Every morning as I walked out of my home, I turned my back on my most important investment - my family and my home. I could not afford the cost of installation, hardware and maintenance of a Home Surveillance Video System. I took the chance that my "BEWARE OF DOG SIGN" would deter intruders. Maybe it has worked or I've been just plain lucky.
I do live in a remote area and have no neighbors to alert me to suspicious activity. A home surveillance video system would add peace of mind and security. My fantasy was to setup a camera and have the ability to see any activity around my home...from deer in my front yard to un-welcomed visitors. On the lighter side I have come home to a house in shambles not because of intruders but due to the adventures of my cat and dog. I can't imagine what kind of games went on while I was gone.
Now, I've found the solution. I can view what's going on at my home with my cell phone or my work computer. This technology is available to anyone with a computer and Web Cam. With software you download or purchase, you can install a home surveillance video system. All you need is your home computer and an inexpensive Web Cam to stream your home surveillance video.
Doing it yourself you will need:
Software to stream your video home surveillance - which can be purchased or downloaded.
There are many cameras to consider. You can use your basic Web Cam or use a hidden spy camera. Both function the same with the exception of course one will look like an object in your home, for example a clock. If you are monitoring outside your home you will need a weather proof outdoor camera or place a camera in your window facing outside.
A handy feature to have is a camera that is activated by motion. Depending on the software or the features of the camera your home surveillance video system will activate when motion is detected. A signal can be sent to your cell phone alerting you to monitor the video stream from your home.
If you feel more comfortable with a kit, Logitech WiLife has a nice starter kit with:
a camera
complete instructions
With the starter kit you can also add additional cameras. You can choose a kit with:
a spy camera or
a standard web cam.
This home surveillance video starter kit does come with a basic camera and a USB receiver to plug into an electrical socket. Put your camera or cameras in place and plug them into the nearest wall. Video is moved from the cameras to the receiver (and then onto your PC) over household electrical wires.
I would highly recommend setting up your own system up with a basic web cam. Cost is minimal. You can download instructions from Easy Home Surveillance and learn more about software, cameras and how to view your web cam from your cell phone. If you feel you need more you can always purchase a starter kit and add to the home video surveillance system you have setup.
What Is The Best Home Video Surveillance System To Buy?
According to statistics 75% of all crimes were property crimes, and because of that people will spend over $21 billion in home security by 2010. Home video surveillance is a part of this estimation. It works well if you use the correct camera and you install it properly. I will explain which camera you should choose and why.
Before purchasing Home video surveillance you need to decide what area you want to monitor. Establish size of the area and how detailed you want your pictures. Then determine available lighting.
There are several different types of home video surveillance. I will mention the most popular. Outdoor cameras can stand extreme temperatures, and are generally waterproof. Infra red cameras come equipped with infrared LED lens to allow for monitoring in the dark.
If your area is lit by moon light or street lights then day night cameras should be your choice. If you are limited on space you should choose Mini and bullet cameras. They are small and easy to hide. Digital camera store pictures without a VCR and pictures can be computer edited.
Security cameras can be either hard wired and wireless. Wireless security cameras send signals to the monitor, hard wired has to use coax cables to send a signal. The monitor will then send the footage to either a DVR or VCR to be recorded.
Home security software allows the camera to send the signals to a web site. This is done though the use if LAN adapters or wireless network. This software gives you the freedom to monitor your home from any location. This web company will also monitor your home notifying you through email or phone if something does occur. They will save the pictures for you to review later.
Home video surveillance and home security camera software were originally intended for business including government, banks and stores. Crime rate skyrocketed, nearly doubled in 5 years. Many decided it was time to install cameras in their homes. There are several types to choose from. All designed for specific purposes.
Some more expensive cameras have motion detectors while others LED. What ever type of home video surveillance you choose, make sure it's correctly installed. Be sure to place it in an area that is difficult to monitor. This will ensure better results.
Home video surveillance -- peace of mind through wireless technology
Home video surveillance used to be an expensive and time-consuming project -- but not anymore. A homeowner who is away on vacation or at work while contractors are in her home can now access the webcam's remote feed via an IP address to see if anything is amiss. Parents can watch their child's nanny and property owners can make sure their rental properties are safe and secure.
Home video security systems can rely on wireless IP technologies, wireless sensors, and webcam surveillance to meet the security needs for every homeowner's budget. It is estimated that over half of home surveillance systems purchased today are using wireless technologies. Says Jeff Hoover, past president of the Custom Electronics Design and Installation Association, "As video systems get better and cheaper, more and more people start to use them."
How are these video home surveillance technologies used?
Wireless IP video cameras, aka "nanny cams"
Before the popularity of the webcam, tiny spy cameras, or wireless video cameras, were the only option for inexpensive home surveillance monitoring. Priced between $130-$500, these cameras send their video signals (434MHz, 900MHz, or 2.4GHz) to a local base station. From there, the images can then be viewed on a TV, mobile phone, PDA, laptop or desktop computer. These surveillance cameras, which can be hidden in clocks and smoke detectors, are purchased to watch nannies inside the home, sometimes without their knowledge. Unfortunately, if the cameras are in the low-end price points, there's a greater chance their wireless signals can be picked up by "war-drivers," who cruise the streets trying to hack into homeowners' wireless signals. However, the higher-end cameras offer encrypted transmission and tie into standard WiFi networks.
SVAT Electronics of Niagara Falls, Ontario, is previewing its new GX5150 Baby Monitor home surveillance system featuring a tiltable screen plus night vision equipped with eight infrared LED lights to light up the baby in the darkness. In addition, the GX5400 system is a nanny cam that includes a flash memory card and connects up to four cameras at a time, so that parents can check their cameras' images via an individual Internet IP address.
On the high end of the consumer products, home surveillance market is the Smartvue S2. This system operates on the WiFi pre-standard 802.11n, which enables the cameras to send signals to a base station up to 800 feet away. The images from this wireless IP camera are extremely sharp (720 x 480 pixels), and deliver a frame rate of 30 fps. The camera also adjusts for low lighting conditions.
Wireless sensors with or without cameras
Motorola offers the Easy Start Kit HMEZ1000, priced at $280. The Easy Start comes with two motion and sound-detecting cameras, along with sensors that alert the homeowner if a door is open, if there's a leak, if there are temperature fluctuations, or if someone is approaching the front door. Once the images are captured, they are sent via a broadband connection to a computer, PDA or cell phone. Homeowners can also purchase motion sensors without cameras that alert the homeowner to intruders with high frequency radio wave signals. In other sensor systems, infrared light is applied to perceive heat changes.
Webcam surveillance systems with motion sensors
With a webcam surveillance system, software, such as EvoCam (for Mac users) and TinCam (for PC users) detects motion, so that recording only occurs when something is moving in front of the motion sensors. The webcam does this by capturing two images, and then comparing them for discrepancies. This set-up saves hard drive memory space and time because the captured images can be instantly e-mailed to the user. These software applications also allow the user to host the images through the built-in web server so that he or she can easily access them via a static IP address. However, the user must remember to set up a port on the firewall in order for the footage to be seen.
Some of the drawbacks of using webcams for home security include their fixed positions that limit their range, and the fact that they are USB-based devices that can't be more than 16 feet away from the computer or USB hub. In addition, webcams generally do not perform well under low-light conditions as compared to most wireless IP video cameras, so one must remember to switch on a light for extra illumination.
Home surveillance for added peace of mind
Today, homeowners can choose from a variety of home surveillance options that give a feeling of security when they are away from home. If there's trouble, they know they will be quickly alerted. Home surveillance technology will only get smaller, faster and more reliable within the next few years, as computers and cameras work together to monitor security with a touch of a button.
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