Guide to Wireless CCTV Cameras

In some cases, it’s just not practical to run a cable from a camera to a recording source. It may involve drilling holes through exterior walls, digging up pavement or simply having unsightly and obvious wires to give away the location of your security camera. In cases like that, it’s becoming more common to rely on wireless security cameras.

Even just a few years ago, wireless technology was considered too unstable and expensive to be usable in wide scale security situations. Recent innovations have made wireless security cameras more affordable and raised their performance to within acceptable levels. If you’re considering wireless security cameras for your home or business security needs, take a look at the pros and cons of wireless security cameras over a wired system.

Cost of Wireless Security Cameras
While recent innovations in technology have brought the prices of wireless security cameras down, they still cost more than a cabled camera with the same resolution and technical capabilities. This cost may be affected by proposed installation, though. In a situation where laying cable from camera to monitor or recorder involves digging trenches, or drilling through exterior walls, wireless security cameras may be a much more affordable proposition.

Transmission Quality of Wireless Security Cameras
Since wireless security cameras transmit their data on one of several fixed frequencies, their transmission is prone to interference from mobile phones, cordless telephones, printers, fluorescent lights – in fact, any object that gives off an electrical field. This interference will result in occasional loss of signal, snowy picture and poor image quality. In situations where picture quality isn’t of first importance, wireless security cameras can be a good choice.

Visible vs. Hidden or Covert Wireless Security Cameras
Wireless security cameras are generally the better choice for covert security monitoring. Without cables to connect them to a monitor or recording source, it’s far easier to hide a wireless security camera. Keep in mind though, that the camera will still need access to a power source in order to operate. While battery-powered wireless security cameras are available, their use time is generally less than 8 hours on fully charged batteries – definitely not enough for dedicated, ongoing surveillance.

Future Advances of Wireless Security Cameras
As recently as two years ago, the idea of retrieving data from wireless security cameras via the internet was a futuristic dream. Today, a number of police departments across the country include wireless security cameras mounted in the car that can transmit on a closed frequency to a home base. With a number of different industries all converging to work on advances in wireless transmission technology, picture quality, stability and security are improving by leaps and bounds. Every month brings new advances – many of them not even considered months previously.

If your need is for a security system NOW, wireless security cameras may fit some particularly specialized situations, particularly in the field of covert surveillance. In most cases, though, professionals will recommend a cabled system. If, on the other hand, you’re in the market for an upgrade to your current security system in the next 3-6 months, keep your eye on the latest developments in wireless security cameras and systems. It’s very likely to be worth the wait.

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