More than 80% of burglars enter through first floor entry points. Above the front door is a good spot to place a surveillance camera if you want to be able to see who is at the door before you answer it.
Take into account any obstructions that will inhibit your camera’s view and try to pick a spot with the least obstructions. If your camera rotates, then refer to the manufacturer’s recommendations for placement to get the most field of view.
If you can’t mount the camera at least 9 ft (2. 7 m) off the ground, try to place it in a hard-to-access or hidden area.
If you are going to run a power cable through a wall, make sure to pick a spot where you will be able to safely drill through the wall. This means avoid any spots where there are already cables or pipes running on the other side that you could accidentally drill into. Don’t use a power source that is turned on or off with a switch. These could easily get turned off by accident and make your camera useless.
It’s a good idea to get someone to help you hold the ladder in place to be safe.
If you aren’t sure whether there are any other cables or pipes inside that part of the wall, then drill through just the outer layer first. Then, you can poke a piece of wire, like a coat hanger, inside the wall to feel for any obstructions.
A glow rod is a luminescent rod with a chain that is specifically made for pulling wires through small spaces. You can get a glow rod at a home improvement center or online.
Some wireless cameras mount using adhesive strips, so you won’t need to mark screw placement for those models.
Always refer to your camera’s manufacturer’s instructions for mounting to make sure that you mount it securely and correctly.
This doesn’t apply to certain types of cameras, like wide-angle dome cameras, that don’t move around on a joint of any kind.
Almost all modern security camera models will allow you to record and view the footage on a personal computer, smart phone, or tablet.
Other advantages of wireless security cameras is that you can easily move them around to different locations and they are more covert if you don’t want them to be seen.
Wired cameras are more stable, but they are also harder to move if you want to change their position and are more obvious because wires can be visible. An example of a good power source is the outlet inside a garage above an electric garage door.
Wide-angle dome cameras with motion sensors are a good option because they catch a bigger range of motion than cameras that you have to aim at a specific point.
Keep in mind that night vision cameras can be blinded and rendered useless by bright lights at night. Make sure there are no street lights or other light sources that will be on at night.
