Security Cameras and Video Surveillance Options
Having security cameras in your home or business is very popular these days. With technology moving at a fast pace and prices being more affordable, almost everyone has a security camera.
Doorbell Camera
The most common security camera is a doorbell camera. The best doorbell camera you can get is with Alarm.com. Most people add it to their security system package that also uses the alarm.com app. Doorbell cameras can help you see what is on the ground in front of your door so you can monitor when packages arrive and they can also help you see who is at your door. They usually use the existing wires from a wired doorbell, but they even have battery-powered options now also.
Cloud Cameras
The most common cameras nowadays are cameras that record to the cloud. Alarm.com has the best ones because they are connected to their analytics that can tell the difference between a person and the wind blowing a tree. (which means less clips wasted and less false notifications)
Cloud cameras can be wired with a power wire and connect to Wi-Fi or they can also be wired with ethernet (Cat5/Cat6) cable and powered with a PoE switch.
The cloud cameras do not require a local recorder, but one can be added if you wanted 24/7 recordings in addition to the cloud recordings. You can even add an SD card in the cameras to also accomplish this.
Indoor and Outdoor Cameras Overview
Call us today at 1-800-871-2119 or send us an email from the contact us page and we will help you decide which is best for you.
You need to plan on an upload speed of around 1-2Mbps per camera. If your upload speed is 2 Mps than you will be able to handle 1-2 ADT Command cameras without any issues. You can check your speed at www.speedtest.com. ADT has cameras with resolution up to 2MP/1080P available. Alarm.com cameras are 2mp-4mp available, where 4MP to 8MP/4K are available with HD-TVI and IP Cameras.
The wired camera options are either HD-TVI or IP Cameras. (There used to be analog cameras, which are just about all discontinued, but they are being replaced with HD-TVI Cameras). Wired camera systems usually record around a month of video on a hard drive and you can access them over the internet on a smartphone or a computer when away from the home or business most of the time. Having a local recording only option like this is a great option if there is not internet available at the home or business.
Alarm.com Cameras:
Pros: You can record to the cloud, they are connected to artificial intelligence. Great for notifications and excellent app experience.
Cons: You still have a limited number of clips based on your monitoring package. While you still have the option to add more clips per month, you still do not 24/7 recording unless. you add an SD card or a hard drive.
Alarm.com 1080p Indoor Wi-Fi Camera
Get smarter video alerts and high-quality live and recorded video with the Alarm.com 1080p Indoor Wi-Fi Camera. Powerful Video Analytics from Alarm.com can detect and alert you to people, vehicles, and animals entering your property. With a wide field of view, night vision, and High Dynamic Range (HDR), the Alarm.com 1080p Indoor Wi-Fi Camera lets you see what’s important – no matter the time of day or lighting conditions.
Alarm.com Outdoor Wi-Fi Camera with Two-Way Audio
The Alarm.com Outdoor Wi-Fi Camera with Two-Way Audio is Alarm.com’s first outdoor camera with Two-Way Audio, allowing for proactive deterrence of unwanted activity on a customer’s property. Powerful Video Analytics from Alarm.com can detect and alert customers to people and animals active around their homes or businesses. Two-Way Audio gives your customers the power to discourage unwanted visitors. Plus, thanks to Onboard Recording with Smart View your customers can locally record encrypted video onto a microSD (sold separately) and view footage from anywhere.
Alarm.com Pro 1080P Poe Dome Camera
The Alarm.com Pro 1080P Poe Dome Camera is a PoE camera designed for the use of indoor and outdoor environments. The camera comes with a dark gray cover that can be optionally attached to change the appearance of the camera for aesthetic purposes. AS part of the commercial Pro Series line, the camera enables intelligent analytics for object detection and business activity tracking.
IP CAMERA SYSTEM
Pros: These record high definition up to 12MP (1080P and 4K). The best picture quality available on the market today is from IP Cameras. You are more likely to record the detail needed to identify a license plate or personal features and help with prosecution.
Cons: They need to be wired. There are some wireless options, but they are not usually used. The cost has come down quite a bit but it can be prohibitive. (a 4 camera package is around $2500 installed) There is sometimes a small lag in viewing since it takes a while to process these large video files and display them. The wire runs can be more difficult if they are 150-300ft away. If they are more than 300ft away you would need to have a POE switch in the middle, use a bridge or use HD-TVI.
IP Bullet Camera
These cameras are the easiest to install and they come in white and sometimes gray. They have a 2.8mm fixed lens (81.2° angle). They also come in 4MP, 6MP, and 8MP(4K) resolutions. They can see in the dark up to around 90 ft. They are usually around $299 each and you can buy one here.
IP Dome Camera
These are a little more low profile and they come in white only usually. I{ Dome Cameras can be especially helpful if you think someone could reach and mess with the camera. Usually they are mounted under a ceiling or horizontal surface. They also can see in the dark and come in 4MP, 6MP, or 8MP (4K). They are usually around $299 each and more information can be found here on them.
Network Video Recorder
All of your wired IP Cameras need to connect back to an NVR. It provides the power over ethernet to your cameras and also has a hard drive to record. You can get an NVR that has a capacity of 4, 8, 16, or 32, 64, or even 128 IP Cameras. Look here for more information.
HD-TVI CAMERA SYSTEM
Pros: These record high definition up to 3MP (1080P). These are great if you have existing wiring from analog cameras and you want the best quality without having to re-wire. They can also be ran much further away on a single wire than IP Cameras. They are also very low cost. They are better for wire runs longer than 300ft. They usually have less lag than an IP Camera.
Cons: They cannot reach as high definition as IP Cameras but pretty darn close.
HD-TVI Bullet Camera
These cameras are the easiest to install and they come in white and gray. They have a 4mm fixed lens. They also come in 1MP-4MP resolutions. It has IR Leds so it can see in the dark up to around 90 ft. They start at $178 and you can buy them directly here.
HD-TVI Dome Camera
These are a little more low profile and they come in white only. They also have IR LEDS and come in 1MP-4MP variety. They start at $178 and more information can be found here on them.
Digital Video Recorder
All of your wired HD-TVI Cameras need to connect back to this DVR. You connect your cameras via RG59 Coax cable and also has a hard drive to record the video. The HD-TVI Cameras are powered separately from a power supply. You can get an DVR that has a capacity of 4, 8, 16, or 32 HD-TVI Cameras. Look here for more information.