Everyone wants Video Surveillance, but where does one start?
Check around your home or business and confirm what you want to see, monitor, and/or record. That should give you a good idea of how many cameras you need.
What type of system should you buy? Well, do you want high maintenance or low? Do you want good picture quality? Do you want Alerts to movement or activity? Do you want Remote Viewing? How long do you want to Store video recordings? (storage = Money)
Installing a Video Surveillance system that utilizes Cloud Storage is going to consume a large amount of your internet access. Streaming video over your internet to the cloud-based storage is a bandwidth killer. Expect a slow network and even slower downloads. Watching streaming television will become problematic.
Premise-Based Recording/Storage is available in Digital Video Recorders (DVR) or Network Video Recorders (NVR). DVR = OLD technology! It doesn’t matter that it’s a brand new system, if it’s a DVR it’s yesterday’s news. (DVRs) record over Analog Coax Cabling. NVR = New/Current Technology! NVR’s record over CAT5e/CAT6 Cabling directly from your IP Cameras. (No network or internet access impact)
Remote Viewing is accomplished from a smartphone, tablet, or PC across the internet. It does not have to mean that you poke holes in your firewall/router and compromise the security of your local network. If you don’t know how to do any of that, talk to people who do. (You will be using the internet access at your home during the period that you are remote viewing regardless of the type of system that you install)
Wired or Wireless Cameras? If you plan to use Wireless Cameras how are you going to power them? Are you going to pay an electrician to install a power outlet everywhere you want a Wireless camera? No, then I assume that you will be installing Battery Powered cameras, and that you plan to monitor the battery life and get up on a ladder to replace as needed. (even when it’s dark, raining, or snowing, because that’s when batteries die, we all now that)
Would you buy a 1960’s black and white TV? Then why would you buy a DVR with coax cable and analog cameras at 1080P resolution? You’ve seen the videos on TV from convenience store robberies with a screen full of snow and a shape moving around.
Buy a Network Video Recorder (NVR) and Wired IP Cameras in 4K/8-Megapixel Resolution if you want Facial Recognition and to read License Plates. Buy Day/Night, Weatherproof, Vandal-Resistant Cameras. Buy current technology at never seen before price points.
If you’re afraid of having your Network Video Recorder (NVR) (Storage) stolen, then don’t have it installed on your coffee table, entertainment center, kitchen counter, or your dresser. Have it installed out of sight. The cameras are the deterrent, not the storage device. Protect your storage device, hide, lock it up, whatever. If you don’t know how to do any of that, talk to people who do.
ECS is an Authorized Video Surveillance Solutions partner with Pelco, Lorex, Hikvision, Hanwha Techwin, Speco and others located in Seattle, WA & Portland, OR.
ECS provides local technicians for on-site work installing and servicing a variety of voice/data equipment, ie; Low Voltage Cabling, CAT5e/CAT6, Fiber Optic, IP Office Telephone Systems, Voicemail, Telephones, Firewalls, Ethernet Switches, Circuit Extensions, Wireless Networking, Video Surveillance, Point of Sale, Overhead Paging, Avaya Aura Servers, Gateways, etc.
ECS provides services in Washington & Oregon, primarily in the greater Seattle & Portland areas.