Closed-circuit television, aka CCTV, is a camera-based surveillance system used for security purposes and to monitor property, buildings, land or public areas such as parks and council buildings. A CCTV system is basically a system of cameras, wireless or wired, which transmit recordings via signals (or, in the case of wireless CCTV cameras via an internet connection) to monitors on which such recordings can be viewed either as still images or moving video. There are various different systems of CCTV available to purchase and install all of which offer different features and need to be used in different ways, so because of this wherever possible professional CCTV installation is recommended.
There are some cases, however, when professional CCTV installation isn’t possible, either you haven’t got the budget for it or your particular system doesn’t require such extensive installation procedures. There is often a different way to install different CCTV systems such as indoor systems and outdoor ones, and the systems that are designed for use outdoors really aren’t recommended to be placed and installed indoors.
Wireless Installation
If your CCTV system is wireless, more often than not you can simply place the individual cameras in the spots where you need them to be and switch them on. To ensure that you are able to view the wireless recordings of your system, you will need a dedicated connection over which the cameras can run. Sharing a connection with other internet-reliant devices is too risky, particularly if you need the 24 hour surveillance that wireless cameras can offer.
DIY Installation
If you aren’t able to access professional installation services for your CCTV camera system, it is still possible to install them yourself, however you do need to be aware of the type of system that you have because different systems have different installation procedures. Choosing the right spot to install your CCTV is crucial, too high and you may not get high quality images and recordings and too low and your cameras may not work effectively. You also need to secure your cameras in place with the correct fixtures and fittings, which should be supplied with your cameras system. If your CCTV system is wired you will need to drill holes to feed the wire through to your monitor.
Ensuring your Cameras are Secure
Installing your cameras or surveillance system properly doesn’t just involve placing the cameras in the right spot, it also requires some thought into how you will keep the cameras themselves secure and free to monitor your property and its surrounding gardens or land. Even though you need to place your cameras in a spot that offers maximum surveillance, you do need to ensure that they aren’t placed in too obvious a spot. This will only invite burglars and trespassers into tampering with them or even stealing them. If your camera system is a wired one, ensure that any wires running from it are secured properly so that they can’t be cut.
Testing your system out, even if your system is a basic motion sensor one, is absolutely vital to ensuring that it is both properly installed and that it can be relied upon when you need. Obviously you should test the system when you first installed it, and make sure that any connected alarms or other surveillance methods work properly and in conjunction with it. Testing is not just necessary on initial installation though, it also needs to be done regularly throughout the time that you will be using the system so that you know it is running properly and monitoring what it needs to monitor.