Build outdoor home surveillance camera system

Installing an outdoor home surveillance camera is a great decision and is made even better when you decide to actually build your own outdoor surveillance camera system!  But where do you start?  You need to know which type of camera equipment you plan to use, what type of monitor you want in order to view what the camera is capturing, and how you plan to record your data.

Building an Outdoor Surveillance Camera System

1. Camera.  You can’t build a surveillance system without having a camera so this should be the first piece equipment you consider. Decide whether you will use closed circuit television (CCTV), or a webcam.  Since this is going outside, the better choice would be a CCTV camera, which is commonly used in home surveillance systems.  Make sure it’s an indoor/outdoor CCTV camera.

1. Surveillance Monitor.  Now that the camera has been chosen, we need to be able to view the data captured with an LCD surveillance monitor.  The brand of monitor chosen is up to user preference and it isn’t necessary to break the bank on the monitor.  Some things to keep in mind for the best surveillance environment is to seek out monitors that provide high quality color images and are at least 8” in size.

1. DVR or VCR.  We can capture images and video and we can even view them on the monitor but what good is the data if you can’t save it!? That’s the purpose of the VCR or DVR recording device.  DVR is the more popular choice given its ability to store large amounts of data and having a built-in HDD.  VCR recording devices are still available on the market and are typically cheaper than DVR devices.

These 3 pieces of equipment are must-haves for anyone looking to build an outdoor home surveillance camera system.  With a little bit of time and patience, you’ll be well on your way to building your outdoor home security!