A wireless security camera system (WSCS) makes an excellent addition to any home’s security system. Security cameras can be intimidating and complicated, but they don’t have to be! Many of the most popular WSCS on the market today offer features that make them easy to use and care for, so you won’t have to hire an IT professional to take care of them or spend all your time babysitting them from afar. If you’re thinking about putting together a WSCS, consider these options before deciding which one will work best in your home.
Wireless cameras used to be a huge hassle. You had to purchase a wireless router, connect your camera and configure an IP address—the list goes on. Thankfully, today’s security cameras are Wi-Fi ready out of the box, connecting directly to your home network in minutes. In addition to being easy to set up, most indoor and outdoor security cameras come with free mobile apps that let you monitor your property from anywhere (whether you have internet access or not). If you’re looking for home security cameras that provide 360 degrees of protection without wires running everywhere. We recommend sticking with wireless security cameras.
You’ve heard it time and again: If you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear. But if that doesn’t apply to you (or your home), what about protecting your personal data? That’s where outdoor security cameras come in. Not only can they help prevent break-ins, but with today’s wifi security cameras, they can also monitor homes from miles away, without worrying about messy cords. There are some pros and cons of wireless vs. wired security cameras that you should know before choosing one (or ten). Let’s take a look at which options fit best for different needs. We’ve included our top picks for each category, so feel free to jump ahead if you already know what you’re looking for. And don’t forget—you can always visit our Silmicro.com store to learn more about all things connected.
In today’s digital world, more and more people want to live as connected lives as possible. While we all love smartphones, tablets, laptops, and desktops with thousands of apps at our fingertips, many people also wish to live a more secure life. Luckily for them, there’s a growing market for Wi-Fi security cameras that make it easy to keep an eye on things at home (and alert you when something is amiss). Today we’re going to run down some of our favorite wireless security cameras so you can see what’s out there—and hopefully find one that will work well in your home. First, let’s talk about how wireless security cameras work. It might sound surprising to you that wireless security cameras use WiFi or Bluetooth to send video. This is true! Wireless security cameras, on the other hand, generally do not send signals over WiFi or Bluetooth in place of more powerful but distant WiFi, companies rely on networks such as powerline communication (PLC) or Z-Wave. PLC transmits data over your home’s existing wiring. It requires its own hardware but provides very fast speeds and long ranges. Z-Wave is an alternative to PLC but requires its own hardware as well.
WiFi security cameras work great as outdoor security cameras, but there are other options as well. While wired IP cameras provide more features and use a dedicated internet connection, they also need to be physically connected to your WiFi router which can be a hassle. You’ll have to run cable through your walls and connect them with an ethernet cable; not only is that difficult (especially if you rent), it may not even be possible in some cases. They also typically require a monthly subscription fee, so make sure you consider those costs when making a decision.
main photo: unsplash.com/Alan J. Hendry
