Understanding Your Home Surveillance Camera Salesman
Shopping for a home surveillance camera is
no different than shopping for any other piece of technical
electronic equipment.
Salesmen will often use a lot of unfamiliar terms to explain
why their system is the best. Let's try and sort through the
jargon so you'll know exactly what your camera is capable.
If the salesman tells you the home surveillance camera is IR
equipped, you should know this means you camera can see at
night. This type of camera either has a lens surrounded by
light, or an extra mount which is simply lights that you can
move to any location you choose. Your eyes cannot see these IR
lights, but the camera eye can. To the home surveillance camera
it is as if a floodlight is pointed to the area it is shooting.
Businesses have been using this technology for a several years,
but homeowners have recently been taking advantage of this
technology as well.
Sometimes when you go to the store you'll see a home
surveillance camera hooked up to a monitor. This is great for
getting a look at the just how good the camera is and what kind
of picture it provides. On other occasions however there is no
such hook up and thus no way for you to see how good the camera
is. Without being able to see for yourself, you need to ask the
salesman about the TLV. TLV is simply television lines. A
typical television set will use 480 out of 525 TLV. A home
surveillance camera does not need to this many. A good one will
use somewhere between 380 and 420 TLV. Just remember that
higher means a better quality image. With the exception of the
smaller or mini security cams, most will come with 420TLV.
Some places will recommend a dome type home surveillance
camera. This cameras don't look like a camera at all. They look
more like a dark half sphere and are intended to be a bit more
hidden. Can move 360 degrees in any direction so you'll have a
great view. More recent technology allows you to control the
pan and tilt from inside your home by way of remote control. No
longer is it necessary for you to go out and manually move the
camera. Why have a camera that's moveable if it is that
difficult to maneuver?
Certainly you hear other words you are unfamiliar with while
shopping for a home surveillance camera. These however are the
things you should most consider before making your purchase.
And always remember that if there is something you are not sure
about, ask questions. A lot of them. If the salesman tells you
about a feature and you don't understand what it does, just
ask. Don't be tricked into paying for features that you will
never have the opportunity or desire to use.
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