HOW TO VIEW A SURVEILLANCE CAMERA ON MY PC?

The surveillance camera is a device used more and more today. It has many advantages. Initially, this device can have a dissuasive role. The sight of a surveillance camera alone can deter criminals. But above all, this device will allow the user to identify criminals and to intervene in time before the commission of the offense. If it is still impossible for him to intervene, the video surveillance system will also facilitate the identification of suspects. In other words, a surveillance camera will come in handy on any occasion. But aside from the prices which can sometimes prove to be expensive, one of the things that put some people off using it is the difficulty of its installation. However, Today, it is even possible to view a surveillance camera via your computer anywhere and anytime.

THE COMPONENTS OF A SURVEILLANCE CAMERA

To be able to function and be used, the surveillance camera or video surveillance system must include several elements, namely the camera, management equipment and viewing equipment . If any of this equipment is missing, you will not be able to perform real-time monitoring or even monitoring at all.

THE CAMERA

The camera is obviously the camera. You should know that the quality of the image provided by the camera will depend above all on its various characteristics. If you want to obtain quality and perfectly usable videos, you should not take your choice of this camera lightly.

And of course, many surveillance cameras are currently equipped with an interface to insert a memory card . This storage device will allow you to save the videos captured and recorded by the camera. Then all you have to do is remove the memory card from the camera and insert it into the interface dedicated to this use on your laptop, desktop PC or even your smartphone . So you can easily view the videos .

But as you might expect, the camera won't be enough if your intention is to manage and view videos in real time. Many cameras do not have an interface for inserting a memory card.

SURVEILLANCE CAMERA MANAGEMENT EQUIPMENT

The management equipment will act as an intermediary between the camera and the monitor. It is often impossible to connect cameras directly to a TV screen or computer screen without management equipment.

These management devices in fact include all the devices that will allow you to store images and videos, but also to control the shooting device . With recent models of CCTV in Chicago, you can pre-set recording times, adjust angle, focal length, camera rotation, image resolution, and more. elements. So you won't need to use a computer . On some models of management equipment, it is even possible to attach a computer mouse to facilitate control and handling.

 VIEWING EQUIPMENT

The viewing equipment is simply the monitor on which you can either watch the videos already recorded on the storage devices or view the videos taken by your camera in real time. Viewing a surveillance camera cannot therefore be done without the monitor.

A TV screen, a computer screen or even a smartphone screen can serve as a viewing monitor for your surveillance camera. It will still be necessary to ensure the compatibility. A single monitor will be more than enough to view your surveillance camera. That being said, sometimes it is possible to use multiple monitors in order to see in real time all the surveillance cameras you are using. This will prevent you from switching between the various surveillance cameras.

 ANALOG AND DIGITAL SURVEILLANCE CAMERA MANAGEMENT EQUIPMENT

As you might expect, analog CCTV systems are older. They usually use DVR (Digital Video Recorder) recorders. The shooting and management equipment will be linked together by coaxial cables, which is not necessarily very practical and which tends to become obsolete.

Currently, the most common video surveillance systems are digital . They are usually connected to digital NVR (Network Video Recorder) recorders. Today's digital cameras and management equipment tend to supplant analogs. Moreover, digital equipment has more sophisticated features and offers better image quality.

But installing and using surveillance camera management equipment can be complicated and expensive . Many individuals do not want to dwell on these details and simply want to use what they have at their disposal, namely their laptop or desktop PC .

MANAGEMENT AND VIEWING OF SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS VIA A PC

It is quite possible to connect a surveillance camera to a PC. The easiest method, without a doubt, is to use an IP camera . In fact, the IP camera is a surveillance camera model that can be easily connected to a laptop or desktop computer through an Internet protocol . The computer will therefore serve here not only as management equipment, but also as a display. This covers both practical and economical aspects. There are two types of IP surveillance camera: wired over Ethernet IP camera and Wi-Fi camera or wireless camera.

THE WIRED ETHERNET IP CAMERA

To be able to transmit the recorded images and videos, the wired IP camera must be connected to your computer using an RJ45 cable . The cable also allows the camera to be powered.

Thanks to this wired IP connection, you can not only save the videos taken by the camera, but also view them in real time on your PC. In order to be able to fully control the camera on your laptop or desktop computer, software specific to your camera model will still be required.

One of the drawbacks of this type of IP camera is obviously the presence of an RJ45 cable. Since the camera and the PC are physically connected, the user will not be able to view the videos in real time when they are on the move . He will only be able to view the recordings.

 THE WI-FI CAMERA OR WIRELESS CAMERA

In this case, the solution would still be to use an IP camera, but this time wireless. To do this, the user must have a Wi-Fi communication protocol. By using the Wi-Fi camera, you will be able to view the videos in real time and control your surveillance camera through your laptop, no matter the where you are. All you need is an Internet connection . Moreover, viewing and controlling the Wi-Fi camera will not be done only through a computer. They can also be done on various connected devices such as the Smartphone, the touch pad, the Smart watch, etc.

Whether on PC or Smartphone, this camera control requires the use of software as on the wired camera. And if the wired camera is directly powered via the RJ45 cable, for the Wi-Fi camera, the power must be from the mains . That being said, some Wi-Fi camera models have an autonomous power supply such as batteries, built-in batteries or recharging via solar energy. You will therefore be spoiled for choice.

In summary, we can say that the use of surveillance cameras may seem difficult for some people because of the many equipment that must be acquired, set up and controlled. But thanks to the development of technology, today we can have access to more sophisticated and practical cameras such as the IP camera. They can be easily connected to a computer, or even to a smartphone, using the appropriate software and the necessary equipment. You can therefore forget about the classic DVR or NVR management equipment . In addition, some models are available at quite affordable prices.