With so many affordable WIFI home security cameras on the market, there is really no reason not to get some sort of security system in place for your home. Whether that be house alarm systems UK, or wireless outdoor security cameras, you can ensure that your home is safe even when you are not around. The importance of security cameras should never be underestimated, and with wireless and WIFI options available, it is easier than ever to set up your home security system.
When installing a WIFI home security camera system, however, many people make common mistakes that can be easily avoided. We’ve put together some tips to help you get the most out of your wireless outdoor security cameras.
Make sure they are placed appropriately
One of the first things that you need to do is make sure that your wireless outdoor security cameras and your indoor cameras actually cover the areas that you want to survey. It may take some trial and error at first, but you need to think about obstructions, the angle that your WIFI home security camera is pointing and the distances required for the camera lens. For example, many people think that buying a wide-angle outdoor camera is a cost effective way to cover the entire back of your house, but you could end up interfering with your motion sensor and ultimately capturing nothing as the range is too large and they end up with a lot of false positive recordings. You need to ensure that you cover your areas effectively and that they are within your WIFI range.
Lighting
You need to make sure that you have adequate lighting if you need an area to be under constant surveillance. If you are looking to record at night to protect your home, this may mean investing in a security light or a night vision wireless outdoor security camera, otherwise, it is pointless setting up your house alarm system in the UK. You need to make sure that you will be able to make out facial features, and a poorly lit environment needs to be addressed before buying your home surveillance cameras.
Consider keeping outdoor cameras visible
Many people think that hiding wireless outdoor security cameras is the best option – if the cameras are hidden then you can get footage of unsuspecting burglars, right? However, keeping your home cameras visible is a better deterrent to burglars who are looking for homes to target as they are more likely to be caught in the act, so they generally won’t attempt your house if you are fully protected. This is not a failsafe, but this strategy could help to ward off unwanted thieves.
Protect your cables
It is important that you don’t leave any easy to reach cables exposed as this means that they can be easily severed. You don’t want to spend time and money protecting your home with CCTV surveillance, only for a burglar to come and cut the wires before you get any footage. You can take time and hide and protect all of your cables, but another option is to invest in wireless outdoor security cameras to save you time and hassle.
Monitor hidden entryways
Many people automatically cover their front door as this gets the most traffic from deliveries to visitors. But it is important that you think about covering other entryways to your property as well and think about monitoring less obvious places in your home. Back doors and gardens are often a common entry point for intruders as many people leave their backdoors or downstairs windows unlocked. You need to make sure that you have your wireless outdoor security cameras pointing at every vulnerable part of your home if you want proper peace of mind. The most common set up is the front entrance, back entrance, and any side gardens.
Make sure your internet can support the resolution
When buying internet, many people only look at the download speeds – and while you may have fast download speeds, what are you upload speeds like? Not many people pay attention to upload speeds, but if you have a WIFI home security camera system then it is this that you will need to send your videos and footage to the cloud. Most wireless outdoor security camera setups are sold in 1080p, but some are available in 2K or 4K quality resolution. If you do not have an internet network that can handle this, then you will end up with pixelated images that won’t be able to help you.
Always watch the front door
While it is important to remember the hidden and vulnerable entrances to your home, it is always a good idea to make sure that your front door is constantly covered as well. This could help with any post or delivery theft, but thieves tend to knock on the door to check that no one is actually home before breaking and entering so you could end up with valuable evidence if the worst was to happen.
Perform regular checks
Once you have your WIFI home security camera system set up and running, it is important that you perform regular maintenance and checks – you don’t want them to fail if something was to happen! You need to regularly check your battery levels if your cameras are not plugged in and replace them when necessary. If you are having trouble with your video feeds then you need to check your internet and networks. Check stored video clips and delete ones that are not needed to keep your storage free. If you make these part of your monthly routine then you know you will be fully covered if something were to happen.
Enhance your home alarm system, UK
Once you have your wireless outdoor security cameras, it may be time to consider enhancing your home security system to give you even more protection. You could get motion sensors for your cameras, security lights to deter thieves and even window and door sensors. Whilst cameras provide brilliant evidence, sensors can raise the alarm and hopefully stop anything happening before it is too late.
Secure your accounts
Once you have all your WIFI home security cameras up and running, you need to make sure that you keep your account secure as well. If you don’t secure your cameras, you are leaving the door open for people to hack and delete or use your own footage. To prevent this, you need to change any default passwords that come with your camera as soon as they are installed. It is also a good idea to incorporate a password change when you are doing your camera maintenance to make sure that they are as safe as possible.
If you are worried, hire a professional
Whilst you might be good at DIY, it is always a good idea to seek the advice and help of professionals – especially for something as important as protecting your home. They are the experts and will know all sorts of tips and tricks to ensure that you have the best systems and protection possible in place. Many companies will install your own cameras as well, so you can do your own research into wireless outdoor cameras and WIFI home security cameras and they will come and help with the positioning and installation.