D-LINK MyDlink-enabled Wireless N Network Camera

If you are concerned about security at home and want to be able to monitor your house remotely while traveling this while not perfect is a good option.

Home and Small Business Security: Logitech Indoor Add-On Security Camera

Security is important whether you are a business or home owner. This system provides an inexpensive option for many to setup a system to protect your assets.

Remember there is no fool proof system but this is a solution with a good price point

Home and Small Business Security: Logitech Outdoor Add-On Security Camera

For small and home business owners who would like an inexpensive solution to security here is an option that may be of interest.

More High level basics about CCTV Cameras (Parts and Housing)

Ever wonder why most Security CCTV Cameras are placed in housing enclosures? 

Let me explain simply – Cameras are in fact electronic devices and while used for security nothing but cameras. So to protect the camera from dust and excessive humidity they are enclosed in housing. This housing protects the camera from excessive moisture, in the case of external housing from excessive cold (via built in fan and heater) and the main lenses from dust. Many normal enclosures are almost air tight and are extremely water resistant. There are some underwater enclosures that are air and water tight. 

The main parts of a camera are

• Power connection
  
• Lens
  
• Iris (auto or manual)
  
• Housing
  
• CCD element
  
• Connector (BNC/Cat cable/Wireless)
  

High level basics about CCTV Cameras

CCTV = Closed Circuit TV. In a CCTV security system one or more cameras are used to capture the moving image and send it to a splitter or multiplexer which in tern sends the picture to a VCR(s), DVR(s), or monitor(s). What is the difference between regular and CCTV – simple – CCTV is a closed system and regular is broadcast to the public. 

Because CCTV Is a closed system it is the reason many prefer using it for security and monitoring systems. 

Have you been in a major department store (Wal-Mart, etc) or a grocery store and seem those housing outside or those mirrored domes? What about driving down the street and seeing the camera housing mounting to a traffic signal or on the highway? How about in the ceiling behind your teller in the bank? 

CCTV cameras can be just black and white but most are capable of color in high light conditions and switch to Black and white. 

In simple terms the system works by converting the image seen to electrical impulses which are then sent (in the case of RG59 Coax) via the cable then converted back to recognizable images for display on a TV via the devices mentioned earlier. A moving image (motion) is created simply by taking pictures so rapidly their appears to be motion when in fact you are only looking at a series of pictures displayed in rapid succession.

What is an auto iris and how does it work?

Like the digital camera, security cameras use a cmos (Complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor) to capture and translate the image the camera sees to data which is translated back into am image that can be viewed on a monitor . An auto iris like the iris of your eye adjusts the light level to maintain a reasonable amount of brightness. The brighter the light the smaller the iris. There are two types of irises – auto (automatic) and manual. 

Manual irises are set to a single level of light while automatic use sensors to adjust exposure. 

Yes, even in technology the iris serves the same purpose and functions much the same as the human eye's iris.

What is an IP based security camera system?

Traditionally security observation cameras used coax cables to connect tem to a splitter and/or a multiplexer. The multiplexer allows a combination of various signal sources or a signal camera to output to a video display like a TV or High definition monitor. 

The newer generation of camera allows use of a network much like a computer. There exist options of either a wired or wireless network. Many cameras even offer the option of remote control and have auto iris options as well as sound transmission. The relocation and redeployment of these camera is in many cases more cost effective than the older technologies due to the reduced likelihood of shorting a network or wireless vs a coax. Also like computers on a network they take advantage of the TCP/IP protocols and become nodes on your network meaning that they can often be individually observed by any computer that is a member of the same IP and subnet family.

Security Camera placement and technology

Today my personal camera broke. The irony is that it failed while I was considering placement of cameras for a system augmentation. Remember the phrase “Big brother is watching you!” That is literally true in more ways than you know. One of the most secure places to be is actually not an airport or even in some cases a government installation , rather it is a casino. Why, because they want to catch people trying to beat the system or the odds. Here is the challenge in that security is for honest people just like locks and contracts, a dishonest person will expend extraordinary amounts of energy to attempt to circumvent any systems and processes you put in place. Once you understand this basic fact you can start a system design.

Camera placement is important. You want to ensure the maximum amount of coverage per camera. There are some limitation – unless you have someone sign a release camera must be in a public place, that is why you never see one in a bedroom, bathroom or jail cell (baring internet peep shows).

What are your options? Many, it all depends on what you want to accomplish and how much you want to spend. With the advent and consequent advancement of IP camera you can choose between coax based systems that attach to a VCR or DVR with has a built in web router allowing connection to your computer network or an IP based camera system (either wired or wireless) which allow you the added benefit of being able to directly select from your web browser what camera you want to see and depending on the model and features control it remotely. Having a basic understanding of human behavior is helpful in this pursuit as people tend to be creature of habit and you can observe the typical traffic patterns and design a system to monitor that flow and any potential deviation from it.

Some things to consider aside from placement are frame rate, recording retention time, bandwidth, resolution, and least of all cost. Why is cost last, because first you need to determine everything you want to do and from there back into what you absolutely need. Sure there are other issues and factors – distance, light levels, power supply or POE, and of course housing, cleaning, product life, sound and environment, yet this is meant only as a high level explanation of things to consider is you are thinking about purchasing and installing (or having installed) a security system.