Security cameras are necessary in any home, and when you live in Los Angeles, they are particularly vital. Security cameras are essential in every household and in the city of Los Angeles they are even more important.
One of the best ways to keep your family and property safe at your Los Angeles home is to install security cameras. You can see all around your house, so you can always be informed wherever you are. However, some people tend to put up one camera and that is all they do. Truth is, even the best camera has a finite field of view. For a well-designed security setup, a good number of cameras are strategically placed all over the important areas. Don’t think about purchasing cameras, think about what the most vulnerable areas in your property are.
While each house has its own specific configuration, all homes have areas that can be targeted for entry, like doors or windows, and areas that are easy targets for unwanted attention, such as kitchens, bathrooms, and bedrooms. The aim is to occupy as many of these positions as possible without creating “blind spots” that can be used to your advantage.
Key Areas That Deserve Camera Coverage
Listed below are the most critical places to keep in mind when laying out your camera:
Front, Back, and Side Doors: Statistics consistently indicate the majority of break-ins are through the main entrance door. Having a camera mounted over or next to any outside door allows you a direct view of all of those that are coming in or going out of your home, whether it be from the front porch, a rear entry gate or a side access gate.
Off-Street Windows: Windows that are not visible from the street can provide an inviting window of opportunity for an intruder to silently gain entry. There is a solution to fill that gap, though: placing exterior cameras above the windows, or interior-facing cameras behind the glass.
Your driveways and Garage Areas: are the first place that visitors will see you, on foot or in car. This camera that is mounted above the driveway or garage door, allows you to see any activity going into or out of your home before anyone even reaches your front door.
When a thief does enter, they will usually target the living room, master bedroom or home office for valuables. The indoor cameras in these rooms offer an extra layer of security and valuable evidence in case of theft.
Multiple floors, walkouts from a basement or balcony access points: provide another way for persistent intruders to gain access to the home. When a camera is oriented towards these stairwells or landings, it can detect any movement between floors and notify you of any irregularities.
Best Practices for Camera Mounting and Placement Height
This is the ideal camera mounting and placement height that will ensure you get the best results from your camera.
Selecting the location is just half the work. The mounting is as important. Outdoor cameras should be set in a location that is out of reach of people, and not to be placed where they can be hit by an object. Nine feet is a good guideline for exterior installations. Indoor units should be installed as low as possible to the ceiling.Indoor units should be placed away from eye level locations.
With the camera itself, it may be tempting to use adhesive mounts, but screw it into the wall or fascia for extra stability and protection against weather and forced removal.
The correct angles are also very important. A camera mounted directly over a doorway with the camera pointing straight down won’t show much of the person’s head, unless the person is very tall, which is not very helpful for identification. Rather, tilt the camera just to the side of the entry point, about a foot or so, and set the camera at a slight diagonal angle, pointing toward the door. This will provide you with a more complete view of a person’s face and body.
Don’t be concerned about making cameras too visible. The cameras are visible and act as a deterrent in themselves. If a potential intruder sees a camera before trying to do anything, many will simply walk away. Poor visibility is not a bug, it’s a feature.
Stable Wi-Fi Connection for Wireless Cameras
When using wireless security cameras, your home network will be a pivotal part of their reliability. All cameras require a strong, stable Wi-Fi connection to upload videos, notify you of an alarm and remain connected with the security system. A poor or unreliable signal can lead to cameras going offline, missing events and producing choppy/fuzzy video to be unwatchable.
Walk around your house with a phone or laptop to test signals in areas you plan to install the camera before deciding on final placement. Thick walls, metal doors or far corners of properties are generally less well covered. To keep all cameras connected to Wi-Fi at all times, you might need to use a Wi-Fi extender or mesh node.
A dependable connection isn’t merely a luxury. It’s the reason that your cameras keep shooting when you need them to.
Final Thoughts
A well planned camera system based upon the layout and vulnerabilities of your home will always be better than a camera dropped in any random location. Whether you’re seeking expert advice on installing an HD IP surveillance system in Los Angeles, an expert local installer should position, angle, and connect your camera the right way from day one.
