A Beginner's Guide to CCTV Security Systems

CCTV, or a closed system television system, is a great way to monitor your home or business. With almost endless uses, a CCTV system allow you to watch your family, employees, customers, and property. This is a practical investment that can protect those you love from harm and catch the perpetrators of any crimes that happen on your property.

In a closed circuit TV system, the system uses cameras that are linked together and feed information back to a central control. Today, there are multiple types of CCTV systems. Your first choice is between an analog and digital system. An analog system will record, through a television, onto a VHS tape. A digital video recorder will save the file in a format that can be read on computers. They can be stored on CDs, memory cards, or other digital media, and can be transmitted across a network, or online, so that they can be watched remotely. Today there are digital CCTV systems that can be set up so that you can watch your property remotely, even when you're away on vacation.

Analog security systems rely on older technology, though this technology is certainly still effective today. With an analog CCTV system, the footage is recorded on a VHS. With most systems, only one camera's view will be recorded at a time. As a result, some moments may be missed on the VHS tape. On the other hand, an analog system can be simpler to operate, and many analog systems are cheaper than digital ones. As a result, analog remains a popular option for small businesses and for home installation.

A well-planned CCTV system can provide the extra layer of security you've been looking for. Before buying any CCTV components, you'll need to consider how many cameras you'll need and how long you plan to store the footage. Take a survey of the area where you plan to add surveillance, making a note of places where you plan to install a camera. The number of cameras required will affect the CCTV recording system you buy; some can handle 1-4 channels, while others are designed for 8 or more. The length of time you plan to keep the recordings will affect the amount of digital memory you'll need within the CCTV recording system.

When selecting cameras for the system, consider exactly what you're hoping to record. For example, some high-end cameras will aid in facial recognition or license plate recognition, while others are designed for a general overview of the area. In general, a wide-angle lens provides greater coverage, though in less detail than a narrow-angle lens, which focuses on a smaller area. There are also CCTV cameras designed for particular purposes, from a hidden camera to a dome camera, like the cameras often seen on the ceiling of retail locations. In low-light situations, you may need a camera equipped with IR technology.

With the above information in mind, hopefully you have a better idea of how to choose a CCTV system for your needs. There are many systems that are designed for home users and small businesses, and are ready to operate almost right out of the box. If you're looking to quickly and easily set up cameras to record the activities in your home or business, a CCTV system is an excellent option.

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