The goal of this post is to review home security cameras. But first, keep a few things in mind. As a recap of what I’ve discussed in previous posts, the primary reason home security cameras exist is to document a break-in. They have value as a deterrent as well, but their greatest advantage is in recording evidence in the event that something happens in your home. So, when you are looking at home security camera reviews, you should be thinking about their value in recording quality footage. Ok, now on to the reviews.

Here are the categories that we’re going to examine for individual cameras.

1. Cost
2. Lux/Light Sensitivity: amount of light necessary to record a viewable image
3. Resolution: how much quality that image will have
4. Various other Features: recording capability, pan/tilt functions, zoom, and motion detection
When you’re reviewing these cameras online, its important to note that Light Sensitivity will be referred to as Lux. You want a camera with the lux as close as possible to zero. This means it will require very little light to record a viewable image. You will want a resolution with the highest possible number. These are rated based off of how many resolution lines the image will have. Don’t worry about what that means. Suffice it to say that the higher the resolution number, the better the quality of the image.

Today we’re only going to examine outdoor security cameras. As a note, clicking on the links will take you to more information on that particular camera. So, here we go.

High Resolution Color Bullet Camera

Cost: $76.45
Lux: 1Resolution: 420
Additional Features: Allows for a 

wider view range. AutoIris. Infrared.

Review: The cost is good and so is the resolution. The lux, however, is not great. It’s not going to pick up much unless it’s at least a little lighter than dusk. So, why would you want this c

amera? Well, for one, it would make a great daytime camera. It will also work if you are trying to record somewhere that will have bright outdoor lights on at all times. In that case, the low lux level becomes less important to you.

High Resolution Color Bullet Security Camera

Cost: $99.40
Lux: 0.1
Resolution: 420
Additional Features: Auto-Iris, 50 ft. Infrared w/23 LEDs (Optional 100 ft. infrared w/35 LEDs)
This camera is nice. 

Its not overly expensive, the lux is great, the resolution is good, and the infrared means you’ll be able to see in any situation. Also a small camera, so it can be mounted anywhere.

High Res Color Bullet Weather Proof Camera with Vari-Focal Lens

Cost: $199.95
Lux: 0.5
Resolution: 480
Additional Features: AutoIris, Vari-Focal Lens
Review: Nice camera with high resolution. The lux isn’t terrible, but its not great either. Its easy to mount, and is great if you have no idea what size lens you need. You can adjust it between 4-9 mm.

The above options are all excellent choices depending on your own particular needs. As I’ve stated before, home security cameras should be an integral part of any home security system. For more information on these cameras, click the title links above, or visit www.safemart.com.

If you research the Ademco Vista security systems, sooner or later you will see that they have partitions. So, what is a partition, and why should I care?

A partition is a divided section in your security system. For example, you could put your entire basement on one partition, and the rest of your home on another. That way, if you wanted to arm or disarm your basement, you could do so without arming or disarming the rest of the house. Well, thats interesting, but why would I want to do so? Well, if you had a basement office, containing personal business information, you will want that monitored at all times, even if you are home. it adds a whole new level to the functionality of your home security system; and the nice thing is, all of this can run off of one keypad.

Lets face it. When we’re researching a new product, especially if its an industry we’re not familiar with, we come across terms or statements that make absolutely no sense. So, if you’re in the farming industry, you probably know the difference between a gilt and a sow. If not, the terms probably mean nothing to you. This is true across every single industry. It becomes even more evident when we’re dealing with a technologically advanced product, like home security.

Because of this, I want to introduce a new feature to this blog: Frequently Asked Questions. These are questions that either you, the reader, or our customers have asked. These will be posted at least twice a week, if not more. If you have any questions that you want answered, or more information on a given answer, use the comments box to let me know.

If you have researched home improvement, automotive repair, or even home building in the past few years, you will no doubt have seen a trend emerging. This trend has been spurred on by an increase in available information and more user-friendly technology. So what is this trend? Its the growth of a Do It Yourself movement. In almost all industries that used to require a specialist, more and more people are choosing this route. There are now books, magazines and websites all devoted to this crowd. All of which is very interesting, but why am I mentioning it?

The reason I am mentioning this is because a similar trend is available in the home security industry. You no longer need a specialist to install and program your home security system. GE, Ademco, and many others are now making their systems easier for the informed consumer who is interested in Do It Yourself Home Security. At this point, the question is not can you do it, but should you do it?

The answer is an overwhelming yes. The best and most obvious reason is that you save money. When you purchase a system from a reputable company with the intention of doing it yourself, you don’t have to sign lengthy and expensive contracts. Many fully comprehensive companies will offer you a free system, and maybe a minimal installation fee. At first sight, there seems to be no reason to do it yourself. However, as they say, the devil is in the details. You will probably have to sign a three to five year monitoring contract. That’s not so bad, you think. And it wouldn’t be except the monthly charge for monitoring with these companies is usually three times as much as a monitoring program purchased separately. If you sit down and total up the costs, do it yourself home security is vastly less expensive.

And remember, you can do it yourself. If you can program a VCR, you can program a home security system. And, a reputable company will offer you free technical support when installing or programming your system. If you run into any problems or merely have a simple question, they will walk you, step by step, through the process.

So, what about monitoring. Well, you can get full monitoring for as little as $9 per month. In the event of an alarm, your system will notify your central station who can immediately notify emergency personnel.

When its all said and done, do it yourself home security will save you a lot of money, and your protection will be just as good, if not better, than what you could receive from a fully comprehensive company. That’s why SafeMart has consistently offered top of the line home security systems at the lowest possible prices. Our goal is not to push a system on you that you don’t want and force you into a long term contract. We want to help you, the informed homeowner, make the right choice. If you are looking for home security, the do it yourself model is truly the best possible option.

Ottawa County burglary suspect found in ceiling tiles

This is interesting. The article is short, and doesn’t tell you too much beyond the title. Suffice it to say, a thief broke into a grocery store, sounded the alarm, the monitoring station contacted the police and…well, the suspect was found in the ceiling tiles.

This is another example of why you want to have home alarm monitoring. In the event of a burglary, it is your best chance of notifying police, who can respond immediately, and hopefully catch the criminal in the act (or the ceiling tiles). If you don’t have monitoring, or you’re paying more than $9 a month, contact SafeMart to find out if our monitoring program is right for you.

As you know, I mainly write about security and safety tips for your home and family. Today, however, I want to talk about something a little different: Neighborhood Watch Programs, and why your community should have one.

As I’ve said before, the first goal in home security is deterrence. If you can prevent a thief from even thinking of entering your home or property, you have succeeded. As a note of caution, however, there will always be thieves. And all the preparation in the world will not stop every criminal, every time. Still, there are things that can be done to make it less likely that you will be a victim. Among these, neighborhood watch stands at the top of the list.

So, what exactly is a Neighborhood Watch? It is a group of volunteer citizens who keep an eye out for suspicious activity and, if they see any, report it to the police. The idea is not a new one. We know that the earliest civilizations had posted guards and sentries to keep watch for an attack. In colonial America there were similar posts. Today, we have Neighborhood Watch programs.

The nice thing about this program is that it is comprised of actual local residents. They are far more aware of who should or shouldn’t be certain places, who is out of town, and what just looks suspicious. Now, to properly have this Watch program, it should be public. That is, people should know about it, and signs should be posted alerting people to the existence of the Neighborhood Watch. In many cases, burglars will go elsewhere to rob homes. However, even if they don’t, the program makes it more likely that someone will see and report the criminal activity and bring the criminal to justice.

For more information on neighborhood watch programs, visit http://www.usaonwatch.org/. It is the official website, set up by the National Sheriff’s Association.

For those of us with pools at home, its getting to be that time of year. Its not warm enough yet to go swimming, but its also not that far away (though it may seem so). Its time to begin making preparations for opening the pool. And while a pool provides lots of fun for family and friends, there are some risks inherent in having a pool, especially if you have children.

According to the CDC, six people drown in U.S. pools every single day. Most of these are children. Obviously having some sort of security fence is a good idea. Still, its not enough in itself. Many children, even young children, are able to open gates. In this case, your best chance of protection is with a pool alarm. Pool alarms have sensors to know if something 18 lbs or more broke the surface of the water. This will then sound a loud alarm on the monitor (up to 200 feet away), alerting you to the potential danger and giving you time to rescue your loved one. Considering all of the cost that goes into maintaining a pool, an alarm costs very little. However, its value (protecting your family) is worth more than anything else you could possibly do with your pool.

When it comes to choosing pool alarms, there are many different options out there, but not all are equally good. Here is a link to Consumer Reports’ evaluation of pool alarms and their recommendations. You can read the problems with some of the pool alarms, not least of which is delayed notification, which renders the system practically useless. You will also notice that they only recommend PoolGuard pool alarms. Likewise, these are the only pool alarms that SafeMart offers. We do this because we are absolutely committed to providing your family with the best possible protection at the lowest prices.

Pool season is just around the corner. Make sure you and your loved ones have a safe, as well as fun and relaxing, summer!

Pasco Police: Home Burglaries Up

Police in West Pasco, Washington are noticing an increase in burglaries and home invasions in the past two months. The thieves appear to be following a consistent pattern in their actions. I’m drawing your attention to this article, not because its unique, but because its relatively standard operating procedure for thieves.

In the article, the burglars are showing up during the day, going to homes that don’t appear to have anyone there, knocking, and if they receive no answer, kicking in the doors. This is useful information for a homeowner because it allows you to take action to protect yourself.

The first step is to prevent the thieves from ever coming up your driveway. Anything you can do to make them think that you’re home is a plus. During the night, thats obviously much easier, with automated lights, fake tv modules, etc. During the day, it’s a little trickier, but you can probably discover one or two things to help. The next step is the knock at the door. Here is really the time that a security system, with yard or window signs will help. The article points out that thieves are not targeting specific houses. Rather they are targeting homes that appear empty at the time. We can safely presume that they don’t want to get caught and will probably look elsewhere if there is a functioning, monitored home security system in place. This will hopefully deter them, but if it doesn’t, at least your monitoring company will notify police. If you have a home security camera, the chances are even better that you’ll catch the criminals. Just remember, your goal is to first prevent them from coming onto your property. If they do, you want to deter them from attempting to enter your home. You do this by making the robbery look like it will be more trouble than its worth. Finally, in the event of a break-in, you want to notify police immediately.

Now thats all for the home security side. The second part is a little scarier. In the article, they mention that thieves try to enter the home if someone is there when they knock. So, what do you do in this case? First, you should have some sort of peephole or a window that you can safely look through. If you don’t know who it is, Do not open the door! In fact, what you should do is lock the door, if its not already so, and speak to the person through the door itself. If you feel uncomfortable at all with the person at your door, ask them to leave and call the police to report the suspicious activity. If you live in an area where this is happening, it would be worth it to purchase a driveway alarm for your front door. That way you will know someone is approaching and can respond before they kick in your door. Being prepared is the best way to avoid being a victim.

On a side note, I want to say that this post is not designed to frighten you. It is designed, like all of the other posts, to make you aware of potential threats and to give you the tools necessary so that you can have peace of mind and truly feel safe in your own home (as you should).

If you are in the market for a home security camera you have probably run across dummy security cameras. It seems they are being pushed everywhere, from Ezine Articles to hundreds of start-up home security businesses. So, what are dummy security cameras? Using the definition offered by Wikipedia, they are “non-functional surveillance cameras designed to fool intruders, or anyone who it is supposedly watching.” They range from incredibly cheap versions, that look rather cheesy and, I imagine, don’t deter anyone, to more serious models that actually appear to pan/tilt and are almost indistinguishable from the real thing.

Now here’s the problem I have with fake security cameras. They’re being pushed as a total solution to home security. Now admittedly, not everyone is pushing them this way, but many are. The reason I don’t like this is that, well, they’re fake. If you buy the cheesy looking versions, you won’t deter anyone and might as well flush your money down the sink. If you buy the expensive version, you will deter some people. However, as recent news articles have shown, sometimes, thieves aren’t all that bright. As I’ve noted before, many of them will flee if they see a security system in place. But, what if they don’t? If you had a real security camera, you’d have footage of the thief and the robbery. It would be much easier for police to apprehend the suspect and would give you peace of mind.

So, I’m saying don’t use dummy cameras, right? Wrong. Dummy cameras may have a place in your home security system.

If you want to use a dummy camera, here’s my recommendation. Install real, functioning home security cameras in places that a thief would have to pass in order to rob your home. Then, place a dummy camera somewhere more noticeable and further from the home, in hopes of preventing the would-be thief from even entering your yard. This way, if your deterrent works, great! But, if it doesn’t work, you will have video footage that can be taken to the police, the local news stations and YouTube so that someone will be able to recognize the perpetrator.

Having only a dummy security system is a bad idea. It will only offer you a false peace of mind. Using a dummy security to augment your real, existing security system, however, may be a wise choice depending on your personal circumstances and preferences.

Home Invasions Prompt Tighter Security for Seniors

Basically the article details a span of successful or attempted robberies aimed specifically at senior citizens.
This relates to the previous post detailing the positive benefits of new technology on seniors. This, however, is the darker side of the same argument. The fact of the matter is that seniors are more at risk than others. In the twisted mind of a criminal, the elderly are an easy, vulnerable target. Just last week, news sources were relating that an older man in England died as a result of the mental trauma received during a robbery. These people are cruel and their actions inexcusable. We can only hope that police quickly catch these criminals.

That being said, there will always be people who want to take advantage of others. Our job is to make that more difficult. Installing motion sensor lights, deadbolts, and a working, monitored home security system will go a long way towards preventing you from being the victim of a crime. As studies continually show, most burglars will leave if they believe there is a good chance of getting caught and if the home is too difficult to break into with ease. The investment of a home security system is worth it. Whether its for you or a relative who lives alone, or your parents who are a little older, it is a simple, easy step you can take to remain in control of your own home.

The picture at left is from a floor mosaic excavated from the ancient ruins of Pompeii. On the bottom, worn by the long years, you can still see the warning: Cave Canem, which is Latin for “beware of dog.” I’m showing you this picture for two reasons. Number one: its pretty interesting that even 2,000 years ago people were taking elaborate measures such as this to deter would-be burglars and intruders. Number two: It shows that deterrents work. We still see modern versions of this warning today. If they didn’t work, this type of idea would’ve been left in ancient history just like the ruins of Pompeii. Today, however, home security requires something more than a sign warning about your ferocious dog.

The best deterrents today are home security systems. Not that a home security system doesn’t have benefits apart from acting as a deterrent, because it obviously does. The ability to alert police and fire to a potential emergency, thus protecting you and your loved ones is the most convincing reason to own a system. Still, like other home and personal security measures, you’d rather that you never had to use them. A monitored home security system makes that hope more likely. Studies have shown that homes without a security system are three times more likely to be broken into. A window or yard sign coupled with actual home security measures will make you far less likely to be a victim. That alone is worth the relatively little time and money of purchasing and installing a home security system.