Version 2.0. Camera Placement and Location

Transcription

1 Version 2.0 Camera Placement and Location

2 Camera Location Tips Camera location depends on the following: Distance from camera to viewing/ recording device Environmental conditions Lighting conditions Distance Tips The further you wish to place the camera from the viewing or recording device, the higher the quality of the camera and cables should be. This will ensure an adequate image quality and minimal video signal degradation during transmission. Keep the power supply as close to the camera as possible. This will ensure the ideal voltage is received. The further the camera is from the power supply the more the Impedance will drop, which means it is more likely to affect the quality of video and IR brightness. Cameras should be located out of reach to avoid damage. Do not place wireless cameras within 15 feet of other wireless devices using the same frequency (2.4GHz), this can cause interference. Wireless networks, cordless phones and microwaves are the major causes of interference using the 2.4GHz frequency. Environment Tips Make sure the power connections are not directly exposed to water and moisture and are shielded from other outdoor elements. Ensure that outdoor power cables such as extensions cords are rated for outdoor use. In time, the glass may become dirty. Clean the glass with a lint free cloth. Weatherproof means that the camera can be exposed to weather such as rain and snow. They cannot be submerged in water. Do not place the camera where rain and snow will hit the lens directly. Cameras that are conditioned for cold weather such as -10 C may work in conditions as low as minus 25 C, as the camera produces heat. o For extreme conditions you may consider using a Heater & Blower Outdoor Housing + Mounting Bracket.

3 Lighting Tips For best results do not point the cameras towards a light source. Pointing the camera at a glass window intending to see outside may result in a poor image because of the glare that the IR LED s produce. Do not place the camera in a shaded area looking out into a well lit area as this will produce inadequate results. For best results, the light at the camera needs to be the same as the light at the focal target. Please visit our Q-See Support Portal for more information ( Other Tips When installing the cameras, check the image on the screen to see if the image is acceptable and clear from the direct sun light. Place cameras in the most strategic places where they can provide detailed, recorded video of visitors such as entrances, exits, cash registers, etc It is advisable to connect the camera s power supplies into transient voltage surge protectors, like any other electronic device, cameras are extremely sensitive to voltage change and this can cause them to fail early. Consult our Knowledgebase on the Q-See Support Portal ( for more information. Is it legal to use a hidden camera? A private place is defined as a location where a person expects to be safe from unauthorized surveillance. Most video recordings in the United States are legal with or without consent; however, several laws do exist regarding "Invasion of Privacy," which deals with the concept of expected privacy. This idea of expected privacy includes areas such as bathrooms, locker rooms, changing and dressing rooms, bedrooms, and other areas where a person may expect a certain level of personal privacy. Most of the laws dealing with video recording privacy issues tend to allow covert recording and monitoring of video activity under most circumstances without notification of any of the parties involved, it is recommended that prior to use of a Hidden Camera, you consult with your local law enforcement or an attorney who is knowledgeable in this area. This insures that despite a general understanding of the law, you are in fact complying with all local and federal regulations prior to utilization of video surveillance or monitoring. The laws in thirteen states expressly prohibit the unauthorized installation or use of cameras in "private" places. These states include: Alabama, Arkansas, California, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Kansas, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, South Dakota, and Utah. In these states, the installation or use of any device for photographing, observing or eavesdropping actions or audio in a "private" place without permission of those being observed or listened to is a crime punishable by law. Some states also prohibit

4 trespassing on private property to conduct unauthorized surveillance of people there. These states include: Alabama, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Kansas, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, South Dakota, and Utah. In most of these states, the unauthorized installation or use of Hidden Cameras (those that are seen as violating ones 4th Amendment rights to privacy) is a felony offense. Violating such laws is punishable by a $2, fine and a sentence of up to 2 years in prison. IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO REVIEW THE LOCAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS IN YOUR JURISDICTION WHEN INSTALLING SECURITY SURVALLENCE EQUIPMENT. Height and Location Place the camera where it can t easily be tampered with. Placing the camera in a high traffic area will allow you to monitor people coming in and out of different locations. If you are mounting two cameras (side by side or stacked) to monitor two high traffic hallways you may make use of one installation. When drilling holes or running your wires, it s a good idea to consider the camera locations beforehand. It may possible to make use of one cable hole for both cameras. Entrances and Exits Positioning a camera at a main entrance is a good idea. This way you can monitor people coming in and out of your main area. Pay attention to the lighting conditions throughout the day. If the door way gets direct sun light, it can cause the image to become washed out, so it may be better to set the camera above the door instead of facing the door. If sunlight is NOT an issue for you, then mounting the cameras facing the door would be fine. Weather Resistant Vs. Weatherproof Locations Weather resistance cameras can t be placed in a location where they will be exposed directly to the elements such as rain, snow, etc These cameras should be placed in an area where they are protected from the elements, such as under an overhang or under the eaves of your home. Figure 1 letter e would be a good position for protection from the rain, snow, etc Letters A, B, C, D are bad locations. Weatherproof cameras can be placed in an area where they may be exposed directly to the elements for a short period of time. However, it is still recommended to place these cameras in a location where they are protected from the elements.

5 Fig.1 Indoor only cameras are NOT suitable for outdoor use where they will be exposed to the elements. ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS Most users prefer to operate their systems with the DVRs recording only when motion is detected. This provides the most efficient use of the hard drive s capacity, plus making it easier for a recording to be located. In most cases, it is the DVR that actually does the identification of motion. It does so by analyzing the video coming from the camera. If a number of pixels in the scene change between one moment and the next, then the most likely cause is that something is moving. Therefore, if the camera s location has a lot of environmental motion, such as a fan, wind, or the like, you will receive a lot of false alarms. Usually, these events can be avoided by simply adjusting the placement of the camera. Other situations may require some fine-tuning of your settings. The section of your DVR s manual that covers alarms will explain these settings in detail, but some easily avoidable situations are presented below: TV/Computer Screens. If the camera can see a video screen, it will trigger a motion alarm any time the screen changes, whether there is a video or simply a screen saver. Your DVR may have the ability to mask out or ignore specific areas of its field of view. You can also reduce the level of motion sensitivity in specific areas of the screen by following the instructions in your DVR s manual. Similarly, if a video or TV screen projects light onto a wall that changes with the display, it will also be detected as motion. Fans/Machinery. Motion is motion and if machinery within the camera s field of view starts automatically, it will cause an alert. Similarly, if the camera is mounted on a wall with machinery on the other side that causes it to vibrate, that can also cause it to detect motion. Moving machinery within the camera s field of view may be masked off as mentioned above, or motion detection may be turned off for that channel. If there is another camera that covers access to the area where the machinery is located, you can set it so that the first camera will only be recording when triggered by a motion event detected by this second camera.

6 Bugs. An occasional insect flying through the field of view is usually not enough to trigger an alert. However, some flying insects are attracted to infrared light and will swarm the camera. This is usually a temporary situation that occurs at only a certain time of the year. Lighting the area with yellow bug light of sufficient brightness can keep the camera operating in daylight mode and keep the infrared LEDs turned off. A second solution is to set the channel to record all the time, and turn motion detection off at night until bug season is over. Reducing the motion sensitivity can also reduce alerts as can using another camera to trigger recording as described above. Additionally, keep your cameras clear of spider webs as the movement of the webs due to wind or critters in the web will cause an alert. The reflection of the infrared off the webs and back into the camera will also reduce the night vision range. Snow/Rain. As with bugs, this is usually a seaonal event and may require motion detection to be temporarily disabled to avoid false alarms. However, positioning the camera further under shelter, such as closer to the wall and away from the edge of the eaves, can make the rain or snow too small for the camera to notice. Adjusting motion sensitivity may also help in some situations.