tips,shopping,for,CCTV,cameras DIY 10 tips on shopping for CCTV cameras

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If you are in the market for a CCTV packagefor your home or SME, you are definitely making the right choice. CCTV camerasoffer security and peace of mind. When burglars or miscreants target homes orbusinesses, CCTV video footage can help identify the crime and criminalsinstantly. Surveillance studies conducted in cities, especially crime proneregions, suggest that installing CCTV cameras act as a crime deterrent, and mediareports suggest a marked decrease in the number of crime cases reported fromareas where CCTV cameras are operational. Once you have made the decision to purchaseand install CCTV cameras, the next step is shopping for the best fit. With somany options available, how do you decide what works best for you? Price can beone deciding factor. Many websites offer new economical CCTV camera packages,starting as low as USD $599. With price points for every budget, buying a CCTVpackage does not need to be an expensive ordeal. A first time buyer willencounter countless options: What kind of camera resolution or viewingresolution is best? What are the best viewing frame rates? Do I need nightvision? How much video recording capacity and video storage capacity will Irequire? In this article, we break down these termsfor you and help you decide the best CCTV package for your needs:1. CCTV camera resolution Most tech savvy users wield phone camerasand video camcorders and discuss megapixels and camera resolutions like a pro.However, when researching CCTV camera packages, you may come across the termTVL or TV lines. What are these? Well, most CCTV cameras operate on the analogcamera or analog television system. Therefore, instead of pixels, we talk interms of TV lines. We understand that higher the pixels, better the imagequality we receive. Similarly, the more the TV lines (subject to size of lens,light, and so on), you will receive better picture quality on your CCTV camera.For most home and business security purposes, camera resolutions may range from420 to 700 TV lines. Infact, 700 TV lines is the maximum you may find. Once youenter the digital CCTV field, you may find pricier options with much higherresolution cameras. 2. Internet viewing resolutionInternet viewing resolution uses CIF(Common Intermediate Format) as a measurement unit. It defines a video sequencewith a resolution such as 352 X 288 that maybe converted for viewing in PAL orNTSC formats. Confused? Let us try that again. Your camera captures an image ata certain rate called frames per second. The CIF resolution refers to how yourDVR records this image or sequence of images. In a nascent hard drive or harddisk industry, storage was expensive. Naturally, people preferred to compromiseand capture low-resolution images by sacrificing 4 CIF and maximum frame rate.With video storage turning cost efficient, you can now capture images on 4 CIFand get maximum detail. As the name suggests, 4CIF offers almost 4 times thesize of the image and is especially beneficial in places such as front desks,doorways, bank operations, and so on, for facial recognition and clarity inimages. In other areas, where you prefer fluid action and no lapse in captureof movements, you may resort to CIF while recording. 3. Internet viewing frame rateWe talked about frame rate (frames persecond) in terms of captured video footage and its quality. The concept remainsthe same no matter what kind of video capturing device you may use. The deviceactually captures snapshots and replays them back in quick succession making itlook like a fluid movement or action. Generally, in CCTV camera package terms,anything above 30 fps would provide a smooth footage without any jerks. Manyplaces now offer exceptional deals on even 120 fps CCTV camera packages makingit as ‘real time’ as it can get.4. All weather CCTV camerasWhileshopping for a CCTV package, you may want to consider the placement of cameras.Depending on if you want cameras mounted outdoors or indoors, you may choosefrom a wide variety of waterproof cameras. Waterproof cameras are better ableto withstand damage caused due to rain, snow, and humidity. Some weatherproofcameras may come with a sealed glass enclosure to protect it from environmentaldamages. Another advantage of sealed weatherproof cameras includes protectionfrom dirt or dust, floating debris, and humidity, even in enclosed spaces suchas large warehouses, storage facilities, and inside factories, auto repairshops, and so on. 5. Day and night recordingWhether youare considering an investment in CCTV cameras for your home or business, youmay want to look at cameras that offer night vision and 24-hour day and nightrecording. Break-ins, thefts, and vandalizing property happen often in thenighttime, and poor visibility is the number one reason criminals go free.Night vision and infrared cameras capture quality image despite darksurroundings. They provide better definition of objects, people, or animals,and make recognition and identification easy. Area of focus, angle ofinstallation, lens size, and pan tilt zoom (PTZ) features may determine theefficiency of night vision CCTV cameras. Installation of infrared cameras mayalso require set up at night using infrared lighting or simulate nighttime conditions.If you are considering 24/7 recording, it is also important to look at DVRswith max storage and back up accordingly.6. Online viewing Many security and surveillance companiesoffer client-centric features that go beyond   installation and maintenance. One such feature includes registering adomain name with your security company and having them set up a personalizedwebsite to view your property anytime anywhere through a PC, tablet, or yourweb-enabled cell phone. Just type in your specific URL, and you will be linkedto your CCTV protected property, home or business instantly and in real time.This is especially great if you want to keep an eye on your business while youtravel or watch out for your children, pets, or even the elderly while you areat work. 7. Tracking via smart phonesWith smart phones stepping up to meet thepersonal computer challenge, it is not surprising that security companies nowoffer wireless tracking through your web-enabled smart phones. Creating adomain name with a specific URL allows you to personalize the security viewingsystem on your smart phone. You do not have to download any external apps orsoftware for this purpose. The security system companies selling you these CCTVpackages may offer these features for a nominal price.8. Video compressionAnimportant aspect of CCTV installation includes compressing large video datainto a format that can be easily stored or transmitted. Compressed data needsto undergo through the reverse process for viewing. Standardizing this processallows various different devices to inter operate with each other efficiently.In the CCTV industry, the gold standard is H.264 compression used by variousdifferent HD and Blu-Ray disc players, streaming video formats, and otherInternet applications. CCTV cameras using H.264 video compression ensuresthe absolute best quality of video footage transmission. 9. Alert systems: Message or email,motion detectionCCTV cameras allow you to capture images asthey happen or an additional feature called motion detection maybe added orpurchased with your CCTV cameras. In the latter case, only movement in front ofthe camera prompts image capture and recording. Motion detection comes handy ifyou prefer to use less disk space for recording. In a designated quiet area,sudden movements maybe recorded making it easy to store minimum data and reviewit later. Many motion detector cameras maybe pre installed with an alarm orsound system that maybe triggered by movement. Some surveillance companies mayalso provide an email alert system that warns you of intrusion or movement in amonitored area. 10. Recording and storingAny CCTV package isincomplete without a reliable DVR system that can record and store your datafor future reference. Online recording and viewing allows you to look at yourmonitored area on a specially designated domain. Remote monitoring is possibleon your computer as well as your smart phone. Offline recording and storingrequires hard disk space, which can maybe purchased according to your needs.Some hard disks range from 500 GB all the way to 2 TB and may allow you tostore your video data for up to 12 months.CCTV cameras allow you to capture video,record and store it in order to monitor the security of your home and businessspace. Some of the above tips should help you navigate the surveillance andCCTV industry to get the best deal. You may also consider additional safetyfeatures such as DigitalLock or Fingerprint Lock to provide a more secure environment for yourfamily and associates. These features make your home and business a veritablestronghold with access only to the people you trust. However, CCTV camerasystems are not limited to crime fighting or crime stopping alone. They provideyour loved ones with the reassurance that they are safe at all times.