distance in mind. For a larger property or room, you might need to go with a longer range wireless camera. Speaking of security camera installation range, there are two categories, you should be aware of:

27. 1. TVL and IR range If you walk into a security camera shop now, the salesperson is likely to quote two figures to you: the IR range and the number of TVL. This is sometimes referred to as the night time range. IR range concerns itself with the distance from which the camera’s infrared can be detected by the camera. In essence, these values have nothing to do with the best distance for capturing sufficient detail. 2. Optical range This refers to the specific distance at which adequate detail can be captured. This isn’t necessarily the number of TVL the camera has or its brightness; it depends on the kind of lens fitted on the camera. A standard DVR stores images as pixels or tiny dots. For instance, a D1 resolution gives you about 400,000 pixels for one image frame. Therefore, a wide-angle lens causes a rapid spread of pixels as you move further from the camera which means less detail will be captured. In contrast, a more telephoto lens gathers pixels and hence captures plenty of detail further away from the camera.

28. Bottom-line The security camera installation range is the parameter used to quantify details in wireless security parameters. Some systems can adequately capture great detail even as far away from the camera as possible while some are ideal for smaller properties. Choose a system depending on your specific needs at hand. For more information, please visit - https://cctvsystems.ca/