| Home is where is the heart is. It is, thus, only fitting | | | | computer or USB hub. Additionally, they capture very |
| that you go through extra lengths to protect your | | | | poor images in dim surroundings. |
| home. Home surveillance systems used to be costly | | | | Wireless sensors, with cameras or without |
| and complicated. Today, any homeowner can install | | | | Most home surveillance systems of this type come |
| any of the home surveillance systems in the market. | | | | with two motion and sound-detecting cameras. On |
| Is there a Need for Home Surveillance Systems? | | | | top of that, they also come with sensors that alert |
| What does a homeowner away on vacation and a | | | | homeowners to certain things, such as the presence |
| parent at work have in common? They worry about | | | | of leak, a door being opened, and even worrying |
| the same thing: what goes on at home while they | | | | levels of temperature fluctuation. Captured images |
| are away. By installing any of the home surveillance | | | | are sent to a computer, PDA, or cell phone via a |
| systems available today, they can put their worries | | | | broadband connection. It is also possible for |
| to rest. So, is there a need for home surveillance | | | | homeowners to purchase motion sensors without |
| systems? If you're a homeowner away on vacation, | | | | cameras. Wireless sensors without cameras issue |
| a parent who is mostly at work, a homeowner with | | | | alerts with high frequency wave signals in most and |
| contractors crawling all over your home, or a landlord | | | | infrared light, in some. |
| who has leased several properties, your answer | | | | Wireless IP video cameras |
| would most certainly be a resounding yes. | | | | These home surveillance systems are better known |
| Home surveillance systems may rely on any of the | | | | as "nanny cams." Tiny spy cameras or wireless video |
| following to meet homeowners' security needs and | | | | cameras are hidden somewhere in a room. They |
| budget: webcam surveillance, wireless IP technologies, | | | | send their video signal to a local base station and |
| and wireless sensors. Let's take a look at these | | | | from there, homeowners can view the images from |
| home surveillance systems. | | | | a television, mobile phone, PDA, laptop, or desktop |
| Webcam surveillance systems with motion sensors | | | | computer. The disadvantage of home surveillance |
| Many webcam surveillance systems integrate | | | | systems of this type is that of the camera is |
| motion-detecting software. The reason for this is | | | | low-end, its wireless signals might be picked up by |
| simple. Recording only takes place when something | | | | people who cruise streets in search of homeowners |
| moves in front of the motion sensors. This saves | | | | whose wireless signals they can hack into. |
| memory space on your hard drive. It also saves time | | | | Fortunately, higher-end cameras provide more |
| because captured images are instantly emailed to | | | | security because their transmissions are encrypted |
| users. The good thing about this, aside from being | | | | and are tied with standard WiFi networks. |
| memory-friendly and time-efficient, is that you may | | | | Market trends show that there is a big future for |
| easily access the images through a static IP address. | | | | home surveillance systems. So, expect smaller, |
| There are, however, many drawbacks to webcam | | | | faster, and more reliable home surveillance |
| home surveillance systems. First, webcams have | | | | technologies in the next few years. Manufacturers of |
| fixed positions. This limits their range. Additionally, | | | | home surveillance systems will never run out of a |
| they are USB-based devices that do not function if | | | | market to tap into because for as long as people |
| they are more than 16 feet away from the | | | | have homes, they will always want them protected. |