Choosing the Right Wireless Cameras for Security

Wireless cameras are a convenient option for monitoring activity around a home or a business, watching for intruders both human and animal. They're easier to install since they don't require additional cabling to connect them to a hub, like wired network cameras, and you can often control them through your computer or even a mobile device, such as a smartphone or a tablet. You can place them inside or outside, with outdoor models featuring rugged, weatherproof housing.

Does a Wireless Camera System Need an Internet Connection?

A Wi-Fi camera system can work without an internet connection, but it does operate slightly differently. You may not be able to monitor camera feeds remotely using mobile devices, for example. Reasons for setting up cameras that aren't dependent on an internet connection vary. You may have a property in a remote area where no service is available, or perhaps you don't want cameras using up all the available bandwidth. Either way, a complete camera system typically creates its own network, and you can still monitor the cameras from your own computer, and store footage on an external hard drive.

Can Wi-Fi Security Cameras Run During a Power Outage?

Wireless Wi-Fi cameras do need a power source of some kind to operate, and if the power goes out, they'll go out too, unless they have an alternate power source. A uninterruptable power supply, or UPS, can keep them going for a while, or you can use an inverter that converts direct current from a 12-volt battery or other source into alternating current.

How Do I Connect a Wi-Fi Video Camera to a Router?

You can connect an outdoor or indoor Wi-Fi camera to your system using a browser. Navigate to the IP address of your IP camera, and add it to your system, making sure there are no IP addressing conflicts. Different camera systems may vary slightly in their interface, but you should be able to connect to your home Wi-Fi's SSID using the network settings. After that, it's easy to monitor the Wi-Fi camera through your mobile devices that are on the same network.

Do I Need a Hard Drive for My Security Cameras?

You have multiple options for recording footage captured by your outdoor or indoor wireless camera system. Many systems include a hard drive or DVR with a large memory capacity. This allows for storing hours worth of footage. You can also connect a separate, external HDD. If your cameras support it, you can also store recordings on an SD card. Since these are more limited in their capacity, they typically only hold footage generated when the camera's motion detector triggers. You can also store recordings on the hard drive of a laptop or desktop PC on the same network as the cameras.

When you're ready to make your home or business more secure and want to check out wireless and IP cameras, be sure to browse the wide selection of options offered by B&H Photo and Video, such as Hikvision IP cameras or Nest Cam security cameras.