Home Security Beat

Features to Consider When Choosing IP Surveillance Cameras

A surveillance camera is an incredible tool for homeowners to keep tabs on their property. Until you have recorded footage of your house during the day and night, you don’t really know what goes on when you’re not watching. Sure, maybe the deer are eating your garden, but a peeking stranger is definitely something you would want to know about. An Internet Protocol (IP) camera is a device designed for those who are always on the go. Instead of storing the footage on an SD card or PC, the recording is transmitted via the Internet. IP cameras offer even more features for those with busy lifestyles.

Types of IP Cameras

Depending on where you want to use your camera, there are indoor and outdoor models available. Weatherproof models are perfect for the backyard patio, garage and front door.

Once you decide on where you’re going to install the camera, you can choose among points of view. For example, a fixed camera has a predetermined perspective while a pan/tilt/zoom (PTZ) either manually or automatically moves up and down and side to side. With PTZ cameras, you can set a “home” position, which means that after a few moments of inactivity, the lens will return to a neutral position.

Night Vision

In order to see what is happening when dusk falls, you need a camera that has a night mode function or one with a low lux rating. If you’re going to have an outdoor camera, you might as well spring for the night vision capability, because it would be terrible to miss getting a shot of the burglar’s face or car.

Audio Features

Depending on your preference, audio features might be important to you. There are either one-way or two-way audio features. With one-way you can hear what the camera’s microphone picks up, but with two-way you can hear and also transmit your voice through a computer microphone. If you’re children play outside around the house, the two-way might be convenient so you can keep an eye and ear on the kids while you’re inside.

Power Over Ethernet Equals Easy Installation

Are you going to be installing the IP camera on your own? Then it’s in your best interest to use a power over Ethernet (PoE) switch. This guarantees compatibility between equipment, and it reduces your installation trouble to one wire.

IP surveillance cameras have many of the same features of non-IP cameras, but when the recordings are transmitted via the Internet, it makes like much easier for travelers, single parents, business professionals, etc.

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