It has never been easier to keep your home or business safe with remote surveillance. Viewing security camera feeds requires only a glance at your smartphone, laptop, or mobile device after you get everything set up for remote viewing. However, some people are unsure how they can access their security footage when they are away from their usual monitoring station. After all, there are so many platforms for viewing and recording security footage, and it can be confusing to know what you need to do to view it remotely. This guide will take you through everything you need to know when it comes to watching your camera feeds remotely.
Related: How To Remotely View Security Cameras Using The Internet
What is Remote Surveillance?
Remote surveillance is the ability to view your security camera feeds from anywhere in the world. All you need with remote-capable surveillance systems is a smartphone, tablet, or laptop to view your security footage. You can configure your camera feed to be viewable by simply pasting the IP address into the search bar on your phone or computer. This is known as port forwarding with Dynamic DNS Or, you can simply log into the app or client that your security camera manufacturer provides. Remote surveillance allows you to view what is happening live from your home or business. You can even configure some camera systems to inform you when any movement is detected, which is perfect for monitoring off-limits areas.
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Commercial Grade vs. Consumer
Businesses and individuals have the option of purchasing different cameras tailor-made to their needs. The broad category of commercial-grade and consumer-grade cameras gives a huge range of options depending on your unique desires for a surveillance system. Consumer-grade cameras will often have fewer features but should give homeowners everything they need to keep an eye on their home areas. Commercial-grade cameras are much more expensive, starting in the range of $400 or $500 per camera (or more). They can cost in the thousands when you add features like high definition and increased storage capabilities.
What is the Difference Between Remote Surveillance and Mobile Monitoring?
It may be confusing at first to learn the difference between remote vs. mobile surveillance. Both of these methods allow users to view their camera feeds remotely online. However, remote monitoring gives the user more options to control the cameras and manage their settings. Mobile monitoring is usually referring to users who simply check in on their home or business feeds via an app or client. Whichever of these methods you will employ, always be sure to access your security camera feeds from a private and secure WiFi connection or mobile service plan.
How Lighting Can Affect Your Surveillance
Lighting can greatly affect your surveillance and not always in the best way. If light sources are placed too close to your security cameras, it could disrupt your feed and cause flickering or flashing. In unevenly lit settings, this will confuse your camera. Having a light too close to the camera can also cause a lens glare, making it even more difficult to observe what is happening in the area. You will want to ensure that the area you are monitoring is well-lit at all times, or you will want to move the camera or light farther away. Having a well-lit area is best for security and surveillance in general, so keep this in mind when creating a perimeter.
Related: How to Select A Business Security System
How Do You View Your Video Surveillance Cameras Remotely?
If you would like to be able to monitor your camera feeds from anywhere, you will need to enable remote viewing with one of the below options.
- DDNS – If you have video management software, you are able to configure your system to ping your phone or email when there is motion detected, or something is happening in your home or business.
- Port-Forwarding – If you have an IP camera, you will be able to do what is known as port forwarding. This will enable you to paste your camera’s IP number into the search bar to view your security camera feeds. Port forwarding simply forwards the data from your home or business router to the web that you alone will have access to with the specific IP address.
- Special Plug-and-Play Solutions – Many security camera options will allow an easy user experience by providing mobile apps and cloud services that you can view by logging into your account.
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How Much Camera Resolution Do I Need?
Camera resolution is extremely important in surveillance. After all, what good is your security feed if you can’t tell what’s happening? You will want the highest resolution camera that is within your budget, but you still might not be able to store the recorded video if you don’t have enough space. Hard drive or NVR space is very expensive, and high-definition video takes up a huge amount of it. In general, if your camera is delivering 1080p resolution, there is usually no reason to go beyond that. Some cameras are capable of delivering 4k resolutions, but they take up about four times the storage space. You should test your camera resolution and find what level is best for your home or business. You may decide that 720p allows you to see everything clearly, and that will save you money and space on your storage.
Now that you know everything you need to get started with remote surveillance, you can get to work setting up your system. TriStar Security Services can help you identify security weaknesses and can expertly set up and install remote surveillance systems. Contact us today to get started.
Related: 1080p vs. 4mp: What’s The Difference And Does It Matter?