Security Cams
Home Security Camera Tips
Download scanned PDF with all images. Text only below.
PDF provided by Berkeley City Councilperson Susan Wengraf.
Draft 1 — 7/6/16
1. Before buying a security camera system, take a look at several different security camera websites, and look at some of the YouTube videos they have online. These videos can show you how to install security cameras and how they work. Here are a few.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_35atvDt5U&list=PL9gAEkXtQmUuDiSvbupn27hXaLVb_lYm4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9oDr59Vx_hw&list=PL9gAEkXtQmUurGP1ZBu63QrVdu48G7ATa&index=4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ceBi9AQuIMY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vlSwreQPl6l
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6XNnMyrYYk
2. The better quality cameras on the market today are called IP Cameras. This type of camera can get a clear image of the suspects face. Each camera has an IP address given to it. You need a good Internet system to run this kind of camera. IP cameras run on CAT 5e or CAT 6 cable. (CAT 6 is just a better quality cable) There is also a thicker CAT 5e cable you can buy if you have to run the cable outside of your house. Get at least a 2 megapixels camera for a better picture quality. They now have IP cameras that run as high as 8 megapixels (called 4K cameras).
You should get a camera that will record 30 frames per second (30 fps) at 1080p. Anything less than that is dropping out the image and won’t take a clear video of the suspect. Be careful when picking out your camera system. Some will say, 1080p, but will only record at 15fps or 7fps. This lower frame rate makes a choppy look to the video.
[image 01 (see scanned PDF)]
Pulling a still photo off of the video is not the same quality you get when taking a photo off your iPhone digital camera. The video is designed to have motion blur mixed in with the image on purpose. Motion blur makes a smooth transition when watching the video, so it makes the image flow together better. But when you pull a still photo off that video, it shows a slightly blurry image (this is the motion blur). So if want to see the best image of the suspect, then look at the video rather than a snapshot off the video.
[image 02 still (see scanned PDF)]
[image 03 - The size of the recorded video (resolution) determines clarity. High resolution cameras produce larger recorded video and images. Consumer Grade products record in low resolution producing poor quality when the video is enlarged to full screen. Because HD resolution cameras record at 720p or 1080p resolution, they allow you to zoom in to recorded video while keeping video clarity.]
3. You will need cable for your cameras. If you are installing several cameras, then buy a roll of cable and add the plastic end on yourself. Samples of the CAT 5e or CAT 6 cable are below.
[image 04 cables (see scanned PDF)]
You need a Crimping Tool to fasten the clear plastic end clips onto the cable.
[image 05 crimping tool (see scanned PDF)]
4. The older camera style is called video or 48OTVL or 600 TVL or 70OTVL. They use coaxial cable (below) with BNC connectors. The quality is not as good as the digital IP cameras. However, you can now buy digital 2-megapixel cameras that run on coaxial cable, but you will need the correct DVR to run that style of camera. But if you are just starting out from scratch, then go with the IP camera. They are better quality in the long run. If you have a coaxial cable then the 12 volt power runs off of that same wire from a power adapter plug.
[image 06 adapter plug (see scanned PDF)]
Samples of Coaxial camera, cable, and BNC connector are below:
[image 07 sample coax cables (see scanned PDF)]
I would stay away from buying wireless cameras. They just don’t work very well and drop out the signal. They can get interference from different sources. You should only use a wireless camera when you can’t run a cable to your DVR or NVR.
5. You will need to buy a DVR box or an NVR box. This box holds the recordings and has all the software to run the cameras for you. You can buy a DVR or NVR box that will run, 4, 8, or 16 cameras. Get more a higher amount than you think you need, so you can add more cameras later on. The NVR box is for IP cameras only. The DVR is for video or 7OOTVL.
[image 08 DVR box (see scanned PDF)]
6. You can also buy cameras through Comcast or AT&T and they will store the memory for you, to a cloud server, away from your house. But you have to pay a monthly fee. Comcast or AT&T will sell and set these up for you. But they are mostly good for inside your house or at the front or rear door. They run on motion detection and turn on when there is some kind of movement. It only holds a limited amount of memory for a few days to a week. This kind of system is not good if you want to run your camera 24 hours a day, 7 days a week or facing the street over 30 feet away.
7. If you want a license plate camera to work with your IP cameras then you can buy what is called a Tribrid DVR. This will run any kind of camera, IP, video, 7OOTVL or License Plate Cameras. This system works with Coaxial cable or Ethernet cable or both at the same time. If you have an old Coaxial cable camera system in your house, but don’t want to spend the money to switch all your cameras to IP, then you can buy the Tribrid DVR, keep what you have and add IP cameras on as you go.
[image 09 license image (see scanned PDF)]
8. You will need to buy a TV monitor that plugs into your DVR or NVFl box to view your cameras. A 22-inch or 27 inch LED monitor works fine. If you buy a 4K camera then you will need a special 4K TV monitor to view the image.
[image 10 monitor (see scanned PDF)]
9. You can run each video camera (coaxial) to an electrical box for 12-volt power. You don’t need this kind of box when you are running IP cameras using CAT 5e or CAT 6 cable.
[image 11 box (see scanned PDF)]
10. With IP cameras you run the CAT 5 or 6 cables to a POE Power Switch box. From the POE box, you plug it into the NVR box next to it. However, the new NVR boxes have a built in POE Power Switch box built right into it, so all you have to do if plug it into your NVR. So spend the extra money and buy an NVR with a built in POE box.
[image 12 power switch box (see scanned PDF)]
11. Stay away from cheap cameras that are plastic on the outside. They are easy for the crooks to break and don’t last long if they get a crack or water inside of them. Get a camera that has a metal or aluminum case.
12. There are camera systems that come with everything. You can find these at Costco and Fry's Electronics and on-line websites. The problem with these systems, are that they don’t always work for every location in your house. They are fine for your front door, inside a room, or a garage. But if you want to aim a camera out at the street at your parked car or zoom it to a location 30 to 150 feet away, then you need a camera with the right millimeter lens. Most website companies help you figure this out. They also help you with troubleshooting any kind of problem. The on-line websites have videos you can watch and learn from. If you are not sure what to buy, then take photos or draw a map of each camera location and send it to your website adviser and they can tell you what to buy.
[image 13 HD (see scanned PDF)]
13. You should buy extra memory for your DVR or NVR recorder so that it will keep all the recordings up to a month. 2 to 4 Terabytes is a good start for 8 cameras running on motion detection. But it depends on how many cameras you plan to have and how often they are recording each day. You should have enough memory to last a month. After the month your system then records over the old data. This way if you leave on vacation, the recordings are saved for a month in case someone breaks into your home while you were away. Your service person can help you figure this out. You can always add more memory later. Digital cameras take up a lot of memory, so it is better to buy extra memory.
14. You can view your cameras using your Smartphone to help set up and adjust them. You can also view your cameras on your laptop or iPad. Your service person can show you how to download this App to your iPhone or computer. It is very easy to set up. With your iPhone, you can view your cameras at any time in any city, for example at work or when at a restaurant. If you have Wi-Fi in your house, then you can view your cameras on your Smartphone in any room in your house. You can also record video or take a still photo off your security system from your Smartphone. You can play back the nights recording from your Smartphone or computer.
15. You may want to add a battery backup that lasts for a couple of hours in case the power goes out or the crooks turn off the power before going into your house to rob you. This way the DVR and cameras keep recording on battery backup. You will also need a battery backup to your Wi-Fi as well or use the same one for both. You can buy the battery backup at Fry's Electronics. Get the battery that lasts the longest. The battery backup is handy for other things, such as an earthquake or power going out from a storm, you can plug a couple of lights or your TV into the battery backup if the power goes out.
16. There are three different styles of cameras, Bullet cameras, Dome cameras and License Plate cameras. Bullet and Dome cameras work about the same.
[image 14 cameras (see scanned PDF)]
Dome cameras have a plastic shell over the camera. Be careful about where you place a dome camera, if it IS next to an outdoor light, that light can cast a glare on the dome and blur the camera image. Raindrops can also cause the dome camera to blur the image. Some cameras have a varifocal (or zoom) lens and a focus adjustment. (2.8 mm. to 12 mm is the average) If you are trying to view a suspect 150 feet away, you may need a 22mm lens or 50 mm lens. A camera for your front or back door should be a fixed lens, 2.8 mm or 3.6.mm. On a fixed lens, you don't have to focus it.
17. There is also a camera called a PTZ. This is a very large adjustable dome camera with an electric motor, so you can change the lens setting and angle of view from your NVR. It is really not for the home, but more for large shopping stores when following a suspect.
[image 15 camera (see scanned PDF)]
18. For a license plate camera, the KT&C: KPC-LP75 INU 75OTVL camera is suitable. But it is very expensive. Use this camera to get a plate number for when cars drive by fast (35 MPH) or at a sharp angle to your camera lens, otherwise, the license plate image will blur and you won’t be able to read it. You do need a 50 mm or 60 mm lens for a license plate camera to work. A license plate camera only records the plate number at night, it does not film the suspect at night. It will film the suspect during the daytime in black and white. There is not a license plate camera that works for IP cameras as of yet. The only License Plate cameras that work run on Coaxial cable.
http://www.ktncusa.com/
[image 16 license still (see scanned PDF)]
[image 17 (see scanned PDF)]
19. All the outdoor cameras film both day and night. During the daytime they record in color, at night they record in black and white. They all have a motion sensor that triggers them to turn on when a person or car passes by. You can also set the cameras to record 24 hours a day, and record non-stop. On the new NVR or DVR, you can set your camera to record both the GREEN 24 hours a day and / or the YELLOW motion sensor at the same time. This way the yellow motion signal will show a yellow spot on your timeline when someone passed by the camera.
20. All the outside cameras record during the night using infrared LED’s to light up the night. The cameras vary from 12 to 85 LED’s inside. The smaller number of LED’s are for cameras that only have to see a few feet. The higher number of LED’s is for seeing further at night. However, the newer cameras have High Powered infrared LED’s that are much stronger, so they only need about 4 to 6 per camera. The new High Powered LED’s work much better.
21. Spiders like to build cobwebs in front of a camera because the red LEDs attract flying insects. Which means you will need to clean them off with a soft broom or lens wipe every few weeks. Use a soft feather duster on a pole to reach up and clean them.
22. None of the cameras can see very well in the fog. The fog looks like a snow blizzard on camera. The way to get around this is to add a couple of outdoor lights. Do not aim this light directly into the camera lens. If you add enough light, you can then turn off the infrared lights inside the camera and change the setting of the camera to color. The camera will then film in color as if it is daytime. Recording in color at night is very helpful to the police when trying to film the suspects face and clothing, and identify the color of his vehicle.
[image 18 (see scanned PDF)]
23. Do not aim your camera directly into the sun or it can burn out your lens.
24. Do not run or touch your cables next to 110 or 220 power lines in your house or it will cause electrical interference.
25. Do not aim your camera directly toward a large city reflective street sign or it will cause our camera to view it as a hot white hot.
[image 19 (see scanned PDF)]
26. Do not aim your camera directly at plants or leaves within a few feet of the camera. At night the infrared light bounces off the leaves and turns them white hot. This white-hot reflects back into the camera and causes the image to turn dark further away. You may need to trim your trees and bushes for your camera to work well. You will also have this same problem when car headlights aim directly into your camera. The image will turn dark until the car passes by.
[image 20 (see scanned PDF)]
27. Rain can also make your image turn darker than normal. Light reflection off the water bounces back at the camera. Street pavement at night will always make the image look darker from the rain.
[image 21 (see scanned PDF)]
28. Camera Height: Install your camera out of reach of crooks but low enough to record the face of the suspect. 9 to 10 feet high is about average. You don’t want your camera low enough where a suspect can drape a bag over it.
29. After you mount your camera to your home, use clear silicone around the edge of your camera mount where it is attached to the wall of your home to avoid water getting inside the home or inside the camera. Do not add the silicone until you are completely done, have tested the camera for over a week, and you are positive on the location. The metal can sometimes cause electrical interference.
http://www.backstreet-surveillance.com/?gclid=CP_Eieyl77sCFe3m7AodcGAAVQ
https://www.123securitygroducts.com/cctv-systems-home
http://www.cctvcameraworld.com/security-dvr-nvr-emaiI-alert-setup-guide/