aboutcctv.com

Written by Tom Connor
Saturday, 20 October 2007

Even for those of us living in the safest of neighborhoods, there is an undeniable peace of mind that comes with having a surveillance system on one’s home. Because of the obvious benefit of having a set of eyes watching the homestead 24 hours a day, having even a modest surveillance system consisting of a few cameras running into an internet-capable DVR can also make residential life easier and more convenient as well.

For instance, homeowners who use professional services such as gardeners and pool cleaners to take care of their property would value the ability to check their cameras via the internet from work to make sure the work they pay for is actually being done, and done properly and safely. Additionally, parents with children (especially teenagers!) who stay home alone usually breathe easier when they can check in on their kids from work or while on a parents-only vacation; even the ability to see how many cars are parked in front of the house on Saturday night can provide invaluable information for the parents and some incentive to stay honest for the kids.

Of course, all of this is icing on the cake to the main point of having a surveillance system: security. Nothing will ever change the fact that theft, vandalism, and break-ins are a constant threat to any home, but with cameras on the house, homeowners can provide the police with valuable evidence and descriptions of the suspects involved when making a report. Things can happen even in the best neighborhoods, but with cameras homeowners have the peace of mind that they can give the police the evidence they need to make an arrest.

Despite all this, though, many homeowners balk at the potential cost of a CCTV system. This is because of the unfortunate truth that many companies and installers in the surveillance industry will try to up-sell residential customers with unnecessarily elaborate systems that look great on paper but are far too expensive to be practical and may even consist of questionable equipment. When shopping for a residential system, don’t give in to this: the truth is that a powerful home-based system can be accomplished quickly, simply, and, most importantly, cheaply.

The first thing one should consider when looking for a home-based surveillance system would be the trustworthiness of the company you’re dealing with. If you’re not sure how to tell, think of it this way: would you buy a car from someone who had no website, no other employees, no record with the Better Business Bureau, and immediately tried to get you into a brand new Corvette with no warranty nor quality guarantees the first time you walked on the lot? Most people wouldn’t, and that same logic should carry over here. Your salesperson or installer should not only start the conversation by trying to understand your specific needs, but he or she should also be able to answer all of your questions well and in a way that you can easily understand. What’s more, they should never act frustrated or annoyed when you ask more. Also, if a company is not registered with the BBB, it may be the case that there are things they are trying to hide, or are just snake-oil salesmen. Finally, even if things seem documented and alright but you’re simply uncomfortable with the situation, just say, “no thanks.” There’s no reason to feel pressured or bullied into a purchase, especially when it’s one you’re putting the safety of your home on.

At the same time, always remember to consider the non-material things you get with your purchase. Even if you’re a tech head, it’s always wise to purchase a system that comes with at least basic tech support, not only as a form of insurance to keep your investment working but also because a company that offers tech support is a company that is clearly standing behind its products. Similarly,  always make sure that your equipment will be covered under a warranty, and that your salesperson can clearly define for you what would and would not be covered under that warranty. Any company that offers neither tech support nor a warranty should be rejected immediately regardless of any “discounts” or “free upgrades” that they offer; chances are the equipment will be unreliable and the company itself will be gone in a year.

With that in mind, also remember that securing an average-sized home should be a relatively small affair. For starters, using a basic standalone DVR such as Aver Media’s 1304NET with four cameras (black and white on the sides and back, color on the front) would provide a basic level of coverage for a small home when paired with small bullet cameras (such as CCTV Wholesalers’ KG-190SWB or KG-230EX), which would provide high-resolution pictures in an extremely small package that would not detract from the look of one’s home. A system such as this on any house would not only provide good general coverage, but also do so without compromising image quality, internet functionality (since the DVR is fully internet capable), or the family pocketbook: the above system would only cost around $1000.

For larger homes, or for homeowners who want even more coverage around their property, a stronger PC-based DVR such as CCTV Wholesalers’ PC-Witness series LT DVR would not only accommodate up to eight cameras (twice what the 1304NET is capable of) but also provide more robust functionality, more advanced features, and a point-and-click ease of use not commonly seen with non-PC based DVRs. Larger homes may also necessitate upgrading to cameras with more powerful lenses (such as the KG-230VFX), but even those can be purchased relatively inexpensively and be seamlessly integrated into the exterior of any home. To top things off, even the most elaborate system of this type should be out the door at less than $5000, well within most family budgets.

Of course, the system you choose for your home may be vastly different from the scenarios above, depending upon the layout that you’re dealing with. Even if you’re unfamiliar with surveillance, don’t be afraid to do research and design a system either on your own or with the help of a surveillance expert. If you choose to do this, though, never forget that you should be the one in the driver’s seat at all times. Ask questions! If you’re not sure why something is recommended, ask why. If you have a hunch about a particular camera, ask for feedback. If you don’t understand terminology, ask for clarification, or for a real-world example. The more involved you are with the design of your system, the better you’ll feel about making the purchase and the more you’ll understand the system when it’s in operation. Remember, the point of a surveillance system on your home is so that you’ll have less stress, so the purchase of the system should not be a stressful affair.

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