Going away for the holidays? Be sure your home is safe and secure while you’re away. Follow these home security tips to minimize your chances of being targeted by thieves.
Another way to secure your home is to install surveillance cameras. You can keep an eye on your property in real time with a high quality security camera system from SecurityCamExpert.com. Browse our selection of security cameras and surveillance equipment online, or call 1-888-203-6294 to speak with a representative directly. Don’t forget to ask about our installation services, too!
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The holidays are here, which means it’s time for things like holiday shopping and family vacations. Unfortunately, this also means it is the best time for burglars to strike. You want to protect your home and the expensive gifts under your tree, but you can’t be home all the time. Lucky for you, security cameras can be. These security camera features will help you get the most of out of your home surveillance system.
Motion Sensors
Motion sensing technology is extremely important in identifying suspicious or unusual behavior. Without motion sensors, your surveillance would need to be on 24/7, which can waste precious power and storage space on mundane recordings. Motion sensors allow your system to kick into action as needed. Mobile alerts are usually offered in conjunction with this technology. Aside from motion sensors, audio sensing takes your security system much further by alerting you or recording when sounds are detected around the security camera.
Two-way Audio
With two-way audio, you can communicate with people who may be in or outside of your home.
Investing in a security camera with speakers enables communication between you and whoever may be near your camera. For example, if someone is knocking at your door and you’re not home, you can instantly communicate with them through your connected device. Or if someone has broken into your home, you can alert them that they are being recorded and that authorities are en route.
Field Of View
The field of view depends on what you value more – detail or wide view. A camera with a narrower field of view will obviously capture less, however, it will offer more detail. A wide field of view makes the camera seem farther away but offers more viewing range without having to reposition or angle the camera (think panoramic view). Knowing where you want to place your security cameras will help you understand which field of view will work best.
Video Quality
Video quality has greatly improved over the years. These days, most security cameras come with 720p resolution as the standard, and go as high as 1080p resolution for recording and streaming. But before you go ahead and splurge on that high definition security camera, you must first be sure that your Internet connection can handle it (1080p feeds can use up lots of bandwidth).
Power Source
You can go wired or wireless, depending on your personal preference and what your environment allows. Wired solutions simply need an outlet, and possibly extension cords, depending on the location. Other security cameras offer PoE capabilities, and some are battery operated.
Low-light/Nighttime Settings
Low light security cameras can make the most with a faint hint of light. The technology works to create a brighter image with discernible details, however, without a light source, the camera will not work. Most cameras with this technology will emit their own near-infrared energy while remaining relatively inconspicuous.
Thermal imaging, on the other hand, does not depend on light. Instead, it uses heat to monitor an area. While thermal imaging can work in total darkness, it does lack fine details and color.
Cloud vs. Local Storage
Surveillance storage is an important aspect of security systems. Without archived videos of an incident, you have no evidence to prove that a perpetrator did anything wrong. With local storage, your footage is saved directly to a nearby storage drive. Sometimes this is built into your DVR or NVR, other times you may have an external hard drive. The downfall to this type of storage is that you may run out of space quickly, especially if you do not have a motion detection feature.
Cloud storage is relatively unlimited (in the sense of availability), however, you may be charged fees depending on the Cloud service. Also, cloud storage usually dumps old footage after a specified amount of time, so if you would like to keep your video clips, you will have to offload it from your cloud account to your local drive or another cloud account.
Now that you know what to look for in your home security cameras, feel free to shop our selection online at SecurityCamExpert.com or call 1-888-203-6294 to speak with a representative directly. And don’t forget to connect with us on Facebook, Google+, Twitter, and Pinterest!
With the Thanksgiving holiday upon us, we would like to take a moment to remind you how thankful we are for you and your continued support. Your safety and security matters to us and we are happy to provide you with top notch products and customer service you deserve. From all of us at SecurityCamExpert.com, we wish you a Happy Thanksgiving!
As a reminder, we will be closed on Thursday, November 26, 2015 and Friday, November 27, 2015 in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday. Our normal business hours will resume on Monday, November 30, 2015. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding.
We hope you all enjoy a safe and happy holiday weekend!
Whether you’re ready or not, Halloween week is finally here. This year, Halloween happens to fall on a Saturday, which could mean heavier traffic all around. Keep yourself, your loved ones, and those around you safe with these tips.
Secure Entrances
Because you can expect trick-or-treaters all night, some people may opt to leave their doors unlocked and/or unattended. However, you never know who’s lurking around, especially since costumes can easily mask a person’s identity. To be safe, stay close to your front door and keep it closed and locked. You may also opt to sit in the driveway to pass out candy, but be sure that all your other entrances are locked and someone is able to keep watch if your garage remains open.
Smart Lighting
Lighting is important since nightfall can make it hard to see. But as alluring as candles are, they are a fire hazard. For a safer alternative, try battery powered tea lights for your jack-o’-lanterns or Christmas lights to light up your walkway.
Safe Spooks & Scares
Spooky Halloween décor is always fun, but be sure that any potential malfunctions will not injure your visitors.
Protect Your Pets
Halloween is often a lively night. It’s likely that you want your furry friends to join in the fun, but overstimulation can frighten or overwhelm them. For your pet’s and everyone’s safety, keep them locked up until the celebrations die down.
Careful Costume Choices
As previously stated, it is harder to see at night, and with heavy foot traffic on the streets, pedestrian danger is increased. Drivers should be extra cautious, but it will help to add reflective tape to costumes and treat bags to ensure that trick-or-treaters are more easily seen.
You also want to make sure that your kids’ costumes are comfortable and not too restrictive or inconvenient. Props should be lightweight and easy to carry around, and wigs, masks, or ill-fitting pieces should be avoided.
Keep An Eye Out
Because this is a higher risk holiday, be sure to remain vigilant. If you are going out for the night, be sure that everything is locked up, and if you have an alarm or security cameras, be sure they are activated and properly working. Real time text or email alerts from your home security systems can help ease your mind while you’re away.
For a great selection of security cameras and surveillance equipment, please visit us online at SecurityCamExpert.com. To speak with us directly, please call 1-888-203-6294.
Do you have any Halloween safety tips to share? Any exciting plans for Halloween? Share with us on Facebook, Google+, Twitter, and Pinterest.
Here at SecurityCamExpert.com, we care about you and your safety. With the 4th of July holiday upon us, it is important to remember that fireworks are fun, but they can also be very dangerous. In fact, on the holiday, two out of five fires reported are started by fireworks (via National Fire Protection Association).
Before you start your Independence Day celebrations, please review these fireworks safety tips.
Feel free to share any other safety tips with us and your peers on our social media – Facebook, Google+, Twitter, and Pinterest.
We hope you enjoy a fun and safe holiday weekend. Happy 4th of July from your friends at SecurityCamExpert.com!
St. Patrick’s Day is fast approaching, but before you get ready to celebrate, do you know what you’re celebrating?
St. Patrick’s Day is the Roman Catholic Feast day to honor St. Patrick (Patricius in Latin), Ireland’s patron saint, who was actually born in Britain. At the age of 16, St. Patrick was kidnapped and sold as a slave in Ireland. After six years, he was able to escape and return home. He remained in Britain to study for 14 years, and then went back to Ireland to spread the Christian faith. It was this work that earned him the title as patron saint.
Shamrocks are closely associated with St. Patrick because he used the three leaf clovers to explain and illustrate the Holy Trinity. When these shamrocks sprout an extra leaf, as in four-leaf clovers, they are said to be lucky. Their leaves represent faith, hope, love, and luck. It is often said that four-leaf clovers are more common in Ireland than any other place, giving birth to the phrase “the luck of the Irish.”
You’ll have the luck of the Irish when you shop with SecurityCamExpert.com this St. Patrick’s Day. Purchase 3 of our SCE 1000TVL 720P IR Bullet Cameras and the 4th one is on us! Start building your own security camera system with this exceptional security camera.
The SCE 1000TVL 720P IR bullet camera provides day and night vision with 1000TVL for quality surveillance around the clock. Its functional, intimidating, yet stealthy design make it an ideal security camera for various environments. Install these cameras in or around your home or property and rest easy knowing you can keep watch at any time.
Our St. Patrick’s Day special is going on March 10-17, 2015. This special offer only applies to our SCE 30J100 100TVL 720P IR Bullet Camera with Varifocal Lens (Black) – limit 4 per order. This applies to both phone and Internet orders. Please mention the promotion when ordering to receive your fourth camera free (Internet customers, please use the Order Comments box to mention promotion). Based on website pricing and may not be combined with any other offers. Visit us online at www.SecurityCamExpert.com or call us at 1-888-203-6294. Shop now before your luck runs out!
You can connect with us on our social networks, too – Facebook, Google+, Twitter, and Pinterest.
With Valentine’s Day fast approaching, the stress may be setting in for the procrastinators out there. To lighten the mood, we’ve decided to share ten fun facts about the love-filled holiday.
1. In 1537, England’s King Henry VII officially declared Feb. 14 the holiday of St. Valentine’s Day.
2. In the Middle Ages, young men and women drew names from a bowl to see who would be their Valentine. They would wear this name pinned onto their sleeves for one week for everyone to see. This was the origin of the expression “to wear your heart on your sleeve.”
3. The Italian city of Verona, where Shakespeare’s lovers Romeo and Juliet lived, receives about 1,000 letters addressed to Juliet every Valentine’s Day.
4. The red rose was the favorite flower of Venus, the Roman goddess of love.
5. Each year, over 50 million roses are given for Valentine’s Day worldwide.
6. In order of popularity, Valentine’s Day cards are given to teachers, children, mothers, wives, sweethearts and pets.
7. 220,000 is the average number of wedding proposals on Valentine’s Day each year.
8. Richard Cadbury created the first Valentine’s Day candy box in the 1800s.
9. About 8 billion candy hearts will be produced this year; that’s enough candy to stretch from Rome, Italy to Valentine, Arizona 20 times and back again.
10. Over $1 billion worth of chocolate is purchased for Valentine’s Day in the U.S.
Bonus Fact: Were having a sale! Starting on Monday, February 9, 2015 until Valentine’s Day, when you spend $300 or more at SecurityCamExpert.com, you’ll receive a complimentary box of chocolates. Consider it our way of showing our adoration for you; a little Valentine’s Day gift from us to you.
This offer applies to both phone orders and online orders, however, you must mention the promotion when ordering. For online orders, please use the Order Comments box to note the promotion. This offer applies to website pricing only, and orders of at least $300 or more. This offer may not be combined with other offers; limit one per customer. Offer valid February 9-14, 2015.
Which facts were surprising to you? Do you have any facts to share? You can reach us on our social networks – Facebook, Google+, Twitter, and Pinterest. And be sure to act fast – our special offer ends on Valentine’s Day!
When you think of New Year’s, you likely think of the countdown to the ball drop at midnight, followed by a champagne toast and maybe a special kiss at midnight. While this is common and customary for folks who grew up or live in the United States, a look at New Year’s traditions around the world may make us scratch our heads. While these practices may seem taboo, most of the reasons behind them make sense.
Chile – Sleeping With The Dead
Though a fairly new tradition (said to have originated in 1995), this practice of sleeping in graveyards is common in the small town Talca, Chile. It is said that a family jumped the fence of a cemetery to celebrate New Year’s Eve with their deceased father. Since then, the practice has caught on and you’ll find many locals at the cemetery on the eve of the New Year. While the act may seem creepy in itself, the sentiment is sincere.
Denmark – Smashing Plates
Smashing plates doesn’t seem too out of the ordinary, but the significance is a bit confusing. People in Denmark smash plates against their neighbor’s doors, and those with the most broken plates on their doorstep are said to be the most popular. Quite an interesting way to show affection, if you ask us.
Romania – Talking To Animals / Bear Dancing
Romanians have two bizarre traditions. On New Year’s Eve, farmers in Romania often talk to their livestock in order to bring them good luck in the coming year. Elsewhere in Romania, some people dress up in bear costumes, or brightly colored clothing, and dance at various houses in order to ward off bad spirits and demons. These dancing bears may also earn tips for their community service.
Estonia – Eating Too Much
In Estonia, on New Year’s Eve, it is customary to consume a total of seven meals for that day. These seven meals are supposed to ensure abundance throughout the New Year. In the US, I think we call this Thanksgiving.
Panama – Burning Celebrity Effigies
Burning effigies, celebrity or not, seems like a crazy practice. But in Panama, the act of burning celebrity effigies is said to bring good luck for the New Year, so locals gather to celebrate on New Year’s Eve.
Scotland – Balls Of Fire
On New Year’s Eve in Scotland, you’ll find men walking around in their kilts swinging fireballs over their heads. This is part of their Hogmanay (last day of the year) celebration, and a somewhat dangerous way to celebrate. Please don’t try this at home.
South Africa – Throwing Furniture
This is a practice banned by law, yet some still partake in it. On New Year’s Eve, some people may throw their old furniture out of their windows. It is said to be a way of symbolizing “out with the old, in with the new.” Unsafe and illegal, it may be best to avoid this practice all together.
Siberia – Underwater Tree Planting
In Siberia, trees are planted in freezing cold water on New Year’s Eve. This is done as a sign of peace for the New Year. This should only be carried out by professional divers as obvious health and safety risks are present.
Peru – Beating Each Other Up
Though celebrated on Christmas Day rather than New Year’s Eve, this tradition is just as outrageous as the aforementioned. In Peru, the Takanakuy fighting festival is a way to settle conflicts from the year in a battle of fisticuffs. Men, women, and children participate in order to enter the New Year with a clean slate.
Have we missed anything? Let us know! Share your unique New Year’s traditions with us on Facebook, Google+, Twitter, or Pinterest!
At SecurityCamExpert.com, your safety is important to us. However you choose to celebrate the New Year, please do so responsibly. Enjoy a safe & Happy New Year! We’ll see you in 2015!
SecurityCamExpert.com is happy to offer you a sense of security and safety with every purchase. We’ve continued to grow and it is all thanks to you. This holiday season, we’d like to show our appreciation.
Starting on Monday, December 22, 2014, you can earn special bonuses when you shop with us. Receive a free $20 Target gift card when you spend $250 or more. Receive a free $50 Visa gift card when you spend $650 or more. For orders of $1000 or more, get a free Blu-Ray disc player! The more you spend, the more you receive!
This special promotion is based on web pricing only and may not be combined with any other offers. To receive the special, you must mention the promo when ordering (Online Orders – mention promo in Order Comments box). Gift cards and Blu-Ray players will be shipped within one week of purchase. This promotion is only valid from December 22, 2014-January 2, 2015. Act fast before we sell out!
Find a variety of excellent, affordable, and high quality security cameras, security camera systems, parts, accessories and more online at SecurityCamExpert.com. Know exactly what you want? Feel free to order over the phone – call 1-888-203-6294.
From the SecurityCamExpert.com family to yours – warmest wishes for holidays filled with joy, laughter, and love!
During the holiday season, the big guns come out and innovative tech gadgets hit the market. It’s always fun to see what’s offered during this time. It seems this year the buzz surrounds new wearable tech, smart devices, and commercial drones. TGI Fridays decided to take this technology a step further and use drones to spread some holiday cheer within their restaurant.
The Fridays Mobile Mistletoe is a mistletoe carrying drone which travels around the restaurant and hovers over unsuspecting couples. Per mistletoe tradition, the pair is supposed to kiss. The drone then captures the magic moment on its camera.
A pilot program was originally launched at the TGI Fridays Manchester Royal Exchange restaurant in the United Kingdom. The positive response inspired locations in New York Westbury and Brooklyn to introduce these holiday drones into their restaurants.
The concept of a mistletoe drone is festive and smart, but the execution could potentially cause problems. As the Brooklyn location rolled out the Mobile Mistletoe, it is reported that a person suffered a minor injury from the drone. This may cause legal concern for both the establishment as well as concerns about personal safety among diners.
In addition to injury risk, questions arise about the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations on commercial drones. However, since these drones are being used indoors as opposed to outdoors, jurisdiction becomes cloudy.
What do you think about the Fridays Mobile Mistletoe drone? If your local Fridays restaurant had them, would they entice or discourage you from dining there? Share your thoughts with us. Connect with us on Facebook, Google+, Twitter, and Pinterest.
Let SecurityCamExpert.com deliver quality security camera systems to you. Shop our selection online or order over the phone at 1-888-203-6294.