Outdoor Surveillance Cameras – What You Need To Know

Securing your home can be a major issue, especially if have a big home and a lot of expensive furniture and equipment. Selecting the right security device or the right outdoor surveillance camera can be a nightmare if you do not know much about the security industry the terminology and jargon around security cameras. Let us take a look at a few of these terms to help understand better.
A camera that is rated as “IR” simply means that the camera can also see in the dark and record the proceedings. These cameras normally make use of Infra-Red (IR) light fixed around the lens and see things in the dark as if there was sunlight. The beauty of it is that a person looking at a camera is unable to see the light while the camera can see things perfectly. This technology was previously only used by police and other law enforcement agencies and has come to home us only recently.

While shopping for an outdoor surveillance camera, you will see that a dealer will usually have hooked up several cameras to a monitor to show you the quality of the picture. Most cameras can be hooked to your television in a similar manner. Known as TVL (television lines), this technology helps you use a TV as your security monitor. Most domestic TV’s support up to 480 TVL (a level of resolution). However, while shopping, you will need to look for camera rating between 375 to 425 TVL. Higher resolution cameras are also available, however, they will be more expensive and you will need to invest in a suitable monitor too.

Another popular model of surveillance camera is the dome system. These cameras are normally enclosed and invisible in a dome and are used in areas like hotels and casinos — usually indoors. The advantage with such cameras is that they give you a 360 degree view and can be controlled with remote control.

The above are just the basics that can help you make the right buying decision.