Best Security Cameras that can be placed around the exterior of the house are also a good idea to add an extra layer of protection. Nevertheless, the location of the cameras is crucial to their performance in preventing criminal activities and ensuring that the property is well captured. This guide will also include recommendations on the best sites to mount outdoor security cameras that would cover most areas.
Front Door Your front door is the most used for people to come in whether they are friends or foes. Using a camera with wide coverage facing the front door, it becomes possible to see who is at the door without necessarily opening it. You can use the camera speaker to talk to people who are at the door when you want to allow them in or warn off suspicious characters at your front door. Position the camera beneath the eave or an overhang to prevent the impact of various weather conditions on the camera. Place it at a relatively high position so that it captures a view of the front door, front porch, and slightly of the yard.
Driveway A long-range camera can be installed over the garage or at the corner near the door of the house facing the driveway to capture a view of the driveway stretch from the front. This enables you to have a clear view of vehicles arriving and departing. It can also record video of anyone attempting to break into the cars parked in the compound of the house. Mount the camera at a sufficient altitude to prevent objects from blocking the scene and areas of low light to be seen.
Back Door As with the front door, a back door camera monitors this other exit or entry point in the house. It can reveal when somebody is approaching your backyard or when somebody is trying to breach the backdoor. Install the outdoor camera right above the height of the back door, ideally under the eave or any overhang. Ensure that the camera angle has an unobstructed view at the door approach and the entry to the backyard.
Side Yards Side yard cameras offer look areas to watch for intruders who may be entering your compound through the less conspicuous side doors. Set up a camera at all four corners of the house directing the cameras diagonally across the yard space. This way, the wide angles will allow the cameras to register most of the activities taking place in the side yards. It is also necessary to point the cameras out toward each back corner of the property as well to capture a wider area.
Backyard full coverage of your backyard is usually achieved by the installation of more than one camera. Mount the second camera to the left and right of the first camera looking downwards at the patio, garden, and yard below. Include a back corner camera aimed to record video along the back property line and side fence. If you want to shoot the whole backyard area at once, think about placing another camera on an outbuilding or a tree. Outdoor cameras should be mounted at least 10 feet above the ground to ensure that they are not obstructed.
Windows The building’s ground floor windows, which may not be visible to pedestrians, are convenient entry points for burglars. Screwing a security camera right above each basement, bathroom or any other obscure window makes it possible to record any intruder attempting to pry open the window out of sight. Cameras placed at a height of eight to ten feet can also capture the wide view of the window and part of the yard.
Peripheral Areas Installing security cameras in areas that may be at risk around the compound of your property can also capture trespassing and criminal activities. Place cameras near the back of properties, behind garages, or in areas such as corridors within a compound or at the back of the lot. Also, point the cameras in the direction of your house as well as further in the peripheral regions. This setting allows you to have a broad view of the different activities going on at the outer fringes outside your direct periphery of what your yard is doing.
Roof Points Rooftop cameras are placed at strategic places to offer bird-eye views best suited for monitoring expansive spaces in your compound at once. In addition to the ability to provide a straight-down view of the house and yard, angled cameras can also record video over fences and into the neighbor’s yards. Ensure that the roof cameras are well anchored and that their wiring is well done so that it does not get affected by weather or vandals. It should also be noted to respect the privacy laws governing cameras, which may inadvertently capture views of a neighbor’s house.
Lighting Conditions When installing security cameras, it is also important to determine how much direct light the place gets during the day and at night. Cameras should be placed in areas that have sufficient light to enable the capture of quality videos at night. More motion sensor floodlights besides cameras can go a long way in enhancing the video quality at night. For those low light areas such as side yards, purchasing cameras with starlight or infrared capabilities will ensure that the captured images are clear and bright even in the dark.
Camera Type The kind of cameras that are used can also affect the best places to mount them. Wireless models are cheaper and can be mounted in various ways, but they have a shorter signal range. Wireless cameras enable the use of power-over-ethernet cameras that can be installed farther from the power source to cover a larger area. Wide-angle panoramic cameras minimize blind spots requiring only one roof or wall installation. One should consider the specifications of the camera model when selecting the positions of the cameras to get the best shots.
Privacy Considerations Take into consideration the privacy laws and the norms of your neighborhood about security cameras while placing them outside of your home. Do not position cameras facing neighbor houses or deep into public streets. Signs with messages such as ‘You are being watched by video surveillance cameras’ can assist in avoiding problems because people will be aware that their activities are being recorded. Also, explain new security measures to neighbors to ensure that they feel safe and will follow them.
Camera placement is not something that can be done just anyhow, one has to plan and correctly position them. Implementing security best practices enables one to achieve the right level of visibility without compromising on the practicality of the mounting process. Some placed cameras can be very useful in monitoring all ground entry points, yards, walkways, and even the vulnerable low-lying windows outside a home. Outdoor video surveillance is most effective when you invest the time to make sure you have surveyed your property and have decided where the cameras will go. Security cameras placed at the most suitable angles around the premise’s exterior offer added security and quicker reaction time if something suspicious is observed.
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