The home security camera (also known as a surveillance camera) is a hot home security accessory. There is great comfort in knowing your home is safe, especially when you have visual proof. Interior cameras can monitor the goings-on of the family or nanny, and exterior cameras can alert the homeowner of a visitor both wanted and unwanted. Choosing these devices is a process driven largely by one’s needs. The list of options is long, but budget, desired solution, and some other factors should help to quickly narrow the choices down. 

Packaged Solutions
The easiest way to bring video surveillance into the home is to purchase a packaged solution. Invariably a video surveillance security system will include the following: cameras (with necessary wiring), receiver/gateway/router, transmitter (for wireless cameras), and software. Not all solutions will require everything on that list, but consumers should expect at least two or three of those four. ADT’s latest Safewatch® VideoView® video surveillance packages start at just under $600 and includes a camera, a gateway, and a router, all of which are professionally installed. “Customers get a free security review, or ‘needs analysis,’ to determine what their video application needs are,” says Tim McKinney, the Head of Custom Home Services for ADT. Each camera in the system is hard-wired and connected to the gateway, which in turn connects to the internet-enabled router. Once installed, the VideoView® user can access their camera’s feed simply by logging on to their personal myadtvideo.com website from any internet-enabled laptop, PDA, or cell phone. “The site is encrypted and password protected, and ADT does not have any access to your video,” adds McKinney, who went on to suggest that consumer education on remote access is a key step in acceptance of the feature. VideoView® users can also connect a TV or separate monitor to the gateway to get in-home access to a camera feed, and the feeds can also be connected to a DVR for storage or stored online through their myadtvideo.com account. 

Although ADT’s VideoView® package can be purchased and installed as a standalone system, it is best incorporated into a comprehensive ADT home security solution that might include window and door sensors and the ability to set up triggered events. When the VideoView® solution integrates with the rest of a home security system, home owners can get notification by email or SMS when an event has triggered (e.g. doorbell set off, pool gate opened, etc.) and can log onto their video access site to then see what is going on at home. Even better, the option to record the video feed will enable the homeowner to review surveillance footage to identify, say, the would-be burglar who broke a first-floor window and set off the alarm. “We strongly encourage our customers to go with a full security package that incorporates VideoView®,” says McKinney. 

The ADT package is one of many, and the consumer need not feel like the big-name company is the only solution. Standalone surveillance packages exist from many security device distributors; many of these solutions achieve the same or similar results as VideoView®. The CLEARVU1 is a “Web-ready DVR system” package that includes four indoor/outdoor night vision cameras, a 160GB DVR with built-in hi-res LCD screen, a remote control, power adaptors and installation cables. The system can record up to 40 days of feed, and hovers just around the $1000 price. 

When exploring the security package option, be sure to have an idea as to the number of cameras you will want to set up. Many of the DVRs included in security packages have a set number of channels – one channel per camera. Consider purchasing a DVR with more channels than cameras, to allow for eventual expansion of the system.

Camera Options
Selecting a camera to pull security duties requires a little knowledge of the many features and configurations available. There are a few phrases and specifications that the consumer should understand when making purchases, as they can greatly impact camera performance. 

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About the Author:
Ben Hardy - Contributing Writer

Between watching re-runs of the The Jetsons and convincing his Insteon and Z-Wave controls to get along, Ben Hardy is immersed in the world of home automation, home control, and home networking.