For greater home security, in the shop, or your company, here are the best video surveillance kits and how to choose the model that best suits your needs.
A video surveillance kit is a valid tool that allows you to protect and keep your property safe. To check that no one enters the home or in private rooms of their company, to verify who has committed vandalism on the walls of their home, sleep more peacefully at night, and deter any bad guys, the situations that require a surveillance system are different.
In recent years, technological development has allowed the creation of easy installations at a lower price than the classic professional anti-theft systems (systems equipped with video surveillance and alarm).
The video surveillance kits consist of a control unit, the device to which all the devices are connected, and one or more cameras connected via cable or wireless (wireless). The most recent systems can also be used through your smartphone or your computer so that you can view the images captured by the cameras in real time.
No specific technical knowledge is required to install and use them, and they are designed for easy DIY positioning. The number of cameras to be purchased must be related to the area’s extension to be monitored: the greater the area, the greater the number of devices. It is advisable to fix the cameras in difficult areas to reach and from which it is possible to have the widest view.
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How to choose video surveillance kits
To choose the best video surveillance kit, evaluating which features distinguish the different models and their use needs is necessary. Let’s look at all the points in detail.
Type
The monitoring kits can be distinguished based on the control unit’s technology. In this sense, we find three main types currently available on the market :
- IP video surveillance kits are particularly suitable for outdoor use and require an NVR (network video recorder). However, the most interesting feature of these kits is the possibility of configuring them via a wireless system. This allows you to position the cameras farther from the NVR.
- Analog video surveillance kit: the video signal is transmitted via coaxial cable and allows viewing images without sound. The most interesting aspect of these systems is the ease of installation and the low cost. You must remember that a cable is required for each camera.
- Video surveillance kit with HD-CVI technology allows transmitting a high-definition video signal up to 500 m away; these models provide a video with audio.
IP video surveillance kits are currently the most popular on the market. The cameras allow you to have two-way audio, allowing you to interact during the shoot by getting your voice inside the resumed circuit.
Using a special app, you can download it on your smartphone, you can communicate life and constantly monitor what happens in your home. Furthermore, you can be alerted in real time if something unexpected happens inside the house.
We must not overlook some disadvantages of the best IP video surveillance kits. These models can be vulnerable to hacker attacks and require an appropriate connection speed to perform all their functions.
Components
As we have seen, the surveillance kits differ mainly based on the technology used. However, we can identify some basic components common to all products:
- A variable amount of cameras: in most cases, they range from a minimum of two to a maximum of eight cameras. This number is more than sufficient to meet the most common needs.
- A recorder: this device is essential for storing the video camera recordings for future viewing.
- An archiving system: for example, a mass archive that can archive video camera recordings; the capacity varies according to the number of cameras and generally starts from a minimum of 1 TB (Terabyte).
- A power supply unit and the necessary connection cables can power continuously and connect the parts forming the video surveillance kit. We see below all the most important aspects to consider.
Cameras
All video surveillance systems are equipped with a certain number of cameras, between two and eight. This quantity can satisfy different needs and effectively control more or less extended spaces.
Cameras characterize each kit with different technical characteristics, so it is essential to understand what kind of use you want to make of these devices. Furthermore, it is important to check the brightness of the places subject to shooting to make the most prudent choice.
The cameras are designed to work in specific contexts and meet different needs—the first major distinction between cameras suitable for outdoor installation and only for shooting in covered places.
The outdoor cameras are more expensive than the others because they are built with materials resistant to different temperatures and weather. They are also waterproof to prevent them from being compromised by rain or moisture. The outer casings can be rigid plastic or aluminum; the models installed outside tend to have more resistant materials.
Infrared LED cameras
Another consideration is whether the rooms subject to the shooting are bright or without a light source. Therefore, the kit must be equipped with infrared LED cameras in the second case.
Can consider some precise parameters to choose the best kit with infrared LED cameras that best suits your needs:
- Camera with 24 LED: optimal for shooting at a distance of 26-32 ft.
- Camera with 36 LED: optimal for shooting at a distance of 82-98 ft.
- Camera with 42 LED: optimal for shooting at a distance 98-114 ft.
- Camera with 72 LED: optimal for shooting at a distance 131-180 ft.
Video quality and resolution
Each camera guarantees a different video quality. All models now offer digital quality, and the value to consider is the Megapixel: the lowest resolution is 1 MP, while the highest resolution can reach 8 MP.
High-end devices have higher-quality resolutions. In this case, we can make a distinction between:
- 4K resolution corresponds to digital television, digital cinema, and computer graphics.
- 1080p resolution, also a high-definition standard.
We must evaluate the product’s use to choose the best video surveillance kit. The 4K resolution is undoubtedly qualitatively better if you need clear, defined shots.
Cameras with a resolution of a few MPs instead allow less-defined shots. However, they are more than enough if you want to check who is damaging your garden or check on your pet. When purchasing, it is important to pay attention to some camera parameters to be disappointed by the performance.
On the market, there are thousands of models whose technical data sheet indicates a resolution of 4MP, which could have a lower resolution than another, which instead has 2MP.
This happens because the true qualitative difference is not given by the Mega Pixels (MP) but by the sensor, specifically by its size and structure; some cameras may have fewer MPs but a larger sensor and better performance than a product with more MP but a smaller sensor.
Rotation and motion sensor
The camera or lens can rotate up to 180 degrees to increase the space to be kept under control. In addition, some devices are equipped with a motion sensor that automatically detects the shot’s movements, while others can be directed directly by the user.
After detecting the movement, many kits automatically email the property owner to view the images immediately or decide to go to the site.
Recorder
Among the various types of video surveillance recorders, it is possible to identify two broad categories:
- DVR video recorders: they are the most popular and can be analog or hybrid, they have a hard disk, but the cheapest products do not have them, and it is necessary to buy a mass archive external; DVR is more reliable because they are wired systems.
- NVR video recorders: they are the latest generation. They save videos directly to a cloud space owned or rented; they guarantee higher performances. In addition, there are models at very competitive costs; NVR being connected via Ethernet cable is easy to install and requires no wiring.
Choosing between an NVR system and a DVR system is based on your needs.
A DVR system choice is the best if you already have an analog or hybrid video surveillance camera system. Conversely, an NVR system is suitable for those who wish to avoid expensive wiring. Finally, if you are looking for a remote-controlled kit via the Internet, the NVR system is immediately chosen.
Both systems also have downsides :
- As for the DVR systems, for example, all the cameras must connect to the DVR. If the latter fails or does not work properly, the system will not function, and the analog cameras are not accessible online.
- As far as NVR systems are concerned, on the other hand, since data transmission is based on the network, the instability of the latter can cause malfunctions.
Recordings filing
A detail to be considered with particular attention is recording the recordings. There are three main ways to store this data:
- A cloud is provided free by the IP camera manufacturer for a specific period. Therefore, it is extensible after purchasing a monthly plan (each manufacturer has its specific contractual proposals).
- On MicroSD, if the network camera has a special slot.
- On HDD, the Hard Disk’s appropriate size varies according to the number of cameras installed, but generally, they have a high capacity of 1 or 2 TB (Terabytes).
Power supplies and wiring
Power supplies to supply power to the video surveillance system. They are components that stay on for a long and can be subject to voltage surges and overloads. If a system is too cheap, the components used will be of poor quality, and there is a risk that the power supplies will damage the electrical system causing serious damage.
The presence of the CE mark is a guarantee of greater safety. The individual IP cameras are generally powered by rechargeable batteries already supplied.
If you choose an IP video surveillance system, the only cable that is indispensable and easy to install is the Ethernet cable connecting to the Internet. On the other hand, if an analog system is purchased, it will be necessary to wire it from the acquisition system to the various cameras.
The best video surveillance kits to buy
These are the best-quality video surveillance kits selected to cover different needs and price ranges, with their main features and prices.
Product prices and availability are subject to change. Therefore, any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to purchasing any products.