How Video Surveillance Works

There was a time when video surveillance systems were mostly associated with business use, and deployment in public places, but nowadays homeowners can find easily affordable home systems to give them peace of mind. They are simple to use and easy to set up.

There is evidence to suggest that video surveillance systems provide a strong deterrent, that prevents a crime before it has a chance to develop.

These security systems are also known as Closed Circuit TV or CCTV, and are used to monitor 'at risk' areas of the home, both indoors or outdoors.

This could be just to keep watch on an expensive automobile on the driveway, or to provide all-round property surveillance.

A basic system will consist of cameras, a monitor and a central control unit, and they can be used for surveillance both indoors and outdoors. Although you could have a simple point and record setup, many systems would include motion detectors or sensors as part of the package, as well as a hard disk recorder and a hard drive.

Monitors are not always included in a purchased system as some owners would want to use their TV screen for video output, and you may have to buy the special cabling.

The cameras should be located to protect vulnerable areas of the property, areas where an intruder might otherwise be able to work undisturbed. They can be installed either in a highly visible manner to deter intrusion, or concealed to provide advance warning. Some systems can give coverage to almost every room in your home.

The cameras work constantly, transmitting video to the monitor. Each camera has a highly sensitive motion sensor that activates with the slightest movement in its surveillance zone.

A device called a switcher can be used in the system which allows multiple cameras to feed through to the same monitor. When movement is detected by one camera the switcher will concentrate on that camera's output. At other times it will cycle through all the video outputs in the system. It is further possible to split the screen view on the monitor to show the output from 1, 2 or 4 cameras simultaneously.

A VCR can be incorporated into a system to provide a video recording of any activity that the system locks on to. This can be useful if you go to court following a break-in, as the police may be able to use the video recording to identify the perpetrator, and use it as evidence.

The monitor will take a video feed from each of the cameras in the system. Although they are often black and white monitors, they benefit from a higher resolution than the average television screen.

Before installation of exterior video cameras, you should ensure that your neighbours' rights to privacy are not violated, by overlooking their properties.

Home video surveillance systems are used by thousands of households in the US, and are affordable and effective. They are well worth consideration, and you would be recommended to check them out.