5 QUESTIONS TO ASK BEFORE BUYING SECURITY CAMERAS.
Advancements in wireless technology and cloud servers has led to home security cameras becoming more affordable. I constantly get questions from friends and family asking me what type of security cameras should they buy. My answer is always the same, “ It depends…”. I ask them the following 5 questions:
- Do you rent or own your home?
- What is your technical ability?
- What is your budget?
- What system features do you need or want?
- Do you currently have an alarm system or are you planning to install one?
To understand why I ask these 5 questions we first must know what exactly a camera system is designed to do. There are three things a security camera system is designed to do: to capture video evidence of something that is about to happen; to obtain video evidence of something that has happened; and to act as a deterrent for unwanted behavior. Simply put we either actively watch the video footage or watch it at a later date in hopes that the simple act of installing a camera stopped someone from doing something bad. More often than not we watch the video footage after something bad has happened. However, most people just want to install a security camera system for deterrence and not think about placement, usage, and return on their investment. These 5 simple questions get them thinking of why they want a security camera system, how they want to use it and how they can get the most for their budget.
Do You Rent or Own Your Home?
This question is to get you thinking about what restrictions you might encounter when installing a security camera system such as type system and installation location of cameras. Someone who rents a home might be bound by lease agreements, building restrictions, or even roommates as to the location and what type of cameras they can use. Someone who owns their home might have a little more freedom installing cameras. Home owners in an HOA might need to consult with the HOA before installing exterior cameras. Size of your home is also going to have an impact on budget and the amount of cameras you might install. Always check with your landlord, HOA and other agreements before choosing or installing a security camera system.
What is your technical ability?
This question gets you thinking of what is your own ability to choose, install, and troubleshoot technology. For someone with an intermediate to strong technology background choosing a system that has many configuration options and can be used on different platforms could be very beneficial. However if you are someone with a limited background something that auto configures and stores to the cloud could better suit your ability. Buying a system just because someone says it is the latest and greatest on the market might not be the best option if you do not understand how to use it. For example not understanding the difference between 24/7 recording and motion sensor recording could cause conflicts with storage needs and real world application needs. Also consider your ability to install the system you are looking at buying. Identifying your strengths and weaknesses before choosing a security camera system can help ask the right questions, and get the right system for your needs while staying within your budget.
What is your budget?
The cost of a security camera system can range from a few hundred dollars to thousands of dollars. Therefore, it is important to set a budget in order to aid in your decision process. This budget needs to account for initial purchase, future maintenance on the system i.e. replacement of batteries, cable replacement, cameras replacement, internet cost if it needs to connect to your wifi to operate. Also, cost for video storage and any monthly or yearly subscription fee associated with the system.
What system features do you need or want?
Security camera systems come with many types of features. Researching and understanding these features can help you in choosing a camera system. Keep in mind the more features a camera has the higher cost it might have. Here are some common features for security camera systems:
- Systems Types : Analog and IP
- Wiring: Wireless or Wired
- Power: battery, solar, PoE, standard power
- Camera Position: Fixed or PTZ (ability to move remotely)
- Lens: Fixed lens or Optical Zoom (ability to be zoomed in and out)
- Recording: 24/7 or motion activated recording
- Ability to view images in low light (Infrared (IR))
- Video Storage: locally stored, cloud storage, or removable storage like USB or SD card.
- Motion tracking
- Audio: One-way or Two-way audio
- Weather Resistance: Also known as IP Rating
- Field of view
Do you currently have an alarm system or plan to install one?
Security cameras can be used in conjunction with alarm systems to allow quick assessments of alarms prior to having law enforcement or security arrive. This is particularly helpful in jurisdictions that charge a fee for false alarm response. In order to achieve this a camera must be watching the alarm location for signs of activity and for the cause of the alarm. If you have an alarm system installed you would want to consider how many alarm points you have and how many cameras would be needed to cover the points. If you plan to install an alarm in the future you can design your security camera layout in a manner to support coverage of alarm points when they are installed. Current alarm systems or future alarm installation could have an effect on how many cameras you would need for your system.
While choosing a security camera system can seem intimidating I hope asking yourself these 5 questions can get you on the right track. What other questions do you think are important when choosing a security camera system?