Home security cameras: planning before you purchase

Are you considering buying and installing home security cameras? That’s a smart choice, but, before you order something online or head out to your local electronics superstore, sit yourself down and do some thinking. You have to plan out your system before making your purchase.

If you are looking for the most basic of systems, things should be fairly simple for you, as the simple systems just entail a camera at the front door so you can see who is standing there before you open your door to a complete stranger.

Even a system as simple as this gives you a degree of comfort and increased security. You can also upgrade these simple security cameras to include a camera that provides two-way audio as well as the video. Obviously, this enables you to converse with whomever is at your door, perhaps asking them why they are there or asking them to present you with some identification—which they would hold up to the camera.

So the first decision to make in your home security plan is: are you going to include a two-way audio component along with the video camera? You need to consider a few other things. Is just being able to see visitors at the door before you open it enough, or would you prefer to have your camera connected to some kind of recording device? If so, what kind of recording device? Will you hook it up to your computer or to a DVR? Do you want a wireless Wi-Fi system, or are you going to stick with cords? Do you want hidden cameras, or do you care?

Even if you decide you want the most basic home security camera, there are still a host of things to consider and plan before you buy.

Do you want to include other doors in your home in your home security system? Do you want cameras at every entrance perhaps? Or would you like to take a few more steps and have cameras for your driveway and your garage or carport as well?

Many of these outdoor systems will include motion detectors or sensors that you can connect to your outdoor lighting so that both the cameras and the lights come on as soon as you or anyone else drives or walks up to your house. Having outdoor lighting connected to motion sensors is a great way to stop burglars, thieves or vandals from entering or lurking around your property, especially if it’s apparent that they are being recorded as well as illuminated.

A very important thing to consider before buying home security cameras or any type of surveillance equipment, alarms and so forth is the power source. Do you have a source of power near where you want them to be installed? If you don’t, there are battery operated systems; however, hooking up to a power source in your home, if possible, is a better choice.

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