Home Security Cameras

Not as useful as you think they are.

I’m going to say this up front - most home security camera systems are a waste of money. Cameras don’t truly deter crime - they provide a record of events after the fact. And most cops don’t care enough to actually use the video. And lots of criminals wear masks these days, after the covidiocy made them acceptable in public.

That being said, if you really want a home video surveillance system, never, ever have indoor cameras. Remember, in case of an actual event, the entire system will become evidence. Do you really want video footage of everything you’ve been doing inside your own home made public record and examined in court?

Never get cameras that automatically record audio, either. In many states, recording audio without the permission of all parties is a crime.

Never buy a camera system that sends ANYTHING out to the internet. “The cloud” is just somebody else’s computer.

All that being said, there are a few features you want to look for in a home security camera system.

One of the things you want to look for in a camera is an in-unit SD card. They’re not perfect, but local storage always works, even when the network goes down. You’ll want one that accepts UHS rated cards, if you can find one.

Another thing to look for, especially in places like Florida, is a wide dynamic range (WDR). That means the camera can get decent pictures of a man standing in the shadows on a sunny day. It also helps at night, when there are other light sources potentially blinding your camera to what’s right in front of it.

Pan-Tilt-Zoom cameras are great as backups to the standard fixed view cameras. Don’t make them your primary cameras, because the PTZ features only work when you’re actively using them. Most people will use them once, then forget about them, and leave the camera zoomed in on where the squirrel (or woman in a bikini) was six months ago.

You want a wired system. Trust me. Yes, I understand you don’t really want to cut more holes in the outside of your house. No, you really don’t want to run all those cables through your walls and across your attic. But you do want your cameras to keep working for years, and that requires power. The battery powered ones don’t last any time at all, and you’re not going to remember (or want) to get up on a ladder and change them out every month. Did I say month? I meant week.