| If you are considering installing security cameras on or | | | | also watch part of the yard for safety reasons. This |
| around your home, there are several questions that | | | | usually means about 10-12 feet away from the door. |
| should be answered before turning a single screw, | | | | - Any cameras that are watching entrances should be |
| drilling a single hole, or buying a single camera. If you | | | | placed on the side of the door that opens in order to |
| are on a limited budget, it is a good idea to decide | | | | see the person entering or exiting and so the door |
| ahead of time exactly what your concerns are and | | | | does not block the view. |
| limit the number of cameras to 4, as there is usually a | | | | - Use a single camera to cover your garage door and |
| jump in price between 4 and 5 cameras. This jump in | | | | your driveway. |
| price is because digital security video recorders, or | | | | - Use infrared cameras with enough power to cover |
| DVRs, come in 4 channel, 8 channel and 16 channel | | | | the area you are watching. If your driveway is 40 feet |
| configurations. I you feel you need more than four | | | | long, do not use a 25 foot infrared camera. The |
| cameras, it is usually better to go ahead and install four | | | | money you save will lead to inferior results. If you find |
| cameras using a DVR that is easily upgradable. When | | | | that you have covered the recommended entrances |
| this is the case, we recommend using a scalable | | | | and exits and still have room in the budget for another |
| PC-Based DVR system, and splitting the cost of | | | | camera or two, you should consider coverage for |
| additional cameras over time. After all, some protection | | | | areas of the home that provide risk. Your outdoor air |
| and deterrence is better than none. Just be careful to | | | | conditioner is loaded with valuable copper pipes and is |
| purchase a DVR that is easily upgradable. | | | | a common target for thieves and criminals, consider |
| If you are limited to four cameras, you will want to do | | | | covering it and part of your yard with an armored |
| everything possible to combine camera angles to | | | | infrared camera. If any of the windows in your home |
| cover as many problem areas at once. This of course | | | | have shrubbery that is not directly up to the window, |
| means wider angle lenses which will give you less | | | | consider covering these areas as burglars and thieves |
| detail. However, if you use cameras with adjustable, or | | | | like to use the shrubbery as cover while they work on |
| varifocal, lenses, you can later adjust those camera | | | | breaking into the home. This coverage is also useful if |
| angles to get better clarity and detail as you add | | | | you have teenagers that like to sneak out at night. |
| cameras later on. | | | | Interior cameras can be useful if you have baby sitters, |
| We recommend covering each entrance as the basis | | | | house sitters, or are away from home a lot and want |
| for any home security system. This means a camera | | | | to check in over the internet, but in general, they can |
| at the front door, a camera at the back door and one | | | | be saved for a later date if the budget does not allow |
| at the garage door. Because we want to maximize | | | | for it. Of course, if you purchased the right DVR, you |
| the viewing area, you may find the following tips helpful. | | | | can always upgrade later as you see fit by adding |
| - Always use outdoor cameras to watch your | | | | indoor cameras or covert cameras. |
| entrances so you can use the excess viewing area to | | | | In general, we recommend initially going with fewer |
| watch the perimeter of your home. | | | | cameras than you think you will need. Chances are |
| - Place your front door camera in a corner facing | | | | that once you have some experience watching your |
| away from the home. This allows you to see the face | | | | home on camera you will identify some areas you |
| of the person standing at your door, and will likely also | | | | want covered that you may not have thought of |
| allow you to see part of your front lawn or walkway | | | | before. This is pretty common, so we find it's a good |
| leading to your door. | | | | idea to leave a channel or two open with no cameras |
| - Place the backdoor camera close enough to the | | | | installed so you can cover those areas later on as |
| door to see detail, but far enough away that you can | | | | budget and need allows. |