CCTV camera systems are more accessible than ever before. Rather than having to be installed by professional technicians, many people find that they can install CCTV cameras on their own with the help of a few simple tools and some basic technical knowledge.
This article will show you how to use CCTV for effective security so that you can protect your home or business without spending too much money.
Table of Contents
What is CCTV?
The first thing you need to understand about using CCTV is what it actually stands for. CCTV is an acronym that stands for Closed Circuit Television, and the “closed circuit” part of the name comes from how cameras work: all images and footage captured by a camera are watched on a monitor that is either directly connected to the camera or run through a recorder of some kind. This means that, unlike security footage taken by police or news agencies, CCTV is not watched or recorded by any third party.
Because this information is being kept private rather than shared with the public, you can be sure of complete privacy while keeping anyone who might mean you harm from accessing your security footage.
How to use CCTV for effective security
Once you decide to use CCTV camera systems on your property, the next step is learning how to implement them properly. There are a few different types of security cams , and these offer their own unique advantages when it comes to effective security.
a) Cable-based models
These cameras connect directly to pre-installed cables that transmit video footage from a camera to a nearby monitor, recorder, or both. Cable-based cameras offer the most flexibility for installation because you can connect them to nearly any device in any location within your home or business. This allows you to protect even the most sensitive parts of your property from potential intruders or dangerous circumstances.
b) Wireless models
These cameras work in much the same way as cable-based cameras, but they transmit footage through a wireless network. This makes them great for people who would like to monitor their property from inside their home or other buildings on their property without having to run cables through walls or windows. However, this type of camera does require a wireless transmitter of some kind, so it may not be the right choice if you don’t already have a wireless network in place.
c) IP-based models
IP stands for “Internet Protocol,” and this type of camera is designed to work on any network that allows for an Internet connection. The benefit of these cameras is that they can be viewed remotely from any device with Internet access, including computers and mobile devices. This is useful for people who want to keep an eye on their property from afar, such as if they’re traveling or otherwise not living there at the time.
Benefits of using CCTV for security
While it is easy to install CCTV camera systems on your own, there are massive benefits that come from using this technology for security purposes. Some of the most beneficial features of these devices include:
a) Additional protection
Cameras can give you extra peace of mind because they are treated as an additional line of defense against would-be intruders or other threats. CCTV footage can provide valuable insight on what happens when you are unable to monitor your property, and it can even help catch criminals if they attempt to vandalize or steal items on your property.
b) Create a safe environment
By keeping an eye on your property at all times, you can keep yourself and others who might be around much safer than if you weren’t keeping an eye on things. This might be especially useful for parents who are looking for a way to protect their children from potential danger outside of the home without having to constantly watch them, but it can also come in handy for people who live alone and want a way to keep themselves safe while they sleep or go about other tasks around the house.
c) Record evidence
If you ever need to use footage recorded by your cameras in court, it will be much easier if you have high-quality video evidence on hand to show what took place. This is especially useful during cases of vandalism where the perpetrator may try to pin blame on another individual without having any evidentiary proof of their own to back up their claims.
d) Reduce false alarms
False alarms can be a nuisance both for you and the authorities who may need to respond to them if they happen frequently in your area. Cameras allow you to keep tabs on your property without having to constantly monitor everything, so there will be less chance of a false alarm when it comes to security systems.
Drawbacks of using CCTV for security
On the other hand, there are some drawbacks associated with using CCTV for security. Some of these include:
a) Cost
This technology usually comes at a fairly high cost both initially and over time because of the ongoing costs of maintaining your system. You also have to consider that if you want access to footage recorded by your cameras, you are going to have to pay for a subscription service in order to get that footage sent to your computer, smartphone or other device.
b) Privacy
While the ability to keep an eye on your property may be beneficial in some cases, you also need to consider that this technology is very intrusive and many people do not like the fact that they are constantly being monitored when they are in their own homes or other places.
CCTV cameras can also be used for nefarious purposes by authorities who wish to keep tabs on your activity, which means that you will need to carefully consider whether or not the potential benefits outweigh the potential drawbacks when it comes to this type of technology.
c) Malfunction
Cameras do sometimes malfunction in ways that make them ineffective, which is why you need to have a reliable way to monitor your system at all times. A camera might not sense any motion in front of it, for example, or the recording quality might be too poor to make out what happens within its field of vision.
Steps to set up a camera system in your home or business
The steps below will provide you with an overview of the process of using CCTV to monitor your property for security purposes. These are just basic steps, so you might need to do some additional research or consult a professional like Triple S security consultancy company when it comes time to install your system if you are not entirely sure how to proceed.
a) Choose your location
The very first step is to decide where you want each of your cameras. Generally, you will want them in relatively high traffic areas such as hallways or main entrances so that they can capture footage of anyone who enters and exits your property.
Some people choose to go the extra mile and install smaller cameras inside their homes near door handles so that when someone opens a door that has a peephole, the camera will capture them directly.
b) Wire your cameras
In order to get the footage you need from your CCTV system, you will have to wire it up through an outlet near its location so that there is a physical connection between it and the power source at all times.
You might also choose to drill a hole in the wall so that you can run your wires along the surface of it, but be sure to fill this in with spackle if you go this route so that someone cannot simply push their finger inside and bend or break the wire.
c) Set up your monitor(s)
You will need to get a monitor that has at least one camera input in order to use your CCTV system. This can be a television, computer monitor or even a tablet such as an iPad if you want to view the footage on the go.
d) Choose how you will get your footage
There are several different ways that you might choose to do this, but probably one of the most effective and least expensive ways is to subscribe to a cloud based service that you can sign up for online. These services will give you access to many hours of archived footage that you can review at any time, which makes it much easier to monitor your property effectively.
- e) Monitor your system :
Ensure that you are always able to monitor what is going on around your home or business on a regular basis. This will give you a chance to operate your cameras remotely if you need to, as well as review any footage that was captured in case something happens or someone tries to enter your property without permission.
Conclusion
If you are considering using CCTV cameras to monitor your property for security purposes, it is important that you follow these steps carefully. You should also be aware of the potential benefits and drawbacks of this technology before making a decision one way or the other.
One benefit might be that security footage can help protect you from lawsuits if someone breaks into your home while no one was there; however, some people do not like being constantly watched when they are in their own homes so you will need to weigh this against any positives offered by installing CCTV cameras around your house or business.
