CCTV cameras are now gaining in popularity with ordinary customers
to secure homes, home businesses and other personal properties.
CCTV security systems are an excellent safety measure to
your home or office.
What is CCTV Security Cameras
CCTV stands for Closed Circuit TeleVision, and is a system of
security cameras all linked to one monitoring system.
They are use for visual surveillance designed to monitor all the
variety of rooms, spaces and activities. CCTV is called a "closed circuit"
because cameras and monitors are linked with a constant connection.
Benefits of CCTV
At home
- Deter potential thieves.
- Identify visitors.
- Increase security.
- 24-hour access to the activities on your property.
For Business
- Deter potential thieves.
- Monitor cash registers.
- Record evidence to prevent bogus accident claims.
- Identify visitors and employees.
- Monitor hazardous work areas.
- Increase security in and around business premises and parking lots.
- Meet insurance requirements.
- 24-hour access to the activities on your business.
Evaluate your needs
Before starting to compare cctv cameras or choose potential
vendors, you need to evaluate your needs carefully.
- Do you want to monitor general comings and goings?
- Do you want to see faces, merchandise, crowds?
- Do you need a wireless or wired CCTV security cameras?
- Do you need an indoor and/or indoor cctv camera systems?
- Do you need a one camera system? Two cameras system? 8,9 or 16 cameras
system?
- What is your budget?
How Much?
What is your budget for your CCTV security cameras? Several
factors will influence the price:
- Cameras, CCTV
monitors, recorders, and cabling to connect the system.
- The need for a quality installation.
When shopping for CCTV security cameras, shopping by price
alone is not a good approach.
Some dealers will put together low-end packages to try to lure
price-conscious
shoppers - these systems suffer from lower quality, shaky
reliability, and will not last for years and years the way higher
quality systems will.
On the Internet, you can find complete CCTV packages of 4 to
16 cameras, including a monitor and VCR.
Often they look like great deals and most of the time, they
are too good to be true!
Low-quality components and a lack of support combine
to create an offer that can do more harm than good to your home or business.
The following is to use as guideline only as technology and
prices are changing so fast:
- Installed system is $500 to $1000 per camera, plus the cost of your
recording device. This depends quite a bit on the types of hardware you
choose and how you set it up.
Cameras and lenses
- Basic CCTV security cameras are not very expensive. Because the
hardware cost is fairly low, it is worth spending a little extra money
to get better system performance. Brand name cameras can be found for
$150 to $250, and are often a better investment than a no-name camera.
- Remember that in most cases you are purchasing a camera without a
lens, so there is more to spend before you get a workable system. Lens
prices vary widely.
Fixed focal length lenses can go for $100 to $300
depending on size and whether they have a manual or auto iris; automatic
zoom lenses can be between $800 and $2,000.
Recording devices and peripherals
- This is another area where your needs will determine how much you
spend. DVRs generally start at $800 to $1500 and get more expensive the
more memory and inputs you add.
If you are on a tight budget and willing to invest in
fading technology, good time-lapse VCRs designed for security use start
at $300 to $400 and go up to $600 or more.
- Housings can cost from $25 to $200, depending on the degree of
protection they provide.
- CRT monitors can go for $150 to $500 and flat panels range from $300
to over $5000. Both are heavily dependent on screen size.
