How to Choose the Best Home Security Camera

Home security systems are essential these days to keep your house, loved ones, and belongings safe. This industry has seen some significant breakthroughs, and securing your home has never been so simple. With many options to choose from, it is easy to get confused about the various features that each home security system has to offer.

Let’s go over everything you need to know so that you can choose the best home security camera system for your property.

Types of Home Security Camera Systems

Wired Home Security Cameras

As the name implies, wired camera systems require a cable for their power and network connection. Wired cameras come in two types: those that get power through a power cord and those that offer Power-over-Ethernet (PoE). Wired camera systems are typically used for larger properties, as they can connect more cameras.

The most significant advantage of having a wired camera system is the reliability they offer. Since they don’t depend on wireless connectivity, they record great quality video with a steady connection.

However, wired security cameras can go down if there is no power, which could be dangerous. Wired security systems also require a hefty installation process and installation costs. But this is a one-time cost. Wired home security camera systems are usually a long-term investment.

Wireless Home Security Cameras

Wireless security cameras differ from wired solutions because they don’t connect to the internet via ethernet. They can send data wirelessly to the cloud, where the data is usually stored.

The advantage of having a wireless home security camera system is that the system is very easy to install because you do not need to deal with a bunch of complex cables. Wireless cameras will seamlessly connect to your Wi-Fi.

Wireless cameras, unlike wired systems, are limited to smaller connections, typically around six cameras. They are also dependent on your Wi-Fi strength. So if you live in a home where your bandwidth is constantly low, the video footage might get distorted. The issue of wireless signals can easily be resolved using Wi-FI extenders or multiple camera hubs.

Completely Wire-Free Home Security Cameras

Completely wire-free cameras are truly wireless cameras. These do not require a cable for power or the internet. Wire-free cameras, like those offered by Deep Sentinel, provide the most convenient and easy-to-install home security solution.

Wire-free cameras are very straightforward to install. They can be mounted anywhere as long as they can reach your home’s Wi-Fi signal. If you rent the property, this is perfect since the wireless system doesn’t require any permanent damage to the walls to make way for cables. The best part about wire-free home security camera systems is that they work through power outages as well. After all, they’re battery-powered. They will store all the video footage on a cloud server which you can access from any part of the world at any time.

Indoor vs. Outdoor Camera Systems

Indoor cameras are usually cheaper than outdoor cameras. You can place them in the areas of the house that you want to keep an eye on. It is strongly advised to avoid placing indoor cameras in private spaces like bathrooms and bedrooms. The cameras should be placed on ground level, and they usually require a plug-in wired power connection since that can easily be managed inside the house.

Outdoor security cameras are pricier than indoor cameras. That’s because these cameras need to be water-resistant (and weatherproof) in case of rain or extreme temperatures. Many people who only need to secure the front door opt for video doorbells, which are typically cheaper. If you need to monitor areas other than the front door, you should get a complete outdoor camera system. For most people, the security camera system should ideally be wireless since it might be challenging to provide a power and internet connection outside of the house.

Cheap vs. High-End Home Security Camera Systems

If you are wondering how to choose a home security system, you should first plan your budget. One of the biggest mistakes that people make when choosing a home security system is that they go for cheap and unknown brands found online. That is not a good idea since these brands often lie in their advertising. They offer inferior video quality and do not store or encrypt your footage, making your system susceptible to hacking. For something as important as home security, you should ideally get a high-end security camera system that offers excellent features, captures high-quality footage, and protects your privacy.

The price of your home security system will also depend on your needs. If you have a vastly large property, you can expect costs of up to $2000 (considering you go for a high-quality home security system. For a smaller property, your upfront charges will be significantly lower. Also with DIY home security systems like Deep Sentinel, you can do away with installation fees, but usually, you would require installation costs of around $100-$200 per camera for a hard-wired solution.

Another thing that you will need to consider when planning out your budget is cloud storage costs. Typically, your footage is not stored on the cloud for free, and you will need to have a cloud storage plan that can keep the footage safe.

What Features to Look for When Buying a Home Security Camera System

The home security industry has seen many technological advancements, and the cameras coming in these days offer many unique features. We have listed down the best features available in the market. The list of features below will make your process of choosing the best home security cameras much easier.

• Event-based recording or motion activation makes the camera start recording as soon as it detects motion. This is a great way to save power. You can turn these cameras on before you go to sleep so that they can record if there is any suspicious activity.
• Monitoring and protection zones help you select the screen area on which you need the camera to detect motion. If you have a camera looking out on the street, you don’t want it to detect the movement of every car going by. With monitoring zones, you can conveniently point out the specific sections of the screen where you want the motion to be detected.
• Smartphone alerts are a great way to keep tabs on what is going on at home if you’re out. More and more companies are offering this feature, which sends you a notification if your home security system detected any unusual activity.
• Night vision is also an important feature to have, especially in dark areas without access to floodlights. If you have cameras installed in dark places, burglaries might go undetected if they don’t have night vision; hence, this is a crucial feature.
• High-quality security camera resolution is essential. Cameras can now record up to 4k video. This can make it very easy to identify burglars or license plates if a theft has occurred.
• Two-way audio is also a key feature to have in a home security system. This way, you can use your voice to send burglars away, and you can also hear what is going on on the other side of the camera.
• Security camera field of view is also something to consider when choosing a camera system. It would help if you have a field of view of more than 130 degrees so that you can minimize the number of cameras you need to cover one specific area.
• Smart home integrations are nice to have. Connecting your camera with your smart home and voice assistant makes everything more convenient. However, proceed with caution. Integrated security cameras can get hacked if their connection isn’t secure.
• Cloud video storage makes it very easy to access footage from anywhere. Try to get a system that offers two-way authentication so that your footage is secure from hackers. And you should also try to minimize the footage stored. The less footage you accumulate, the smaller the storage cost. Hence, motion-detecting cameras might be a good choice.
• Professional monitoring, like that offered by Deep Sentinel, takes your home security to another level by having live guards monitor your home. These guards will notify the authorities themselves in the event of a burglary with real-time monitoring.
• Artificial intelligence is another nifty feature to have in a home security system. The AI offered by Deep Sentinel identifies any unusual patterns. For example, it recognizes if someone is watching your house and alerts you (and the guards) to take action.

Is Professional Home Monitoring Worth the Cost?

Professional home monitoring typically costs anywhere from $60-120 per month. With professional video monitoring, guards have eyes and ears on your property 24/7. This is an added layer to home security and makes your home much, much safer. If a burglar tries to break into your home, these guards can use two-way audio to prevent that from happening. They can also keep tabs on who is visiting the house. Guards also alert the authorities immediately if something goes wrong, and the police usually take much quicker action if guards report a crime. While it is an additional cost, having this add-on gives you much greater peace of mind. Compared to hiring on-premises guards to monitor your house, virtual guards will do the same job at a much lower cost.

Home Security Camera Installation

Installation is another factor to consider when you are planning to buy a home security camera system. As mentioned earlier, wired camera systems have the highest installation costs, of around $200 per camera. This is because wired cameras require a connection to power and your internet network. If possible, you should go for a DIY home security system. These are very easy to install and ultimately will save you money.

What Is the Best Home Security Camera System for You?

The best home security camera system for you depends on your property’s security requirements. If you are low on budget and need very basic security, you can go for mass-production companies with basic self-monitoring features. These security systems provide simple protection and might not be the best in deterring crime.

If you want a top-notch home security system, you should go for higher-end companies like Deep Sentinel’s live video surveillance. Deep Sentinel offers state-of-the-art features ensuring the best security for your home and loved ones. Not only do high-end security systems deter a considerable amount of crime, but they also make it very easy for law enforcement to catch thieves and burglars if a crime has actually occurred.

Need a Solution that Prevents Crime?
Deep Sentinel is the only security technology that delivers the experience of a personal guard on every customer’s home and business. Visit deepsentinel.com or call 833-983-6006