Security camera installation guide

The items listed above will be proficient in getting started. The first step is planning the placement of the security cameras and the areas you want to record. Instead, assess how easy the spots will be to reach, whether you want the camera to be visible, and the priority of indoor vs outdoor cameras.

It would be lovely if you could position your security cameras exactly where you want them. However, a spot on the corner of an exterior door will prove difficult for connecting the cables. These limiting factors must be kept in mind. Tip : Before you settle on spots for the security cameras, lay out the logistical plans for how you will connect it back to the DVR box.

Here are some things to consider when deciding on the location of your installed security cameras:. There are some locations in and around the home that are particularly great.

These are popular areas to surveil for many people and businesses:. Once you determine where you will place the best 4k security camera system , now is a good time to gauge if additional tools will be necessary or not. If you need additional holes for mounting screws, consider that, too. Tip: Some security camera kits will include drill templates for how to install security cameras.

These can guide you in placement. If you did not receive templates in the installation kit, you can simply mark the holes with a pencil. Then, you can make a bigger hole in the center of the pilot holes for the cables. While this size hole usually requires a spade bit, you might have luck with an extra-large drill bit. As you prepare to install, these are some guidelines for the placement of your outdoor security cameras:.

Indoor security cameras have their own set of considerations that will need to be made. These include:. Once the cable holes have been drilled, you can run the cable through the walls.

The exact location and logistics of your cable running will vary based on your home layout. Most people will end up drilling holes through walls, ceilings, or the attic. Set up the system so all of the cables converge in one place. With steel fish tape, this becomes a whole lot easier.

Download your free copy of the guide to keep in your back pocket. The most important parts of business security camera systems are, of course, the security cameras. Commercial security cameras capture footage of everything that happens in and around a facility, then sends footage to recorders, monitors, and mobile devices. Security cameras come in a variety of hardware types for different camera installation service needs. Which security cameras are right for your system depends on your individual needs and budget; are you placing them indoors or outdoors?

Is P a large enough resolution? Will they be able to see and record video efficiently in low-lighting? These are all important questions to be considered when choosing security cameras for your CCTV camera installation project. For most commercial CCTV systems, structured cabling running throughout the walls and connecting your security cameras to the server or NVR will be a vital component during surveillance camera installation.

While more and more wireless security cameras are becoming popular, especially for home use, wired security cameras still reign supreme for more permanent and demanding security use. When using IP cameras — as most CCTV systems do these days — you will most likely be looking at Cat5E or Cat6 cables, which can transfer the large amount of data required by digital video and high resolutions at very fast speeds, and often over long distances. This is an upgrade from the coax cabling that usually powers analog security cameras; coax cables are reliable, but not compatible with IP camera installation.

In many cases, Cat5e and Cat6 cables will also power the security cameras, eliminating the need for further wiring. Wireless security cameras may need less wiring in the walls but will still require cables to power the security camera separately, usually via VAC power. Connected to the same IP network, the NVR can be installed virtually anywhere in your building or home. The NVR allows you to record and store video on a hard drive, snap images and transmit them to your computer or remote device for live and recorded viewing.

Network Video Recorders usually have multiple channels for inputting security camera feeds, and are an all-in-one place for combining feeds and keeping a comprehensive eye on your surveillance feeds. An NVR makes it easy to record video surveillance footage, but you will need connected hard drives on which to store this footage. When recording 4k security camera video, this can end up being a large number requiring terabytes of footage. For lesser archival needs, you can usually get away with much less.

DVRs with coaxial cables generally have image quality that deteriorates after around feet. Since NVRs use a software program to automatically record video in a digital format, they can easily transmit data over computer networks and even remotely stream security footage in real time on a mobile device.

NVRs are also typically newer and more advanced systems that offer higher video quality, compatibility with more cameras, and more flexible features. For business security systems with existing coaxial wiring and analog cameras, installing a DVR is the best bet. For commercial security camera systems starting from scratch, NVRs are a great choice, which offer higher-resolution IP cameras and remote video feed access.

For most businesses, it is recommended to store footage from commercial security cameras for at least 30 days. For large operations, camera footage is often stored for up to 90 days, requiring a larger storage solution with more capacity. Storing more footage generally means using more physical space and hard drives, as well as more terabytes of space. The average camera business surveillance system requires at least 8 terabytes of space to store p footage for 30 days, at industry standard frames per second.

To learn more about security camera storage options, read our blog here. If you have an analog security camera system, the DVR has a hard drive inside of it.

In IP camera system installation, the NVR can use hard drives for onsite recording and cloud-based recording, in the event of hard drive malfunction. Check out this article to learn more about hard drives for security cameras.

More modern CCTV camera systems allow users to store security footage in the cloud, allowing property owners and managers to access live and recorded footage from a mobile device or web browser. Using the cloud allows users to get instant security alerts, making it easy to view and respond to security footage in real time, even when users are offsite.

Many cloud-based CCTV camera systems offer a limited amount of free cloud storage, as well as monthly, annual, or lifetime subscription. No matter your surveillance system configuration, the type of security camera you choose will have a tremendous impact, and there are many types of commercial cameras and camera installation service types out there.

Bullet cameras range in size from a rifle bullet or a lipstick tube to a bread loaf, but the basic gist is the same in every case.

Given their tubular design, they have room for night-vision and IR features, and they have better range and zoom capabilities than the flatter dome security cameras.

The small, black orb of a dome camera offers a better field of view than its bullet counterpart. All the security with none of the appearance of vigilance. Since they can survey wide areas, dome cameras are great for retail establishments, restaurants, hotels, and casinos. Since they are small and out of the way, dome cameras offer subtlety for those who want to hide their security cameras.

Dome cameras are durable, allowing them to resist vandalism and environmental damage. They are generally used indoors and mounted on ceilings. Thanks to their strong and dirt-proof shell, they are ideal for spaces that get dirty easily. Installing a video surveillance system with a few of these is a great option for a number of different configurations.

They can track a person or a car across a range, or be programmed to cycle through different orientations to give you a degree field of view with a single piece of hardware. PTZ cameras also zoom and focus in on faces or license plates in real time. What PTZ cameras lack in hardiness, they make up for in versatility. They can track a person or a car across a range, or be programmed to cycle through different orientations to give you a much more comprehensive field of view with a single piece of hardware.

They can also zoom and focus in on faces or license plates in real time. With a central focus and a condensed periphery, a fisheye lens security camera gives you a concentrated look at a wide field of view. What you lose in resolution, especially at the edges of your field of view, you make up for in reliability.

By Mindy Woodall. Published on October 27, Share Article. Either way, we'll give you insight on installation and the best way to place your camera. How much does installation cost? DIY security camera installation. Professional installation. Both ADT and Vivint offer professionally installed doorbell cameras. Pro installation for standalone security cameras. How should you position your security camera?

Indoors or outdoors? Where to install an indoor security camera. Where to install an outdoor security camera. Should you get a wired, wireless, or wire-free camera? There are generally three power options for security cameras, although the terminology can get a bit confusing: Wired , which means the camera relies on wires to connect to both power and your internet.

Wireless , which means your camera can connect to the internet wirelessly but requires a power cord. Sometimes these cameras are called wireless since they run without power cords. Steps for installing a wired security camera. Find a stable spot on the wall. Some cameras may require finding a stud, while others will come with drywall anchors. Check for existing wiring. Mark and drill the appropriate holes. Thread the wiring back through the wall to attach it to the monitoring source.

Should you choose local or cloud storage? Recap: How to Install a Security Camera. Pseudo Home Security in America. We asked America: How effective is fake home security? Our takeaways. Written by. Mindy has been writing about technology for seven years. She covers all things smart home for Reviews.

Mindy attended the University of Utah and her work has been featured on the likes of Parents. Read More. Related Articles. We ranked the top 10 fastest internet providers in the US based on download and What is HBO Max? Check out which TV shows and movies are available, pricing, and JimBob Seeker. Thanks for the well-written article, Mindy!