Sometimes, running electricity to power a security system just isn’t feasible.
Agricultural locations, construction sites, public areas, marine locations and more need to be monitored by owners, law enforcement and property managers, among others. Placing and powering cameras and relaying the information they capture in an efficient manner are challenges to be sure, but not insurmountable ones.
So how do wireless security cameras work? Here’s a quick tutorial.
Wireless vs. Wired
Electrically powered products need electricity. Security camera systems were traditionally hardwired to a power source and wired by video cameras to a monitor. Wires aren’t optimal for several reasons, from simple aesthetics to the fact that pulling or cutting wires offers an easy way to disable your security.
Wireless systems use an alternate power source — solar is perfect for remote locations — and transmit the images they record via wireless networks.
Connectivity
Many wireless systems rely on local internet connectivity. Some, like the solar-powered systems offered by Eye Trax, are cloud based, transmitting images and video through cellular networks.
Wireless Benefits
There are many benefits to wireless, including:
- There’s no need for costly data infrastructure.
- Cameras can be installed in remote locations where traditional power is unavailable.
- Installation is quicker, thus protection is more immediate.
- It’s less expensive than wiring and cabling a large property.
- It’s better for environmentally sensitive areas, where trenching for cables might disturb wildlife.
- Footage and images can be viewed anywhere.
If you’re worried about the limitations of solar power, consider that with just six hours of direct sunlight, Eye Trax cameras will be powered for days. Internal batteries provide five days of continuous operation with no sun exposure, and our solar panels can be set up as far as 100 feet from the cameras, allowing flexibility in placement for maximum sun exposure.
What Features Should You Look For?
Once you’ve decided to go wireless, make sure you’re getting the gear you need. Consider these requirements:
- Motion detection: Cameras begin recording upon sensing movement.
- Cloud storage: If you’re offered DVR recording, that’s a red flag signaling a company is technologically behind the curve.
- Remote control: You should be able to reposition your camera side to side and adjust the lens (zooming in and out).
- Lights: You might want alarm strobes, floods or basic motion detection lights.
- Video specs: Minimally, you should be looking for 1080p in terms of resolution (up from 720p). 4k is a step up from 1080p.
- Digital or optical zoom? Personal preference. Optical zooms produce sharper images. Digital zooms retain coverage of the broadest area while zooming in, and zooms can be performed on recorded video.
Finding Solutions
Eye Trax products harness the power of the sun to bring security monitoring systems to the most remote locations. We have helped solve security monitoring issues for such locations as:
- Agriculture: Watch for pests and trespassers, and even being able to identify signs of disease in crops.
- Construction: Prevent theft, vandalism and unsafe practices that lead to accidents.
- Marine: Capture and discourage criminal and terrorist activity.
- Oil and Gas: Monitor remote pipelines for damage.
- Power and Utility: Flag unauthorized activity and potentially hazardous conditions.
- Property Management: Ensure tenant safety.
Further details on how it works — from the tech basics to the latest security features and from cloud-based accessibility to the on-site hardware — are covered here.
Wherever you are, Eye Trax is a fit for your site. No matter the difficulties presented by the environment being monitored, Eye Trax equipment and services — including fixed-position and panning cameras; accessories such as poles, pole mounts, warning strobes and more; and 24/7 monitoring by trained security professionals — will have you covered.