iieeadmin – IIEE Global Engineers

Burglar Alarm and Home CCTV

iieeadmin — Tue, 14 Apr 2020 23:47:27 +0000

CCTV has been a common fixture in shops, pubs, car parks and other public places for years. Now, thanks to easier installation and falling prices, it’s becoming an increasingly popular choice for security-conscious homeowners. However, it’s not for everyone – only 16% of the 1,330 Which? members* we surveyed in January 2019 have home CCTV and/or a wireless camera (either indoors or outside). You can buy cameras on their own, or as part of a whole security package. Costs range from around £20 for one wired camera with a night-vision range of 5 metres, to around £450 for a vandal-proof camera.

You will need to buy some equipment to accompany the camera, depending on what type you choose, such as connectors and a digital video recorder (DVR) to store and view the footage. You can also buy dummy cameras for around £10. CCTV is just one line of defence against crime, and works best when combined with other measures, such as a burglar alarm, door and window locks, gravel around your property, and security lights. If you’re thinking about getting a burglar alarm, visit our pages on burglar alarm types and the costs of installation to find out more – we’ve spoken to a number of installers and found their advice, and what they offer for the same price, varies greatly. You can also discover the top-rated burglar alarm companies, according to our 2019 survey of more than 2,083 burglar alarm owners**.

How home security cameras work Wired home security cameras These are the most common and cheapest type of camera, where a wire connects directly from the camera to the monitor. The downside is that the wires, including extension cables and connectors, can be difficult to install. Wireless home security cameras With this type of system, cameras transmit images to your computer, tablet or mobile phone, using analogue or digital technology.

Many smart security cameras link to an app that you can use to monitor your home while you’re out and about. Digital cameras are generally higher quality, but more expensive. Wireless systems can suffer interference from devices such as routers, cordless phones and microwaves, and can be blocked by heavy masonry or metal objects.

Your filming may also be interrupted if your internet connection is lost. Don’t miss our wireless security camera system reviews to find out which models we recommend. IP CCTV system These are cameras that use your network or internet portal (IP) to send images to your computer’s router, allowing you to access the footage over the internet from remote locations. Outdoor home CCTV cameras If you’re using CCTV cameras outside, make sure they’re weatherproof and have the recommended IP rating of 66. Wireless cameras are available, but you’ll still have to run a cable to a power source.

Position cameras where they can’t be tampered with, but are accessible for maintenance and cleaning. You can buy vandal-proof cameras, but these tend to cost more. Indoor home CCTV cameras Indoor CCTV cameras come in three types: wired, wireless, and powerline networked (these plug into your electrical sockets and transmit images to a storage device).

Wireless cameras are not recommended inside the home unless the signal can be encrypted, as anyone within range and using a suitable receiver would be able to view the images. Home security cameras footage resolution CCTV camera resolution is measured in lines – the higher this is, the sharper the image will be. Image quality is also linked to the size and type of chip the camera uses. Generally speaking, smaller CMOS chips are lower quality than larger CCD ones, such as 1/4″ and 1/3″.

Cameras with tiny chips also tend to be able to pick up less light, and therefore produce lower-quality images in low light. The light sensitively is measured in lux, which can range from 130,000 to 0.001 lux. The lower the lux, the better the camera will be at recording when there isn’t a lot of light. You’ll need high-quality images – sufficiently clear for someone to be identified – if CCTV footage is to be used as evidence in court.

However, for the best detail, you need a high resolution – this tends to make the camera more expensive, and can take up a lot of storage space. Also make sure the date and time used to ‘tag’ images are set accurately. House security camera features Storing CCTV images Most home systems use a PC hard drive or standalone digital video recorder (DVR). The main advantage of PC-connected systems is that they often come with software to view the images. Some DVR-based systems also have this facility. Make sure your system allows you to store images in a widely used format, such as Mpeg.

Otherwise there may be problems if images need to be downloaded and viewed on other systems, such as those used by the police. In addition, make sure that if you get a camera that can record high-quality images, the PC or DVR is able to record them. Remote access Some home CCTV systems, such as IP ones, let you check images over the internet using a PC or smartphone. Other options include email or text notifications when cameras are activated.

Night vision Monochrome (black and white) CCTV cameras tend to be the most effective in low light, particularly when used with integral infrared illumination – a feature found on some cameras. It’s possible to use CCTV cameras that will film in colour during the day and switch to monochrome when it gets dark. Motion detection Some CCTV cameras have a sensor that turns them on when they detect movement. This can be handy if you want to reduce the amount of footage you’re storing. CCTV and privacy If you’re thinking of getting a home CCTV system for the outside of your property, you must comply with privacy laws.

This means making sure that your cameras aren’t pointed at public spaces, or other people’s houses or gardens. It’s a good idea to discuss any CCTV plans with your neighbours first – some Which? members told us that they share a system with their neighbours, which might be one way to cut costs. (*In January 2019, we asked 1,330 Which? members about the extra security measures they have in their homes, from alarm systems to CCTV. **In the same month, we separately asked 2,083 Which? members about their burglar alarm and experiences with the company they bought their burglar alarm from.)

Source: Which.co.uk

Best security camera system for your business in 2020

iieeadmin — Tue, 14 Apr 2020 23:40:33 +0000

Our top picks for an IP or CCTV camera to secure your home or office.

The best business security camera systems can act as a deterrent to potential thieves, but if the worst does happen and your business is broken into, you will have evidence that will help you claim on your insurance, and even hopefully get your stolen items back.

These security cameras should also be easy enough to install and use that you don’t need to fork out for expensive expert installation, and many can work with existing CCTV and CCTV DVR systems you may already have set-up. Many of the business security cameras are Wi-Fi enabled and come with their own apps, so you can view footage on your smartphone or tablet, no matter where you are in the world.

It means you don’t need to pay for a security team to watch the footage at all times (though if you can afford it, that won’t hurt), and you don’t need a networked video recorder. Any motion-triggered recordings can be saved in the cloud, or locally on a microSD card.

By using a smartphone as your interface, many new features are made possible. For instance, you can draw areas of active motion sensitivity within the camera’s field of view to limit the number of alerts that arrive on your phone, and some of these cameras have object recognition and can tell the difference between a person and an animal, or a car.

The most significant thing that these new IP cameras have in common is their accessibility. None of our top 10 selection require a professional installation and they all come with slick companion apps that make protecting your property easy and, if we’re honest, kind of fun.

Here’s how you can turn an old laptop into a CCTV camera

Also check out the best security keys for security hardware.

Image credit: TechRadar

1. Netatmo Presence

Netatmo’s floodlight IP camera can distinguish people from traffic

Type: Outdoor IP camera | Resolution: 1080p | Footage recording: Local/cloud | Audio: One-way

Handsome all-metal casing

Effective floodlight

Incongruous design

No Ethernet port

Netatmo’s sophisticated outdoor camera cum security light is expensive, but it has a lot to offer. As well as carrying out 24-hour surveillance in Full HD, it also acts as a security light whenever motion is detected. What’s more, it can differentiate between the movement of a car, a person, or an animal, so that your alerts are more specific.

The distinctive design will either look stylish or incongruous depending on your property and exactly where it’s installed, but regardless of any issues with aesthetics, the Presence will certainly make itself felt, and hopefully make potential burglars think twice.

Read the full review: Netatmo Presence

Image credit: TechRadar

2. Nest Cam Outdoor

Nest adds a weatherproof camera to its smart home line-up

Type: Outdoor IP camera | Resolution: 1080p | Footage recording: Cloud | Audio: Two-way

Integration with IFTTT and an ecosystem of other products

Excellent subscription service and app support

The design is vulnerable to tampering or theft

Nest Aware subscription service is too expensive

Nest’s stylish camera is backed up by the slickest companion app we’ve come across, while its Nest Aware service, which stores up to 30-days of footage in the cloud, is the most reliable and accessible around. The only problem is that it’s also the most expensive and without paying for a subscription, you cannot access all of the camera’s features.

The camera itself is very well specified, and for some folks, its integration with other Nest products, like the brand’s smart thermostat, is what will give this device an extra edge over the competition.

Read the full review: Nest Cam Outdoor

Image credit: TechRadar

3. Arlo Q

Comes with free cloud storage for 7-day surveillance

Type: Indoor IP camera | Resolution: 1080p | Footage recording: Cloud | Audio: Two-way

Basic cloud storage plan is free

Neat and discrete design

No microSD card slot

No Ethernet port

With its smart, solid and compact design, the Arlo Q has instant appeal as a discrete security camera. And it’s backed up by the user-friendly Arlo app that enables you to access key features, like the push notification settings, with a minimum of fuss.

Our experience with getting the camera online didn’t go well and our Wi-Fi network struggled to stream its 1080p live view, but your mileage may well vary, and you might not find any such stumbling blocks. In which case, the overall usability of this product, combined with its relatively robust build quality and the generous seven-day free cloud storage plan, make this a good way to start protecting your property.

Read the full review: Arlo Q

Image credit: TechRadar

4. Hikvision Ezviz Mini Plus

This miniature magnetic camera can stream and save 1080p clips

Type: Indoor IP camera | Resolution: 1080p | Footage recording: Cloud | Audio: Two-way

Two-way sound and alarm built-in

Cloud and local data storage options

Weak magnet in the stand

Poor contrast in low light

The Ezviz Mini Plus is a discrete and diminutive IP camera that’s simple to install and easy-to-use. And while it looks like an entry-level model, it’s actually the model up from the Ezviz Mini and offers 1080p resolution, adjustable motion sensitivity and a microSD card slot. It’s really only missing motion zone adjustment and object recognition.

The picture quality has poor contrast, but high detail with reasonable night vision. However, it’s a pity there’s no internal battery and no integration with Nest, SmartThings, or HomeKit.

Read the full review: Hikvision Ezviz Mini Plus

Image credit: TechRadar

5. Foscam F19853EP

This rugged camera sports a microSD slot for local data storage

Type: Outdoor IP camera | Resolution: 720p | Footage recording: Local/cloud | Audio: None

Single cable install

Rock solid build quality

Video quality limited to 720p

Clunky unintuitive browser support

For outdoor, around-the-clock sentry duty, a tough dome camera like this is a safe bet, especially when it’s supplied by one of the big hitters of the security industry.

You won’t find any of the fancy features you get with the new IP camera crowd – things like object recognition and motion zone detection – and the app looks downright basic compared to that of Nest or Netatmo. But this camera is built to last and it hits a remarkably competitive price point too.

Read the full review: Foscam F19853EP

You can buy the Foscam F19853EP here

Image credit: TechRadar

6. D-Link DCS-2530L

This camera gives you a 180-degree view of your room

Type: Indoor IP camera | Resolution: 1080p | Footage recording: Local/cloud | Audio: Two-way

MicroSD slot for subscription-free storage

180-degree field of view without distortion

Poor plastic build quality

Long-winded setup procedure

This little IP camera offers a simple and cost-effective springboard into the surveillance game, as it comes complete with local storage on a microSD card and a free app that makes it easy to monitor your property remotely. And by recording a wide 180-degree view whenever its motion sensor or mic are triggered, the DCS-2530L does its job quite well.

The plastic construction does feel a little vulnerable, however, and app support is decidedly less sophisticated than the competition, so we would advise spending just a little more if you’re serious about surveillance.

Source: TechRadar