Crime is unfortunately a part of life, and no matter where you live you can find yourself a victim of home intrusion. However, you can put into practice suggestions that can greatly reduce your odds of being the victim of an intruder. When it comes to home security, prevention is your strongest protection. So what are some ways to help secure your home now?
Well, one of the most vulnerable spots for intrusion in your home are the windows. It’s amazing how many people leave them open, even when they are away from the home. Even if they are shut and locked, can the glass be easily broken? Some window glass is extremely hard and resistant to breaking, and it would be good to have that kind of glass in your windows. Also be sure to have locks on the windows so there can be no easy entry, and make sure that those locks are not picked easily as well.
If you have a glass door, this is a particularly vulnerable area and should contain reinforced hardened glass that is extremely difficult to break. The doors also should have locks that are secure and hard to pick.
One of the simplest and most effective home security options is to just have a dog as a pet. Especially a good watchdog. Burglars and intruders want to have an easy entry and exit, and dogs can foil all of that. An intruder also doesn’t like to have attention brought to what they are doing by a dog’s loud, incessant barking. And if the dog is big enough, they certainly don’t want to get bitten. So a well-trained dog can be a real ally in protecting your home.
Having a home security system that is monitored by an outside service is another great idea. But it’s even better to take it one step further and make sure that you have a backup power supply for the alarm, so if the electricity is cut off for any reason you can still activate the alarm and get law enforcement to your door quickly.
There are many other ways to improve home security but these ideas should be able to get you off to a good start on improving the security in and around your own home.
Jim Johnson writes on many consumer related topics including home security. You can find out more about home security alarms by visiting our Home Security Review website.
Filed under Home Security System by on Feb 28th, 2009. Comment.
CCTV Bullet Camera
Affordable protection is something that most families want. People want to feel protected when they are at home, but many do not know where to turn to get that protection. At CCS-Imports, you can purchase a CCTV bullet camera that will be a great addition to your home protection. It will be able to keep you abreast on everything that occurs on your property
All of our products are of a professional standard. They all must pass a quality controlled inspection from the factory before they are shipped to our customers. A CCTV bullet camera is an affordable way to control the happenings around your home, and when you use CCS-Imports. you know that you are getting something that was quality mad
When you use CCS-Imports, you will get: A two year advanced replacement on all products
· A twenty-one day money back guarantee
· Free technical support
Our technical support can help you install your CCTV bullet camera in a way that will help it capture all of the images necessary for your home to be protected. Our support team is skilled in this industry and has vast knowledge of all of the products, so they can answer any of your questions.
Also, a CCTV bullet camera from us has good cable management, and all of our products are easy to set up. We do everything we can to make them easy for our customers so they can take the cctv camera out of the box and get them installed immediately.
As a small company, we are able to offer specialized service to all of our customers. We only have four full time employees, which mean that we are able to operate like a small business. We care about our customers in ways that bigger companies are incapable of doing.
Visit us online at www.ccsimports.co.uk to find out more about a CCTV security camera or any other product that interests you. We can answer any questions you might have and help you begin protecting your home today. You can browse through our inventory and find a system at a price that is right for you and your family. You can also receive next day delivery so you will not waste any more time with protecting your family.
Important reading before you make your purchase
Is the CCTV Bullet camera to be located indoors or outdoors? If outdoors then you need to ensure that it is appropriate for the environmental conditions that are likely to be encountered such as rain, snow, sun-glare, low light etc.
Outdoor CCTV bullet cameras should either be classed as weather resistant or mounted in a special enclosure to provide protection.
All Bullet outdoor cctv cameras are weather resistant and the cable entry points are sealed. The leads are of sufficient length to enable connections to be made inside the building.
CCTV Camera Light Levels
Choosing the right CCTV Bullet camera based on the amount of available light is very important for an effective security system. An ordinary colour or even monochrome cctv bullet camera will not give very good pictures in poor light conditions although the monochrome will perform better than colour at night.
For low light conditions can include:
- B&W cameras with built in IR illumination
- Colour Day / Night cameras
- Use of additional security lighting
- Use of a separate IR illuminator in conjunction with a monochrome camera. When using IR illumination ensure that the range of the illuminators is adequate for your needs.
Light levels are usually measured in lux and although full daylight can be around 10,000 lux, dusk can be as low as 1-10 lux, complete darkness is 0 lux and side street lighting can also be less than 1 lux . The closer a colour bullet camera is rated to 0 lux the better its performance in low light levels.
Day Night Cameras
B&W CCTV bullet cameras generally provide much better image quality than colour ones at lower light levels. They are alsoThey are also usually cheaper than colour ones of equivalent specification cheaper than colour ones of equivalent specification.
Colour bullet ir cameras require the availability of good lighting and will generally provide better recognition capability.
Day Night bullet cameras provide the best of both worlds in an external environment. They operate as colour cameras during the day (or in good light conditions) and automatically change to B&W when the light levels drop. All CCS Imports Day Night cameras are supplied with built-in Infra-red illuminators which enable the cameras to see in darkness.
Wired Cameras or Wireless
Wireless CCTV Bullet cameras are easier to install. There is no cabling to run from the camera to the receiver and they are ideal for temporary applications, rapid deployment or where running cable is not desirable.
The Bullet cameras do however require a power source and whilst most will have the capability to be powered by batteries these do not have a very long life – a matter of hours in some cases. Wherever possible the cameras should be powered by the mains.
Typical range for wireless CCTV camera systems is 100m free-space but this can reduce significantly to around 24 meters in a typical household environment.
In a lot of cases there is also the potential for interference when using wireless systems.
Visible Deterrence or Covert / Discreet Monitoring
For visible deterrence the use of larger cameras housed in traditional enclosures are ideal.
For covert or discreet applications Ccs imports can supply cameras that are:
- Very small and can be installed in covert locations, or
- In enclosures designed to disguise the presence of a camera.
Many of the cameras manufactured by Yoko International are both stylish and discreet in the design of their enclosures and this makes them very suitable for domestic applications.
Bullet camera with Audio
If the ability to monitor or record sound is important then the CCTV Bullet cameras needs to have a built-in microphone. This enables one-way audio monitoring.
Camera Viewing Quality
The resolution, size and type of a Cctv camera sensor will influence the quality of the viewable image.
Resolution – This is expressed as the number of television lines (TVL) that the camera is capable of producing. The higher the TVL value the greater the resolution and hence the quality of the images. A typical entry-level camera will be around 300 TVL with higher resolution cameras having a value of 540+ TVL.
Size – A larger image sensor will give a better image definition than a smaller sensor. For example, a 1/3” image sensor will produce a better image than a 1/4 ” sensor.
Type – There are 2 types of image sensor. CMOS sensors are mass-produced and used in entry-level cameras to provide cost savings. CCD sensors are used in professional CCTV cameras and provide a higher quality image.
It is important to remember that the quality of the dvr recorder also influences the quality of the CCTV footage. For example, if you use a high-resolution camera but a low-resolution recorder then the CCTV footage that is captured will still be of low resolution.
Single Bullet Camera or Multiple Bullet Camera Systems
Do you need to protect and view a single area or multiple areas? If you are likely to require protection of additional areas at a future date then consider buying a system that can be expanded as and when required.
CCS has a vast range of cctv security products that will allow you to connect and use up to 4, 8 or even 16 cameras. These include:
Standalone DVR - Use of digital video recorders allows single or multi-camera systems to be viewed and / or recorded simultaneously.
Ccs supplies a range of 4, 8 and 16 channel DVRs allowing you to install a very comprehensive cctv system.
PC-Based Systems - These make use of a PCI card that is fitted inside your computer. They will allow connection of upto 16 cameras and help turn your existing PC into a sophisticated cctv system.
Recording Options
If you want to be able to record your CCTV footage then the following factors need to be taken into account:
- Maximum length of recording time required
- Quality of recording
- Method of recording:
- Continuous
- Manual
Standalone Digital Video Recorders
These are rapidly becoming the most popular method of recording CCTV footage. Essentially a DVR is a standalone piece of hardware that is designed exclusively for recording CCTV footage. It has a number of clear advantages over the traditional analogue systems and these include:
- Storage Capacity – Days, weeks and even months of high resolution recording is possible through use of large capacity hard drives
- Consistent Quality Recording – No deterioration of image quality no matter how many you overwrite onto the recording device or how long you store the images for
- Viewing and Retrieval – Quick and easy access of footage due to digital format
- Transfer and Storage – The digital format allows ease of transfer and storage of footage. Transfer and storage capability is further enhanced by DVRs with built-in CD writers and USB ports.
- Remote Access – Many DVRs have the capability for remote access from anywhere in the world through use of a remote PC
- Multiplexed Recording – Capability to view and record multiple CCTV cameras simultaneously.
PCI Cards
These are digital video capture cards that can be fitted inside your existing PC to allow the connection of multiple CCTV cameras. The functionality and benefits of PCI cards work the same to that of DVRs.
Detection
Even with systems that have a very long recording capacity, it is not always desirable to record continuously. Event-led recording is a more efficient means of capturing relevant footage and can be achieved by:
PIR Movement Detectors
Some cameras have PIR detectors built-in and for those that don’t it is possible to install a separate PIR as part of the overall system. In multiple cctv bullet camera systems with PIRs the footage that is being displayed on screen will automatically change to the area that has detected movement.
Video Motion Detection
This is used in digital CCTV systems and works by analysing the video signal from a camera. Changes in signal are recognised as movement and subsequently used to trigger recording if required.
All CCS digital systems allow users to mark one or more rectangular areas within the display screen and only when motion is detected within these areas will the system begin recording.
Where possible, use of PIR movement detection is preferable rather than video motion detection, as it more reliable particularly for external use.
Time and Date Stamping
This feature superimposes the time and date onto your CCTV footage. Having this feature can be really useful to identify when an event occurred and was recorded, particularly if the footage is to be used for evidence purposes.
Filed under Home Security Guide by on Feb 27th, 2009. Comment.
Home security is a responsibility. Owning a home is a milestone for most people, but when you take on the responsibility of a home, you become liable for all incidences that may occur because of your stance on home security. Taking the correct measures to secure your home will not only protect your family from harm, but it could save you money that would be better spent on furnishings and not legal fees. The best way to shield your home for accidents is to start with a checklist that includes all rooms of your home starting from the basement and working your way into the yard. Security is no longer reserved for commercial business because business has come into home safety in recent years.
Everyone feels different about home security; so don’t rely on a previous owner to do what is necessary to keep your home free from hazards. Many people will pay close attention to all areas of their home, and forget about the most dangerous parts. The two most precarious areas of your home are the garage and the basement. Both of these areas are home to chemicals, fuses, circuits, and other hazardous materials. When you start to organize your home, think of it being child and pet friendly. Put all of your charcoal, pesticides, and gasoline far out of reach. A good product that can help you to remove all of your risky objects is the RacorPro Heavylift that attaches to your ceiling and is lowered by remote control. If you don’t want to buy and assemble anything, Home Depot and Lowe’s both offer storage shed construction for a relatively low price.
There are also things that you can do to make the general living areas of your house safer. For instance, make sure that you have smoke detectors conveniently located throughout your home; this includes hallways and general areas. You should also check with your local health department to see if your plumbing contains lead or lead solder in order to maintain the best home security possible. Exposure to lead can be fatal, and if you suspect that your plumbing has lead in it, make sure that you run your water for thirty seconds before you drink it. Also remember that boiling your water does not take the lead out of it. Make sure that your family has a planned escape route in case of emergency, and have important numbers, like the police and fire departments in an easy and convenient location. It is also a good idea to check your outlets when you move in to see if any are excessively hot or cold. Extreme temperatures in your electrical outlets could be a hint to faulty wiring.
Having a pool is fun for the entire family, but there are necessary home security measures that cannot be ignored by anyone who has permission to swim. For instance, there should be a telephone located somewhere close to the pool in case of disaster. There should be a fence or some sort of barrier surrounding the pool, making it difficult for young children to get to the pool, fall in, and possibly drown. The fence around the pool area is required by most cities and you can be fined for not following regulation if they ever decide to pay you a visit. Your home security efforts will never be foolproof and accidents do happen, but at least you will know you did everything you could.
Just when you were thinking that home security was a lesser issue, you start to remember the woman who claimed that she found a finger in her chili. The police found out that she was lying in order to scam money from Wendy’s, she made a formal apology, and then went to jail. The point is that if there is someone who is willing to steal a severed finger in order to make a buck, don’t think that your future house guests are any different. Okay, your friends may not go to ridiculous lengths, but they may get hurt enough sticking a finger in a socket to try and get a little money from you. Do what you have to do to protect yourself, so that you can minimize potentially harmful situations.
Filed under Home Security Guide by on Feb 25th, 2009. Comment.