Your Camera Can Make the Difference in Your Wireless CCTV System
Your closed-circuit television (CCTV) system is only as good as its eyes – in other words, the very cameras that are attached to it. Did you know that your camera can make the difference in your wireless CCTV system between working as you intended it to work, and simply taking up space and accomplishing little else? How will you know if you have the right camera for the job?
Wireless Cameras
Wireless cameras are very useful when you want to make your cameras less obvious. You may want them to blend into your décor a little more while still being obvious enough to serve a deterrent purpose. Yet because of the missing wires, they are much easier to conceal than their wired cousins. Additionally, they may provide for the up close and personal surveillance you may need when dealing with highly valuable bits of small merchandise, such as small precious stones – if you run a jewelry business. At this point you might wish to conceal a wireless camera nearby in an ordinary object, such as a flowerpot. Of course, keep in mind that by their very nature, wireless cameras are far less deterrent than their obvious counterparts, thus they are usually used to capture theft in progress or provide the evidence needed for a successful prosecution of a thieving employee or customer.
Wireless Outdoor Cameras
Wireless outdoor cameras are specifically designed to withstand the elements and fluctuating temperatures. If you were to mount a simple indoor camera in its stead, you will probably have to replace it quite frequently, since the water from rain or sprinklers, and the harsh sand and temperature changes will take their toll on the equipment. Another thing to consider when setting up your outdoor camera are the changing light conditions – become familiar with the “lux” rating (a camera’s ability to measurably use light), and purchase a camera that has a very low lux rating, since this will permit you to have a functioning camera even when there is very little light available. If you are wiring a highly sensitive area, you may want to rely on infrared technology to receive images even when light sources may be absent or disabled.
Wireless Remote Controlled Cameras
Wireless remote controlled cameras are the crème de la crème of surveillance technology, and if you are operating the CCTV system for a bank or casino, you will most certainly want to make use of these devices. Unobtrusively located in several corners along the perimeter of the venue, or sometimes right in the middle of the location, you or your designated representatives will be able to observe individuals during retail transactions that may appear suspicious for a number of reasons. Additionally you will be able to focus on suspicious employees when they change designated stations.
Wireless Security Cameras
Usually these devices are installed on the outside of businesses; such as in parking lots or on the perimeters of buildings to serve as a deterrent against break-ins and also robberies. In some cases you will find them also in the lobbies of banks where security is of the utmost importance and where their very presence will serve to deter would-be criminals.
As you can see, the effectiveness of your CCTV system is only as good as the cameras that you have hooked up to it. If you choose the wrong kind of camera for a location you will either end up having to replace it frequently because it is not able to handle the site’s weather, or you will be left with useless footage, such as if your camera’s light needs are too high for the location where it is mounted. Similarly, you will need to consider that some locations will actually benefit from highly visible cameras to serve as deterrents, while in other places the more overt usage of partially hidden cameras will serve to capture those individuals who were not adequately deterred in the first place. While it may not occur to you – especially when installing a CCTV system for the very first time – to have cameras be in the direct line of sight and obvious, this is a well-known tactic in the security industry and has yielded measurable results.
