How to Install A Security Camera

Mindy Woodall

Managing Editor, Dwelling Security & Smart Abode

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How much does installation toll?

If you install your security camera yourself, and then installation won't price y'all a penny. If you adopt to have the pros do it for you, so y'all'll need to drib some dollars on that service.

DIY security camera installation

If you can install a camera yourself, then it's pretty much costless after you pay for the equipment.

Most cameras these days are non merely easy to install on your own, only too designed to exist as hurting-complimentary as possible. Some you lot tin can set on a table, mount on a wall, or adhere to a magnetic surface. Yet, not everyone is comfortable with drilling into their walls.

The easiest cameras to install on your own volition exist wire-gratuitous, bombardment-powered cameras similar the EufyCam two or the Reolink Argus three. If you have an indoor security camera, then those are also quite like shooting fish in a barrel to set up yourself. Yous just need to put the camera where you desire it and plug in the power cord.

Professional installation

If yous get one of the professionally installed All-time Dwelling Security Systems nosotros've recommended (namely ADT or Vivint), you'll go an installation tech who volition install everything for you, including your cameras. Vivint'due south system installation fee is $49, but ADT's fees are significantly more. You may pay as much equally $199 for that pro installation.

If you want to get a whole network of home security cameras that integrate into your home security organisation, then it'southward much easier to have a professional install those cameras for you. It'south as well easier to have the pros install video doorbells, so y'all don't take to mess effectually with electric wires.

Both ADT and Vivint offering professionally installed doorbell cameras.

Pro installation for standalone security cameras

If you lot're buying a camera yourself and desire to have it professionally installed, then there are third-political party services like HelloTech that are a great fashion to notice local professional person installation for security cameras. Plus it's actually a decent bang for your buck compared to higher prices from CCTV companies.

How much you'll pay depends on what blazon of device you have and potentially other factors as well, such as your location. But HelloTech does list starting prices for security cameras and video doorbells.

Smart security camera installation cost: starts at $129

Video doorbell installation price: starts at $99

HelloTech installs devices from several major smart domicile brands, including Ring and Google Nest.

How should you position your security camera?

Not everyone has to deal with thieves and intermission-ins (thank goodness). Some of us just want to cheque on deliveries or see who visits our house while nosotros're away. Other people desire a way to check on family members or pets.

Decide which purpose is most important to you and place your camera where it will best be able to see what you want to keep an centre on.

Indoors or outdoors?

The biggest departure between indoor and outdoor cameras is their ability to endure the weather condition. The concluding thing yous want is for your new camera to quit in the offset blizzard of the twelvemonth, especially since you've noticed your snowfall boots accept gone missing, likewise.

Cheque the operating temperature and approved use for the camera you lot want to buy. In that location are some models, like the SimpliSafe SimpliCam, that can be modified to piece of work outside as well as indoors.

Where to install an indoor security camera

Installing an indoor camera can be equally like shooting fish in a barrel as finding the right spot, plugging it in, turning it on, and syncing it with your mobile or desktop app. While some may require drilling, most indoor cameras we've come across won't require anything more than a screwdriver.

A good indoor photographic camera should accept a decent field of view, which you tin get with a college corner or shelf. The best places volition have a clear view of the room, a place to hide the photographic camera from thieves, and very little human foot traffic (to avert unplugging the photographic camera or tripping on the cord).

Where to install an outdoor security photographic camera

The well-nigh popular places for an outdoor camera are to a higher place the garage door or looking over a front or back porch. For a garage camera, brand sure you lot have a large field of view. For a porch camera, brand certain your camera is generally looking at a driveway or walkway to capture all the action possible with a smaller field of view. You may desire to consider a doorbell camera like the Nest Hello, the Arlo Video Doorbell, or the RemoBell South.

Should yous become a wired, wireless, or wire-free camera?

At that place are generally three power options for security cameras, although the terminology can get a bit disruptive:

  1. Wired, which means the camera relies on wires to connect to both ability and your internet.
  2. Wireless, which means your camera can connect to the cyberspace wirelessly simply requires a ability cord. Sometimes these cameras are still called "wired" since they require a cord.
  3. Wire-gratuitous, where the camera runs off a battery pack and doesn't demand any wires at all. Sometimes these cameras are called wireless since they run without ability cords.

With wired installation, you lot're a little limited in terms of placement, but your connection will be more reliable and secure. Consider where you accept to run the wire and how much length you demand. Yous can always purchase longer extension cables.

Steps for installing a wired security camera

  1. Find a stable spot on the wall.
  2. Some cameras may require finding a stud, while others volition come with drywall anchors.
  3. Cheque for existing wiring.
  4. Mark and drill the advisable holes.
  5. Thread the wiring back through the wall to attach it to the monitoring source.

Just make sure the hole you lot drill is big enough to pull the wire through but not and then large that you can no longer mount the photographic camera.

A big benefit of wire-costless (sometimes yet called wireless) cameras is being able to place them nearly anywhere. But you'll yet want to make sure you're inside range of your Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or other wireless connections.

That said, if your outdoor photographic camera needs a power cord, similar the Nest Cam Outdoor, yous should exist able to drill easily through denser materials like brick or stucco if needed.

Brand sure you place your security camera out of attain so a thief or guilty kid can't simply take hold of it and exit. Tech installers recommend placing your cameras at least ix feet above ground—only just don't get so high y'all can't see what'due south happening downward beneath.

Should you choose local or cloud storage?

Most cameras today offering cloud storage as a way to preclude thieves from simply grabbing the testify and running, just some people still prefer local storage for its privacy and convenience.

Local storage options vary by photographic camera, but may include these options:

  • microSD cards
  • USB drives
  • Digital Video Recorders (DVRs)
  • Network Video Recorders (NVRs)

If yous're going with local storage, you'll have to place your cameras out of harm'due south manner, but somewhere you can access information technology when you need information technology. Nonetheless, if you become cloud storage, you can view footage through your phone or desktop apps, and you lot can admission footage regardless of the camera's condition.

If you're going with local storage, you'll take to place your cameras out of harm's mode, but somewhere y'all can access it when you need it. All the same, if yous go cloud storage, you can view footage through your phone or desktop apps, and y'all can admission footage regardless of the camera's condition.

Recap: How to Install a Security Camera

For most cameras nosotros recommend, you can install them yourself. If non, there's always a professional who tin can help— either from the security company itself or a third-party provider like HelloTech.

If y'all are going for DIY installation and need more specific instructions, some CCTV and surveillance companies have thorough walkthroughs and video tutorials on their websites:

  • Arlo
  • Google Nest
  • Ring
  • Reolink
  • Wyze
  • Eufy

For more info on home security, and to compare cameras, check our our All-time Security Cameras and Best Home Security Systems reviews.

Pseudo Home Security in America

Security systems and cameras are awesome if you've e'er been unsettled past a prowler in your neighborhood or suspicious noises at night. But that stuff is expensive, and it seems like a hassle to set something new. So what near false security cameras? If they look just as real, they must be just as good, correct? Or are they?

We took a survey of 500 Americans to see how people feel about existent and fake abode security measures, and if they call up both are equally effective. Hither are some of the most interesting things we found.

  • xv% take used a fake security camera.
  • 25% have used a fake or outdated security monitoring sign in their one thousand.
  • 24% have used a false or outdated security monitoring sticker in the window of their home.
  • 24% have subconscious a primal in a simulated rock.
  • 28% have hidden a key under their doormat.
  • 17% accept placed a fox delivery package outside their house.

We asked America: How effective is false home security?

  • i in 5 believe that false home security systems are but as effective as an authentic system.
  • 1 in four believe that a fake dwelling house security camera is simply as effective as an authentic security camera.
  • 17%  believe that a fake security alarm (audible) is more constructive than an accurate warning.
  • 17% believe that a fake security monitoring sticker is more constructive than an authentic one.

Our takeaways

Enough of people are using tactics similar false security cameras and outdated yard signs to protect their homes, and many think these measures are merely every bit effective as the real thing.

Only most people concord that the genuine article is better than whatsoever fake. When it comes to defending your property, the majority opinion is that existent security systems and real cameras offering ameliorate protection. And nosotros concur. A real security camera, with a livestream you tin view through a mobile app and two-fashion audio you tin can use to yell at intruders, is always going to top some plastic replica.

Methodology

We conducted an anonymous survey of 500 Americans over the age of 18 regarding sentiments about their usage and perceived effectiveness of both pseudo and authentic habitation security measures. Using the responses from our survey, we have highlighted the most common answers in this report.

Mindy Woodall

Written by

Mindy Woodall

Mindy has been writing virtually technology for seven years. She covers all things smart home for Reviews.org, and keeps track of the latest robot gadgets. Mindy attended the University of Utah and her work has been featured on the likes of Parents.com, Digital Care, Hostfully, and more.

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