Over the past several weeks we've received an unusually high number of calls and emails from people having questions and seeking advice regarding our line of security cameras and hidden nanny cams, wanting to know which one would work best for them in solving their particular need. This month I would like to address some of those questions.
By far, questions about choosing the right hidden camera come up the most. Each customer has their own need for wanting to monitor a certain area of the house, and each area presents its own special set of circumstances. One of the first things people look at when browsing the images under “Hidden Cameras” or “Nanny Cams” is which one would best fit into the area or room intended? Hidden cameras can be made into just about any “every day” object imaginable, and we have over 100 such cameras to choose from. One of the things I encounter most, though, is people who start second-guessing themselves on a model. By that I mean, once they know where the lens is on a disguised camera and they go to place it in a room, they feel others will be drawn to it immediately and realize that it's in fact a hidden camera. This is seldom the case. People, for the most part, are not observant. Question 10 people what they saw at the scene of an accident, and you'll get 10 different answers. One illustration I give out is magic. Ever been left wondering after watching David Copperfield? Many years ago when I began practicing magic as a hobby and doing some local shows, my main concern after learning a new trick was that my audience would see exactly how I did it. Of course this is where practice comes in, but once I had all the moves down pat I would fret unnecessarily that the audience would follow those moves exactly and hence know how the trick was done. Because I knew, I gave undue credit to the audience for knowing too, and the simpler the trick was, the simpler it had to be for the audience to see through it. Nothing was farther from the truth, and in fact the simpler the trick the more amazed was the reaction. I was over-thinking my act. Likewise, people are not going to recognize a hidden camera because they're not expecting one; just as an audience isn't expecting you to pull out the Ace of Spades from their shirt pocket at the conclusion of the trick. Most people will hardly give a second glance to a new object placed in a room, even a clock radio that you've placed on the bedside table. How many of you became extremely curious when your parents put up a new smoke detector in a room, or added a new book to the bookshelf, or plugged an outlet into the wall, or hung up a new mirror? Not many I would imagine. Don't over-think the camera. Only you will know what it really is.
There are three basic types of cameras;wired, wireless, and Stealth Cams (or those with built-in DVRs).
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Teddy Bear Nanny Cam (Stealth Cam)
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Mini PTZ Wifi Security Cam
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Exit Sign Hidden Camera (wired)
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CCD Security Camera (wireless)
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Wired cameras are mostly seen in security cameras, especially in businesses and commercial use buildings, although we do carry wired hidden cameras as well. As the name implies, these cameras require cable connections running back to your recording device, such as a TV, VCR, DVR or PC. Security cameras also come in different styles as well, including domes, bullets, infrared and hidden, and can be used both inside and outdoors. Security cameras tend to have a fixed 4mm lens that can detect facial features out to 90 feet, and some even have pan/tilt and zoom features. And with wired cameras, there is no chance of outside interference hindering the picture quality, as can sometimes occur with wireless.
Wireless cameras send a video signal to a receiver which is connected to the recording device. The advantage with wireless is that it eliminates the need for cables, but is susceptible to interference (like from a cordless phone that's placed too close and if that phone happens to be on the same 2.4GHz frequency as the camera.) 2.4GHZ is the standard frequency at which data and video is transmitted. The distance at which a wireless camera can operate will vary slightly between cameras, but will usually transmit between 700 and 1000 feet back to the receiver. It has also been asked if the wireless signal can transmit through walls and cement block, and the answer is, yes, providing there isn't too much metal within. Wireless cameras themselves can be powered either by battery or AC. In models such as alarm clock radio hidden cameras which are plugged in, the AC powers both the functioning clock as well as the camera. In the mini wireless systems – those that use a board camera or button camera the size of a dime, they can be operated both ways. The battery option here is usually a 9-volt, but the battery life is only about 5 hours. Some wired and wireless camera set-ups also come with software that provides remote viewing capabilities. These become IP cameras, which allow you to log into the Internet from anywhere in the world and see exactly what the camera is seeing in real time. This not only lets you keep an eye on your house while on vacation, but also an eye on the Nanny when you're at work.
The last types are the Stealth Cams with a built-in DVR that captures all the recording. They are the easiest to use, and the most popular choice for a hidden camera. Most Stealth Cams are plug & play, while others operate on an internal rechargeable battery, where often times recharging is done by connecting the camera to the computer via a USB cable. These are the perfect all-in-one cameras. The internal DVRs are simply SD cards; the same SD cards you use in your digital cameras and video camcorders. This eliminates the need for cables, transmitters, receivers, and hookups to monitors. When you're ready to view the video, simply connect the camera to the PC by the USB cable. You can also remove the SD card and either insert it into the SD slot on your PC (if you have one), or into a card reader. Most cameras will also allow you to set film speed, schedule your recording time, and have a motion activation feature which will trigger the camera to come on only when its sensors have picked up motion in the room. Many of these cameras come with a 4GB or 8Gb card, but will take up to a 32GB SD card for even longer recording time. Depending on the speed and resolution you choose, you can record hundreds of hours on one card. Many also offer an overwrite feature so that once the memory has been filled, recording will continue from the beginning of the SD card again.
Recently, technology has tweaked these last two types a bit more. New to our hidden camera lineup this month are 7 new wireless IP cameras. What makes these wireless cameras different is that the receiver is completely standalone. It doesn't require a computer! The IP receiver plugs directly into your wireless router, so there is no software or program to worry about. Not only can you stream your video over the Internet to view anywhere in the world, but each receiver also has a built-in DVR so that you can record directly onto your own SD card. It doesn't get any simpler than that! Two other new wireless models we've added now contain their own Wi-Fi transmitters. This allows you to transmit the camera's video signal directly through your existing Internet connection for remote recording or viewing from virtually anywhere. It's the perfect answer to any of your hidden camera or baby monitoring needs.
Clock Radio Hidden Camera (Wi-Fi)
One last note about choosing the right camera for you. If the room where the camera is placed will have varying degrees of light, then you'll have to select a camera whose lens can adapt to those light conditions. Color video needs to have adequate lighting conditions, so is best recorded during daytime hours or in a well lit room. If the room well be semi-dark, then you'll need to record in black & white with a lens that will adjust for low-light conditions. Low-light means there is some illumination, if only from a night light or the light cast from a TV screen. Camera specifications give a LUX rating, which is the amount of light needed for the camera to see. If the LUX rating is .003, then the camera will see and record in low-light conditions. Some camera are offered in color or B&W models, while others have the ability to record in color and automatically switch to B&W when the lighting conditions change. For night time recording or when wanting to record in total darkness, then you will need an IR camera built for that intended purpose. The IR (or infrared) lens is designed to see and record images in total darkness. To see these very special cameras in action, click here on our Nitespy Clock Radio DVR and scroll down to watch the video.
