If you are considering whether or not investing in a security camera system in San Francisco, CA is the right choice for your home or business, you may be interested in finding more information about the basics of a closed circuit television system, or CCTV. While these systems are by no means new, advancements in camera technology means that they are more versatile and flexible than ever before, making them a great choice for both indoor and outdoor use.

The first thing that you will need to decide when it comes to choosing a CCTV security camera system is where it is exactly that you would like to monitor. If, for example, you need a system so that you can monitor and outdoor area, whether it is your backyard or a dimly lit parking garage in San Francisco, CA, you will want to invest in a camera specifically designed for outdoor use. While outdoor cameras can be used both inside and outside a building, indoor cameras will quickly stop working if they are exposed to the elements and weather on a regular basis. That is not say, however, that you should plan on using an outdoor camera inside the building since these are often more expensive and their outdoor functionality will not provide you with any real advantages in doors.

When it comes to surveying an area that does not have adequate light, an infrared camera is an excellent choice. These cameras are specifically designed to record high resolution images even when there is little to no light available. Of course, you should plan on spending a bit more for this type of camera, but the added protection that they provide often makes them well worth the added investment.

For indoor use, you have a wide variety of options available to you ranging from fixed cameras to ones that offer the ability to pan, tilt, and zoom. Cameras are also available in an incredible variety of resolutions, which means that you can choose ones that record grainy, low resolution images or ones that record in stunning high definition. Of course, if you choose an HD camera, you should plan on having plenty of space available for the recordings since high definition recordings are considerably larger than their low definition counterparts.

Speaking of recording, you probably will not be able to monitor your security system 24 hours a day. Is that it will be necessary for you to make recordings of your surveillance so that you can go back and review the recordings later on if you find that some type of criminal activity has occurred. While in the past the most common type of recording was a VCR, modern systems use either a dedicated DVR or you may choose to connect your security system to a computer and save the recordings onto a hard drive.

It is incredibly easy to spend a small fortune on a top-of-the-line security camera system, but you can get a relatively basic CCTV system relatively inexpensively. While the hardware itself can be quite pricey, having a system installed by a professional firm in San Francisco, CA often puts it out of the reach of the average individual. While businesses may be able to afford hundreds of thousands of dollars for an advanced security system, a homeowner will probably need to make do with something considerably less costly. Fortunately, wireless security systems can be installed in just a matter of minutes even if a person is not incredibly handy around the house. An IP system connects wirelessly to a home network and can be monitored remotely even if you are thousands of miles away.

From hidden cameras to wide angle cameras that can record the activity in an entire store, it is easier than ever to set up a CCTV system.