How to Install A Security Camera

Mindy Woodall

Managing Editor, Abode Security & Smart Home

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How much does installation cost?

If you install your security camera yourself, then installation won't price yous a penny. If you prefer to have the pros practice it for you, so you'll need to drib some dollars on that service.

DIY security camera installation

If you lot can install a camera yourself, and then information technology's pretty much free after you pay for the equipment.

Nigh cameras these days are non merely easy to install on your own, but also designed to exist as pain-free as possible. Some you tin can set on a table, mount on a wall, or adhere to a magnetic surface. However, not everyone is comfortable with drilling into their walls.

The easiest cameras to install on your own will be wire-free, battery-powered cameras like the EufyCam 2 or the Reolink Argus 3. If y'all accept an indoor security camera, then those are too quite like shooting fish in a barrel to prepare up yourself. You just need to put the camera where you want it and plug in the power cord.

Professional installation

If you lot get 1 of the professionally installed All-time Home Security Systems we've recommended (namely ADT or Vivint), you'll become an installation tech who will install everything for you, including your cameras. Vivint'south system installation fee is $49, but ADT's fees are significantly more. You may pay equally much as $199 for that pro installation.

If yous desire to get a whole network of abode security cameras that integrate into your home security system, then it's much easier to have a professional install those cameras for yous. Information technology's also easier to have the pros install video doorbells, so you don't have to mess around with electric wires.

Both ADT and Vivint offer professionally installed doorbell cameras.

Pro installation for standalone security cameras

If you lot're buying a photographic camera yourself and desire to take it professionally installed, then in that location are third-party services like HelloTech that are a great style to find local professional installation for security cameras. Plus it's really a decent bang for your buck compared to higher prices from CCTV companies.

How much you'll pay depends on what type of device yous take and potentially other factors also, such as your location. But HelloTech does list starting prices for security cameras and video doorbells.

Smart security camera installation price: starts at $129

Video doorbell installation price: starts at $99

HelloTech installs devices from several major smart home brands, including Ring and Google Nest.

How should yous position your security camera?

Non everyone has to deal with thieves and break-ins (thank goodness). Some of us just want to check on deliveries or see who visits our house while nosotros're away. Other people want a way to check on family members or pets.

Make up one's mind which purpose is most important to you and place your camera where it will all-time exist able to come across what you want to keep an heart on.

Indoors or outdoors?

The biggest departure betwixt indoor and outdoor cameras is their ability to endure the weather. The last thing you want is for your new camera to quit in the kickoff blizzard of the year, especially since you've noticed your snow boots have gone missing, too.

Check the operating temperature and canonical utilise for the camera you lot want to purchase. There are some models, similar the SimpliSafe SimpliCam, that tin exist modified to piece of work outside as well equally indoors.

Where to install an indoor security camera

Installing an indoor camera can be as easy as finding the correct spot, plugging information technology in, turning it on, and syncing it with your mobile or desktop app. While some may require drilling, well-nigh indoor cameras nosotros've come up across won't require anything more than than a screwdriver.

A good indoor photographic camera should take a decent field of view, which you can get with a college corner or shelf. The best places will have a articulate view of the room, a place to hide the camera from thieves, and very niggling foot traffic (to avoid unplugging the camera or tripping on the cord).

Where to install an outdoor security photographic camera

The most popular places for an outdoor photographic camera are above the garage door or looking over a front end or back porch. For a garage camera, make sure y'all have a big field of view. For a porch photographic camera, brand sure your camera is mostly looking at a driveway or walkway to capture all the activeness possible with a smaller field of view. You may want to consider a doorbell camera similar the Nest Hi, the Arlo Video Doorbell, or the RemoBell Due south.

Should you get a wired, wireless, or wire-free camera?

At that place are generally three power options for security cameras, although the terminology can get a bit confusing:

  1. Wired, which means the photographic camera relies on wires to connect to both ability and your internet.
  2. Wireless, which means your photographic camera tin can connect to the internet wirelessly simply requires a power cord. Sometimes these cameras are still chosen "wired" since they crave a cord.
  3. Wire-costless, where the camera runs off a battery pack and doesn't demand any wires at all. Sometimes these cameras are called wireless since they run without power cords.

With wired installation, y'all're a little limited in terms of placement, but your connection will be more reliable and secure. Consider where you have to run the wire and how much length you lot need. You lot tin always buy longer extension cables.

Steps for installing a wired security photographic camera

  1. Observe a stable spot on the wall.
  2. Some cameras may crave finding a stud, while others will come with drywall anchors.
  3. Cheque for existing wiring.
  4. Mark and drill the advisable holes.
  5. Thread the wiring back through the wall to attach it to the monitoring source.

Just brand certain the hole you drill is big enough to pull the wire through but non and so large that y'all can no longer mountain the camera.

A big benefit of wire-complimentary (sometimes however called wireless) cameras is being able to place them nearly anywhere. Merely you lot'll still want to make sure you're within range of your Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or other wireless connections.

That said, if your outdoor camera needs a ability cord, similar the Nest Cam Outdoor, you should be able to drill easily through denser materials like brick or stucco if needed.

Make sure y'all identify your security camera out of reach so a thief or guilty child can't just take hold of it and leave. Tech installers recommend placing your cameras at to the lowest degree ix feet above ground—but just don't become so high you can't see what's happening down below.

Should you choose local or deject storage?

Most cameras today offer cloud storage equally a fashion to forestall thieves from simply grabbing the testify and running, but some people still prefer local storage for its privacy and convenience.

Local storage options vary by camera, but may include these options:

  • microSD cards
  • USB drives
  • Digital Video Recorders (DVRs)
  • Network Video Recorders (NVRs)

If yous're going with local storage, you'll have to place your cameras out of impairment's way, but somewhere yous tin access information technology when yous need it. However, if y'all get cloud storage, you tin can view footage through your telephone or desktop apps, and you lot tin access footage regardless of the camera's condition.

If you're going with local storage, you'll have to identify your cameras out of harm'due south style, simply somewhere you can access it when you need it. Even so, if y'all get cloud storage, you can view footage through your phone or desktop apps, and y'all tin can access footage regardless of the photographic camera's condition.

Recap: How to Install a Security Photographic camera

For most cameras we recommend, you can install them yourself. If not, in that location's always a professional who can assist— either from the security company itself or a tertiary-party provider similar HelloTech.

If y'all are going for DIY installation and demand more specific instructions, some CCTV and surveillance companies have thorough walkthroughs and video tutorials on their websites:

  • Arlo
  • Google Nest
  • Ring
  • Reolink
  • Wyze
  • Eufy

For more info on home security, and to compare cameras, cheque our our Best Security Cameras and All-time Dwelling house Security Systems reviews.

Pseudo Home Security in America

Security systems and cameras are awesome if you've ever been unsettled by a prowler in your neighborhood or suspicious noises at night. But that stuff is expensive, and it seems like a hassle to set upwardly something new. So what about faux security cameras? If they look only equally real, they must exist just as skillful, correct? Or are they?

We took a survey of 500 Americans to see how people feel virtually real and fake home security measures, and if they think both are every bit effective. Here are some of the almost interesting things nosotros found.

  • 15% accept used a fake security camera.
  • 25% take used a fake or outdated security monitoring sign in their yard.
  • 24% take used a fake or outdated security monitoring sticker in the window of their dwelling house.
  • 24% take hidden a key in a simulated rock.
  • 28% have hidden a key under their doormat.
  • 17% accept placed a fob delivery packet outside their house.

Nosotros asked America: How effective is fake home security?

  • one in five believe that fake home security systems are only every bit constructive as an authentic system.
  • 1 in four believe that a imitation home security camera is just as effective every bit an authentic security camera.
  • 17%  believe that a fake security alarm (aural) is more effective than an authentic alert.
  • 17% believe that a fake security monitoring sticker is more than effective than an accurate one.

Our takeaways

Plenty of people are using tactics like fake security cameras and outdated yard signs to protect their homes, and many call up these measures are just as effective as the existent thing.

But most people agree that the 18-carat article is better than any fake. When it comes to defending your property, the bulk opinion is that real security systems and real cameras offer improve protection. And we agree. A real security camera, with a livestream you tin can view through a mobile app and ii-way audio you can utilise to yell at intruders, is always going to top some plastic replica.

Methodology

We conducted an anonymous survey of 500 Americans over the age of 18 regarding sentiments almost their usage and perceived effectiveness of both pseudo and authentic dwelling security measures. Using the responses from our survey, nosotros take highlighted the most mutual answers in this report.

Mindy Woodall

Written by

Mindy Woodall

Mindy has been writing about technology for vii years. She covers all things smart home for Reviews.org, and keeps track of the latest robot gadgets. Mindy attended the University of Utah and her work has been featured on the likes of Parents.com, Digital Care, Hostfully, and more.

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