cctv4u Blog

CCTV systems are used to really increase security in a number of areas including around your very own property. There are now several types of systems on the market which you can see about installing by yourself but before you do that it is important that you know at least the basics of what it is capable of doing as this helps to make sure you have the correct system installed.

You are probably mostly familiar with the rather industrial looking cameras that are in and around public buildings and these are at the higher end of the market. This is because they come with protective covers as well as producing much sharper images along with the ability to zoom right in on something but for buying for your home you do not need as much as this.

So when it comes to picking your camera you need to look at how sensitive it is as well as the resolution. The sensitivity deals with its reaction to light and its ability to adapt in order to give you the best image possible in the conditions. The resolution is much like the resolution you get on a digital camera where the higher it is the clearer the image.

You also need to check if the camera is suitable for indoor or outdoor use as clearly the outdoor version is going to be able to withstand the weather a lot better. This kind of information is going to be clearly mentioned in the product details so just take your time in reading them before you buy.

When it comes to the light aspect for the camera in your CCTV system you need to realise that light is normally measured in lux. There are different readings for different settings for example sunlight has a higher lux level than a dull day so when you are picking the camera see what lux levels it is able to deal with.

You need to know this because it does affect the image that you see so if you get a camera for an office light level and you put it outside and it is sunny then quite simply it is not going to work.

When it comes to viewing the image and recording it you can get systems installed where it records onto digital systems whilst it is displayed via a monitor or can be linked up to a normal television. If you intend to have more than one camera then be sure you have switchers installed so you can jump between images whenever you want.

But overall if you are planning on having CCTV systems installed even at your home you should get an expert company to come and do it all for you. They can advise you on what you need and it does save you a lot of hassle of installing everything yourself. It really is just something that should be done if you understand about electronics as you can easily mess things up and then have to call on the company to come and fix it anyway.

Whatever you are looking for when it comes to CCTV products, make sure you have a good look at the cctv4U website. You will find a huge range of CCTV systems there which will suit your needs, whether you are looking to buy CCTV cameras for the home or for your business premises.

Security is high on the list of concerns for most people these days, and past statistics suggest that, as the recession continues crime rates will rise as people turn to other unlawful methods of making money. This was certainly the case during previous recessions in the early eighties and a decade later, so if the pattern repeats itself we have to be aware that our homes and business premises are more likely to be targeted by thieves.

The last thing you want is to find that your home or office has been broken into and your property has been stolen. As well as ensuring that you have an adequate burglar alarm system, statistics have suggested that CCTV installations are a major factor in deterring thieves from attempting to enter a building which has CCTV on view. Depending on the size of your home or business premises, you may be able to use a small number of CCTV cameras which will give you peace of mind. If your property is larger than average, the people at cctv4U will be able to advise you on the number of security cameras you will need to deter criminals from targeting you.

If you are running a business or you are in charge of security at the company, then you will need to consider having CCTV systems installed. There are many reasons for having CCTV security on your premises, the most obvious being that it allows you to see exactly who is entering or leaving the building and surrounding area. This is important in many respects. First of all, it allows you to indentify unauthorised people who may be entering a dangerous area of the premises. The last thing you want is for someone who shouldn’t be there becoming injured, which apart from anything else could leave you open to litigation and a costly settlement fee for any injuries received.

CCTV will also allow you to make sure that theft is dramatically reduced as surveys have shown that thieves are less likely to target a business which has overt security. If you have CCTV security cameras located in key positions around your premises, it would have to be a particularly foolhardy thief who would attempt to break in.

Before you buy CCTV cameras, it’s advisable to get an assessment of your needs. Many of the suppliers of CCTV systems will be happy to do this for you, and then advise you on which systems best suit your needs. Depending on the size of your business premises, you may need nothing more than a basic CCTV system, but if you are in charge of a larger operation this can be tailored to suit your needs.

Many people are under the impression that only those who live in large expensive houses need to buy CCTV cameras in order to protect themselves and their property. The fact is, it doesn’t matter what size house you live in, having CCTV cameras installed can help cut the chances of burglary, while giving you peace of mind. This is particularly the case if you live in a rural area and your home is isolated. If you hear a knock on the door in the middle of the night, do you really want to open it without knowing who is there? If you have security cameras installed – as well as a floodlight system – you will be able to check who is outside before you open the door.

To look at another scenario, imagine you live on an estate and you’re having trouble with neighbours. This can take many forms, from verbal abuse to actual physical assaults, but whatever the problem is you are facing, by installing CCTV cameras you can reduce the chance of your home being targeted by neighbours who may have a grudge against you. In the worst case, if the CCTV does not deter them, you will be able to present evidence to the authorities that they have been causing a problem.

So wherever you happen to live, in a stately home or a more modest house, using CCTV security can make a big difference to your life. Peace of mind is what it’s all about, and CCTV security cameras can help you achieve that.

Although we tend to think of CCTV systems being used to help reduce crime on our streets, or being placed in strategic positions in shops and factories, there are other uses for CCTV cameras.

One of these uses is concerned with town planning. A city council in the north of England used CCTV equipment to help them determine the traffic flow at a junction where major changes were to be made. This junction was a complicated intersection consisting of two main trunk roads and three local roads. Before any work could begin, it was necessary to carry out an analysis of traffic flow. The usual method employed to do this is to use council staff as observers who would sit by each junction and count the vehicles passing.

The council decided that this was not only expensive but also not a very accurate method of gauging a complete week’s traffic twenty four hours a day. Another problem was that although traffic flow could be counted at the junctions, it would be difficult to determine once the vehicles had passed the particular spot in question.

With all of these factors in mind, the council opted to use CCTV systems to monitor the traffic flow. There was a multi-storey car park right in the centre of the intersection and the CCTV cameras were mounted on the building which covered every junction and allowed the council to compile an accurate report of the traffic flow. This is just one example of how CCTV equipment can be used for many purposes, and not just as a tool for cutting crime.

You will be well aware of CCTV cameras in the high street, both in the shops and outside, where they are used to monitor the crowds, on the look out for any kind of disturbance or crime that could potentially occur. Most of us associate CCTV with businesses or as an aid of security on our streets, but many people are realising that they are also beneficial when it comes to security in our homes.

When you look at crime statistics, the chances of being burgled in your home is relatively low, which leads many crime experts to believe that the biggest problem is actually the fear of being burgled. If this sounds like you, then maybe it’s time you considered having security camera systems installed in your home.

Statistics have shown that a potential burglar will ignore a house which has CCTV equipment as they know there is a good chance they will be identified, found and prosecuted. Many people have the impression that CCTV is both expensive and complicated, but you may be surprised to find that this is not exactly the case. Depending on your needs, you can have peace of mind by installing just one CCTV camera, for example, one which will monitor the front of rear of your home. If you want to have extra security, it’s possible to have CCTV cameras in several locations around your premises which will ensure that no-one is able to approach your house from any direction, one of the simpliest ways to install CCTV into a house is to buy a CCTV kit and the one we recommend is the Evolve CCTV Kit as it is plug and play with very easy to use menu system and excellent playback quality as it is using H.264 compression.

Crime experts are divided about just how effective CCTV is when it comes to stopping or even reducing crime, but one thing is clear from independent research carried out in the UK. CCTV systems do have a dramatic effect when it comes to reducing fear of crime among the public, and they do ensure, in the event of an assault being picked up by the CCTV cameras, that the rapid response of police officers gives less time for offenders to inflict more injuries on the victim.

In order to really discover if CCTV systems are truly effective, police authorities have to conduct their evaluations over a long period of time to eliminate any inconsistencies in the data. This is why, to a certain extent, the jury is still out on just how effective CCTV is.

There is another element to this. It is essential that the CCTV operators are well-trained and are aware of the fastest way to deploy police officers. The correct, up to date training will ensure that CCTV systems will be more effective when it comes to tackling crime on the streets, and local authorities are now well aware of this and ensure that their staff are given refresher courses about the best way to use security camera systems.

The consensus seems to be that CCTV cameras are going to become more important in the future when it comes to preventing crime, and as the CCTV security cameras become more sophisticated, more offenders will be caught and – perhaps even more important – more crimes will be prevented.

If you are considering having CCTV cameras installed but you are still a little unsure about the benefits, it may help you make your decision when you look at some statistics which have been produced in this field. An independent survey carried out recently suggests that there have been significant reductions in the amount of crime being committed where cameras are installed. And to back this up, an article in a well regarded scientific magazine showed that simply installing a system can reduce crime, in the areas covered by the security cameras, by more than 95 per cent. If you’re not convinced yet that security camera systems can help you, carry on reading and look at the other benefits.

Once your CCTV security is in place, the chances of robberies and other crimes are less likely to occur. You only have to look at it from the criminals point of view to understand why this is the case. These people want to steal your stock, but they don’t want to end up in court, so they tend to avoid business which are protected by CCTV cameras.

Getting back to those statistics, it transpires that almost 80 per cent of thefts are down to customers or staff, with customers accounting for the largest amount. You have worked hard to build up your business, making many sacrifices along the way. Why let the thieves get away with stealing your goods? It is in your interests to have the best security cameras and CCTV equipment in place which will help you to tackle this problem.

If you are concerned about security, either in your home or at your business, there are many benefits to using CCTV. If you are considering a CCTV camera installation in the workplace this will give you two major benefits immediately, in that it will help to provide a safer environment for you and your staff as well as making the business less likely to be targeted by thieves.

Depending on your needs, CCTV systems consist of either a single camera and monitor or they can be very elaborate, with several cameras located around the premises which are monitored from a remote location by a security expert.

Deterrence is the main reason why many companies install security cameras. Most thieves don’t just strike at random, but decide which building is vulnerable and easy to enter. If the building does not have CCTV, this will make it more attractive to them and before you know it, the gang has entered the building and cleared it out.

The same applies to shoplifters. If you are a retailer, you will know just how bad this can be for your business. If the potential shoplifter sees that your store is well protected by CCTV systems, they will more than likely move on to a shop which doesn’t have security camera systems.

CCTV cameras can also be used to keep an eye on the cash till, which will help you to resolve any misunderstandings which may take place when your staff are handling large amounts of money every day.