How to Protect Home Video Surveillance System from Harsh Winter Weather

Installing video surveillance systems is the most common security measure for ensuring the safety and security of any property be it your home, office, warehouse or shop. We know that this system keeps running throughout the year. However, we hardly realize that this system needs regular maintenance and we have to prepare cameras and other components for upcoming weathers. When the summer, winter, monsoon or any other weather is at its extreme, the camera may fail in recording high quality video consistently. In this blog, we have highlighted some maintenance tips that will keep your security system running efficiently in the winter season.

Remove All Obstructions

Even if you have installed the most expensive and advanced systems, these systems become useless when there is a physical obstruction. Most of the times, trees, shrubs and other natural landscapes and general detritus cause obstruction. When we are talking about winter, snow and ice obstruct the CCTV camera.

Inspect the Video Recorder

Dust is often accumulated on the video recorder. Take a clean microfiber cloth and wipe the dust. This dust not only causes a visual issue but sometimes also causes internal damage.

Keep Eye on Power Supply

Bad winter means gale-force, snow storm and ice. This can cut the power supply or the video feed. Therefore, always keep an eye on the power levels to make sure that the system is getting adequate power. Many video security experts recommend voltmeter for measuring the power being supplied to the system.

Use Camera Enclosure

Enclosures provide the first layer of protection to the camera against rain, snow fall and other natural factors. This also whittles down your worries in harsh winter weather. When a camera is protected with an enclosure, you have to use fewer resources for its maintenance.

Inspect Connectors

Look for the signs of corrosion or damage. If you find any, connectors of your camera are not in shape. Therefore, regularly check wires, connectors or any other exposed inner work.

Inspect Frayed Cables

This is the most common wear and tear in security camera systems. Winter is the period when the moisture is easily seeped through wire. This can damage the entire setup. Experts recommend to create U-shape with cables. With this, no water or melting ice is collected inside the camera.

Buy Weather Resistant Camera

Whether you are installing a home video surveillancesystem or a commercial one, always use cameras and other components that can withstand harsh winter weather. Highly advanced cameras come with internal temperature regulation mechanism and built in heaters. 

How to Use Webcams as CCTV Surveillance System!

Currently, even hi-tech CCTV security cameras are available at affordable prices. The reason is simple. The demand for these cameras is increasing in leaps and bounds and so is the production. The increase in production has also increased competition which is ultimately good for the wallet of the customer. If your budget is too tight and you cannot fork out for advanced cameras then we got a solution for you. You can use the webcam of your computer or laptop as a CCTV camera plus motion detection recording system. Here is what you need:

-          A laptop or computer

-          A built-in or USB-connected webcam

-          A software for recording motion activated or continuous feed from the webcam

There are some free and paid applications that are used for recording the webcam feed. Since you have a tight budget, you can opt for free software such as iSpy Connect. This software does not require any technical expertise for deploying. Simply install it and use it. Moreover, it also supports multiple cameras.  

Once it is installed, this software provides you with a list of all connected webcams. Now, it is time to configure zones. A zone is a rectangular area within the view of the webcam. You can select the door, parking space, or any other area to monitor.

Good software comes with a playback console for showing recorded clips on a timeline. This allows you to watch the video that was recorded when the motion was detected. Some software applications send a text message, an email with attached jpg image and upload video to YouTube or FTP server when a motion is detected.

There is a cool feature in iSpy that enables the webcam surveillance system to respond to the motion or audio trigger.

There Are Some Downsides

You’re PC or the laptop should be always on. This will definitely increase your electricity bills. Apart from this, it also pares down the life of the machine as computers and laptops usually get heated when run for a long period. Moreover, you need lengthy USB cables. Most of the webcams do not have night vision feature. So, the webcam will be useless at night if proper lighting is not there.

When you are using an IP camera, you need not keep your PC running. An IP camera is connected to the router and can be mounted anywhere within the range of the Wi-Fi. Moreover, with IP camera, you also get real-time footage on your computer. Apart from this, the majority of IP cameras have microSD card slot for storing the recorded video in a memory card.

Whether you are looking forward for IP cameras or webcam surveillancein Edmonton, it is important to buy cameras and components from a reputed supplier only. 

9 Pitfalls to Be Avoid While Installing Hotel Security Cameras in Edmonton

A hotel that cares about the comfort, safety and security of guests is never reluctant to investing significant funds on the camera security systems. A guest never forgets to give one star and write terribly bad reviews if her 1,095 $ Versace is stolen during the stay. And, no one is going to stay in your hotel after reading that bad review of the extremely angry guest. No security camera guarding the entrance of the hotel or the parking area is going go to leave a bad impression in the mind of guests. Therefore, in the hospitality industry, it is extremely important to install high-quality cameras to make guests feel safe and comfortable.

Apart from this, there is a right and wrong way of installing cameras. Similarly, there are right and wrong locations for installing CCTV cameras. Here, we have listed some pitfalls you must avoid while installing security cameras in your hotel, motel inn or lodge:

1. Do not give much thought to the cost. Commercial CCTV camera system is a onetime investment that will serve your needs for years. Therefore, buy cameras from a well-established company that also provide fast and reliable after sale services. A bad supplier of cameras may go out the business. In this situation, you will have no one to rely on.  

  

2. Apart from cameras, every component of the security system should be new. Outdated components may cause some compatibility problems. For example, you should not use outdated RG-59 or RG-58 Coax cables with new IP cameras.

3.  It is not a wise move to blow the budget on PTZ (Pan Tilt Zoom) camera. Do not assume that PTZ cameras will cover a large area. A PTZ camera can watch only one area at a time. 

 

4. Do not opt for wired CCTV security system. Even your security system is insecure when cables are exposed and within reach. Therefore, even if you have to shred some dollars, install Wi-Fi camera system only. 

       

5.  Don’t install all cameras on the ceiling or on walls at the height of more than 12 feet. You can install hidden cameras to get a good look of faces.

6. It is not good to skimp on NVR (Network Video Recorder).

7.  Do not expect the entire camera system to be installed in one day. Depending on the size of the hotel and your security needs, it may take a few days or weeks.  

8. Do not make the entire payment upfront. A reputed company asks for only a portion of the total cost. The remaining amount is withheld till the completion of the project. 

9. It is wrong to assume that dynamic IP address for NVR is the best solution. Dynamic IP address may cause trouble while accessing remotely. Therefore, opt for a static IP address.

Not only in case of hotels, even when you are installing home security cameras in Edmonton, should you avoid these pitfalls.