Your Source for Security Cameras & Other Security Equipment
Choosing The Best Nanny Cam
Nanny cams help worried parents keep an eye on their kids or their own elderly parents. They allow individuals to check in at home for peace of mind. Whether you will be installing them in hidden areas or in plain sight, here are a few things you should consider when purchasing a nanny cam.
- High Definition (HD)
This is a video format which delivers a high pixel rate for improved clarity. While this is a great feature to have, it does increase the price and requires more storage. Think about your storage requirements, budget, and individual needs before making a decision. - Audio
Nanny cams with audio let you speak to the persons in the room remotely. Before choosing a camera with two-way audio features, please look into legalities and follow the audio recording laws when you need to record audio. - Wireless
Wireless security cameras allow you to watch live video feeds rather than recording for later review. You may want to opt for wireless cameras if you will be using them for a baby monitoring system. - Compatibility
For remote monitoring, you want to be sure that your nanny cams are compatible with your smartphone or devices. That way, you can easily check in on your kid or parent and caregivers while you’re away. - Motion Activation
Because monitoring our surveillance feed 24/7 is not feasible, motion-activated alerts are a great asset. Motion activation immediately sends you alerts when motion is detected in the range of view. - Recording
While most nanny cams allow video recording on a SD card, this limits your storage capacity. For improved storage and reliability, choose a nanny cam with a network video recorder (NVR) or cloud storage. - Viewing Angle
Choosing a wide-angle nanny camera will depend on the size of the room or area you would like to cover. If you do have a large space to monitor, be sure that your security camera has a pan-tilt function. - Power Source
Typically, you can choose between battery-powered or AC power nanny cams. Battery-powered nanny cams use rechargeable battery packs, while AC powered cameras are powered directly from the outlet. Your decision may be dependent upon where you plan on placing your nanny cam. If no outlet is available in the area, you may need to use a battery-powered nanny cam. Be sure to look into battery life and invest in a backup battery should you go that route. If you need ongoing monitoring and recording, you may want to consider AC powered nanny cams.
If you need assistance choosing a nanny cam or home security cameras, please do not hesitate to call 888-203-6294 to speak with us. You may also browse our stock online at SecurityCamExpert.com or connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Pinterest.
Why You Should Install A Dash Cam
Dash cams are growing in popularity as more and more drivers are finding value in installing them. Whether you install a simple, front-facing dash cam or invest in a more comprehensive monitoring system for your vehicle, there are many ways these devices can benefit you. Here are a few reasons why you may want to consider installing a dash cam in your car.
- Accidents
When accidents occur, drivers recollections can vary. Normally, police would gather reports from those involved in the accident along with any eye witnesses. However, with dash cam footage, you have hard evidence of the incident which can help determine who was at fault and potentially save you from increased insurance rates. In addition, the video footage can possibly expedite your claim by avoiding numerous discussions with insurance companies to determine who was at fault. - Tickets
Your dash cam may save you from a wrongfully issued ticket. Since moving traffic violations typically give you points on your state driving record, which usually result in higher car insurance rates, it may be worth it to install a dash cam. If you feel you were wrongfully stopped, you can supply the officer with your dash cam footage. If the officer refuses to watch it, you can bring it to court to contest your ticket. - Insurance Fraud
Unfortunately, insurance fraud is more common than you would think. If you feel you may have been involved in or witnessed a staged accident, your dash cam footage can be turned into the insurance companies involved or the state insurance fraud unit for investigation. - Improve Driving
If you feel so inclined, you can review your daily driving videos to become a better driver. You can watch your videos to identify driving mistakes and ways to prevent them, such as braking too hard or switching lanes abruptly. - Teenage Drivers
If you have teenage drivers in the family, you can review their driving skills and habits so you can help them avoid accidents or tickets. For these cases, a two-way dash cam can help you see what’s going on both on the road and inside the vehicle. Not only can this help keep your child safe, but a clean driving record can keep your insurance rates low as well. - Security
Some dash cams provide a standby mode which allows the camera to turn on when motion in or around the car is detected. If someone tries to break into your car or hits your parked car, you get video footage to identify what happened and the persons responsible. You can submit this as evidence to the police as well as your insurance company to prove how the damage was done. - Unexpected Events
You’ve seen those viral dash cam videos that capture incredible events like meteors or other celestial events in the sky. While these are interesting and often once in a lifetime occurrences, you can also capture things like a deer running into the road causing an accident or a rockslide that caused damage to your car. In these instances, you can provide your insurance company with evidence to prevent rate hikes.
If you have a dash cam in stalled in your car, how have you benefited from it? What made you decide to install a dash cam? Share your experiences with your peers and us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Pinterest.
Visit SecurityCamExpert.com to browse our selection of security cameras, CCTV surveillance packages and more. You can call 888-203-6294 to schedule a site survey or request a FREE quote today!
Safeguard Your Property
Spring is almost here! With warmer weather on the horizon, many of us may have vacations or weekend getaways planned. Before you leave your house unattended, make sure you’re doing your best to keep your home secure. Here are some helpful home security tips to safeguard your home and property.
Maintain Landscape
Your landscape can be an asset or a weakness to your home security, depending on how you utilize it. To protect your property, you want to limit the potential hiding places that your shrubbery can provide. Consider planting thorny bushes under your windows and be sure to keep them trimmed. You may also want to install motion-activated lights along your landscape to further discourage intruders.
Deter Porch Pirates
While online shopping is convenient, it leaves you susceptible to porch pirates. If you’re having packages delivered to your doorstep, work with the delivery companies to improve security. You can request a text when a delivery is made, require a signature upon delivery, or ask for packages to be left in a less prominent location. Another way to deter package theft is to install security cameras at your front door and around your home to monitor activity.
Hide Valuables
You don’t want anyone passing by your street to be able to see all of your valuables. Instead, arrange your furnishings in a way that they are less visible from the street-side window. Also, keep your garage openers and car keys out of sight from any window. Store these in a cabinet or drawer to keep them hidden.
Reinforce Entry Points
You want to be sure that any point of entry, whether window or door, has the proper protection. Exterior doors should be metal or solid wood and at least 1 ¾ inches thick. Protect your windows with locks or burglar-resistant glass, and reinforce sliding doors with a metal bar. A security alarm can also be beneficial by alerting you when a door or window opens as well as alerting authorities when your system is breached.
Practice Safe Behaviors
Personal habits can play an important role in your home security. Make it a habit to lock your doors and windows and arm the security alarm system whenever you leave. If you’ll be gone for more than a few days or on an extended vacation, you should make it look as if your home is occupied. Leave blinds as they would be usually, plan to defer your mail and other deliveries, and use light timers and smart home devices in different areas of your home. Bonus tip: If you are leaving your keys with a parking attendant, remove your house keys – tech-savvy thieves can duplicate your house keys by simply taking a picture of it.
Share your own home security tips with us and your peers on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Pinterest. Browse our wide selection of CCTV security cameras, video surveillance systems and more at SecurityCamExpert.com or call 888-203-6294 today!
Choosing The Best Battery-Powered Wireless Security Cameras
When it comes to security cameras, wireless seems to be the easiest and most convenient option. While some wireless security cameras are not always completely wire-free (most still need to be connected to a power source), battery-powered wireless security cameras are making it much easier to build a completely wireless security system. Here’s what you should look for when it comes to battery-powered wireless security cameras.
- High Definition & Clear Quality
This is a must for any security camera, regardless of the type. Consider what you want to monitor and look for specifications and features that will satisfy your requirements. - Night Vision
Whether indoors or outdoors, if you want your surveillance around the clock, look for a battery-powered wireless camera that provides quality night vision. With these cameras, you should know that there are two types of night vision functions: infrared and starlight.Infrared is the most common and allows cameras to capture a clear vision in darkness thanks to IR LEDs built in around the camera lens. Starlight night vision has yet to gain popularity, but makes the most out of natural light to provide a crisper image than infrared.
- Wireless Capability, Wi-Fi Range, & Internet
Because battery-powered wireless security cameras are not tied down by a power source, you must really take the internet connection and Wi-Fi range into consideration when choosing locations. If you place your cameras in areas where there is spotty connection, your footage and overall security system could be compromised. Also, you must consider how many cameras you will be installing and whether or not your internet connection can handle it. - Durability
This is especially important if you will be installing your cameras outdoors. You want to choose security cameras that are strong and durable to withstand harsh weather conditions as well as normal wear and tear over time. For outdoor cameras, look for IP66 or IP67 weatherproofing casing as these ratings provide effective protection. IP stands for Ingress Protection, and this rating is the rate of effectiveness of the enclosure of the camera against dust and water. The numbers rate the protection against dust and dirt (first) and the protection against water and moisture (second) – the higher the number, the better the protection. - Battery Life
Fairly obvious, but battery life should be taken into consideration because without the battery, you have no functioning camera. Most of the cameras on the market today boast 6 months to 1 year of battery life. And most cameras deliver just that, while others do not. Be sure to pay attention to reviews and specs to ensure that you are getting what you pay for. But also, it is important to have backup batteries on standby.
What else do you look for in battery-powered security cameras? Share with us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Pinterest.
Find a great selection of security cameras, CCTV surveillance packages, and more when you visit SecurityCamExpert.com. Call 888-203-6294 to request a free quote or schedule a site survey today!