wireless-cameras

Going about Installing a CCTV Surveillance System by Yourself

Setting up and installing a CCTV camera system by yourself is not as hard as it may seem. Naturally, not every part of your home will need to be monitored so start by assessing which areas of your home need to be monitored and accordingly a layout for camera placements is to be planned. Buying individual camera systems is not always viable as a wiring layout has to be planned and the DVR should also have the required number of channels. Getting a bundled system, that comes equipped with a DVR and 1-3 cameras, is a cost effective solution for a basic surveillance set-up .  Wired cameras would require power connected and Siamese or Coaxial cables as well, therefore a layout to route all the wires and sufficient amount of cables would be required.

For a complete installation the following tools and devices are essential;

1. CCTV Cameras

2. DVR Unit

3. hard diskdrive with minimum 1TB capacity

4. Coaxial cables or Siamese cables

5. BNC Connectors & DC Pins

6. SMPS for power

7. Tools needed: wire stripper, wiring tape, multimeter, drilling machine, etc

 

Knowing the Different Options

From an installation perspective  wireless cameras are more easier to install however it is important to keep in mind that the quality may decline the further the device is placed  from the receiver. These devices are also available in indoor as well as outdoor options designed to perform in different environments. Bullet cameras are generally used for outdoors and dome cameras are mounted indoors.

A camera fitted with motion sensors will capture footage only when motion is detected therefore saving space. This feature needs to be activated when configuring DVR.

A Digital Video Recorder is needed for storage of the footage. It receives the footage and broadcasts it to a monitor. These devices have varied memory capacities. Most DVRs are available with a complete surveillance set.

 

Installation Intricacies

Always pick a nice corner with a broad viewing angle that covers the entry and exit points while installing the cameras. Outdoor cameras should be placed above 10ft to prevent being knocked down. Even if  the camera has a sticky pad, mount it with screws so that it remains firm for the long run.  BNC connectors would be needed to connect the equipment. One side of the cable should be inserted into the Input port on the DVR and the other, in the output slot of the camera. If the kit  you purchased did not come with BNC connectors, you can easily purchase one online.

On the other hand, a wireless system needs a certain software to connect with the computer. Accessing the camera feed is very simple and accompanied by on-screen instructions. Network based IP cameras  have the additional feature of viewing  footage remotely by using the camera’s IP address.

The DVR unit can be attached to a monitor or even a television screen with an HDMI cable or a VGA cable.  The number of camera that are supported by the DVR are determined by the number of channels that are available on the device. DVR’s are available in 4 channels, 8 channels, 12 channels, 16 channels and 32 channels. The power source for analog devices is a SMPS and network devices can be powered via a POE switch.

 

Consolidating the System

Create a surveillance hub where all the footage can be sent and which is easily accessible. For the system to be effectively wired, use a Siamese cable that can connect to the power and video at the same time. It has a red and a black side. The former is positive while the other is the negative side. The end of the cylindrical cable usually has a BNC cable.

Every video camera should be attached to a separate DVR port. Double check the cables to ensure that the wire color used match the connection at each end.Finally, make sure everything is nicely set up, with the wires inside the walls and cables tightly secured, so that you can enjoy the complete benefits of your CCTV security system