Surveillance systems and devices, specifically CCTV Security cameras have become almost ubiquitous, particularly in urban and peri-urban establishments.
Rapid urbanization and incidental rise in crime rates, coupled with ease of access to information and security system vendors has had many home and business owners seeking & embracing security technology solutions to counter some of the adverse effects of urbanization.
Consequently, there’s been a proliferation of security systems vendors and installers to meet this emergent need. Furthermore, DIY manuals for simple, ‘straight-forward low-level’ systems where a buyer can do it all by themselves abound.
While basic entry level stand-alone systems can be installed by anyone, given a little technical background and basic tools, most home owners prefer engaging a professional installer, advisably so.
For a homeowner, there are several ways to approach this;.
Buy the CCTV system and associated hardware and do the install by yourself.
You’ll potentially have to invest in gathering knowledge of different types of systems to know what would suit your purposes and how they work. IP systems are way more complicated than analogue systems which can be attempted with basic electrical skills and a DIY user manual.
You’ll also need to possess at least rudimentary electrical wiring knowledge and skills, I addition to basic tools and equipment like screw drivers, pliers & a ladder.
This option is great if you intend to keep costs very low. It would work best for simple systems e.g. stand-alone cameras & nanny cameras.
The downside is a potentially shoddy job, injury due to mishandling of sharp tools and equipment and worst of all, risk of fire due to faulty electrical wiring.
Buy the CCTV system and associated hardware and have an installer do the install.
Having or investing in knowledge of CCTV systems and how they work will stand you in good stead when you eventually engage an installer.
There’s potential to save costs especially those associated with markup and delivery.
The downsides could be related to lack of deep information about the system, like purchasing equipment unsuited for your particular setup e.g. lens range, weatherproof ability, durability, storage, to name but a few.
Have a professional installer take care of each and every aspect of the install.
The installer performs the site survey & analysis, and with your input draws up a proposal explaining what type of system would provide the most value for money as well as fully serve its intended purpose.
This option is costlier than the other three but it’s also the most advisable because of its attendant benefits e.g. finesse, safety and warranties to name but a few.
Whichever option you opt for, not having knowledge about CCTV systems, if only in general, would seem irresponsible, given that they don’t come cheap, more so if you want one that really does its job.
As in all walks of life, dilettantes and fraudsters abound who look to profit from lack of knowledge. Homes all over are flowing with marginally effective white elephants and frustrated users, who feel the expectations they had and the results they were promised do not coincide.
With adequate information, even installers can be asked the right questions to determine whether your expectations of what the security system is supposed to achieve is realistic and what options you have at your disposal.
What to consider before installing home cameras
Whether you’re doing the installation yourself or engaging an installer, there are factors to consider before even embarking on purchasing of equipment;
Purpose
Do you need it to secure the home from intruders? In which case, you would want to consider water proof/ vandal resistant cameras since they’re probably going to be on the outside i.e. on the walls, perimeter wall, posts, etc.
Do you need it to monitor e.g. the house help/ nanny or secure important rooms in the house? In which case, you could consider motion sensor alert & audio capable cameras. In addition, cameras in the house tend to be smaller and aesthetically pleasing. A large, vandal proof bullet camera would look imposing and out of place in a living room or kitchen. More so, you could consider Wi-Fi capable cameras, thus avoiding the issue of unsightly cables snaking around the house walls and ceilings.
Budgetary considerations
Analogue CCTV systems are cheaper, albeit outdated, than IP systems, not just in terms of buying but the installation process. A lot of home owners can attempt an analogue system installation with a good user manual but an IP system needs more than rudimentary knowledge.
Also the budget will help you determine what areas to prioritize and which to overlook, for instance in the case of securing against intruders, most vulnerable areas are the entrances, backyards. In the house, priority is mostly the kitchen, hallways, rooms with valuables and especially for families with toddlers, the nursery.
Cheaper but quality alternatives for inside the house can be found in wireless smart & stand-alone cameras that can connect directly to a smart phone without an external recording device or monitor.
Size of the home/house
The CCTV needs for a large home with workers where movement needs to be monitored, would be different with that of a small home or house where the priority is to cover particular rooms.
For a large, wireless cameras are almost always out of the question, as opposed to a small home (even though wireless limitations ought to be considered first).
Immediate environment/ neighborhood
For homes close to public roads and spaces, other dwellings, etc., low placed cameras for instance at the gate are susceptible to vandalism or being ‘accidentally’ knocked down.
You’d consider mounting them higher, keeping in mind that the higher it is, the less effective it becomes especially when it comes to identification of an individual.
Topography & nature
Topographical aspect can also be an important consideration
It can be a pain to have underground cabling in a rocky, uneven homestead, for instance, because it might prove impossible to have conduits laid out in a straight line.
In a scenario with too many trees on the other hand, aerial cabling would be disastrous. Birds could perch on and destroy the cables. Heavier animals (monkeys, for instance) could swing on them and snap them (potentially causing an electrical shock and fire – for cables with power). Falling branches are also a hazard.
What to look for in a home CCTV Security Package
When shopping around or acquiring a home CCTV system from a vendor/ installer, it’s imperative that you know what your expectations are and what to look for to match them, to avoid disappointment and misunderstanding with your vendor/installer.
What features to look for depend on the unique dynamics of each house/apartment, purpose of the system and the benefits you seek to derive from your system.
Most of what to look for usually in a security system almost always has to do with quality, though other factors do come into play. A common misconception is that higher prices mean equally higher quality. Purchasing an expensive industrial grade system for a home environment, for instance could prove to be of little value. On the other hand, very low prices are almost always a red flag.
Image clarity
Clarity of images is one of the hallmarks of quality.
High resolution capable cameras deliver crisp images. The downside is that high resolution uses more bandwidth and in cases of poor/ slow internet connection (for remote viewing purposes), images on the phone app may appear choppy or have long buffering times.
Data storage & retention
Usually, when purchasing a system, you purchase a storage medium on the side, though some come pre- installed. For a CCTV system, choosing a hard drive that has enough capacity to store footage is important. It’s advisable to have at least two weeks of retention.
Other factors like video format & compression, continuous or motion recording and number of cameras determine how long hard drive (and its capacity) would retain footage.
Same would go for stand-alone and smart cameras that use memory cards.
NOTE: while regular memory cards and hard drives would work, it’s advisable to get storage mediums that are particularly suited for CCTV cameras/ systems.
Security
Some systems can be installed in a straight plug-and-play fashion without the need to create a password and login credentials while secure systems require security credentials to be set before installation is done (or completed)
Same goes for the remote access app/ platform. Secure systems don’t allow multiple remote users to access the system thought the express authorization from the admin account. This is critically important, for a home system owner needs to know and control who has access to the system.
Support
If shopping for yourself, check if the system is from a credible manufacturer with at least an online presence who would offer online help, parts, updates, etc.
If engaging an installer, do they offer technical support – either remote or on-site visits?’ Warranty and maintenance agreements are also something to consider.
Recording
It’s usually advisable to have a system that records on motion as this saves on storage space as opposed to recording no activity for hours. On the other hand, the camera should have the ability to be switched to constant recording if the conditions don’t favour motion recording, e.g. poor lighting.
Remote access
Almost every modern CCTV systems has remote viewing capabilities. Each manufacturer has their own platform and app to use for their systems but it would help to find a system that has an app that’s not just straight forward but secure and updatable.
Low level systems tend to have open source that aren’t specific to any system and tend to be very insecure.
Durability & Resilience
A CCTV system should be able to handle conditions of the environment for which it’s meant to work in.
Outdoor cameras should be able to handle the elements like rain, direct sunlight, dust and the occasional hit from twigs or pebbles.
Indoor cameras should be able to handle for instance steam and humidity in a kitchen environment.
Ability to withstand constant power outages and fluctuations without internal components like storage media and lenses getting fried
Additional features
As with other technical systems, CCTV systems can come with a slew of features, some useful and some impractical depending on the environment the system is being deployed in.
Different cameras achieve their potential in different setting. Long range lens cameras are suitable for outdoor scenarios like driveways, parking lots or being mounted up high but would deliver a substandard image or view in a constrained place, like a room. Same goes for short range, wide view cameras suitable for a room but nearly useless for a long driveway or a parking lot.
For indoor cameras, features like two-way audio are important, motion tracking, alarm notification and ability to connect via Wi-Fi could come in handy, particularly for families with toddlers, house helps and nannies.
For outdoor cameras, ability to zoom, pan and tilt or long distance night vision would be important.
For smart/ stand-alone cameras, the ability to be compatible with other smart systems and devices like intruder detection systems and sensors would prove to be real value for money.
Maintenance of an installed system
Passwords
It’s vital that a CCTV security system (or any security systems for that matter) be password protected. Having a strong password is essential to ensure the system isn’t vulnerable to intrusion.
A lot of low level systems can be installed without a password being set, some come with default login credentials and it’s imperative that these be changed to something unique. Steer clear of obvious and hackneyed password options like birthdays, name of owner, date of install, and some common ones like 12345, abc123, 1-9, etc. should be avoided.
Check camera angles often
Over time, cameras could to lose the view for which they were intended to cover through being moved, turned or twisted (intentionally or inadvertently). Checking and refocusing skewed camera angles would help, especially in cases where footage needs to be reviewed but the incident happened outside the range of view.
Also loose camera brackets, holders can have the camera sway in strong winds or be knocked off position by birds, falling twigs, rain, etc.
Lighting & obstacles
Certain cameras might have been installed in an area with sufficient lighting but over time, lights blew out, were changed/ relocated or post-installation structures like canopies, shades and walls becoming obstacles which cast shadows that make the camera ineffective, particularly at night.
Also regular cleaning of the camera lens would help. Over time, dust, cobwebs and cocoons would be found around and in front of the camera. Cobwebs especially affect the working of infrared light from the camera at night as it tends to bounce off back to the lens, essentially blinding the camera.
Playback and storage
This is probably one of the most vital checks to do. It can be frustrating (and potentially costly) to have a fatal incident occur and have no way of reviewing footage for proof and ascertainment because the storage medium wasn’t recording in the first place.
Cables
Over time cables can become exposed or hang loosely off the walls (depending on the how professionally they were installed in the first place). Hanging cables can easily snap and exposed cables can be frayed or cut by human or animal activity. A potentially dangerous situation would be cables that also carry power and video. Electrical shock and a fire are a potential result of the cable breaking.
Tech Contractor / Writer
Nairobi, Kenya
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