Tips on Purchasing a Wireless Security Camera

The interest in wireless security cameras is growing all the time. It seems people are enamored with the possibilities of having a security camera with no wires. There is this expectation that the cameras can be installed in any out of the way location and will instantly work with no problems. As more novices, such as do it yourselfers and home owners, enter the marketplace we start to hear the same basic questions about wireless security cameras over and over. For a basic overview of the components of a wireless security camera system watch this video.
If you are confused by the many different types of wireless security cameras this video may be helpful.

As an initial step in a wireless shopper’s information gathering process we have identified three very high level issues or misconceptions that need to be known.

First let’s start with the most common misconception that we hear. The ‘wireless’ in wireless security cameras only refers to the video transmission from the transmitter to the receiver. It does not mean the cameras are battery operated. Most of the cameras still need 110 VAC power from an outlet. This is similar to ‘wireless’ routers commonly used in home and small office computer networks. There are a few battery operated security cameras available and they will be advertised as ‘battery operated’ not wireless. The main reason more battery operated cameras are not available is that the batteries only last a few hours. There are not too many people who want to be swapping or recharging batteries all the time.

The second most common clarification is the difference between ‘digital’ wireless and ‘analog’ wireless technology. In years past analog wireless technology was the only option available. The video signal was typically sent on the 2.4Ghz frequency from the transmitter to the receiver. The problem is that other commonly used devices, such as wireless routers, microwaves and cordless phones use the same 2.4Ghz frequency. So there was always a possibility these devices would interfere with each other. Interference on surveillance cameras is not ideal since it can cause flickering, static and loss of signal. They tried using security cameras on the 5.8Ghz and 900Mhz frequencies, but they were not much better. Within the past year or so ‘digital’ wireless technology has been developed. Digital wireless technology does not have the same interference problems as its analog predecessor. Digital wireless does run on the 2.4Ghz frequency, but the signal is encoded by the transmitter and decoded by the receiver making it secure and interference free. For interference free wireless security cameras make sure to look for digital wireless.

The third and final point of this presentation is clarifying transmission distance. The most important point to remember about using wireless security cameras is there no way to tell how far the wireless signal will transmit in your environment until you try it. The environmental factors at each location, such as building materials, are potentially different. Typically the expected transmission distance is quoted in ‘unobstructed’ or ‘clear line of sight’ terms. People get confused by what this means. Basically this means the signal can be expected to transmit this distance if there are no obstructions between them, such as walls, trees or hills. It is a kind of common denominator since every environment may be different. Practically speaking this distance most likely will not be achieved since just about every installation by design has the receiver indoors or in a different room than the cameras, thus automatically putting at least one obstruction between them. The good news is that with digital wireless technology most manufacturers are saying you can expect a minimum transmission distance of at least 100 feet.

We hope this helps clarify some common misconceptions and helps in making the best decision when searching for the best wireless security camera system for their needs. For a great selection of wireless security cameras visit SecurityCamerasandMore.com.