Saturday, October 10, 2009

Do Home Security Cameras Make Sense?

By Mike Ward

Home security cameras as a part of overall home security can make sense in certain circumstances, especially when the need for such cameras is due to a home being located in a area that may make the home's owners nervous or just as a matter of course when a homeowner desires a higher level of security. A home camera system, though, can help improve home security greatly in just about every case.

Media reports today are constantly filled with stories of people who have had their homes invaded or broken into, especially in high crime urban areas, though even once-safe suburban areas are experiencing greater numbers of burglaries, for example. Security cameras for the exterior and interior of the home can help give the owner a leg up when it comes to preventing something unfortunate.

When it comes to home security cameras, the first thing a person should do is go online and check the Internet for various systems and what they can and cannot do. Basic home systems can start for well under $100, though such a system might be very basic and its camera and monitor setup might not be latest-generation, which is something most home security experts recommend having.

When it comes to where cameras should be placed around the home, the question is answered by determining what is needed to be seen outside and where in addition to any cameras that are placed about the interior. Usually, it's smart to locate a camera around the front door and backdoor, they can sure that both give a full view of both front and rear areas.

Depending on egress and ingress points on the sides of a home, it could be a good idea to place cameras where views can be gained of both sides, especially if there is cellar or basement windows or house windows that could be penetrated or opened by burglars and the like. Any such cameras should be fed to a recording device such as a digital video recorder or to a remote recording device through the internet.

Most home security experts recommend that a home camera system also incorporate a burglar alarm or intruder system so that the cameras and alarms work well together. Think of home security as what is called a "defense in depth, " which is a term the military uses to describe how security becomes more robust the closer in one gets to the center of the defense. In this case, the inside of the home is the center. All cameras should also be fed to a video recording device such as a digital video recorder for evidence of any event which may occur.

At the outer edge of the defense, floodlights or spotlights that come on or turn off through use of motion sensors and the like can make a lot of sense, as do lights that turn on and turn off at dusk and dawn. These lights should be placed so that they overlap there beans and eliminate any dark spots or patches. Lights work well with security cameras, which are the next level in the defense system.

The most robust -- or innermost -- security level begins with the cameras at strategic points around the home, and which are integrated into a serious home intruder or burglar alarm system. Such a system has as its aim the prevention of home invasion or burglary and will notify authorities or the security company as soon as an attempt is made. Ensure that the system is hooked up to an uninterruptible power supply, and there should be no issues with defense after that.

About the Author:

No comments: