Whether you own a business and want to install a CCTV to increase the security or whether you need it at your house for your family’s protection, choosing the type of security camera is an important decision.
Ask these questions to yourself before you invest in a video surveillance system.
- Do you want to keep it discrete?
Whether or not you want people to know that they are being monitored is one of the factors of choosing a camera. Box cameras are the most common when it comes to obvious cameras. These type of cameras can be installed at home as they act as a visual deterrent for criminals. Dome cameras are good if you want the camera to be hidden.
- Indoors or Outdoors?
The environment of the camera will decide it’s mounting and housing. In extreme cold regions, the camera should be such that it can withstand the temperature, which has an inbuilt heater. If the camera is to be used indoors like in factories, they need to be protected from saw dust, in restaurant kitchens, it needs to be protected from grease.
- How much area is to be covered?
The area to be covered will determine the type of camera and its network. If a large area needs to be monitored, a PTZ camera will be the best option which gives a large range and a good zoom in clarity. For smaller areas, static cameras will be enough. Usually small to medium sized businesses will need a LAN type network whereas large business will require a WAN network.
- What is the level of detailing required?
This will again depend on the size of area to be monitored. Large areas like retail spaces will require high resolution cameras to zoom in to a particular activity. Single space office or reception area or a house surveillance will usually make do with a low resolution camera.
- How is the lighting?
With different intensity of sunlight across areas throughout the day and throughout all seasons, the lighting conditions change, which can effect the video captured in the camera. Light filtering technologies like IR filters can increase or decrease the amount reaching the sensor, producing clearer images during day as well as night.
- Do I need audio?
Do you just need a camera system which can monitor the area and the people coming by, like for home security, or do you need it for your business, like in reception to communicate with the visitors? Audio integration can also be used where you need to keep the audio limited to a certain threshold crossing which will cause alarms to go on.
- What about scalability?
Would you need to add more cameras in the network in future? While a traditional CCTV system, which is a closed circuit, meaning everything is hard-wired, is good for house monitoring purposes, however, while choosing one for a business, you need to consider the scalability factor. This is where IP cameras are helpful. They connect over a wireless network making it easy for you to scale your installations at any point of time.
AAA Control for your video surveillance needs
Now that we understand all the factors which needs to be considered for buying a camera, what are we waiting for? AAA Control provides high security equipment and Video Surveillance System installations in Austin. Call us at (512) 790-2424 to speak with our security expert and get the best quote on your type of CCTV camera. We make security effortless for you!