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Home Security Automation

By: Daxx Strassbergg


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More and more people are interested in setting up wireless security for their homes. There are a lot of reasons why this is so. Some people use wireless security cameras for their ease of installation. Others just love the fact that you do not have to drill holes all over the place since it's now a wireless approach. Whatever the reason may be, wireless security cameras are quickly becoming the preferred method of surveillance for many people.

For the same reason that people love cordless phones nowadays, homeowners now love the idea of putting cameras anywhere -- and you do not have to worry about snaking wires inside the walls. The placement of a wireless security system is very flexible and easy to install, as long as the installer does his or her homework. Wireless security cameras have a very high failure rate on initial install if precautions are not taken.

What sort of failure? For example, you might have installed the camera but as soon as you turn it on, you cannot get the signal on the receiver. Luckily, this problem can be solved with some due diligence. And when you are thinking about installing wireless security cameras (whether on your own or with some assistance), just remember that there are three frequencies now that you can choose from.

How to Choose the Frequency: 900MHz, 2.4GHz and 5.8GHz
The lower the frequency number, the more walls/objects your security system can pass through (except for concrete and metal).

* For devices that are rated 900MHz, they are the best option if you need to get past dry walls to reach the receiver. At the same time, this bandwidth will have minimal issues with other devices, which means that the signal can be transmitted strongly. The drawback is that right now there are only two channels available on this frequency, making its use very limited.
* The 2.4GHz wireless security cameras are the most used nowadays. Unfortunately, there are tons of other devices out there (i.e. phones, computer routers, wireless keyboards) that use the same frequency. That means all these devices are competing for the same bandwidth. As a result, a lot of the wireless 2.4GHz security cameras fail. There are up to 12 channels available on 2.4GHz frequency that you can select for transmission, but unfortunately, it's hard to find one channel that is not already being used, especially if you live in a big city.

To fix this issue, some manufacturers have started using 5.8GHz transmitters and receivers in their wireless security cameras. The 5.8GHz frequency is relatively clean, and subsequently, the successful wireless camera installation rate is higher. You can have up to eight analog wireless security cameras on 5.8GHz frequency. But the 5.8GHz frequency has an issue. It does not go through walls as effectively as the 900MHz or 2.4GHz frequency. This is a huge disadvantage.

So what do you do? A 900MHz setup can only connect two cameras, the 2.4GHz is slightly better but conflicts a lot with other common devices, and the 5.8GHz can support more but cannot go though obstacles efficiently. To get around these problems, the 5.8GHz systems are now being improved with better antennas and more powerful transmitters. As a result of this addition, 5.8GHz wireless security cameras can now send a camera signal through a wall.

If you find a 5.8GHz camera and receiver on the market for under $200, chances are it has a 10 milliwatt transmitter in it, which is the lowest power transmitter on the market. If you have a clear line of sight, it can be extended to 300 feet but is really hard to do This is due to signal interference as it goes though walls. If you are looking for a camera that can transmit video up to 500 feet away, you need a camera with at least a 100mw transmitter. If your objective is over 1,000 feet, look for a system with a one watt transmitter.

These are very general numbers and can change based on the distance, weather, and availability of a clear line of sight. A good way to increase the odds of success is to put the security camera and receiver antenna as high as possible so that they have a clear line of sight. Before making any purchases however, make sure that you identify your own specific needs for a security system so that you receive the appropriate protection for your home or business. And if you still need a little help selecting the right system, just consult a professional!

Article Source: http://depositarticles.com/

Daxx is a a retiree who used to work in public schools as a teacher. In an effort to relieve his boredom, while at the same time make some money on the side, he has gotten into IM, setting up a varied collection of sites that provide assistance on how to set up a wireless security camera system to those that provide info on how to prevent identity theft.

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