How to install a security camera in an entrance

High-quality video surveillance at the entrance is a guarantee of the safety of all residents of the house and helps to prevent the maximum number of unforeseen situations. Various types of cameras can be installed in apartment buildings, depending on specific requirements. Before installation, it is necessary to study the features of such devices, as well as the nuances of organizational and legal issues.

The need for video surveillance at the entrance

Installation of control systems in residential buildings is an ordinary procedure, which is increasingly used by residents who want to protect their entrance from burglaries, visits of unwanted people and the actions of vandals. Once installed, all negative aspects are minimized as apartment owners, visitors and tenants know they are being watched by cameras.

The devices can be mounted at the entrance to the staircase, on the platforms near the elevator, as well as in the corridors or halls. They are installed so that they capture all the necessary viewing areas to record all the events that are taking place.

Implementation methods used

The camera installed in the entrance can be one of three types. Most often, individual devices, general surveillance systems and street devices are mounted on the territory of apartment buildings.

Individual tracking devices

For installation inside buildings, in most cases, individual surveillance devices in an anti-vandal case are used. By signal transmission technology, they can be analog or digital.

Cameras of the first type are characterized by low cost, no problems during setup and a high level of reliability.

IP-models make it easy to implement the ability to track entrances via the Internet and open access to data for a certain number of users.

Since there are no special access devices on sale, their main characteristics are taken into account when choosing a suitable option.

General access surveillance systems

If you want to create and install a system that allows general surveillance, you will need at least three cameras. The first one records the entrance and exit of people from the apartments to the elevator, the second one records all those who enter the entrance, the third one displays the space in front of the front door. The data from the cameras are displayed on the monitor of the concierge or on the computer screen of the person responsible for the security of the house.

Such a system can cover all entrances, up to 16 separate devices can be connected to one recorder.

External cameras that monitor the local area

For the street, cameras with a wide viewing angle are chosen, which must be hung in places with the greatest traffic. The most popular are box devices with standard or moving designs.Classic models make it possible to track activity in a separate area, rotary ones can be controlled using special software, from a keyboard or remote control.

Devices must be equipped with a sealed housing that is completely protected from moisture and dust. It is also better to choose options with a temperature range suitable for a specific region, on average it ranges from -50 to +65 degrees.

In order for covert surveillance to be conducted around the clock, including at night, outdoor cameras are supplemented with IR modules with a backlight range of 10 to 100 meters.

A modern video camera in the entrance or for the street must meet safety requirements and be quite convenient in terms of setup and operation. It is best to opt for standard domes or box units made of durable metals with lenses protected by special glass.

What you need to know before installing CCTV

To organize video surveillance at each staircase, you will need to study the basic functions of cameras, understand how they work and what they are needed for.

Resolution and location

Camera resolution is the total number of horizontal and vertical dots from which the image is formed. The ideal format is Full HD with parameters of 1920 × 1080 or more - the lower these numbers, the worse the video quality will turn out. The main disadvantage is the high cost of such a system and its components, which, in addition to video cameras, include video recorders with motion sensors, hard drives, monitors and TVs with 4K support, as well as other parts.

It is necessary to select sites for placing devices taking into account safety requirements.

Viewing angle and focal length

A high-quality video surveillance camera in the entrance should have a good viewing angle and focal length. In order to obtain a general picture of the territory, devices with wide-angle short-focus type lenses are installed. If objects need to be viewed at a certain distance and clearly see people's faces, devices with a long-focus element will solve the problem. The smaller the viewing angle, the more details can be identified.

There are also cameras with a varifocal lens, with a range of 2.8-12 mm, allowing you to manually adjust the view depending on your needs.

External installation

For effective organization of external video surveillance, they choose models of cameras in sealed housings, supplemented with an automatic heating option. Installation of such devices is carried out at a distance of at least three meters from the ground, which allows you to protect the equipment from various influences. Before installation on the street, the exact location of the devices is determined, choosing points taking into account the light source.

To prevent the image from being lit up, direct sunlight should not fall on the devices. For additional light in the dark, cameras can be placed close to lanterns or spotlights.

Sending applications

Most modern cameras allow you to save and send recordings as needed. Most often these are IP devices with which you can store data on SD cards, hard drives or remote servers. The easiest way is to dump information on a separate flash drive with the required amount of memory, which is inserted into a special connector on the device. After that, all files are transferred to a personal computer for viewing, further processing and storage. Videos are also transferred to cloud storage over the Internet, this method makes it possible to simultaneously connect to all servers from one device.

Features of installing cameras with your own hands

Installing a video camera in any entrance is possible with your own hands according to the standard step-by-step instructions.First of all, you will need to purchase the required number of cameras and additional components, then install the devices, following separate stages.

1. Laying cable routes. The wires must be combined into a single system in the correct way. First of all, the distant lines are laid, then they go to the near ones. Regardless of the location, the length of the cable is selected with a margin. They can be installed in an open or closed way, in the first case, the wire is laid along the fenced area, in the second, it is laid in the wall or underground.
2. Installation of cameras. You need to mount the devices using special fasteners, which are purchased separately. This must be done so that the devices display the entire protected area, but at the same time remain invisible. They also take into account the possibility of breakage and install the cameras so that they are easy to replace.
3. Installing the DVR and connecting the system. Recorders are the main elements, their connection does not cause problems if they are connected correctly. Better to purchase options that provide power to all cameras. If this option is not available, additional cables will need to be laid.

At the final stage, you need to configure the equipment and take care of the basic parameters. Their list includes date and time, the formation of a storage for recordings, image and broadcast settings, as well as remote access connection.

Organizational and legal issues

The ability to put a camera in each entrance is regulated by current legislation. Video recordings help to resolve many disputable situations in court, however, the use of such materials in the case does not have a regulated procedure.

Law on the possibility of installing a camera in a residential building

Currently, there is no separate regulation for video surveillance. For this reason, one should focus on individual laws on personal data and operational-search activities, as well as on the provisions of the Criminal Code. On the basis of Federal Law 152, information on the basis of which a person can be identified is equated to personal, therefore, it is allowed to hang tracking devices in the entrance after obtaining the consent of the residents.

Taking into account the legality, the use of cameras at protected facilities does not fall under this action, since in this case we will talk about monitoring the situation with the help of cameras. Illegal actions recorded by devices are considered under articles of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation.

Vandal proof camera

The vandal proof camera works in the same way as a standard CCTV device. Its feature is a special durable case made of transparent material, most often polycarbonate is used for this purpose. It is capable of withstanding impacts of up to 650 kg per second. Due to their high strength and reliable design, these chambers have a maximum service life. Devices of this type are placed above the doors of nightclubs, cafes and similar establishments, in places with large gatherings of people.

Anti-vandal devices are not affected by even the most difficult weather conditions, therefore they are installed in areas where hurricanes, tornadoes can pass, strong gusts of wind and temperature changes are observed.