The first thing most people think about when mentioning ?home? is safety. A safe environment is secure from outside threats, and it is a delight to spend your time there. The world can be harsh and exhausting sometimes, and it is good to know that you have your safe haven somewhere on the globe. 

Whether you are stressed out from the job or need a day or two to ?refill your batteries,? a home represents the gate to an intimate and personal world. But just like the house protects you, you can take some precursory means to shield it from possible threats. And these security tweaks add protection layers to the people (and animals) living in the house. 

A Security Camera 

The first step when increasing home security is, usually, installing a security camera. Adding this system to your home does not mean that you expect a burglary, or that one was committed. Owning a camera usually does scare burglars off, but a security camera has other purposes as well. 

If you have little children, a camera is an excellent tool to monitor their behavior. You can keep a dog (or other pets) in your eyesight as well. Having a security camera keeps the neighborhood safe. If a crime was committed close to your house, the police would check the camera footage, and maybe they have recorded the crime. 

There are hundreds of reasons to get this security upgrade. After you have decided that you want one, you should ask yourself which camera system you need. Just placing any camera won?t do the trick. And don?t go headfirst for the most expensive set. Camera systems have their features which match with particular types of houses. 

Security or Surveillance

Some people take these two terms for synonyms, but there is a difference. Surveillances are stationary technology devices. In other words, they record only the events happening in their field of view.  

Security cameras do more than just observing one point. They move, and the more sophisticated ones react to unexpected sounds and sudden movements on edges. They provide alerts once they record something unusual.

Both types will notify you about the happenings occurring around your house. The amount of messages you receive depends on the bandwidth your home security system supports. Have in mind that these alerts take up a good chunk of your home network data. 

Types of Cameras

In a technology-driven society such as ours, it should not surprise you in hearing that there are many kinds of cameras. Having a universal type would make the whole process more straightforward but less efficient. 

Bullet Cameras

These are the most common types of security cameras. These cylinder-shaped devices come in various sizes. They are only useful if you know for sure which area(s) need surveillance.

Dome Cameras

This type covers slightly more space than bullet cameras. They are installed on ceilings. The more advanced ?domes? have pan functions which allow them to cover more space. 

Hidden Cameras

The name of this camera implies its function. On the first look, they are not there. The ideal weapon for hunting down house burglars. These cameras can look like something else, e.g., a teddy bear. 

Live Streaming

Live streaming cameras have a direct connection with your phone and/or computer. These cameras can give you up to the moment updates but are a little heavy on storage and data usage. 

Wireless Camera

Wireless cameras have become popular in recent years. You can transport them from one room to another and change their position; thus, they don?t have fixed eyesight.

What Camera Do I Need?

Now that we have listed the camera types let?s see which one suits your needs the best. When opting for a security camera system, you must have a couple of features in your mind. 

Footage Quality 

Depending on your needs, you should shop for an HD quality security camera or an ordinary one. In most cases, you should go for higher quality. If you cannot see the face of a burglar because of blurry footage, does your security system even serve its purpose? 

The most commonly used resolution is 1280x70p. The picture is sharp enough to recognize faces, and they are not as expensive as 1980x1080p.

Field of View

Thieves are getting smarter, and they always find a way to circle 180 degree spinning camera. To prevent that always opt for 360 degrees moving security camera. In case you need to monitor one point only, you don?t have to concern yourself with camera movement. 

Data Storage 

In ?ancient times,? all data was stored on VHS cassettes and CDs/DVDs. Today you can store all the footage on your computer. Some security cameras have internal memory, ranging from 16GB to 128GB. When choosing your system think about how often you are willing to look at the recorded footage and make space for incoming surveillance videos. 

Electric Gate Control

Installing a security camera is a step towards securing your home, but does next to nothing in making it more comfortable. If there is one invention that could make your life easier, then it is the electric gate control. 

A gate control sends signals to the gate of your home, and it opens and closes automatically. This invention can save you hours each year if you have to drive out the car multiple times each day. 

This system is, in its essence, a control box on the gate and the remote control device. The box receives the signals from the gate control remote device. Then it swings to open and allows some traffic in, whether it is you or a guest, and then closes the gate on the second signal.

Electrical batteries power the control box and the remote device. As technology advances, companies attempt to create a more effective way of powering devices. More sophisticated power boxes run on solar energy, but this kind of technology is only useful in tropical-like climates.

Types of Automatic Gates

The type of automatic control system depends on gate size. Some models swing to open themselves, while others slide from opening to closure. 

Sliding Gates

Most gate controls slide the door to open it and then close it. An electrical motor is making these movements possible. The gates drive on tracks. Gates move around with a roller; identical to how a train runs across steel tracks. 

If the surface of your gate entrance is uneven, then you must use a cantilevered. The motors for these gates can power any weight: from 300 kilos to 4000. 

Swinging Gates

The gates on this model must be attached to a pillar or a post to work correctly. An invisible series of levers connect the motor with the gate. The engine is installed inside the post or pillar. The only visible part to us is the control box, which receives commands from gate controllers. Swinging gates have their subdivisions: Rams, linear and articulated arms.