Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Wireless Security Systems Basics

Wireless video surveillance systems are generally easier to install in your home than hard wired systems.

Wireless video systems transmit radio signals from the camera to a receiver in your home. The receiver will be connected to either a tv, vcr, or other recording device, or even a computer monitor used for the purpose. Wireless security systems are a great way to deter crime or prevent crimes in progress.

If thieves spot your cameras, generally they will move on to another house. If they don't see the wireless cameras, then you may still be able to call the police in time to stop the crime.

The only cable you'll have to use in a wireless surveillance system is the one that connects the receiver to the monitor or tv.

The basic components that comprise a wireless home security system are the following:

- at least one camera/transmitter

- power supply (typically 12-volt DC)

- receiver and antenna

- cable (to connect your receiver to your monitoring equipment)

- optional additional monitor and VCR


There are many different wireless security systems on the market. I will go into more in detail in subsequent posts.

Improve your home security
today--read this article.

Common Home Security Mistakes

As I've written before in previous article on this website, there are many easy and cheap things you can do to improve your home security.

There are plenty of mistakes that people make regarding home security. Here is a list of a few of them.

Hide-a-Key:
This is a phenomenon that thieves love. What could be easier than using a key to break into someone's house. The places that hide-a-keys are hidden are usually very obvious places.

Broken Locks:
When dealing with your homes security and even if you have a home security system installed, broken locks on doors are not something to be put off until tomorrow. Often, tomorrow will be too late. Fix locks as soon as possible.

Turned off Security Alarms:
If you have a home security alarm and have gone through the trouble and expense of getting it professionally installed, you want to make sure to turn it on. Also check the batteries of your wireless security system as they tend to drain batteries. Maek sure everything is working and in order.

Untamed Landscaping:
Keep your hedges and trees trimmed back so they are not easy to hide behind. Don't make it easier for people to hide in you backyard. One common home security measure you can take is to install motion sensing lights.

Wireless Security Systems

More and more people (in these high tech times) are opting for wireless security systems. And why shouldn't they? Wireless security systems are relatively easy to set up and involve far fewer wires than traditional terrestrial home security systems.

See some of the wireless security options available out there. The link goes to amazon, which has a good selection of equipment from various companies in the industry.

Home Security is About the Details

Home security is really all about the details. The nuts and bolts--literally. The tiniest details make all the difference in the world when you are trying to protect your home.

A loose bolt, a shoddy lock on a window, a door that doesn't shut correctly: these are things that can either entice or deter a burglar from selecting your home as a candidate for robbery.

In matters of home security, it is well worth it to take the time to inspect your house for the minor defects that can end up costing you tons of money and the inconvenience of people breaking into your house.

The Master Lock Dual-Function Security Bar is one small, affordable item that could mean the difference between being robbed and feeling completely safe in your home (the link goes to Amazon).

Here are some specs on this nifty little tool:

- Strong metal telescoping pipe construction

- Weighs about 3-4 pounds

- Lots of adjustments in increments of about 1/8" or so to fit pretty well in our door

- Adjustments are easy to make without tools

- Bright white so it's easy to spot from afar as a deterrent

- The wide diameter pipe, about 1.5" also makes it easier to spot from afar

- Name brand you trust for home security products


It is basically a door jammer. Even if your lock gets busted, the door still will stay closed.

Think of it as a beefier version of the piece of wood you put in the groove of your sliding glass door as extra protection at night.

The Master Lock Security Bar is just one such affordable item (another one is a deadbolt lock) that can make all the difference in your home security.

Friday, February 22, 2008

Home Security Vacation Tips

When you go on vacation, you don't want the whole world to know about it, other than a few trusted neighbors. For your home security, the optimal solution is to have some people on your block who you know and trust watch your home for you.

Before you leave for vacation there are a few other things you can do to keep any would-be burglars away.

Leave your blinds open in the same way you usually do during the day. Closed blinds during the daytime signal that you may be away.

Have your mail picked up, instead of stacking up in your mailbox or on your front porch.

Turn you phone's ringer lower in volume so it can't be heard from outside the house. The same goes for your message machine.

Stop your newspaper delivery while you're gone. Nothing says, "Hey I'm out of town," like a stack of unread newspapers on your driveway.

Use automatic timers for your lights.

Home security
is important to everyone. But it's amazing how many people just do not pay attention to the small details that will deter burglars from attempting to break in to your house.

Thursday, February 21, 2008

Home Security Basics

Don't let your house look like an "easy mark." This is home security 101.

Here are a few simple and true facts.

A burglar will not attempt to burglarize your home if they have to do it in the light. So the logical conclusion is that having motion detecting lights on your patio and near any entryways is a smart thing.

A thief will not attempt to break in if it is perceived that it will take more than 4 or 5 minutes to get into your house. The simple way to make you house look harder to break in is to not have excess trees and foliage near the doors and windows where a criminal can hide and to not have easy access to your backyard.

The simplest tools you have in home security are the little things. You know what they say: God is in the details. Well, the same goes for home security. Nails, padlocks, screws, bolts, window locks, etc. These things often get overlooked and swept under the rug when thinking about the expensive and complex systems you can use for home security. These small essentials will deter a burglar from casing your home.

Lock your windows and doors. Do not keep a key anywhere outside of your home.

There are a lot of simple things you can do to improve the security of your home. It just takes the time and effort to think them through and be prepared.

Tuesday, February 19, 2008

Home Security Cameras Keep Your Home Secure

This is a great article about home security cameras.

A home security camera system can be a great asset to help provide an extra amount of protection to your property. Generally the most commonsensical observation about burglars is their need to keep away from discovery. Not only do they want to remain unseen while they perpetrate a crime, they also want to make sure they leave no visible trace of themselves. When you have a video surveillance system you can help foil both their objectives.

Many criminals will choose an easier target than a home with a video surveillance system. Most thieves will assume that you are a savvy homeowner who has thought out your security and the video system is just one part of your overall home security plan.

Home security camera systems help to notify you to any dubious activity, such as someone watching and walking around your home, for possible later unauthorized entry. They also have the ability to record both sound and visuals for playback at a later time. Video can give you a real-time view of what is going on inside and outside the home. There have been a number of would-be thieves convicted with the evidence of a video recording.

There are two basic types of systems available. You can make them obvious or hidden. When you mount your cameras in obvious places, they help deter would be thieves as described above. Hidden systems have two purposes. First of all is the ability to have a recording that you can playback. A hidden system also provides you with the opportunity to view suspicious activity in real time.

Unfortunately a burglar is not always a stranger. Sometimes it is a housekeeper, babysitter, gardener, or another person that you have given access to your home for one reason or another. It is not as common, however it does happen. A covert system can also serve as an overt system if it is known of, yet unseen. In this way, it can discourage a potential thief. If a thief knows the home security camera system is there, but doesn't know where the equipment is hidden, then they may just decide it is not worth the bother to rob you.

There are a variety of video surveillance equipment from which to choose. Most of them are simple to use and very similar to the video cameras you use to video your family or friends. These cameras can be placed indoors or outside your home and have a remote operation feature. You can monitor them from inside of your home or even from your computer at your place of work.

Movement of the cameras can be controlled remotely when your cameras are connected to a computer. This can be done with a wireless system. When using your cameras in conjunction with a computer, you will get more storage space for your recording time. You can also program your cameras to turn on and off whenever you desire.

If you have cameras in your home, you may not be too keen on recording yourself, as you lose your sense of privacy, so with a computerized system you can turn off the cameras when they aren't needed. With the added ability to program, you don't have to worry about remembering to turn them back on when you leave the house. There are even some systems that may have motion detectors that will start the recording process when a motion or sound is detected.

As with all technology, you can spend as little as a few hundred to as much as several thousand dollars. You will need to determine the value of the items you are protecting, as well as your vulnerability and your circumstances to choose the best system for you. Without a doubt, having a home security camera system will give you the ability to rest easier.
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To find additional resources on home security systems or a home security camera system, visit now. This and other unique content home security camera systems articles are available with free reprint rights.

This article should make clear that home security cameras are an essential part in home security.

Ward Off Burglars with Home Security Signs

This is a great article about another way you can easily ward off criminals who may want to break into your home. Using home security stickers and signs may be a very easy way for you to encourage burglars to move on right past your house. Read the article below.

Home Security Signs And Stickers Keep Burglars At Bay
by Bruce Kelly

Home Security is one of the most important things that anyone can invest in. The fact of the matter is that homes that have some form of home security or another are less likely to have burglaries and break-ins than homes that don't have some form of home security.

Yet, many home security options seem too expensive for a lot of folks. On top of this, if you rent your home, you may be unable to make the sorts of modifications to your home that are required in order to have a home security system. Fortunately for people in this situation, there are less expensive options for home security: home security signs and stickers.

A home security sign can be as simple as a plastic sign taped to the door that says, "Beware of Dog." In many cases, if a burglar has chosen your home at random, this will be enough to keep them away. However, this may not be enough to deter a truly determined criminal, who will likely be watching your home for some time before he commits his crime, and may know that there is no dog to worry with. More effective home security signs are those that declare that the home is protected by a specific security system. For example, you might have a home security sign that says, "This Home Is Protected by ADT". Most often, of course, these sorts of signs will be provided when you install an actual security system; however, there are stand alone signs available that homeowners can use to protect their home. You can even go so far as design your own sign and post in your yard with supplies from any hardware store and a small amount of computer graphics help.

Similar to the home security sign is the home security sticker. A home security sticker serves the same sort of role as a sign: it will help to deter a thief before they ever try to get into your house. Here again, most of the time a home security sticker will come along with the installation of an actual home security system, but there are also individual stickers available. The added benefit of these is that signs and stickers are usually visible from the street.

When looking at every possible solution to help protect your well being and your valuables, do not forget the small items that can play a major roll. Home security signs and stickers are just a couple of ways that you can keep burglars at bay.

Bruce Kelly is a Home Security Specialist with 10+ years of experience configuring and installing home alarms

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bruce_Kelly

Home security is all about precaution. The more you do to protect your home and your family, the more likely you will be successful at it. Signs and stickers may be a great option for you.

Home security system ratings
.

Sunday, February 17, 2008

Home Security can be Random

Common Sense is Your Best Anti-Theft Device

This is a great article written by Doug Jones about simple ways to prevent theft from occurring to you and your family.

Just like other crimes, burglary can be a totally random event. However, when it's planned, there are certain things a burglar will look for when staking out a possible break-in, and there are steps the homeowner can take to minimize this risk.

This is a good checklist before leaving your home empty or for beefing up your protection against theft:

Study your house from the street, and look for any valuables that may be visible from the street. Don't give thieves a reason to show up.

Before leaving for any length of time, ensure that all windows and doors are locked, including the door to your garage. Many home invasion robberies come through garage doors and inner doors to the houses. Doors should have deadbolt locks with a one-inch throw and reinforced strike plate. Place a piece of wood or metal in the track of any sliding doors to prevent opening.

Don't leave your house in darkness when you're away. Create a sense of activity by using light timers, radios, and the tv. Install low-voltage lighting outdoors to keep your surrounding yard well lit. Install motion detectors in dark areas along the sides and back of house to alert you of any intruders.

Suspend your newspaper delivery while you're away and ask your neighbor to collect your mail for you. You may even ask them to park in your driveway while you're gone. Never leave a message on your answering machine that says you're on vacation.

Keep any shrubbery near your walkway or entrance trimmed; removing any possible hiding places. Think about planting cactus or rosebushes under windows that may be especially vulnerable. Advise your neighborhood watch that you'll be away.

Ensure your security system is activated when you leave. Etch your name on all electronic equipment to serve as a deterrent as well as assisting police in the recovery your property. It's more difficult to sell stolen property that has the owners name on it. Make a video tape of your possessions and record the serial numbers.

Get a safe, not just for your jewels, but for important paperwork as well. Identity theft is a crime that's on the rise and you want to minimize any availability to your personal records.

The more you can do to deter an intruder, the better your chances are that your home will not be chosen as a target. Studies have shown that if it takes a burglar more than four or five minutes to break into a home, they'll move on. If you increase their vulnerability by adding a well-lit area or a barking dog, that minimizes your risk again.

I hope this article is some help to you.

Doug Jones, an award winning San Diego Realtor. Let Doug help you find your dream property in the San Diego real estate market by visiting him at AllJonesHomes.com

Thursday, February 14, 2008

Home Security

Home security guru is a website all about home security systems, home security cameras, and news and information regarding the home security industry.

The goal of this website is to be an informational hub for all your home security needs.

Come back to home security guru and get news and info all about home security.