FAQ About Security Cameras

Security cameras are a great addition to your home – they provide an extra level of protection, especially when linked with one of Engineered Alarm’s security systems.  If you’ve never had a security camera before, however, you may have a great number of questions.  Here are a few of the most frequently asked questions we get about security cameras, to help put your mind at ease.

What Types of Security Cameras Are There?

There are a great many different types of cameras available, coming in a variety of different shapes and with a variety of different features.  While the link goes into great detail about the various kinds, here are a few common features:

• Motion detection cameras sense movement, recording when activity takes place and often alerting you when something out of the ordinary occurs.
• Night vision cameras illuminate poorly lit areas and, as the name would suggest, allow functioning at night. Essentially all outdoor cameras have this function now, but be careful – a few budget options still don’t include night vision options or otherwise offers poor night performance, making them almost useless..
• Pan/Tilt/Zoom or PTZ cameras have the ability to move – often controlled remotely via an app — meaning they cover more ground than a stationary fixed camera, but require an operator to control them, making them better suited for commercial or industrial use.
• WiFi cameras are generally less reliable than wired cameras, but sometimes, the convenience of not having them tied in to a main system outweighs the potential reliability losses. If you have somewhere where wires can’t reasonably go without expense or aesthetic problems, you can have a camera communicate with your security system over the internet.

Can Video Footage Help Me In A Crime?

Video footage can help police identify and apprehend burglars and intruders – and can be used as evidence in prosecuting offenders.  The camera itself can serve as a deterrent – criminals are reluctant to target buildings they know to be under surveillance – but the footage itself is where the true value in a camera lies.   It’s important to have an HD camera here, preferably 1080P – that allows police officers to better identify faces and evidence.

Can Indoor Cameras Work Outdoors?

Sadly, cameras designed to work indoors rarely work in outdoor environments.  If you place the camera outdoors, they’re often not properly weatherproofed, and can cease to function quickly in Toronto’s harsh winter weather.  You may think you can get around this by placing them indoors and pointing them out a window, but this generally doesn’t work well either – the camera focuses on the window itself, or a mark or smudge on the window, rather than activity outside.