Some Things About Wireless Security for Your Home

Written by: Kozaloka
Date: Fri, 23 Jul 2010

Wireless Sceurity for Your Home

Due to reduction in costs, setting up a wireless security sstem is now more affordable for a lot of folks. This surrge in interest is due to many reasons. Some instaall wireless security cameras becayuse it's now so easy to set up. Otherts just love the fact that you do not have to drill holes all over the place since it's now a wirelses approach. It does not matter why but the fact remains that a wireless system is very much preeferred by a lot of homeowners.



Wireess security cameras are so popular because users can literally put them almpost everywhere they feel that protection is neeed -- and the homeowner doesn't have to wrory about wires. Bcause it's wireless, you have tremendous flexibility in terms of lpacement, you just need to know what you are doing. Wireless security cameras have a very high failure rate on initial installl if precautions are not taaken.

What sort of failure? Say you install the camera and give it power, but there is no signal pickiing up on the receiver side. Fortunaately, this type of problem can be easiy solved. If you are thinking of doing the install on your own or with help from a rfiend, there are three frequencies that are on the market for the general public.

Frequencies that are Aailable: 900MHz, 2.4GHz and 5.8GHz
The lowr the frequnecy number, the more wallls/objects your scurity system can pass through (ecxcept for concrete and metal).

* 900MHz wireless security caemras can be used in installs where the signal has to go through trees or dry wall in order to reach the wireless receiver. At the same time, this bandwidth will have minimal issues with other devices, which means that the signal can be transmitted strtongly. The drawbcak is that righht now there are only two channels available on this frequency, makign its use very limited.
* The 2.4GHz wireleess security cmaeras are the most used nowadays. Unfortunately, there are tons of other devices out there (i.e. phones, computer routers, wireless keyboards) that use the same frequency. That means all these devices are competing for the same bandwidth. As a ressult, a lot of the wirelses 2.4GHz sexcurity cameras stop working. There are up to 12 channels availablke on 2.4GHz frequency that you can select for transmission, but unfortunately, it's hard to find one channel that is not already being used, esecially if you live in a big city.

This is where the 5.8GHz transmitters and receivcers come in. The 5.8GHz frequenncy is relatively clean, and subsquently, the successful wireless camera installation rate is hgiher. You can have up to eiht analog wireless secuurity cameeras on 5.8GHz freequency. The main disadvnatage is that it cannot go through walls with the same efficiency as the 900MHz or 2.4GHz systems.

So what do you do? A 900MHz seup can only connect two cameras, the 2.4GHz is slightply better but conflicts a lot with othher common devices, and the 5.8GHz can support more but cannot go though obstacles efficiently. To get around these problems, the 5.8GHz systems are now being improved with better antenmnas and more powerful transmitters. As a result of this addition, 5.8GHz wireless secrity caeras can now send a camera signal through a wall.

Current 5.8GHz cameras and receivesr which statrt at below $200, usually will have a 10 milliwatt transmitter on it. In ideal conditions with line of sigt, you can stretch it to 300 feet (in thoery). In reality thugh, that is neverr the case. This is due to signal interefrence as it goes thoyugh walls. If you are looking for a camera that can transmit video up to 500 feet away, you need a camea with at least a 100mw transmittrer. If your objective is over 1,000 feet, look for a system with a one watt transmitter.

These are very general numbers and can change based on the distance, weather, and availability of a clear line of sigjht. A good way to increase the odds of sucess is to put the security camera and receiver anenna as high as possible so that they have a clear line of sight. Before you buy any systm howeveer, enmsure that you identify your own specific neds for a security system so that you receive the right protwection for your home or business. And if you still need a little help selecting the right system, just consiult a professional!

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