Wired vs. Wireless Outdoor Home Security Cameras
Although a security camera cannot keep away trespassers from your property as human security, being able to keep an eye on your property with outdoor home security cameras gives you much peace of mind.
Whether wired or wireless, outdoor security cameras could assist you in psychologically deterring criminals from breaking into your house when you are at work or on vacation. However, there are different types of security cameras on the market, and not all of them may suit your needs. Hence, it is prudent to know their difference before you purchase them.
This article will look at the pros and cons of some outside security cameras you might find on the market to help you make an informed decision.
Types of Outdoor Home Security Cameras
There are two main types of outdoor home security cameras, wired and wireless security cameras. However, some wireless security cameras are battery-powered. Hence, they are commonly known as Wire-free security cameras. Let us look at each to help you decide the most appropriate system for your home.
Wired Outdoor Home Security Cameras
These cameras require wiring into a power source and wired internet network. They rely on the hardwired connection to transmit video footage to designated recording hubs. The footage is then transferred to a network that users can stream live or replay later.
Advantages of Wired Outdoor Home Security Cameras
Unlike other outdoor home security cameras, wired security cameras protect recorded information more efficiently because they do not rely on wireless signals to transmit footage. However, you need to ensure that the connection between wires and the central recording hub is intact; otherwise, no data will be stored.
This outdoor home security camera system is ideal for large areas that need coverage without interruption. They are also good for wide-area ranges because you do not need to worry about Wi-Fi signals covering all the areas that need 24/7 security.
Disadvantages of Wired Outdoor Home Security Cameras
The installation process is quite complex and costly. It involves connecting wires from several cameras to the central hub, which would mean a lot of wiring work for large properties. Power outages also affect Wired systems, so you need a backup energy source to prevent interruptions. This system is susceptible to wire cuts. Beware that intruders can completely disable the system by cutting the wires.
Wireless Security Cameras
These are cameras connected to an AC power source with wires but transmit their footage over Wi-Fi rather than internet cables. When the system is powered, the wireless camera sends footage to the Wi-Fi router, from which it is directed to other devices like phones, computers, or tablets.
Advantages of Wireless Outdoor Home Security Cameras
They are easier and less costly to install than wired camera systems. Additionally, some wireless outdoor home security camera companies allow you to get notifications on your phone when the cameras detect any movement. Their mobile apps provide security footage to your phone in real-time, thereby enabling you to take action as quickly as possible in case of intrusion.
Disadvantages of Wireless Outdoor Home Security Cameras
The wireless outdoor home security cameras need a strong Wi-Fi connection to work efficiently. Network interruptions or poor Wi-Fi connections could lead to interrupted footage recordings or transmission of low-quality videos. You, therefore, need to install routers in areas that will give the cameras strong signals to work efficiently.
The footage collected by wireless outdoor home security cameras is stored in the cloud, which means that the actions of your family are recorded online. This could compromise your privacy in case the system is hacked.
Wire-free Outdoor Home Security Cameras
These cameras do not need wires for either power or internet connections to work. They use power from rechargeable batteries and upload video footage to a local storage drive or the cloud.
Advantages of Wire-free Outdoor Home Security Cameras
They are more flexible in placement around the property because they do not require wires. This factor makes them the easiest and cheapest camera system to install.
Additionally, most wire-free camera systems are designed to send notification messages to the owner when power gets low. Some also come with rechargeable battery packs that save you the trouble of constantly monitoring the power level. Thus, they are very easy to maintain.
Disadvantages of Wire-free Outdoor Home Security Cameras
The greatest weakness of wire-free security cameras is that they can easily be tampered with. So, they are not ideal for homes located in areas with high insecurity levels. Moreover, if the batteries are not rechargeable, you may have to take the camera down to recharge the battery. This can be quite an inconvenience.
The wire-free camera system also faces the same privacy issues and internet connection problems that wireless systems experience because the information is stored in the cloud. Moreover, without a strong internet connection, the quality of the video could be affected.
We hope that this guide will help you decide on the best outdoor home security cameras for your home.
