It’s not unusual these days to find CCTV systems in stores, restaurants and manufacturing facilities, but is there any real advantage to installing a CCTV security system in your home? Ask your home insurance agent that question, and the answer you get will be a resounding yes. Home CCTV systems can be an important addition to your home security, and most insurers recognize their benefits to the point of reducing your insurance premiums when you install a home security system with CCTV capabilities.

Better Security with Home CCTV Systems

Most CCTV security systems work two ways – they transmit and record at the same time. This offers a double benefit in terms of security. On the one hand, you can actually watch what is going on in areas of your home that are monitored by a CCTV camera while it’s happening. This is handiest if your home is set up for monitoring with a security firm that offers home security monitoring, but it’s also handy if you just want to keep an eye on things – keeping an eye on your napping baby, for example.

The other benefit of home security video through a CCTV system is the ability to view the recording after the fact. Imagine, for example, that a thief breaks into your home while you’re out. Your video recording can be instrumental in helping the police identify the thief, and serves as evidence in the event of a trial.

A video surveillance camera also makes it easier for you to observe parts of your property that are not in easy view of your home. A CCTV camera mounted over the front door allows you to see anyone approaching the house, or to check who’s at the door without opening it. A camera gives you a better view of entire area than a fish-eye peephole, and can be set to scan the entire area periodically.

There are many different types of home CCTV systems available, including those designed for installation outdoors and those designed for covert installation. Some of your other options include PC-based home CCTV cameras, which can be integrated into your home security system through your computer, and stand-alone DVR CCTV systems, which can be plugged directly into your television set with a standard cable.

CCTV systems are far less expensive than most people imagine. Technology advances have made them cheaper to manufacture and put the basic CCTV camera and surveillance system well in range for most homeowners. If you’re considering improving the security for your home, contact a local CCTV security specialist to learn more about CCTV systems and installation for your home.

CCTV systems are a valuable addition to any home security system. Choosing the right system for your home, however, can be tricky if, like most people, you don’t know much about the technology. It doesn’t have to be complicated, though. Just keep in mind the basics of CCTV systems and figure out which kind of security camera and monitor system is right for your home or business. This basic overview of CCTV systems will help you choose the right pieces to put together a great system.

Appearance

Let’s start with the least important but most obvious factor first – looks. The CCTV camera with many systems is quite obvious and easy to see. If you’re buying a security system for your store or business, this may be an advantage – it does have a deterrent effect. Likewise, an obvious CCTV camera mounted outside your front door will make it clear to a would-be burglar that their exploits may be filmed for posterity. If, on the other hand, you want to be able to conceal your surveillance, there are many systems that feature sleek, small cameras that are easy to conceal, or that fit right into your décor.

Black and White or Color?

Color is not always your best choice for a surveillance camera. The majority of CCTV systems that film outdoors are black and white systems, sometimes with low light or infrared settings to capture images after dark. A color CCTV camera is more expensive, but will give you better detail and definition for indoor surveillance.

Wired or Wireless?

Wired CCTV systems are more expensive and harder to set up than a basic wireless security system. Unless you’re a skilled home handyman or use a contractor to install your system, you’ll have cables and wires running along walls and floors. Basic wireless systems are less expensive, but the coverage can be spottier and the pictures are often poor quality. The technology improves every day, though, so keep your eyes open for improvements that may make wireless CCTV systems much more desirable.

Resolution

The higher the resolution of the security camera, the better the picture quality will be. Unlike digital cameras, which measure resolution in megapixels, CCTV cameras measure resolution in lines, usually abbreviated as TVLs for TV lines. A basic security camera will offer 380 to 420 TVLs. Better quality CCTV systems include cameras that offer up to 570 TVLs.

Choosing among the many CCTV systems available depends on knowing what you need and how you’ll use the system. Talk with an authorized dealer to find out more about available CCTV systems that will fit your needs.

Can a CCTV security system increase your profits? CCTV systems, closed circuit television cameras with monitors, can allow you to monitor your property and help head off problems, but it can also help stop entitled employees from siphoning off your profits into their friends’ drinks.

If you own a bar or tavern, you don’t need an industry survey to tell you that you lose as much as 35% of your possible profit due to “shrinkage” –the euphemism for what you lose in productivity thanks to employee theft, poor work habits and pure incompetence. Bar owners, for example, are often at the mercy of bartenders who pour free drinks for friends, over pour drinks for favorite customers or make a drink for the hot blond with Grey Goose instead of Smirnoff. It may not seem like much to the bartender, but when it happens shift after shift, it can take a healthy bite out of your weekly profits.

You may, however, be surprised to find out that poor work habits can account for a bite nearly as big as theft does. Most employees guilty of “wastage” don’t really mean to cost you money, and they’d be surprised to realize how costly their little mistakes can be over time. Many bar owners are startled to learn, after purchasing a CCTV surveillance system, just how much of their potential profits end up poured down the drain as “mistakes” or when a pitcher placed under a tap for filling overflows because the bartender is distracted.

Cameras mounted where they can record the goings on behind the bar can help you pinpoint incidents of waste and outright theft so that you can deal with them through better training or through disciplinary actions. That alone can increase your profits by a surprising margin. Even more importantly, a video surveillance system at the door can help establish facts when you’re facing legal questions, such as proving that IDs are being checked at the door appropriately, or that a patron was drunk before entering your business. For even more security in cases that might endanger your license, you can combine a CCTV camera with a DVR to record the ID itself.

Why let nearly a quarter of your profits slip away in “complimentary” drinks, pocketed tickets and spilled beers? Check out the range of CCTV systems available for your bar, tavern or nightclub to see how cameras and monitors can help you keep more of the profits to which your business is entitled.

CCTV systems are a familiar sight in retail spaces. Businesses use them to monitor customers and employees in order to prevent shoplifting and theft. Many businesses also place CCTV cameras at their entrances and overlooking their parking lots to allow surveillance and protect their employees, customers and premises. Over the past few years, though, CCTV cameras have become more popular as home security systems, especially in homes with young children. If you’ve been considering a security camera for your home but want more facts to help you with your decision, these answers to frequently asked questions can help.

What is CCTV?

CCTV stands for closed circuit television. A CCTV system includes cameras, monitors and a recording device such as a DVR, VCR or a PC hard drive. Its purpose is to monitor and record activities to provide security for people and property.

Why Use CCTV?

In a business, a CCTV camera is a visible deterrent against theft and vandalism because it’s a clear indicator that the premises are monitored and recorded. At home, a CCTV security system can help monitor your property, indoors and out, including letting you keep an eye on a sleeping baby, or monitor your home from a distance. In case of a break-in or other problem, recordings made by your closed circuit system can provide the information and identification that law enforcement needs to apprehend and prosecute the thief.

What Are the Main Features of a CCTV Surveillance System?

A CCTV system has three main functions: surveillance, recording and playback. a surveillance camera allows you to watch an area remotely via a feed from a CCTV camera. Generally, the footage from the camera is recorded to media to be stored in case it is needed later. In addition, a CCTV system includes one or more monitors on which the footage – live or recorded – can be viewed.

How Do I Choose the Right CCTV System?

Your choice of systems depends on your budget and your needs. If you just want to be able to see who’s at your front door and in your back yard, you won’t need more than a camera at each entrance which can be accessed via your PC. A system such as that would be relatively simple and inexpensive. If you want more extensive monitoring, longer storage or more access, you’ll need a more complex and more expensive system.

Generally, it’s to your benefit to have your security system professionally installed, but many installation professionals will happily install CCTV systems bought through a discount dealer, which can save you considerably. If a CCTV security system sounds right to you, contact a dealer of security systems to learn more.