What Type Of Home Security System Is Right For You?

When securing your home, you want to best security protection money can buy. There are so many types of surveillance systems to choose from, it might seem like an insurmountable decision figuring out which one is best for your home. That’s what I’m here for – to help you. So, let’s talk about the different types of security systems to help you decide which one is best for your home.

I’m going to begin with a quick synopsis of your purchasing options, and then I’m going to provide you with some scenarios to help you with your home security decision. Hopefully, pairing the two will give you the security – pardon the pun – you need to feel comfortable in your home security system decision. Let’s start with cameras:

Security Camera Options

• Night Vision/IR Cameras – Night vision or infrared cameras are what their name suggests, cameras that can record images in the dark. Night vision/IR cameras emit infrared lighting that allows them to “see” in the dark.
• Dome Cameras – Dome cameras are surveillance cameras encased inside a dome so they are more aesthetically pleasing to the eye. They are more discreet, yet still capable of recording images in hi-definition at 360-degree angles.
• Outdoor Cameras – Outdoor cameras are surveillance cameras that are encased inside a weatherproof unit to protect the delicate machinery from the outdoor elements. These cameras are tough and can handle whatever the weather prediction is.
• Network/IP Cameras – Network/IP cameras record images in high-definition, compress the image data, and send it over a networked signal for easy access. Viewers can see their security images on a computer or other Internet-accessible device.

Recording System

The next thing you need to consider when purchasing a home security system is whether to record your images to a DVR or NVR. You know what a DVR is; an NVR is a Network Video Recorder, and the primary difference between the two is an analog versus digital feed. Your DVR has an analog feed, whereas the NVR records a digital feed.  Briefly, however:

• DVR Monitoring System – A DVR receives an analog feed and encodes it within the DVR unit itself. Units are generally hardwired to the security cameras and remain in a fixed location. Security feeds can be recorded onto a DVD and viewed elsewhere.
• NVR Monitoring System – An NVR receives the encoded video feed from IP/Network cameras only. NVR systems are generally Wi-Fi and offsite. Viewers look at their security feed from an Internet-capable device.

So what’s the best system for you ? Let’s look at some scenarios to help you decide.

• Outdoor Security – Let’s assume for just a moment that you are concerned about the outer perimeter of your property. Your house is equipped with a burglar alarm, and you simply want to increase your protection by adding surveillance equipment outdoors. In this case, a DVR security system with outdoor cameras should do the trick. You can view your security feed from a monitor inside the house, and since DVR systems are capable of supporting anywhere from four to 32 channels, you can have four to 32 surveillance cameras feeding into your system. If you don’t have adequate lighting outside your home at night, you can incorporate night vision/IR cameras into your system.
• Indoor Security – Concerned about your babysitter? Maybe you want to ensure your kids are doing their homework as they’re supposed to be while you’re at work? Well, in this case you’ll do better to use network/IP cameras feeding compressed images to an NVR monitoring system. Network/IP cameras can be discreet; the people you are monitoring will not know they’re being watched. Plus, you can view the feed away from your home, so you know exactly what your sitter or kids are doing even though you aren’t there!
• Indoor/Outdoor Security – You can also combine your security measures by using outdoor network/IP cameras outside your home, and indoor network/IP cameras for a total home security package. This works well for those concerned about outdoor and indoor dangers, and, again, feeding to an NVR monitoring systems allows you to monitor your home when away from it, which brings you total peace of mind!

I hope that I have helped you some by breaking home security down in this blog post. Please keep in mind, however, that home security is a personal decision, and your security needs really are based on your home, your property, and exactly why you are looking into a home security system in the first place. As such, please contact us to discuss your personal security needs. That way, we can tailor the perfect home security system for you and your home security budget!