Stand Alone Security Cameras - A Guide

When it comes to CCTV Security & Surveillance Cameras, there’s a plethora of options to choose from and to the regular person, the sheer amount of information available on security cameras can be overwhelming which often leads to analysis paralysis.

To simplify, the type of camera system to acquire depends on a whole lot of factors which are vast and varied, ranging from environment to budgetary concerns.

Stand-alone security cameras are one option to consider for the regular shop, small business and home owner or renter looking for a cheap but reliable alternative to a fully-fledged/ integrated CCTV system.

Stand-alone cameras function as an autonomous entity without the need for a centralized recorder i.e. all the capturing, processing, data storage and attendant functions like alerts happen at the camera level as opposed to an integrated system where storage, alerts and a variety of other functions are controlled and/ or determined by the centralized recorder i.e. NVR or DVR.

In most cases, the choice of stand-alone cameras is usually down to cost.

• They do not need an expensive centralized system like a DVR or NVR to connect to hence bringing down the cost
• Wi-Fi capable cameras eliminate the need for cables as long as they can connect to a decent / readily available Wi-Fi connection
• Due to the above reasons, a DIY install by the owner can be attempted, with mixed results depending on the technical skills of the owner. This would eliminate the need to hire a professional to install the system which could be costly, depending on the complexity and scope of the whole project.

FEATURES & WHAT TO CONSIDER

CONNECTIVITY

As the name suggests, stand-alone cameras are autonomous i.e. they do not need to connect to a DVR or NVR to get power or data connection or to transmit video footage. All the processing happens at the camera level

Power

Usually, CCTV cameras are powered using power cables (AC – 240v & DC – 12v/24v), USB cable (for 5v models) or ethernet cable (for POE capable models).

Different Stand alone camera models support varied powering modes. Most indoor models use USB connections or via an in-built battery. Most outdoor models apart from 12v or POE also have the option of in0built batteries or solar power through attached solar panels which typically charge the in-built batteries during the day

When proximity to power outlets is an issue, cameras powered by built in batteries come in handy. This gives them the flexibility to mounted on walls, ceilings and incase of an outdoor situation, can be mounted on a post, pillar or even tree without the hassle of having to route a cable towards a power source, which in some cases can be inconveniencing or downright impossible.

Wi-Fi and Internet

Dependig on the type of camera, some have Wi-Fi capabilities while others have to be hard-wired to an internet connection like a router or a network switch though most have both options.

Especially for models that suppiort Wi-Fi connectivity, the owner can do a DIY install – with varied results depending on their technical skills.

As with power, the ability to connect to the internet over Wi-Fi eliminates the need of having to route an Ethernet cable to the router.

In the case of indoors, Ethernet cables can be hideous and inconveniencing when snaking around the house from where the camera is located to the router. Power outlets on the other hand are easier to connect to as they’re almost everywhere in the house.

In the case of an outdoor installation, as long as there’s sufficient Wi-Fi presence outside, preferably via a Wi-Fi access point, battery powered cameras would work.

In case of weak or zero presence of Wi-Fi outside, 4G capable stand-alone cameras exist. These only need a SIM card with data and they’re good to go. This could be especially handy for remote areas and outposts or sites where there’s neither power nor Wi-Fi.

In cases where there is no option of internet or 4G connection, some models allow you to just power them and have them record all activities in their scope which can be reviewed later

STORAGE

For someone seeking a light solution e.g. to monitor babies, the front door or a small shop/ office, getting a whole dedicated recorder just to plug in one or two cameras seems over the top. Hence the need for stand-alone solution.

All the footage that’s captured is recorded on a micro SD-card located inside the camera. Micro-SD cards are cheap and readily available as opposed to a hard drive that’s more than ten times the cost of a micro-SD card and would probably require a professional to install.

Depending on the camera model, they accept SD-cards with a large enough capacity to perfectly suit the needs of a regular user. Footage can last for upto 2 weeks depending on the size of the storage medium and settings like motion recording.

ALERTS AND NOTIFICATIONS

Some stand-alone cameras support a variety of other features e.g.

• Push notifications: These are notifications that are sent to the users’ mobile devices that notify them of events detected by the camera which can include motion detection, audio or sound detection, power or internet connectivity status, etc.
• Incase of motion detection, the camera can notify the user if the camera detects movement in its scope.
• Additional features like triggering a siren and flashing lights can also be programmed inacse motion is detected – depending on the model.
• NotificationS can come in form of texts (for models with SIM cards installed), emails or notifications on the viewing app.
• Those that have a PTZ (Pan-Tilt-Zoom) feature can be programmed to track and zoom in on detected movement.

BANDWIDTH

As oposed to cameras that connect to a centralized recorder which have to transmit data to the recorder for processing and storage, stand-alone cameras do all the processing at camera level. This therefore reduces the bandwidth burden on the user’s network. They only consume considerable bandwidht when being accesed via mobile device or when sending push notifications to a user’s mobile device.

LIMITATIONS AND PITFALLS

Power

For battery powered models, the type of battery installed in the device matters. Low quality batteries might keep the cost of the camera lower which is a major reason for acquiring stand-alone cameras in the first place. The downside is having to replace batteries often, failure to which the camera will obviously go off. Depending on where it was installed, this can become and irritating inconvenience.

Solar powered models can counter the above issue, though this depends on the amount of sunshine available for them to fully charge the batteries. This thus means they can only be installed outside. It’s important to also note that as much as solar panels charge the batteries, over time, batteries lose capacity to hold charge and would have to be replaced eventually.

Connectivity

For wireless stand-alone cameras, installation is a breeze as you only need to find a power source or none at all if they’re battery powered. But since they have to connect to a reliable network, proximity to a Wi-Fi router or access point is critical.

Installing cameras where there is weak Wi-Fi signal would result in the camera buffering when the user tries to access it remotely and when the connection is downright bad, the camera would go offline, a frustrating experience.

For wireless cameras, going offline even when powered means nothing can be seen nor recorded. So having stand-alone cameras in areas where Wi-Fi signal is weak is pointless unless an access is installed to bolster the signal strength which would most definitely increase the cost of the whole setup.

In the case of 4G capable cameras, the user has to ensure the SIM card always have data bundles otherwise it’s the same issue as the weak or non-existent Wi-Fi. Integrated cameras on the other hand do not need internet to work as they record and store their data to a centralized recorder, transmitting via direct cable.

Storage

Stand-alone cameras typically record on micro SD cards located/ installed inside the camera. This poses a security risk. In case of an event, an unauthorized person can easily access the storage card by just popping it out and leaving with all the evidence. Or in the worst case scenario, they could just cart away the whole camera which is no trouble at all.

With an integrated CCTV system on the other hand, all footage is stored on the recorder which is hopefully in a secure hard to access place inside the premises. Tampering with the individual camera would just mean the camera would stop recording at that precise moment but all footage prior to the event would have been stored safely in the recorder.

As with any technological device, there are pitfalls and limitations which can be tolerable or intolerable depending on the individual user’s situation. By looking at the merits of what a device can offer versus its attendant limitations, a user can make an informed decision on whether they can lie with the limitations if they’re not so dire as to render the system impractical for their purposes