Do you ever wonder what is happening at home when you are not there? What are the pets doing? Are the kids having a secret party?
Technology has once again come up with a solution to the problem. Since I last wrote about this subject in early 2005, there have been developments in remote video surveillance systems. Security systems range from a single stationary camera to multiple cameras which are capable of moving and zooming in on what you want to see. Let’s discuss some of the choices:
There are live remote access and recorded systems. The live remote access systems are connected via your broadband connection (Road Runner or DSL) and stream out live video and sound to a remote computer or handheld device. The recorded systems have a VCR (video cassette recorder) or DVR (digital video recorder) recording the video which you can review when you return home. These units normally are able to record days worth of video from multiple cameras. Some systems have both capabilities, so you can watch while you’re out or when you get home.
Setting up of your system can vary in complexity depending upon how many cameras you have and where you want to put them. You will need to connect your control system to your broad band service which is usually through your Internet router. You also need wired or wireless cameras connected to your control system. Wired camera usually provides clearer images and power for the camera from the main system. However, you need to deal with running a small cable from the camera to the main control system or DVR. Wireless camera alleviates the hassles of running a cable but usually has lower quality and is a little more difficult to get to work.
These systems can send you an e-mail with or without a photo alerting you of a particular event such as a door opening or even detected motion off the video from the cameras. With multi-media cell phones today, you can receive the e-mail or SMS and in some cases even watch live video on the cell phone.
As you can imagine, the cameras are an important part of the system. You can use stationary or pan, tilt and zoom (PTZ) camera which allow the viewer to move the camera. Although the PTZ are quite more expensive (usually $500+), since they are movable, they can cover an area which would require multiple stationary cameras and therefore maybe more economical. Also these cameras are capable of seeing in daylight and night via infrared lights.
Where do you buy them? There are a few stores in Hawaii that carry these systems if you want to install it yourself (Costco, Sams Club and Radio Shack as well as other electronics stores). NxTech System (808-457-1352: Perry Kaleohano) will sell you the system and teach you how to install it yourself. There are full service companies such as Security Alarm Shop (808-523-0121) and that will sell you the system and install it too. You can order off of the web but shipping cost may eliminate any savings from buying from a local store.
Once you have your remote security/monitoring system set up, you will never need to wonder what is happening at your home when you are away.
