Many parents lead a very busy life and feel they no longer have time to watch their kids properly. For many of them, a nanny is a good solution, but this is much more complicated than it sounds. Finding someone you feel you can trust and can get along well with the kids may be a difficult task. Even if you've hired a nanny, you might not be sure whether you can trust her at first.

Hidden Cameras

A very popular method to get rid of this problem is a hidden camera. With a home security camera you can watch over the kids when you're away from home or just in another room. A wireless Internet security camera hidden inside a teddy bear might be just the thing you need to watch over your kids from distance. A teddy bear goes well in any children room, thus providing you with an efficient and discreet nanny-watching system. You can access the camera from any PC, smart phone or PDA.

With a wireless Internet security camera, you can watch over your kids 24/7 even while working. This way you can take care of your business without neglecting your family. You can make sure your nanny is doing her job properly and rush back home in case of any problem.

The Set-up

A hidden wireless Internet security camera usually works on batteries or with an AC adapter. You can connect the receiver to any TV monitor in your house for video transmission. The camera comes with a CD with complete instructions and a user manual to help you with the set up.

However, the set up is generally pretty basic. The components are easy to set up and professional manufacturers generally have a technical support phone line where you can call if you have problems.

The camera also comes with a software package that works on any Windows compatible computer. After installing it on your PC, PDA or laptop, you will get a unique user ID and a password that will allow you to connect to the wireless Internet security camera from anywhere in the world for live video transmission.

No matter how successful your career is, you children are definitely the most important part of your life. Living them home unsupervised or in the hands of an irresponsible baby-sitter who doesn't know how to take care of them is certainly not an option. With a wireless Internet security camera hidden inside an adorable and inconspicuous teddy bear, you can watch over your kid 24/7, no matter where you might travel with your job.

If your budget doesn't allow you to purchase and install a professional security system, you can always setup a small surveillance system based on standard web-cams. Web security cameras are great for monitoring your home or your small business.

But keep in mind that there are quite many limitations you will face:

l Web security cameras need a computer running at all times. The computer should have specialized software for motion detection, recording and alerts. This software may cost additional money, but you can always use a free system like Zoneminder. l Web-cams are connected to the computer with a standard USB cable. This doesn't allow great autonomy, so the web security camera should be located near the computer l Web-cams usually have low image quality and don't perform well in poor light l If you use a web-cam in order to protect your goods against thieves, a standard security camera may scare them away before they do any damages. Note that you can purchase "fake" security cameras for a very low price. They look real, move real, but are fakes.

Don't let this scare you. You can still get a lot of value from a $10 camera:

l You can setup everything in a couple of minutes. You don't need to be a computer expert or a security consultant to get the system going. Just plug it in your USB drive, install and configure the surveillance software, and everything is ready. This will be particularly easy, because surveillance programs that work with standard web security cameras were created for non-technical users, with ease of use in mind. l The video surveillance software can be configured to alert you by email when something is going on, with images attached. You have a chance to forward the photo straight to the police. l Standard web-cams can be easily overlooked by your targets, because every computer has one installed. So you can easily use it to check on your nanny from your office and make sure your kids are safe. l You don't need to make an extra investment just to keep an eye on your home, you can use your already existing web-cam, you just need to install the software.

It is up to you to decide if a standard web-cam is enough for your security needs, but we advice you to look for some inexpensive IP cameras if you need to monitor a middle-sized business. Just make sure what you save on your security system is worth the risk.

Finding a video security camera system that is perfect for what you need should be no problem with so many and various offers. Further you can find some information about video security systems offered by simply going to your local home improvement store and even surfing the Internet.

Single Camera Security System

AMV6 automotive backup/reverse video security camera system is an excellent value. You will have a commanding wide angle view because of the micro lens that has 100 degree field. Low light performance and 350 line resolution are delivered by the rugged weatherproof CMOS camera. Also, it has a 5.5 monitor that is sharp and detailed with contrast adjustments, switchable mirror image function and brightness. The camera and monitor's out power protection circuit accepts voltages from 11-36 volts DC.

AMV6 rugged, weatherproof monitoring system is great for RV's, buses, trucks and anywhere else his kind of system is needed. The AMVC5 B/W weatherproof camera is the perfect accessory for your single camera system. You can mount it easily on back of trucks, RV's and busses, and more, SuperCircuits gives you one year warranty.

4 Camera Security Systems

The cheapest video security camera is the VSS40-DM and is perfect for stores, offices, homes, restaurant or anywhere you need a video camera to blend into the environment. The cameras, with their 3.6mm lenses deliver a commanding 90 degree field. Also, the cameras come with 100 all-in-one video/power cables that are easy to install, you just have to connect to the power supply after you connect it to the digital real time video quad processor.

If you need a high grade complete quad system with real time VCR, VSS41-HG is the perfect choice. The system includes 4 PC242C Video Cameras, 1 QS-22 Realtime Quad Processor, 4 2-12MM Vari-Focal CS-Mount Lenses, 1 VCR-1280, 1280 Hour Time Lapse VCR, 4 MB-14 Universal Mounting Brackets, 4 12 Volt Power Supplies and 2 3 Foot Video Cable.

16 Camera Video Security Systems

Considering a video security camera system with all-weather capability and cost effective performance? With the VSS78 you get a 16 camera color video security system with instant access to more then 3400 hours of recorded footage and constant video surveillance.

VSS78's features include CD-R burner, video loss detection, time/date stamp, digital zoom and playback search. You will also have a built-in network card that will make it possible to have remote real-time viewing from any computer that is connected to the Internet. And you can find much more video security camera systems; it all depends on what you want and how much money you are willing to pay.

A USB Security Camera is usually a cheaper alternative to classic CCTV cameras or IP Cameras, and may be suitable for a home or small business security system. Although the USB connection is quite fast and reliable, most USB Security Cameras tend to be low quality devices, because they were meant to be used as simple web cams, were the image quality is not that important. But if you decide the image quality is not that important, you could setup a very useful security system using a simple USB Camera.

The Advantages of a USB Security Camera

A nice thing about USB Security Cameras is that most people already have them and use them to chat with their friends on Yahoo Messenger or NetMeeting. So you just need to install specialized surveillance software and you're ready to go, without any additional hardware required. And you can find some really nice software packages for free, like Zoneminder that also have motion triggered video recording and nice security archive management.

Even if you don't have a web cam, you can buy a USB Security Camera for as low as $10. Of course, the quality won't be great at this low price, but you will be able to monitor your home or shop and see if something is wrong. For greater prices you can also buy a high resolution camera, but they will still perform rather badly in poor light conditions.

The Disadvantages of a USB Security Camera

A bad thing about USB Security Cameras is their range. They are limited to the USB cable length, which can only have a few meters. On the other hand, IP Cameras or CCTV Cameras can be connected up to 100 meters without any problems. So if you use a USB Security camera, you really need to keep it close to your computer. That is not always a problem though, because a web cam is such a familiar sight that it will probably be ignored standing there on the computer, and nobody would thing it was actually used for surveillance.

Another problem with these cameras is they really are dependent to a computer. An IP Camera can be simply connected to a network and then accessed from any computer or the Internet, a standard CCTV Camera could be connected directly to a monitor or a VCR, but a USB Security Camera needs a computer nearby, with surveillance software installed.

You should only use a USB Security Camera if you don't need high quality video recording and just want to see if anything is going on. It would be pretty difficult to identify someone by using such a recording, but it will show you how your babysitter is taking care of your children, or how your employees are taking care of your store.

Motion activated security cameras are great if you don't want to store 24/7 video footage. By using a motion activated security camera, you will only record when movement is detected. This way you will save lots of storage space. Since all modern security systems are using hard drives to store the video data, by using motion detection security cameras you will be able to archive a longer period of time on the same storage device.

Considering areas where movement is a sign of danger or intrusion, you will sometimes reduce the disk usage to as low as 10%.Using such a system, you can afford to store high quality images or videos and not be afraid you will fill your storage device. If you take periodic backups on DVD or magnetic tapes, you don't have to think of a new backup that often.

Types of motion activated security cameras

Most motion activated security cameras are IP cameras. That is because a certain amount of computing is needed and only IP cameras are advanced enough to handle the task. The actual movement trigger can be accomplished using two methods: l A standard optical sensor (like those used in classic security systems) will signal the camera when to start recording, based on its input. l The IP Camera's software constantly compares recorded frames and only starts the recording when two consecutive frames are different (e.g. something moved). The recording will stop when two consecutive frames are identical (nothing is moving anymore)

Motion tracking

Some motion activated security cameras have a great additional feature: motion tracking. The camera is mounted on stepper motors that provide tilt and pan features. A software component in the camera detects movement targets and sends electrical commands to the motors so that the camera will follow the movement target. This feature is only available on advanced cameras, but it might be very useful if you are monitoring an important target.

What to do if you need the feature but don't have a motion activated security camera

If you have a standard security system that is eating away all your disk space with useless recordings, there's still hope. You just need to change the software on the computer that is recording everything.

Or, if you're not using a computer, just replace your current storage device with a standard computer. You will find software like motion or Zoneminder that will handle the entire motion detection feature even if you have standard security cameras. These computer programs even allow the user to ignore certain areas, like the window facing a busy street, that aren't important movement events.

If you want to setup a good security system, you certainly need motion detection. You will use a lot less disk space for video recordings and you will clearly identify movement events.

An IP Security Camera includes a powerful computer in the same hardware unit. Because of that, an IP Security Camera provides some intelligent features not found in standard cameras, like networking support or motion detection.

In order to setup an IP Camera, you don't need special video capture hardware; you just have to connect the camera to a standard computer network. Being a computer by itself, you can access and configure it through standard computer protocols.

All IP Cameras include a web server, so all you need in order to use them is a standard internet browser like Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox. Once you connected the camera and powered it, type in its IP address in the browser address bar, and you can access the camera. The images will be streamed into your web browser, but they can also be captured by a security storage system. A simple web interface is also used to configure the IP Security Camera.

Pros:

* IP Security Cameras don't need additional video capture devices (like standard CCTV cameras do), they can be connected to a standard computer network * IP Cameras don't need a computer to work (like web cameras). They are small embedded computers themselves. * Some IP Cameras can be powered via the network cable, so only one cable is required to connect them * The standard UTP network cable can be used for distances far greater than the USB cable used by web cameras. * You can connect any number of IP Cameras to a network. Web cameras are limited by the number of USB ports on the computer, and most video capture devices only support 4 CCTV Cameras. * Some IP Security cameras have zoom/pan/tilt controls available from the web interface. * If you give your IP Camera a public IP, or setup your firewall accordingly, you can access your camera over the internet. * They have motion detection so a storage system will only save images when something is moving.

Cons:

* Most of them have lower image quality than CCTV cameras * High-Quality CCTV cameras are much more expensive than high-quality CCTV cameras * They don't work with older analog security systems * With a public IP and no proper firewall protection, they can be accessed by anyone on the Internet.

Axis are the leaders on the IP Security Camera market, and for a long while their cameras where the only one that had reasonable quality and viability. Lately other companies started to produce good quality IP cameras as well, so there are many decent offers you can look at.

Security cameras on the internet may be the perfect choice for you if you have a computer and internet connection. You can see everything just by accessing the Internet and it doesn't matter where you are.

Axis Network Video Products

Axis offers an internet security camera that captures live video and sends it directly over an IP network like Internet, LAN or intranet. Users can message and view the camera using a Web browser or video management software on any remote or local computer on a network. An Axis network camera is a computer and camera combined in one intelligent unit. The captured images are sent directly over an IP network and the authorized users are enabled to remotely or locally view, manage and store video over a standard IP based network infrastructure.

Network cameras have their own IP address, are connected to the network and have FTP server, FTP client, a built-in web server, alarm management, e-mail client programmability, and much more. The internet security camera operates independently so you don't have to connect it to a PC, and you can place it wherever you find an IP network connection.

Unlike an internet security camera, web cameras require connection to a PC and a PC to operate. One of the most important features, if not the most important, of an internet security camera is the image quality. This is particularly so in monitoring applications and surveillance where property and lives may be at stake. Axis introduced a stream of image enhancing patterns and technologies. One of their goals is to further innovate and focus on their image quality market leadership.

D-Link

D-Link DCS-5300G is an internet security camera that has a high-quality image, tilt movements, smooth pan, and a speedy connection of 802.11g for video streaming. It is simple to use the D-Link with a wired connection to a router because it has UPnP support and you can easily operate on a Windows ME or XP computer. The package includes a mounting stand, an infrared remote, the necessary software and one camera. You will also get an AV cable so you can connect to a TV and record to a VCR.

You can very quickly access the camera from outside or inside of your home network by using a web browser. The camera's controls are accessible online and this allows you to zoom in on your subject remotely. An internet security camera is much easier to control so you should consider them if you are thinking to buy a security system.

Home security systems, especially the best quality ones, can be expensive! If you don't want to spend a lot of money on a system, consider using a fake security camera to help deter would-be criminals from your property. A fake security camera is a cost-effective way to keep intruders from robbing your home, as they will think your home is protected.

Just like the Real Thing?

Much like real security systems, a fake security camera can go anywhere and appear to be the real deal. Gone are the days of obvious phonies, the newest model of a fake security camera may appear much like the higher-priced real models, and come complete with realistic stickers and blinking lights. Some even come with motion sensors which can move as if they're filming the subject, without actually recording or transmitting video.

For just under a hundred dollars, you can fool intruders and give yourself the peace of mind in knowing you've boosted your protection. While it is best for businesses to go for the real deal, homeowners and parents can keep household staff in line by putting in a fake security camera that appear to be running full time.

What about the Down Side?

A fake security camera actually come in lots of different styles and options and for as low as fifteen dollars per camera, this is a great idea for your budget. However, you do not get the same protection you would get from police assistance if you do happen to get broken into with this measure in place. There are some criminals who have been known to study a camera's movements and timing so that they can take advantage of the camera's limits and continue their crime. If this should happen to you, you are almost certainly left high and dry, as there will be no hard proof of the individual who robbed you.

It might not be the one-hundred-percent safest option for you and your family, but buying a fake security camera system will make you feel the slightest bit better about protecting your family. Intruders will certainly think twice about breaking in and stealing your things as they believe your home to be protected. It's not the best way for safety, but for those on a tight budget, buying a fake security camera might be the only way to go. You get all the warning power of a safety security system without the high price or all the wiring.

If you don't already have a home security camera, you might be completely unaware of the extra options available to you. Even if you think that your current home security system is top-notch, there still might be extra ways to add to the protection offered by your home security camera. Security cameras most basically protect your home from burglary, but when combined with a home security system, they can do so much more than that.

Total Protection

First of all, did you know in addition to your home security camera, a home security system can also offer your protection from fire? No, this doesn't mean it can prevent the fire, but it can set off an alarm that will summon the fire department. Not to mention, most home security systems have a smoke detection system.

A home security camera however, is the biggest use of a security system. Often, when an individual or family hire unsupervised cleaning or childcare providers, a home security camera allow homeowners to oversee the work going on in the house, either while they are out or when they return. It can be useful in the case of an injury to a child or missing property.

Not just for inside Anymore

A home security camera can also be installed outside of the home, viewing the exterior of your property while you are home. A home security camera is set up so that they provide you a proper view of your front door and allow you to see who is outside without actually going to the door. It can also offer you the comfort and added security of a two-way communication system, allowing you to contact the person at the door without actually opening the door and possible entry into your home.

Altogether, a proper home security system is more than just a home security camera. It provides you the safety of round-the-clock protection, through the use of fire alarms, security code locks on doors, two-way communication tools, and most importantly, the home security camera. It is possible, however, to have a security system that does not include the security camera. But in this time, when safety is such a rare and valuable thing to find, being protected is crucial.

Make the most of your home security monitoring. Make sure that no matter what extra bonuses you've got on your system, you include a home security camera as they could be the best thing you could do for your family.

With all the current technology out there today, is it really any wonder that a wireless security camera is gaining in their popularity? For some, it makes their home feel more secure and easy to monitor. For others, a wireless security camera is the tool of choice for monitoring a nanny or other employees. Still, others use a wireless security camera for surveillance of their store or office.

For Good Reason, It's the Right Choice

No matter what your reason, the wireless security camera seems to be the preferred method of security for many people, and the number is steadily rising. The reason they're so popular is that you can literally put them anywhere. There are no wires to worry about! Without wires, the placement of these cameras is very flexible and they're extremely easy to install. If you are on a tight budget, no problem! A wireless security camera is inexpensive to purchase and many come with limited or even lifetime warranties!

The Drawbacks

A wireless security camera isn't always so superb, as they do have one particular drawback. While there are a few exceptions, most wireless security cameras require that the battery pack be changed every four to eight hours. However, these battery packs can be recharged, so having more than one to easily swap out is ideal.

The Advantages

Just like standard cameras, a wireless security camera work by sending a video signal to a receiver via a transmitter. The difference is that no wires are needed between the camera and receiver and the receiver can be placed anywhere up to ten miles away, depending on the camera model you choose. The signal can be strong enough to penetrate as much as eight walls, and can penetrate solid objects such as metals, glass, and thick wood.

Having trouble with the camera view? The solution can be as simple as moving the camera a bit. Sometimes, just moving it a foot or two can make a huge difference in the view. A tip to remember is that for the best possible range, it is best to have a receiver placed higher than the camera.

There are so many important things to know about a wireless security camera, and you should definitely do your research when it comes to getting a one. Being armed with proper knowledge is all that it takes to choose a wireless security camera – one of the cheapest and most effective ways to monitor anything you need monitored.