What do you need to Install Security Cameras in Your House or Business?

Installing a security system may seem difficult and require a lot of knowledge. We always recommend seeking a professional to do it, but it is also something you can do yourself. To monitor your home with a security system, you need at least the following three elements:

• A device to record the video
• Where to store the video
• How to watch the video

At Pana Compu Panama and Pana Compu Peru, you will be able to find these and multiple devices, each adapted to all budgets.

Cameras - To Record the Video

The first thing you will need is at least one security camera to record. We recommend that you buy an IP camera. An IP camera connects to the network of your office or home. You can find different models available of Security Cameras in Panama as well as Security Cameras in Peru.

Our preferred brand at Pana Compu is Hikvision. An IP camera can receive its power through Ethernet. That is, you can connect it using simply an Ethernet cable to a router or a switch. But remember, your router or switch must have a POE+ connection. With that functionality, you will be able to supply power to your camera through the Ethernet cable.

Now that you have the camera connected, let’s see how and where you are going to record the video.

DVR or SD Cards – To Store the Video

To record the video coming from the camera, you have two options. One option may be better than the other, depending on the situation and your requirements.

The first option would be to buy an SD card in Panama or an SD card in Peru to place in your camera. This way, everything will be recorded in the memory from the camera. This is a good option if you do not want to take up much space and is easy to install; however, it can become more expensive if you have many cameras.

The other option would be to connect a DVR to the same network as your camera. Normally, DVRs do not come with storage, so you will need to buy hard drives to record the video on the DVR. This will depend on how much video you want to store. After connecting the DVR to the network, you can add the camera to the DVR setup. Once configured, the DVR will begin to record all the video from the camera onto the DVR's disks. 

Cell Phone or Computer – To View the Video

You also have 2 options to watch the live video or what you have recorded. Just like the storage options, the best option for you depends on your situation.

The first option would be to install an application on your cell phone to view the cameras. If you have installed Hikvision cameras, you can use the Hik-Connect app. Within the app, it will ask for the details of each camera (or your DVR), and you will be able to see your cameras live. Other brands have their own applications, and there are also third-party apps that you can use. Each application has a different way of being set up and of viewing the cameras.

The second option would be to install software on a computer to view the cameras. If you are using the Hikvision brand, we recommend the platform called IVMS 4200, which is free software from Hikvision. In this software, you can add your cameras (or your DVR), and the software will show you your cameras live. There are also other applications from other brands and third-party apps (some free and some paid).

On the computer and on your cell phone, you will only be able to see the recordings if you have configured the storage to record what the cameras capture.

Conclusion

When planning to install security cameras, it's crucial to consider how you'll ensure they're powered. Cameras require a constant power source to function properly, and a UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) can be an excellent solution. A UPS not only ensures your cameras remain operational during power outages, but it also protects your equipment from voltage spikes and power fluctuations. To learn more about choosing the right UPS to suit your security needs, check out our Guide to Buying a UPS.

There is much more that you can configure, and depending on your network, there are different ways to set up the cameras, the DVRs, and the applications on your devices. We hope this blog has been useful for you to understand the 3 main components to have a video surveillance system in your home or office are the cameras, a DVR or SD cards, and the application to view the cameras. 

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