Surveillance System – Should You Choose Wireless or Wired?
If you are looking for a surveillance system for your house, there are many options to choose from. One of the primary questions you need to ask yourself as a homeowner is whether you plan to use real-time monitoring, or if you just want a home security video you can view later if there is a need.
Answering this question will help you determine whether you can use a traditional wired camera that records to video, or if your best bet is to have a wireless camera that allows you real-time remote monitoring via the Internet.
Why Do You Want a Security System?
If your primary reason for surveillance is to put a camera on your property so that its presence deters intruders, then any kind will do. And if you only plan to review a video in the event of a break-in or other home intrusion, a simple wired device that creates a video that you can view at your convenience is an inexpensive and simple option.
You can purchase a simple black and white wired camera for about $90. You simply hook the camera to your VCR, and it will create video footage that you can view at any time. One of the major disadvantages here is the number of videotapes that are going to begin to pile up in your home.
Wireless cameras are a bit more expensive, but they offer some very attractive features. These products are smaller and do not have to be wired to any recording device such as a VCR. Instead, they have a built-in transmitter that sends video signal to a receiver.
This receiver can be part of a broadband network or Ethernet, allowing remote viewing from the Internet as well as a viewing device at home. Instead of having to store your footage to video tape, you can save this information to your computer’s hard drive, cataloged by date, so that you can easily retrieve any footage you need to view.
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