Security Cameras

A major source of cameras has become the world’s biggest shopping playground – Ebay. Manufacturers of cameras in countries such as China sell to the general public at almost trade prices, and a search for “CCTV cameras ” or “surveillance cameras” can generate thousands of results at any given time.

Given this it is unsurprising that enterprising small businesses have begun to appear that provide a shop front to display such wears – at marked up price – for perusal and purchase by the casual buyer. And in a world where paranoia is prevalent, a small but increasing market that desires these products for additional peace of mind has steadily developed over the last decade.

In the home, covert surveillance cameras fall into three categories. Static disguised cameras, computerized cameras and internet ready cameras. Static disguised cameras are cameras that are built into every day objects – books, smoke alarms, picture frames, clocks – with the objective of observing a given area. Infamous in the media as “nanny cams” these cameras are often used to gather evidence where a babysitter or maid is suspected of wrongdoing. The cheaper of these cameras comes with long leads that allow connection to conventional VHS video recorders, more expensive ones have solid state SD chips or small tapes built in.

The category also includes the smallest kind of camera money can buy, pinhole cameras, which measure slightly less than an inch square and run from a small nine volt battery. Available in wired, with wires that attach to conventional VHS video recorders, or wireless that have a short range onboard radio transmitter and are supplied with a receiver (that is often much larger than the camera itself!) that can be plugged into a video recorder or television in a different room.

Computerized cameras are webcams or notebook cameras that are controlled by specialist software. Such cameras can store any footage or still frames captured over the internet, and are often switched on and off by motion sensing software that divides the field of view into a grid of squares that are then monitored for change. The software can control the sensitivity so that it does not trigger when small animals such as cats or small dogs move through the cameras field of view, but trigger when anything larger moves. Occasional media stories have appeared showing such things as thieves stealing the computer and camera; these thieves having been captured because clear pictures of them were stored on the internet and later retrieved by the police. Although they stole the actual equipment, the incriminating footage, stored elsewhere, led to their apprehension and arrest.

At the top of the market range is the IP camera. These cameras can be extremely powerful, able to see in total darkness, controllable via a standard internet web browser over the internet, able to swivel through a wide field of vision and able to zoom in on command. These cameras can be wired to a router on a home network or can be wireless on B, G and N standard home wireless networks. Sophisticated software can take specific action, such as sending text messages to their owners in the event of the motion sensing software being triggered. Some of the most sophisticated are even capable of using color patterning to detect possible fire (an increasing orange-red region of their view triggering a fire alert).

There are even some out-of-the-box solutions; PC expansion cards that have coaxial connectors for up to four cameras and are supplied with software, cameras and several hundred feet of coaxial cable perfect for residences with high value outdoor premises or belongings. These kits can do everything up and including informing police of suspicious activity as well as notifying lists of people via phone text messages or email. Such kits require no knowledge of security systems, and are literally “plug and play”. Secure the camera in its location, plug in the power lead, plug in one end of the coaxial lead with the other being connected to the card in the back of the PC, install the software, answer a few questions and the system is up and running.

From a limited budget of under one hundred dollars to several thousands of dollars, todays technology provides the home and small business with unparalleled surveillance possibilities.