How Do I Install A Wireless Video Surveillance System?

Video surveillance systems offer you an easy way to monitor your home or business for theft or vandalism, with high quality CCT video cameras. The types of cameras come down to two choices, wired and wireless. This article will focus on installing a 2.4Ghz wireless video surveillance system, as they are the easiest to set up, comply with FCC guidelines, and are the choice for people who don't want to, or can't run cables to each camera, or are using hidden cameras.

If you can follow instructions, and have common skills, you can install the video surveillance system yourself, or you can hire someone to do it for you. It's a good idea to know the basics of wireless cameras and digital video recording systems, as well as setting them up before you start. Since you don't have to run cables, you should be able to install the system with some basic tools in an afternoon. The big advantage of the wireless video cameras over a wired video camera is that they can be put up to 2,000 feet from the receiver using a high power option. You would have to buy a lot of expensive cable and run it inside the building, which is expensive if you hire someone.

A wireless home system requires multiple parts, and each one needs to be set up correctly. The first thing you would do is determine where you will put your cameras. If they are dome or bullet cameras, you might want to consider put one facing a front and rear door. Other areas would be the kitchen, side windows, stairway, or a bedroom at home, and the back of the store or warehouse, and the office if a business. That's a four camera system, though there are eight, sixteen, and thirty two camera systems for larger needs.

Position the camera lens at your subject, and simple drywall screws or mollies should mount the camera to the ceiling or wall, if no mounting screws are included. Bullet cameras have holes to secure it right to a wall or ceiling. Some dome cameras mount like a smoke detector; you put up a bracket, and the camera twists onto the bracket. Others require the dome to be removed first, and then you mount the camera to the ceiling and replace the dome.

You can go back later to adjust the position or lens; we are just installing them right now. If you are going to use these at night, you need a low light or night vision capable camera, which has a series of infrared sensors around the lens to light up a dark area. If you are recording in lighted areas, you don't need the IR capabilities, as it adds to the cost of the camera.

If the cameras are hidden inside an everyday object, you still need to figure out where to position the cameras. Clock and boom box cameras blend in with a desk or shelf, Nanny Cams put inside toys or dolls look good mixed with the other toys in a child's room. Exit sign or emergency light cameras need to be put near exits, and a hidden camera in pencil sharpener's or shredder's work well at an office or business.

The next step is to decide where you will put your monitoring/recording equipment. No matter if it's a PC based surveillance system, a DVR recorder, VHS, or just a Quad and a monitor, you need to find an office or area to set it up according to the manufactures instructions.

Once you get those set up and working, you then position the receivers that receive the 2.4 GHz video feed from the transmitter inside the camera. You set up one receiver for each camera, or you can hook four cameras to one receiver. If you hook up four cameras to one receiver, you would have to switch between each camera image; you could not split it into four views on the same monitor. You would need four receivers if you want to split the screen into 4 quadrants.

You hook each receiver to the video inputs of the PC, DVR, VCR, or Quad, and power them up; you should have a video feed from each camera. If not, make sure the batteries in the transmitters in the cameras are fresh, you did not exceed the recommended distance from the camera transmitter to the receiver, or the receivers are plugged in and powered, correctly to what you intend to use to record.

Once you get your video feed, you go back and adjust each camera to point at exactly what you need it to record, and if needed, change any lens, or adjust the focus if that is an option. You should have clear feeds from each camera and you can try to record it to disc. Follow the instructions the manufacture provides, and you should be in business.

Try to record 5-10 minutes, then stop the recording and review the video with the software. Then try to burn a disc according to the instructions, and see if the disc plays in a computer. Make sure everything is working before you call it a day, then sit back and relax, knowing your own private Colombo is on call, monitoring your valuable property 24/7/365.