By Janet Miller
Buying a home security camera is a big decision. After all,
there are very few things more important than safety. Unfortunately, the
industry is also a bit untamed. Here are 8 common mistakes you should try to
avoid.
Going cheap: Making a decision based upon price isn’t always
advisable when it comes to home security. While the less expensive cameras may
look the same as their more expensive brethren, they are often more difficult
to set up, use, and include inferior software. For example, the Arlo Smart Home
Security Camera System topped bestseller lists definitely not because of its
price, but because of its full suite of features and reliability.
No night vision: This may seem obvious but it is astonishing
how many readers forget to check for this feature before buying a home security
camera. For most purposes, having night vision will be critical to allow your
security camera to record proper footage at night. Look for cameras that
provide bright and clear night vision, such as the The Nest Cam Security
Camera, which comes with eight infrared LEDs. Lower-end cameras will typically
produce grainy video and allow you only a pixelated spotlight view when dark.
Ignoring the subscription fee: Some companies try to sell a
cheaper security camera upfront but require you to pay a hefty ongoing
subscription fee for otherwise basic features. Always include the subscription
fee when evaluating how expensive the security camera is. There are some
companies that simply do not charge monthly fees and try to provide as much
functionality as practical with the camera. For example, the Piper Night Vision
Smart Home Security System has a full suite of features but still charges no
fees.
Not questioning security and privacy: Those in the know,
know that security is the biggest controversy in the connected home. And when
it comes to security, not all security cameras are created equal. While most
cameras are backed by either 128-bit or 228-bit encryption, it’s the little
things that can leave a camera vulnerable. Make sure the camera you choose will
allow you to set a unique and challenging password. Also, when shopping, you
should look for cameras that are able to run some features locally, instead of
relying completely on the cloud. Such cameras can keep sensitive data in your
home, while sending minimal information into cyberspace.
Falling for the new and shiny: It’s happened to the best of
us, a new and awesome Kickstarter launches and we’re all in line for the
product du jour. Assuming that a company will support cloud and security
updates forever is a risky gamble and buying a camera from an unestablished
company increases that risk. Security cameras are increasingly high tech and
new companies are popping up monthly. Before falling for the latest and
greatest, dig deeper into the company behind the camera.
Not planning for the future: Investing in a good camera
solution can easily set you back a couple hundred dollars. While you may find a
solution that meets your needs today, don’t forget to investigate if the same
camera will meet your future needs. For example, can you add an outdoor camera
or even another indoor camera to protect your home if you move into a larger
property? What if you decide to expand into smart home products? Will your
camera work with other smart devices? What if you swap your iOS app for an
Android? Does your security camera include an app for both platforms? Finally,
don’t forget to find out if you can add additional users in the future. Believe
it or not, some companies only support 1 user per camera, while others may
charge for adding family members.
Assuming specs are specs: Comparing hardware specs will not
help you select the best performing camera. Resolution, for example, is not the
only determining factor that affects video quality. The quality of the picture
can be greatly impacted by wide dynamic range, the camera’s frame rate, and the
amount of IR LEDs, which will impact the camera’s ability to record at night.
If you can’t find this information online, your best bet is to find sample
footage shared by other owners. While an individual’s bandwidth may impact
their camera experience, it is still a good way to see how a camera really
performs.
Not working through the worst case scenario: When shopping
for a camera, it’s easy to get caught up in the allure of marketing. Sure, free
clip storage sounds great, but what if a clip is only 15 seconds long? Is that
really sufficient video evidence? And 24-hour continuous recording sounds
phenomenal, but what happens when you need to sift through 24 hours of footage
in order to find one crucial moment? It’s painstaking. When buying a camera,
don’t forget that the purpose is to protect your home and to provide evidence
to the authorities if ever, heaven forbid, evidence is needed.
Follow Janet Miller on Twitter:
www.twitter.com/janetmiller168
Always Committed to Protect!
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A message from your friends
Frontier Defense Services, Inc., Staff
One of my favorite high-tech products is Wearsafe. It’s a personal safety device with an interesting twist. You attach a tiny tag to your clothes, and if you see a situation that looks like trouble - say a person following you, a threatening encounter, or a car accident - you push the button and send streaming audio to a group of friends. They’ll know where you are and be pulled into a chat, so they can evaluate the situation and alert the police or call for an ambulance if appropriate.
