Surveillance Video Camera Differences – Technical and Practical Aspects

With computers and digital recording so widespread today, the ability to operate surveillance systems and related equipment has become far easier. No longer do camera owners need to worry about libraries of videotape.

Computers handle the large amount of data quickly, allowing individuals and firms to run multiple cameras easily with little effort.  In some cases, basic level kits can be set up and connected to a home computer in a few hours, even providing remote viewing over a broadband Internet connection.

Types of Surveillance

To understand what surveillance video offers, it’s good to know what surveillance video involves. This allows small business and individuals who don’t have the benefit of an on-staff attorney to avoid sticking their foot into a large privacy mess or break a law with their cameras.

Direct surveillance involves clearly visible and identified camera equipment designed to watch a specific area. These can be indoor or outdoor security systems. Common examples include cameras position in the ceiling corners of banks or at security checkpoints at airports. The camera can be clearly seen and is positioned to be a deterrent for anyone thinking about doing something wrong at the location.

Covert surveillance involves the use of cameras recording activity while the equipment and sometimes the camera operator are hidden.  Long used by the military for spying on enemies, law enforcement and investigators also use this kind of video tool to support cases with visual evidence.  In divorce cases it can be common for lawyers to hire someone to video a spouse cheating to bring up the video later on in court, winning a better result for his client.

Casual or on-the-spot recording is known as inverse surveillance. Many times it is intended to second-guess primary surveillance of any kind by government. A good example is if an activity occurs and somebody walking by records the event with their cell phone camera. One of the most famous examples of this type was the video-taping of Rodney King’s beating at the hand of police officers in Los Angeles.  The evidence countered the words of police officer witnesses at the scene.

Sousveillance also involves casual recording by a hand-held device, but the camera person is involved in the incident. This sort of surveillance has gained a significant amount of notoriety on the Internet with teens recording each other perform dumb or question acts.

Video Surveillance Cameras

Cameras directly intended for surveillance come in all sizes and shapes, usually split between direct and covert surveillance categories.  These units generally work with a closed circuit television system so that the signal doesn’t leak out or get picked up by an uninvolved party.

For most people, traditional direct surveillance video cameras are what is imagined when the term surveillance comes up. They are a common form of security and problem-deterrence. Such cameras comes with dedicated wiring, mount in obvious locations for a clear recording view, and send their signal via wire cable to a receiving unit in the form of a computer with management and recording software. More basic video surveillance cameras for industrial use even come with their own dedicated video monitor.

Outdoor networked video surveillance cameras are not commonly used by individuals. Instead, these systems tend to be integrated with a city-wide operation allowing city management or law enforcement to spot problems in multiple zones. Traffic control and police monitoring of street activity tend to be common purposes for such systems in big, urban areas. The networking aspect allows non-city entities to hook into the same system, allowing their cameras to be linked as well. This provides greater viewing reach to the city. Common linkages can include schools, parks, non-profit centers, and even private property owners.

Wireless and IP-connected cameras are also seeing widespread use in the last few years. While neither is as robust as a standard CCTV traditional system, both wireless and IP cameras provide greater flexibility for installation. This has attracted demand from homeowners and individuals who want to be able to monitor their personal property from inside or remotely.

Wireless Surveillance System

A wireless surveillance system involves cameras that can be installed in a variety of locations. These units send a wireless signal to a dedicated receiver rather than using a cable for signal feed. While the detail and quality of wireless signal feed can be less than a dedicated wire, the flexibility of installation makes these systems easier to use by amateurs.

Some kinds of wireless surveillance system can be accessed remotely once they are connected to a home computer with a broadband Internet connection. These products have gained some fame and demand as stories of homeowners catching thieves in their homes and calling the police for successful capture have circulated with the media.

The downside of wireless systems involves their system integrity. Because of the wireless feature, the signal can be hampered or interrupted by non-related wireless equipment such as baby monitors or cell phones. Additionally, camera wireless signals can also be intercepted by an unintended party. Some thieves are smart enough to figure this out and use the system to determine if watched place is empty, turning the cameras’ function against their owner.

Home Security System Reviews

Home security cameras can provide greater protection by seeing what’s going on outside a home or with recordings capturing wrongdoers in the act. Related kits typically come with four or five cameras and can be installed with a dedicated monitor or hooked up to a home computer. With a ladder and few garage tools, most owners can get a system up and running within a few hours.

However, home security cameras are only as good as the equipment. This is where home security system reviews come in handy. For outdoor security systems, nighttime surveillance becomes poor unless the cameras include some low-light feature. If the cameras are exposed and visible, they become an easy target for vandalism as well. The systems need to be encrypted or, as mentioned earlier, signal feed can be intercepted. A great amount of technical vulnerability depends on the choices a system owner makes during installation. Depending on the need, consumers can gain a lot of valuable research on what system work for their particular needs with home security system reviews before buying.

There are legal issues as well. Many homeowners are not fully-versed on state laws regarding surveillance. Unlike outdoor security systems, cameras inside a home can be problematic as well if visitors are not warned ahead of time of their presence. More than one homeowner has been sued for privacy violations with home cameras operating unknowingly in bedrooms or bathrooms used by visitors.