When it comes to securing your home, a PC-based security camera system can offer the flexibility, reliability, and control you need. With a range of options available, choosing the right system can be daunting. Whether you’re upgrading your existing setup or installing a new one, here are five essential tips for buying a PC-based home security camera system that will help you protect your property and provide peace of mind.
1. Determine Your Security Needs and Coverage Area
Before purchasing a PC-based security system, evaluate your home’s security requirements. Think about the areas you need to monitor—are you looking to cover the front yard, backyard, driveway, or the interior of your home? The number of cameras and their placement will determine the system you choose.
For example:
- Indoor vs. Outdoor Cameras: Outdoor cameras need to be weather-resistant and equipped with night vision, while indoor cameras can be simpler.
- Wide-angle lenses or PTZ (Pan-Tilt-Zoom): Wide-angle lenses cover more area, but PTZ cameras can focus on specific areas and zoom in when needed.
Make a list of specific areas you want to monitor and plan accordingly. This will help narrow down your camera options and ensure you buy a system that meets your needs.
2. Look for Easy Setup and User-Friendly Features
Make sure the system you choose is easy to set up and use. A complicated installation or confusing interface can turn a home security project into a headache. Many PC-based systems come with user-friendly interfaces that allow you to easily configure your cameras, adjust settings, and view footage in real-time.
Some features to look for:
- Plug-and-play installation: Choose a system with simple plug-and-play functionality, especially if you’re not tech-savvy.
- Mobile app support: A good system will have a companion app that lets you monitor cameras from anywhere with ease.
- User-friendly control panel: The software interface should allow you to adjust settings like motion detection, recording schedules, and camera angles without a steep learning curve.
Some cameras are wireless and are fairly easy to install. However, the further away a wireless camera is from the wireless network access point, the more likely there will be communication problems (internet connectivity problems).
If you have a large home or plan on placing cameras outside, you may want to consider systems that require wiring. If you aren’t handy with drilling holes into walls and running wire, there are some camera systems that work on a receiver system. The receiver plugs into an outlet and acts as a bridge between the camera and the computer by connecting to the PC via a USB port. This type of system isn’t suitable for outdoor cameras though, so get the cordless drill ready if you need to do some drilling into the walls!
3. Choose the Right PC-Based Security Software
A key component of a PC-based home security system is the software that controls your cameras. While many security camera systems come with their proprietary software, it’s often worth investing in third-party software that offers better functionality and flexibility.
When selecting security software, look for features such as:
- Remote Viewing: Ensure the software supports viewing your cameras remotely from your phone, tablet, or another computer.
- Motion Detection: This feature can send alerts when movement is detected, saving storage space and providing real-time updates.
- Cloud Storage or Local Storage: Choose between cloud-based storage for easier access or local storage for more control over your data.
Popular third-party software options include Blue Iris, iSpy, and ZoneMinder. These tools offer robust features and compatibility with a wide range of cameras.
4. Opt for High-Resolution Cameras
One of the most important factors in any security camera system is image quality. To ensure you capture clear and detailed footage, always opt for high-resolution cameras. 1080p HD resolution is the bare minimum for most home security needs, but higher resolutions like 4K offer superior clarity, which can be crucial for identifying faces or license plates.
Consider the camera’s frame rate as well; a frame rate of 30 frames per second (FPS) ensures smooth video playback. Low-quality cameras may give you grainy or blurry footage, which can be a major drawback if you need to capture critical details.
5. Consider the Storage Capacity and Backup Options
For a PC-based home security camera system, you’ll need sufficient storage space to keep your video footage. Depending on the number of cameras, their resolution, and the amount of footage you want to store, you’ll need a reliable storage solution.
Here are the key factors to consider:
- Internal Hard Drive: Many security systems use large internal hard drives to store footage. Ensure your system has a large enough hard drive or consider purchasing an additional one if necessary.
- Cloud Storage: Some systems offer cloud storage as a backup or primary option, which is great for remote access and extra peace of mind in case of hard drive failure.
- Storage Duration: Determine how long you want to keep recorded footage. A 1TB hard drive can typically store several days’ worth of footage, but if you need longer storage times, you may want a larger drive.
Having enough storage ensures you don’t run out of space, and the footage can be easily accessed when needed.
Final Thoughts
Buying a PC-based home security camera system doesn’t have to be overwhelming. By determining your security needs, choosing the right software, opting for high-quality cameras, ensuring adequate storage, and selecting a system that’s easy to set up, you’ll be well on your way to creating a robust and reliable home security solution.
Investing time in selecting the right system will give you peace of mind and ensure your home is protected against potential threats.
A lot goes into choosing the right home security system,IR vs Nightvision, auto tracking cameras, wired vs wireless, etc. It’s important to remember that cost effectiveness should not play a roll over security. If security is your main concern, stay away from DIY and buy each product separately. (choose a DVR with at least a TB, at least 16 channels, etc)
Another Great article, thank you Peter!
I wouldn’t go for DIY myself, they’re usually wireless and are susceptible to interference from radio frequency. I rather go for the wired ones and pay for the installation cost. Wired home security systems are generally harder to disarm or interfere with. Any type of tampering with the wiring will often trip the alarm system. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Simon.
Thanks for your comments, Simon! I like your DVR idea. Hiring a professional to install your home security system is certainly the best way to go about it. Still, some homeowners may prefer to install a DIY camera for personal surveillance purposes.
We recently purchased a PC-based video surveillance system and we think it’s a good buy for us as we no longer have to worry too much on who goes in and out of our premises. The best part of it is that you can remotely monitor the video from the system using your smartphone. In fact, since the surveillance system is IP-based, you can view the feed no matter where you are in the world as long as you have decent internet access.
Interesting post. I am looking for CCTV cameras to install at my home, to increase the security and thus ensure the well being of my family. I found these tips very helpful. I will surely pass to this to my friends. Home surveillance is now became the need due to much increase in crime rate. I want to install those cameras , which can be connected with my mobile phone. It will helps to monitor my family, even when I am not at home.
I’ve always wanted to improve the security system at my business in West Palm Beach to a level beyond a few cameras. The security pros at Godby Safe and Lock installed a high tech Access Control System for my small business. Now I can be assured that only authorized personnel accesses certain areas of my business.
Thanks for a great article. There are so many things to consider before choosing security camera system. I am wondering where the video is stored though. Is it stored on your home PC or somewhere online? How about the costs. I am a bit worried that recurring storage costs of such systems may skyrocket the costs of maintaining them.
One of the most important for me to consider in buying security camera is the easy to install because i dont have to put more time just to set up. Thanks for this great share!
I definitely agree that it’s smart to consider installation of the cameras. I don’t have a lot of experience with security systems and I’ve been looking for cameras. I also like what the article said about determining what areas need the most surveillance. It doesn’t make a lot of sense to install cameras in areas of your home that aren’t really at risk of break-ins.
Our house is our sanctuary and we want to be safe and sound. Having a security system in our house make us more. Though home security systems are a great asset for our home security, it wouldn’t hurt to get humans on the job as well. Ask a very trusted neighbor to keep a close watch on your house as well.
I am contented about the security in our place, but there is still something bothering about me. There are times that no one is going to look for our house and then I will be gone for how many days. Having a Surveillance is the only solutions that will work. Safety and security will always be first.
A couple of home security cameras are what my house would sure need. Last week, my son found the fence from the backyard marked with graffiti. Because of that I’m thinking about setting up some cameras on the back end of my home.
I agree that you should choose a camera that will be easy to install. Otherwise, you may end up having to return it. I think you should also be sure to read the installation manual.
I like how you mention that security camera systems are not only used to keep watch for burglars but also other things like even watching your pet when you are away or babysitter to make sure they are doing their job. I think keeping watch of your babysitter is a great idea especially if the person is not a family friend but someone from a paid service of some sort.
The decision usually comes down to either a DIY or a system that requires professional installation. In my opinion, the professional installation is usually the best for the long term unless you happen to be somewhat tech savvy and handy with tools.
My husband and I have been thinking of getting a home security system, so I really appreciate this advice! I think that, as a start, we should decide on where we’d want the cameras to point. I think we’ll have to get a few options for cameras, but I’ll be sure to choose one that is easy to install. Thanks for this help!
I like your advice to choose a camera that fits your needs and wants. Some people can afford to buy a complex security system with alarms and multiple cameras, while others can only afford the bare minimum. Personally, I’d opt for outside cameras that are easily seen, because knowing you’re being watched can deter bad behavior. Thanks for the article.
A wrong decision can really ruin your all efforts. The above advice is nice to consider before buying an camera system because you don’t want to get hacked while using a low quality system.
Helpful content for security camera seekers.
Easy installation seems to be the key for sure. If you read the reviews on Amazon, you see a ton of frustration with the installation process and some people even end up giving up.
I have recently installed a PC based monitoring camera in my house and the coolest thing about this special type of security software is that we can actually view our home from anywhere in the world.
What else anyone needs? 😀 😀
Thanks for being sharing such a valuable post.
Home security cameras are really awesome!! This would be awesome to check on our dogs when we are gone from the home.
Investing in a home camera system is the latest security trend for homes these days. I would love to have a home security camera. it would make me feel much more secure about my home!
Regards
Salvador V. Sherman
Hey Peter,
Home security camera system is indeed a good tool to have to help protect our homes. Some of the security systems we’ve checked need a technician or an expert to be installed.
Thank you for posting 🙂