Home Security: Tips for Hiding Outdoor Security Cameras.
When it comes to protecting your home and family, you can never be too careful. It’s important to have a security system that will deter potential burglars and provide peace of mind. Hidden security cameras are a great way to do just that. They allow you to monitor your home from anywhere, at any time and can provide evidence during a break-in. In addition to these benefits, hidden security cameras have several other advantages you may not have considered. In this post, we’ll explore the many benefits of hidden security cameras for your home and how they can help you keep your family safe and secure.
Introduction to Hidden Security Cameras
When it comes to outdoor security cameras, stealth is critical. If burglars or intruders can spot your cameras, they may be more likely to try to avoid or disable them. This defeats the whole purpose of having a security system in the first place. Stealthy cameras, conversely, can catch criminals in the act without their knowledge, giving you valuable evidence to provide to law enforcement.
Visible cameras can be a turnoff for visitors or neighbors. They may feel uncomfortable or like their privacy is being invaded if they see cameras pointing at them as they come and go. Stealthy cameras can blend in with their surroundings and not draw attention, making everyone feel more at ease while still providing the necessary level of security for your home.
Start with Discreet Security Cameras
Hiding security cameras is a simpler task when you begin with small hardware. It’s no surprise that it’s easier to hide a sleek black box than it is to tuck away a large, clunky unit.
It is also easier to hide wireless cameras than it is to hide wired ones. Even if the wired unit is small, the cables running from them may quickly catch your eye. Many so-called wireless units still have a cord with which they plug into power, so this style doesn’t necessarily solve the problem of cables that draw attention.
The most portable cameras are wire-free and, therefore, the easiest ones to hide. They run on batteries, so there are no wires and cables that you must tuck away.
Even still, there are pros and cons to wired cameras and wireless/wire-free ones, so you must evaluate whether the pros of a wired system outweigh the inconvenience of hiding the wires.
Wired Cameras
- Wired Cameras: Although these cameras require hiding cords, they are less likely to have signal interruptions, pick-up interference, or be hacked.
Wireless and Wire-free Cameras
- Wireless and Wire-free Cameras: These are more portable, and there are fewer wires to deal with–or none at all. They generally offer easier installation. However, there’s always a risk that your signal will be disrupted or hackers will get into your system.
Best Conditions for Taking Security Videos
Setting up security cameras is only worthwhile if you receive a good image from them. Therefore, when hiding cameras, it is critical to place them where filming conditions are best.
Good Lighting
Proper lighting is essential for getting a good image. Whether you are using indoor cameras or outdoor ones, consider the following placement tips:
- The lighting conditions right in front of the camera should be comparable to the lighting conditions of your target filming area.
- If you are filming in a well-lit area, do not place the camera in a shady spot.
- Do not point the camera directly at a bright light.
- After positioning the cameras, adjust your equipment’s color levels, such as brightness and contrast.
Tip: Outdoor cameras should have night-vision capabilities. If not, install extra lighting when you install your cameras.
Aimed at Critical Spots
Most homeowners will not have camera coverage for every square inch of their homes. Rather, they select the most important spots and film those.
If you are concerned about break-ins and intruders, your most vital spots will be entrance points, particularly the doors and windows of your home. If, on the other hand, you want to observe what nannies, cleaning staff, and other service professionals do when you’re not home, your cameras should be targeted at the house’s main living spaces.
Tip: Cameras intended for recording outside activities should be placed outdoors. Trying to film through glass often results in glares or unclear pictures.
Arranged for Both Wide and Close Shots
If you want to film your entire front yard and get close-ups of the people who come to your door, your best bet is to install two cameras. One can get the wide shot while the other focuses on the details. Most cameras cannot automatically switch back and forth, so without proper planning, you will get only one type of shot.
Tip: If you don’t want to install multiple cameras, upgrade to a camera that allows for a wide angle and also gives you the ability to zoom.
Decide Where to Hide Outdoor Cameras
Outdoor cameras are good for recording trespassers on your property, and they can also catch people who try to break into your home or garage. Many of the principles for indoor security cameras apply to outdoor cameras too. An additional consideration for outdoor cameras is that they should be designed to hold up to inclement weather, including rain and wind.
Choose a High Location
Choosing the right location for your outdoor security camera is a critical step in ensuring the safety of your home. The location of your camera can directly impact the quality of footage captured and the effectiveness of your security system.
As with indoor cameras, a high mounting position helps keep an outdoor camera out of sight. It can also help provide a wide-angle view of the yard or road. Furthermore, a high placement keeps the surveillance camera out of reach. An easily accessible camera may be damaged or stolen by intruders. A camera mounted above the door is high enough to be out of reach but close enough to capture the face of anyone entering the house.
Use Your Landscaping
One of the best hiding spots for outdoor security cameras is blended into landscaping. You can place a camera within a tree or bush or buy a fake rock containing a hidden camera. These options can help your camera blend in with the surrounding environment, making it difficult to notice.
A security camera can also be tucked inside your lawn decorations. For example, a garden gnome with a security camera may look like an innocent addition to your landscaping.
Build a Birdhouse Camera Case
For those who prefer a more high-tech solution, some cameras are designed to look like other objects, such as a birdhouse or a floodlight. These cameras are specifically designed to be hidden in plain sight and can effectively keep your home secure without detracting from your home’s appearance.
If you’re up for a bit of crafting and construction, you can build a clever backyard birdhouse home to a security camera instead of birds. This homemade camera holder will look right at home in the backyard, so you can position it wherever it will get the best view.
- Use an online pattern to cut the birdhouse’s top, bottom, and sides.
- Drill a hole in the front board. Match it to the diameter of your camera.
- Fit the camera into the hole.
- Use screws, nails or polyurethane glue to assemble the birdhouse.
- Mount the birdhouse to the house or a pole.
Tip: While a birdhouse will be right at home in your backyard, it might seem out of place in the front yard. Instead, hide a camera in your mailbox.
How to wire and connect your hidden outdoor security camera
Once you’ve found the perfect location to hide your outdoor security camera, it’s important to know how to wire and connect it properly. A hidden camera that isn’t wired correctly can be useless in capturing important footage.
First, determine what type of camera you’ll be using and ensure that it’s compatible with the wiring you plan to use. You’ll want to ensure that the wiring is hidden and won’t be easily damaged by weather or animals.
Next, determine the power source for your camera. Will you use a battery or hardwire it into your home’s electrical system? If you’re using a battery, ensure it’s charged and lasts long enough to capture the footage you need. If you’re hardwiring your camera, hiring a licensed electrician is best to ensure that the wiring is up to code and safe for use.
Once your camera is wired and powered, you must connect it to your home’s network or storage device. Depending on your camera’s capabilities, this can be done through a wired or wireless connection. It’s important to test your camera’s connection and ensure it’s properly connected and recording before relying on it for security purposes.
Monitoring your hidden security camera footage
Monitoring your hidden security camera footage is essential to protect your home. Installing hidden security cameras is not enough if you don’t check the footage occasionally. Most modern security cameras have mobile apps that allow you to monitor and view your footage remotely. This means you can always monitor your home, no matter where you are.
In addition to monitoring your footage, it’s important to ensure that your cameras are recording in high definition. This will ensure you can see potential intruders and identify them if necessary. Some cameras even have features like night vision, essential for capturing footage in low-light conditions.
Having a backup plan is also important if your cameras are tampered with. This can include installing multiple hidden cameras in different locations or having a backup hard drive to store footage. This will ensure that you have a record of any potential intruders, even if they manage to disable one of your cameras.
Conclusion and final recommendations
In conclusion, investing in outdoor security cameras is a smart decision to protect your home from burglars and intruders. However, it’s equally important to ensure the cameras are hidden from plain sight, so the burglars don’t know where they are placed and cannot tamper with them.
Some best ways to hide outdoor security cameras include painting them to match the walls or surroundings, using camouflage skins or covers, or installing them in discreet locations such as birdhouses or fake plants.
Remember to place the cameras strategically to capture all your home’s entry points and vulnerable areas. Test the cameras regularly to make sure they are working properly, and adjust the angles if necessary.
Lastly, don’t forget to secure the footage using password-protected online storage or an external hard drive. With these tips, you can have peace of mind knowing that stealthy home security cameras protect your home.