How to choose Home or Business Video Surveillance System?

There are various kinds of Security Systems with kinds of functions in the online stores, however, which one is best for you? Before your decision, ask yourself for several questions.

For Camera:

1. Where are you going to mount the camera?

Then the answer can help you decide to choose how many home dome cameras and how many outdoor bullet &weatherproof cameras.

2. How long is the visible and night vision distance?

 Usually, the visible distance of cameras can be up to 50', 80', 135', etc. Take a look the IR Night Vision as 1/3" CCD for an instance:

1)      1/3" CCD & 3.6mm lens camera ( 15m IR night vision)
2)      1/3" CCD & 6mm lens camera ( 20m IR night vision)
3)      1/3" CCD & 8mm lens camera ( 25m-30m IR night vision)
4)      1/3" CCD & 12mm lens camera ( 40m-60m IR night vision)
5)      1/3" CCD & 25mm lens camera ( 100m-120m IR night vision)

3. How much the viewing angle?

Most video surveillance camera are installed in one location permanently. For this case, fixed-focus lenses are the most cost-effective. If you want to be able to move your camera, variable focus lenses are adjustable, letting you change your field of view when you adjust the camera. If you want to be able to move the camera remotely, you'll need a pan/tilt/zoom (PTZ) camera. On the other side, the price is much higher than the standard ones.

4.How much details of the camera image?

Of cos, the resolutions of the cameras are very important too. Generally speaking, 380TVL is low-end, 420TVL/480TVL is good for security work, 540TVL is very high quality. If you're going to want to see detail, upgrading to a higher resolution is a good choice.

For Digital Video Recorder:

1. How many locations do you want to watch?

This also helps you to decide how many cameras and what kind of cameras will you choose. There are usually 4 channel, 8 channel, 16 channel, and 32 channel.

2. Does remote access need or just for local monitoring?

The MPEG4 & H.264 are the two mainly popular video compression formats for digital video recorders. However, you need to make clear the difference of these two formats: MPEG4 (good for local storage) V.S. H.264 (Network transmission, remote access needed). However, personally, I recommend on H.264, which is widely used with remote access control.

3. How long do you need to save your recordings for?

500GB and 1 TB are hard drives are usually installed in the DVRs. Generally speaking, 500GB HDD is enough for your home and small business for more than 30 days at H.264 compression of 4 channel.

Wireless Security Alarms Fact And Fiction

With the recent economic downturn, protecting your family and your home has never been more vital. Wireless security alarms can be an affordable--and simple--way to make sure your loved ones and possessions are secure in these tumultuous times.

If you're in the market for a wireless alarm here are a few talking points to help you know what's fact and what's fiction when buying wireless security alarms.

Myth No.1: They're Expensive

Some folks "claim" wireless alarms will bust your budget. But the truth is: from the ultra expensive models in the 300 range to the super-budget models near 50 dollars, wireless security alarms can be a seriously frugal way to keep your home from intruders.

Even more so when considering that home monitoring systems can run close to 100 dollars a month--and requiring at times contracts of two years.

If you're leaning toward the cheaper side you probably wont' have every bell and whistle; getting a wireless camera system will be difficult at that price. But for a no-frills set-up it's very doable at around 200 dollars.

Myth No.2: Installation is...Hard

No matter what kind of diy home security a person is looking at, there is always one unspoken fear looming.

How ever will I be able to install this thing? Is it difficult? (Hey...I don't even know how to program my Tivo.)

But actually installing a wireless alarm system is quite easy. With a few simple connections you're good to go. (This really applies to new homes, where you can access walls and crawlspaces.)

Note: My beloved wife set up a wireless alarm at my mother-in-law's. If she can do it, I promise...

Myth No.3: Not Good for Fido

One common critique of wireless alarms is that they are prone to being set off by pets.

While this may have been an issue 15 years ago, most wireless alarms today have pet sensors to ensure no false alarms happen. This ensures that if you're hearing an alarm it's the real thing--and you have the time to safeguard your family from someone who should not be there.

Which Do You Value More: Security or Privacy?

The model for the internet was first invented in 1973 by two computer scientists named Vinton Cerf and Robert Kahn. Cerf is often credited with being the “father of the internet”, due to the Transmission Control Protocols he developed to use with the idea of an interconnected network. Though first only available to the military, scientists and universities, the internet eventually expanded to the point that it was available to the public. Today, it’s hard to imagine the world without the ability to communicate, network and do research by using online services.

However, with the technological advancements of the online world, there has come to light an important debate. This debate highlights the delicate balance between security and privacy. Now, this debate is sometimes presented in reverse, with a lesser amount of privacy attributed to the freedom of information now available by searching online. For more information on this subject, you can check out "I`m Not Home, Please Rob Me", an article that brings to light how much information we really share by using social networking tools.

How Much Do You Value Your Privacy?

An interesting controversy has been recently presented regarding protecting homes, apartments and other structures from burglary. Landlords, co-op boards and condo boards are taking advantage of affordable security measures to install better security systems This can include video surveillance cameras in common areas, keypad-entry points with each person having a unique code, or card-swipe entry systems.

“We are in desperate need of legal protections that regulate the use and potential abuse of private information,” – Donna Lieberman, executive director of the New York Civil Liberties Union.

The debate ensues when you realize that these security measures allow administration to track what time each resident enters and leaves each monitored area. This information is not fully protected from being exploited or abused. This could allow landlords to monitor when a tenant lets in an unauthorized number of guests, brings a pet into a no-pets area, or uses the pool after-hours. However, it could also give them information which could be used to blackmail cheating spouses, track someone’s personal schedule, and watch video surveillance of people while they are in monitored areas.

Extra Security Measures

Some apartment complexes require their tenants to sign in and out when accessing their building. However, a few landlords are taking this one step further. For security reasons, some tenants are being required to present a photo ID, and may even be required to go through a metal detector in the future. Advocates of these measures say that they help protect residents in the building, while some people see this an invasion of personal privacy.

What Is Your Opinion?

Do you live in an area where there are security measures that you feel are violating your personal privacy? Or, do you think that enhanced security is the best way to protect against burglary and other crime in residential areas?