Are You Considering a Surveillance System Installation?

With the holiday season in full swing, it's typically a busy time of the year. Security may not be top of mind amid entertaining, shopping, and office parties, but nevertheless, it is an important concern at this time of the year.

The continued growth in internet shopping and the resulting onslaught of package deliveries has given rise to a new type of theft - porch piracy. In some cities, thieves follow delivery trucks and nab packages left on porches and doorsteps minutes after delivery. It’s unfortunate, but if you don’t want to lose that special gift that took hours to find, some security measures are needed to protect your property.

The holidays are also prime travel time, whether to visit family or simply get away and recharge at the end of the year. While you're away, be sure your home is safe.

Fortunately, today’s smart technology provides solutions. A smart surveillance system installation will provide the peace of mind that your Atlanta, GA home and property are safe, whether you are there or away.

So how do you choose the right system for you? Read on to learn the right questions to ask.

SEE ALSO: Feeling Separation Anxiety While You’re Away from Home?

 

1. What type of camera do I need?

Today’s security cameras come in many different types and even communicate through differing technologies. Some cameras feed video through analog technology, much like older cable TV. Other cameras transmit via IP, like any of your network-connected computers and devices. Analog cameras may be a good solution for homes with lots of cable TV wiring, making retrofit installation simpler. IP cameras can use one network wire for both power and data, also making for simplified setup, inside or outside.

Camera types range from dome cameras to bullet styles to models that can tilt, pan, and zoom. Some are for indoor use only, and others are weatherproof for outdoor use, even in extreme heat and cold. 

2. Can the camera see in the dark?

Yes! The Luma cameras that we recommend have advanced night vision technology, ensuring that you can capture clear footage even in extremely low light situations. Whether it's a pesky raccoon or an unwanted trespasser, you'll be able to see in the dark.

3. How do I view my video feeds?

Systems that Sunbelt Technology recommends, like Luma Surveillance, can store video footage locally on devices called NVRs - Network Video Recorders. Analog cameras record to DVRs. Luma recorders can be configured with different sizes of hard disk drives that can hold varying capacities of footage. They also feature varying numbers of channels for supporting a certain number of cameras. 

Some recorders feature Smart Search technology. Luma smart cameras can be set up to detect certain types of motion. Cameras can be set up for face detection or intrusion detection when there is motion beyond a certain boundary. So, if you want to thwart those porch pirates, it's easy to check on your package delivery to determine if the wrong person picked it up. Luma also features a consistent user interface, whether looking at video feeds on your laptop or on your mobile device.

4. What is cloud storage, and do I need it?

Most do-it-yourself camera solutions use cloud storage to store your video feeds. There are a couple of issues with that. Typically, you need to pay for all but the most basic storage, which may provide only a few hours of video. Video takes up a lot of storage space, and it may be compressed in the cloud; this can result in less sharp images.

Luma surveillance solutions work with recorders that reside locally in your home. They store sharp images that you can access while at home or away through your network, and the capacity is only limited by the hard drive. If you have a big property and many areas to monitor, you should strongly consider a local storage solution.

If you want to keep your home safe over the holidays and year-round, consider a professional surveillance system installation. Call us today at (404) 236-0007, visit our showroom,  or reach out on our online contact page. We look forward to working with you.