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Showing posts with label speed dome cameras. Show all posts
Showing posts with label speed dome cameras. Show all posts

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

PERIMETER SECURITY BASICS

Last week we covered the essentials of interior security, from changing locks and storing valuables to motion sensors and offsite monitoring services. This week, we're going to take a closer look at some perimeter security basics that can keep a criminal from even entering your home in the first place.

It can be said that the basic difference between perimeter protection and interior security is this: while perimeter security emphasises personal safety, interior security is oriented toward protection of property. Interior security practises limit the likelihood of serious losses when a break-in does occur, and can often facilitate recovery of stolen goods; perimeter protection can often prevent a burglary in the first place, or at least alert the occupants of a home to an intrusion.

Everyday Home Perimeter Security Practises


Having sufficient lighting at all doors, windows and other openings around your home can be one of the most powerful deterrents to criminal activity. Without the cover of darkness, the would-be intruder loses confidence; their activities are plain for anyone to see, especially at the areas of entry.

Along the same vein, having good lighting in the front and rear of your property can be tremendously helpful. Encourage your neighbors to do the same!

Reduce available cover, such as from shrubs or bushes around your home. Keeping greenery trim and small in size is not only attractive overall, but useful in a practical way: criminals will be less capable of concealing themselves, and thus be less likely to target your home for a break-in.

Many homeowners keep a pet, most often a dog, on their property. This is one of the oldest and most effective ways of preventing unwanted visitation, as a dog will instinctively react to the presence of strangers, alerting both you and neighbors. Remember that a well-trained animal is always more useful in this capacity, as this will reduce false alarms and irritation.

Cameras as a Powerful Criminal Deterrent


Short of the much more high-cost and complex solutions that exist, the standard security camera is the ultimate in basic outdoor perimeter protection.

Many types of security cameras have been discussed in previous posts here on Safety and Security in St. Louis / St. Charles Missouri. Each one has a particular application; we're going to explore those options now.

The bullet camera is the most common and recognisable form of perimeter security around. Known for its distinctive rectangular shape and noticeable presence, the basic bullet camera sends a universal message to potential intruders: these premises are monitored and recorded, and your actions will not go without being noticed. Even before any criminal activity is ever recorded, the bullet camera makes the home intruder think twice before making a move on your property.

As a more advanced solution, the PTZ (pan, tilt and zoom) camera and speed dome camera are a very potent means of preventing and recording unwanted visitors from violating your peace of mind. With the ability to either manually or automatically monitor a wide area, the continual activity and active observation of such a device is a sure thorn in the side of home invaders. A moving camera such as one of these is even more of a deterrent, as it suggests active and ongoing measures against intrusion on the part of a homeowner.

Your Best Security Solution


Having offsite monitoring services in place can often be the ultimate in preventing or responding to trespassers of any kind. When you hire Eye Spy to keep tabs on your security feed, we can alert you and the police to any violation of your privacy - within minutes. This is the eye in the sky that criminals fear the most.

Whatever your perimeter security need, Eye Spy Electronics has the solution for you. Contact us today by phone (877-821-4880) or email (sales@eyespyelectronics.com) to get a free quote and discuss your best home security strategy.

Dan Parrington is a freelance content writer for a variety of small businesses across the web. He operates out of his primary business website, The Parrington Review. You can contact him at dan@parringtonreview.com.

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

UNDERSTANDING THE SECURITY CAMERA

All Surveillance Systems Are Not Equal

Deciding to install a security camera system at your home or business is certainly a firm first step, but it is by no means the last one you'll take. There are a variety of surveillance tools available today, and knowing which one suits your need can make all the difference.

Let's have a look at several of the most common types.

Bullet Camera

 

These devices are named for their shape - sometimes as minimal as 2 inches long, their streamlined, cylindrical form says it all. They are generally mounted on ceilings or walls in a fixed position, served by a simple focal lens.

Bullet cameras tend to be inexpensive and of simple installation, but incur serious limitations in terms of image quality and coverage because of their simple construction. This is a good option for the budgeting consumer - any video surveillance is better than none, after all.

Dome Camera

 

So-called for its transparent dome-shaped housing, this camera is most often mounted on a ceiling, but can be placed on a wall as well, depending on what range of view is desired. The dome can be tinted to obscure the camera's known line of sight.

Dome cameras allow for a relatively non-invasive form of surveillance in an indoor setting. They remind the occupants of a home or patrons of a business that the area is being safely monitored without creating an aggressively monitored environment.

PTZ and Speed Dome Cameras

 

These amount to variations on the bullet and dome formats; in both cases, the standard device has been enhanced with the ability to extend its range and zoom by means of motorised adjustments in position and focus.

PTZ is the acronym for pan/tilt/zoom. A bullet camera modified in this way is able to pan left or right, tilt up and down, and zoom in or out. The speed dome camera is a dome setup with spin functionality. In either of these setups, the control can be manual or automated, as in a timed cycle.

PTZ and speed dome cameras are much more advanced than their simple counterparts, and thus carry a heftier tag. It's easy to imagine, though, the advantages they carry over fixed installations in terms of range and quality of coverage.

Covert Camera

 

While a covert camera may not always be radically different from the construction types listed above, it has a very specific purpose: to record without being noticed.

The covert camera can simply be a dome or bullet camera installed discreetly, or it can take the form of a tiny camera, such as a board camera, installed within an obscuring object. The camera within a clock or smoke detector is a good example of this.

It's important to note that while a covert camera may be exactly what you need in a given application, it is illegal in many states to record an individual without their knowledge. Keep this in mind before deciding to install covert surveillance.

Every Camera Has a Home at Eye Spy Electronics

There are more varieties of camera than this article has listed, and we'll follow up on that later this week.

Whether you're looking for an intricate and extensive public installation, or something very simple and budget-oriented for your home, Eye Spy Electronics has the solution for you.

We have dozens of possible variations on the theme, but with our experience and expertise, we'll quickly narrow it down to just the right product for your need. Visit us at our company website to see what we have to offer, or stop by our security forum for some Q&A. We're never too busy to answer your questions.

Remember, folks: your peace of mind is our business. Visit us and receive your free quote today!

Dan Parrington is a freelance content writer for a variety of small businesses across the web. He operates out of his primary business website, The Parrington Review. You can contact him at dan@parringtonreview.com.