When deciding on the best CCTV security equipment, your first consideration should be the quality of the images that your system will be able to provide in the event of a break-in or robbery. In some cases, very small details contained in surveillance footage can make it possible for authorities to apprehend the person responsible for the crime. Having good quality images captured before, during, and after a crime may also prove beneficial when filing insurance claims to cover your losses. Other issues that should be considered when choosing CCTV security equipment are connectivity, video management, and storage devices.
In order to capture the best possible images, you will need to choose a good quality CCTV camera. Digital-type Internet protocol (IP) video cameras typically provide much more detailed images than standard-definition analog models are capable of offering. An IP video camera also has the ability to stream live digital images over an IP network and archive them in a digital format. The ability to receive high-quality live streaming images is especially important if you intend to monitor the images before they are stored.
Once you have chosen the right camera, you will need to decide how you are going to connect it to your recording equipment. You may choose either a hard-wired connection using cables, or a wireless connection using antennas. Cables are the most frequently used method, but wireless connections are often necessary when the camera is in a remote location. Using a wireless connection may also reduce the overall cost of your CCTV security equipment, making it possible to purchase a more expensive, higher quality, camera.
The next piece of CCTV security equipment to be considered is a video management system. These systems receive, store, and manage the distribution of video from CCTV security cameras. The two basic types of video management systems available for use are digital video recorders (DVR), and network video recorders (NVR). These recorders are designed to combine hardware, software, and video storage all in one location. The only disadvantage to DVRs is that they will not accept signals from IP cameras. If you intend to use the higher quality IP camera, you will need to use an NVR to record the video that is received from it.
Since most surveillance video is stored for viewing at a later time, you will also need to decide which type of storage equipment is best for your particular system. In order to make this decision, determine how many cameras you intend to use. The most commonly used storage methods are internal storage, and storage clusters. Internal storage makes use of a video recorder’s built-in hard drive and is generally sufficient when only a few surveillance cameras are being used. Storage clusters are usually required when a larger number of cameras are in use.