Should I Choose A Wired or Wireless Home Security System?

Wireless Home Security System

For many people, home security is a big deal, We all want our families to be safe within their own homes. With new technologies come new features for video surveillance system, and we find ourselves asking whether it's really worth it to have the latest technology. One of the biggest decisions we make about our video surveillance systems is whether we would like a wired system, or if we would like to opt for a newer wireless video technology.


How many cameras will you need?

The first question you should have answered is how many cameras you actually need to install. What is the minimum number of cameras that you would feel safe with. Wireless systems are limited to 4 cameras within a given range, so if you can accomplish your goals using 4 cameras or less, than a wireless video surveillance system would be perfect.

Do you have the ability to run cable?

When installing a wired video surveillance system, it's best to run the cable through the walls. Doing this keeps your cable hidden, and it also prevents burglars from following your cable and stealing your DVR as well. However, in apartments and some condominiums you are not allowed to cut through the drywall, making it difficult to feed cable. If you live somewhere that doesn't allow you to run cable through the walls, then you probably have to use a wireless system.

How far away from your recorder will the cameras be?

Another major consideration when choosing between a wired or a wireless video surveillance system is how far your cameras are going to be from the recorder. Wireless systems have a limited range, and in some cases, even a few walls could cause signal interference. If your cameras are going to be less than 50 feet away from your recorder then you can most likely use a wireless video surveillance system, otherwise you would need to use a wired system.

Always test your wireless system before installing

If you've decided on a wireless system for your home surveillance needs, then it's always a good idea to run a quick test on the sytem before you permanently install anything. Some wireless systems suffer from poor signal strength, and if you test this out beforehand, you may be able to reposition your cameras to get the best signal strength possible.