You need to make your home as unattractive as possible to would-be burglars. Lots of outdoor lighting, a 250-pound watchdog, a foolproof alarm system 5 Cheapest Ways to Create Your Own Wireless Home Security Alarm 5 Cheapest Ways to Create Your Own Wireless Home Security Alarm Place one of these five wireless home security alarms along with Recommend components, or use them as inspiration to create your own alarm system. Read More
But even the most expensive security cameras won't be much of a deterrent if they're poorly installed.
In this article, I'll explain five of the most common mistakes people make when setting up their security cameras. Hopefully, it will help you avoid making the same mistakes.
Your exterior cameras must be visible from the street. Many people make the mistake of trying to hide them How to Detect Hidden Home Surveillance Cameras With Your Phone How to Detect Hidden Home Surveillance Cameras With Your Phone Are you being watched? If you're worried about surveillance, here's how to reveal hidden cameras using a smartphone app. Read more.
If you hide them, you will be removing the deterrent factor. Sure, you can capture a criminal on film without them knowing, but your possessions could be long gone. The police won't be able to do much with a lot of footage of a teenager in a balaclava walking around with his TV.
Make it obvious that your home is being watched. Install the cameras in conspicuous places that are hard to reach. Put a sign outside your front door to let the world know your property is under surveillance. He wants every criminal in town to know that his home is a fortress. 8 Gadgets to better protect your home while traveling 8 Gadgets to better secure your home while traveling There are hundreds of smart home products that will keep your home safe and secure while you travel. . Sit back and read about the best smart home products designed to keep your home safe. Read more.
Obviously you need to make sure your camera is covering the areas you want to monitor. But locating the ideal place goes beyond such simple interpretations..
Cameras are only effective if they can provide 24/7 coverage. For example, direct sunlight in the afternoon could render the camera's output useless. Rain or snow can block the lens and make images unusable. Tree branches can obscure the camera's line of sight on a windy day.
Perhaps most important of all, if you have a smart system connected to the Internet, make sure the location has a strong and consistent Wi-Fi signal Wi-Fi Extenders vs. Powerline Adapters:How to Fix Poor Wireless Signals Extenders Wi-Fi vs. Powerline Adapters:How to Fix Poor Wireless Signals If your router's Wi-Fi signals are weak and unreliable and you can't seem to find a solution, Wi-Fi extenders and/or adapters may be the answer. of power line. Read more !
Put your camera in a protected area that is in the shade all day. Check, recheck, and recheck the live feed in a variety of weather conditions to make sure the footage is adequate if it's ever needed.
If you have decided to install a home security system and are starting to browse Amazon or eBay to see what is available. Safe and Sound:4 Smart Home Security Devices. Safe and Sound:4 Smart Home Security Devices. More information. It inevitably comes through some cheap systems.
On first inspection, they sound appealing:why pay four or five times the price for the same thing? A video output is a video output, right?
Wrong.
Not all security cameras are created equal. Cheap cameras may have poor resolution or night vision (or even no night vision at all). They may not have recording capabilities and will only allow live monitoring instead. Some don't connect to Wi-Fi, so you won't be able to watch them when you're away from home.
Of course, you need to spend within your means, and something is always going to be better than nothing. But if you're serious about home security, you need to make sure that at least a few basic requirements are met.
Do your research:check other users' comments, read independent review sites, search YouTube for examples of their video output. Don't waste your money unless you are sure your investment will meet your needs.
If you have a system connected to the Internet, you will be able to access it when you are away from the premises. That's great, it gives you peace of mind and means you can quickly alert your neighbors or the police if you see something suspicious going on.
But beware. You will need a password to access live feeds remotely. Often the camera will provide you with a preset password, such as “password”, “administration”, or the name of the manufacturer.
If your password falls into that category, you should change it immediately. If you don't, criminals can gain access to your system. Home security systems may not be as secure as you think. Home security systems may not be as secure as you think. It happened and why it happened. Read more . That allows them to learn about the layout of your property and your daily routines. You are making yourself an easy and prime target..
All the usual rules about creating strong passwords 6 Tips for Creating an Unbreakable Password You Can Remember 6 Tips for Creating an Unbreakable Password You Can Remember If your passwords aren't unique and unbreakable, you might as well open your front door and invite thieves in. lunch. Read more apply.
Getting your system installed by a professional is an easy way to avoid many of the pitfalls I've covered in this article.
They will make sure that the cameras are in the correct location and that they are physically well installed. You don't want a camera to fall off the wall in a heavy storm.
Reputable companies will also offer a guarantee. If you find that the cameras are not working as expected, they will come back to fix the problem. If you have done a DIY installation and something goes wrong, you are responsible.
In the United States, the most reputable companies are members of the Electronic Security Association. They must adhere to a strict Code of Ethics and Rules of Conduct..
I've given you five tips that will put you on the path to a secure and reliable setup, but home security veterans will have plenty more helpful tips to add to my list.
I would love to hear your advice and opinions. Have you experienced some security camera horror stories that your fellow readers can learn from? Have you installed your own system and learned some valuable lessons?
You can get in touch with your tips, ideas and suggestions in the comment box below.
