Smart home features continue to rise in popularity within recent years, and one of the most popular single areas is within home security. More and more homeowners are utilizing cameras and other surveillance features to keep their homes safe and secure at all times — what should you be looking for if you’re considering going this route?
At AVI Systems, we offer a wide range of security and surveillance systems to our home automation clients, including an array of different camera options depending on your needs. When it comes to camera selection for any part of your home, what are some of the most important themes to keep in mind? Here are several.
Indoor Vs. Outdoor
One of the first big questions you’ll want to ask here, potentially both of yourself and your smart home installer: Indoor or outdoor cameras? While both have their benefits and disadvantages, there are quite a few differences you’ll want to bear in mind for your needs.
For example, indoor cameras tend to be smaller and less aesthetically intrusive, as they’re meant for use within homes as opposed to businesses or other properties (though it’s important to note that many security camera manufacturers now produce sleek, low-profile units that can be used as both indoor or outdoor surveillance devices). These are also generally less expensive to purchase, though they’ll likely come with limitations regarding video quality and features.
Outdoor security cameras are generally larger, have more advanced imaging capabilities for night vision, are often vandal-resistant, and can withstand extreme weather conditions — they’re perfect for use when security is a huge priority. The bulkier size of these cameras may be more difficult to conceal depending on where you’d like to place them, however, and they can also be costly due to their advanced technology and tough hardware (which can lead to higher installation fees, as well).
Push or Other Notifications
Once you’ve determined the camera variety you want, you’ll want to look into your needs and desires in terms of notifications. These can be set up to send you emails, texts, or other notifications whenever cameras pick up movement or other activity within their range — but push notifications may be preferable here, as they’ll often come through more quickly depending on your provider and settings.
Battery or Other Backups
Another vital factor to consider: Battery or other forms of backup. If you place your home’s security camera(s) in a hard-to-reach location, for instance, you’ll want to ensure that they’re able to hold up on their own in case of a power outage or other issue where they can’t be easily accessed for recharging.
In part two of our series, we’ll go over several other concepts to keep in mind here. For more on this, or to learn about any of our 4k audio, automated lighting or numerous other home automation services, speak to the staff at AVI Systems today.