As the old saying goes — home is where the heart is. It only makes sense then that we would want to do whatever it can to ensure our home’s security and our family. Inarguably the best way to do that is to invest in a home surveillance system.
In this article, we’ll go over the advantages of adding a surveillance system to your home and what it can do for your family. Only then can you decide whether such systems are worth the time and money.
Is a home surveillance system really necessary?
Most people think that you’d have to be rich to justify the cost of getting surveillance systems from security trades companies like Cool & Secure. While that may have been true decades ago, that’s no longer the case today as the cost of such systems have gone down dramatically over the years.
According to HomeAdvisor (a digital marketplace for home services), a decent home surveillance system can be had today for as low as $680. Most people would agree that’s a small price to pay for peace of mind knowing that you can always know what goes in and around your home whenever you’re away. Of course, like any security system, the real value of a home surveillance system lies in its ability as a form of deterrent for any criminal activity.
Think about it — burglars generally prefer an easy target, a place that they can quickly slip in, grab what they want and then get out without leaving a trace. That obviously isn’t going to happen if you have a home surveillance system in place. The mere presence of multiple security cameras is often enough to make burglars think twice about targetting your home.
Your options in home surveillance systems
Now that you have a good idea regarding the significance of home surveillance systems, you might be curious about your available options on the market.
Home surveillance systems fall into one of the following general categories:
Movement sensing systems
The majority of home surveillance systems employ some form of motion-detection technology. This means that the cameras attached to such a system only work whenever it detects movement, thereby saving power and data storage. More advanced surveillance systems of this category are even capable of automatically uploading the footage over the Internet, which owners can access through a fixed IP address.
Of course, movement sensing surveillance systems are not without its downsides that one must carefully consider. For one thing, the cameras in these systems are often fixed, which means they have a limited view.
Motion sensors also have limited range (usually no more than 16 feet), which means that it might fail to detect movement unless installed strategically around a property. For this reason, security experts often recommend professional installation of home security devices.
Wireless sensing units
Some home surveillance systems don’t have cameras at all and instead rely on a network of wireless sensors (motion. sound, and temperature). This allows the system to monitor conditions in and around the house continuously, a door left unlocked, windows being opened, unusual heat sources, etc.
The information can then be uploaded to the Internet and sent to a user’s mobile device. This allows homeowners to keep on top of the situation at home even when they’re away.
Wireless IP
Wireless home IPs are perhaps the most basic security surveillance systems on the market today. Also known as “nanny” cams, you have probably seen one of these devices in action.
The great thing about wireless IP surveillance systems is that they’re relatively easy to set up and use. There are no complicated wirings to tackle, and you can put these cams just about anywhere. They transmit wireless video signals to a base station, which users can access through their computer, tablet, or mobile device.
The downside to using Wireless IP systems is that video quality tends to be very poor. Also, the fact these devices transmit video signals wirelessly means that there’s always the risk of someone hacking the feed and turning the security system against you.
Fortunately, you can get around these advantages by purchasing IP systems that use better cameras that offer encrypted network features. That way, it would be complicated (if not impossible) to intercept the signal and breach your privacy.
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