Surveillance Cameras

How to Choose the Right Webcam Surveillance Software?

Many people want to have some kind of spy equipment for better home security. However, besides wireless spy cameras, VCR or DVR systems, there is also special software used to control those surveillance gadgets.

Large companies use professional security systems along with already built in (embedded digital video recorder or PC based DVR soft) spy camera control software. But what about smaller guys? Do you also have to spend thousands of dollars for professional spy security system and software to feel safe and secure in your house? And the answer is not necessarily.

Webcam for Spying Purposes

You have the ability to use your webcam (connected to your PC) as a surveillance tool. And to control it, all you need is inexpensive webcam surveillance software. As a matter of fact, such software allows you to connect more than one camera. It can display as much as 16 webcam views on your computer screen.

Moreover, webcam surveillance software even allows you to detect motion and start capturing an event within milliseconds. This means that you don’t have to keep your webcam surveillance software turned on all the time in order to secure the area. By using motion detection webcams, you can also save your computer’s HDD (hard drive) space.

You know, video takes a lot of hard drive space. Non stop recording for 24 hours can cost you 1GB of HDD space a day. Well, it depends on the chosen image quality. Lower quality images will require less bandwidth. Also, if you set lower FPS (frames per second), then you’ll save even more HDD space.

But if you have a large HDD (like 160GB or more), then there’s nothing to worry about.

What to Look for in Webcam Surveillance Software?

Before you decide to order webcam surveillance software, there are a couple of things to consider. Let’s take a look at some of the features of webcam software that you should seriously consider, ok.

• Audio Capturing – Does your webcam surveillance software have audio capturing option? If not, then you should consider that carefully. If you want to record a conversation, it’s crucial.

• Compressed Files – Does your webcam software compress video files? If not, then the space of your HDD might fill up quickly. Try to search for software that compresses the video without losing its quality.

• Remote Access – This is very important. If you leave your webcam to record the area, you should have the ability to access your webcam’s view via internet connection. This is very neat function that is absolutely must in webcam software.

• Motion Detection – We’ve already mentioned that. Motion detection is also extremely important. You don’t want to record the area when nothing’s going on, right. So make sure that motion sensing is enabled in your software.

• Alert Options – Does the webcam surveillance software have an alert option? Some webcam software alert when they detect something. They can alert via email or even dial a phone number. You should seek for this feature, because it’s very neat.

• Multiple Webcams – Can your surveillance software record a live view from multiple web cameras? 2, 4 or 16? If you want to connect more than one camera to your PC, then multiple webcam support is absolutely must in the software you choose.

• Stealth Mode – Does the webcam software run in stealth mode? Stealth mode means that nobody can see if the software is running or not. Not even if they Press “Ctr+Alt+Del” and look at Windows Task Manager!

Look for webcam surveillance software that allows you to do all or at least most of the functions mentioned above. If your software isn’t capable of detecting motion, doesn’t have alert option, doesn’t have audio recording options, then search for a better solution.

In Conclusion

Webcam software (for spying or home protection purposes) combined with a few inexpensive webcams, can definitely serve as a basic home security system. You can put your webcams in the most important places and have your PC to record each camera’s view. And if motion sensors detect something unusual, they can alert you via email or phone.

However, if you’re really looking for quality and all-in-one solution for professional home protection, then a more powerful DVR security system with multiple spy cameras could be your best shot. Such systems cost over thousand dollars, but they’re ideal for quality home or office protection.

About the Author

Dan Crane offer free tips and article about spy cameras, bug detectors, security systems or body worn cams. If you’d like to find out more information about webcam surveillance software used to control nanny cams, then check out Vedosoft website.

Surveillance Cameras installation question?

I consider install a Surveillance Cameras in my home, it will need like 3-4 cameras. But my home is kinda big and is outdoor camera, will it be better just let professional install for me? I heard wireless has a lot of issue such as battery life.

How much it cost normally?

Each home – and installation – is different depending on the home, the available cabling, available power, cameras used, connection to existing or new networks, how you want to store the video and how you want to monitor the video.

If you plan to use IP based cameras, then you will need to understand they will connect to the home’s LAN, assigning IP addresses, network security, providing power to the camera and deciding whether the captured video will be stored off-site with a service provider or on a computer you maintain. Any computer – with appropriate network security – can access the video.

If you plan to use analog cameras that connect in to a central IP addressable surveillance DVR, then you need to know all the above (except the cameras do not hold an IP address – the DVR does) and whether you want any of the televisions in the house to be able to monitor the video – and how that capability to monitor from existing televisions can happen.

There should be no issues with “battery life”… just run power to the camcorder. Wireless can have problems with interference – especially if the cameras are low-end units using the 900 MHz, 2.4 GHz or 5.8 GHz shared spectrums.

Since you are asking the question, then it might be better for you to consult with a professional.