Video Surveillance Systems For Your Home

By Jeffrey Parker

It used to be the case that video surveillance systems were only used by businesses large enough to afford them. As prices have come down, they have become increasingly popular among homeowners. A home video surveillance system such as CCTV (closed circuit TV) can provide security against threats such as burglars by monitoring vulnerable areas.

A viewing monitor is a key component in a video surveillance system. Such a monitor displays video images from cameras. These images are often black and white and will have a much higher resolution than the images from an analog TV set - say, from 500-1000 lines.

Surveillance cameras are another important item. During installation of your home surveillance system, these cameras will be installed at various strategic locations around your home, where it is most defenseless. Their placement will be such that their appearance is unobtrusive. They will be running continuously, constantly transmitting video to the monitors. For nighttime effectiveness, either lighting or infrared security cameras will be needed to monitor in darkness.

Unless you use a wireless security system, coaxial cables are also necessary for video surveillance systems. The coaxial cables transfer the video signals from the camera to the monitor. These cables are available in a variety of sizes and can be found at home security suppliers and electronics stores. Your home security systemwill come with coaxial cables, although you may need more depending on where you plan to set up your cameras.

Switchers are also required for home video surveillance system. Switchers let you send more than one camera feed to a single monitor. Usually, a switcher will cycle through the feeds until there is any movement detected at a specific motion sensor security camera. As soon as the switcher detects any motion, the camera is locked on to the target and it will automatically observe the movement.

Many home video surveillance setups use video recorders so that their live video feeds can be recorded and kept for future reference. If you travel or go on vacation, the recorder will see any break in that happens. If the burglar is arrested and goes to trial, the video recording makes excellent evidence against him or her. A video recorder in an inconspicuous spot, difficult to access, can ensure that burglars won't get away clean.

By combining video surveillance cameras and a monitor, a home video surveillance system will catch break-in's and burglars easily. They're very affordable now, and they are used in literally thousands of homes all over the U.S. If you want the best way to protect a home, the home video surveillance system is definitely something which you will want to examine more closely.

About the Author: