Surveillance Camera
FAQ
- How do I use a wireless spy
cam?
Our cameras come with a short
instruction manual to help you
get it setup. Position the spy cam in a well-lit area so you will be able
to see a picture when it's setup. Connect the camera and
receiver to power supplies (9v battery or ac adaptor). Next,
connect the receiver to your television using the included RCA
cable. Also connect the antenna to the receiver and screw it in
all the way, positioning the antenna straight up. Turn the
tuning knob very slowly on the receiver until you see a clear
picture on your television.
- How good is the picture
quality?
It depends on the type of camera. We have
provided a picture quality comparison
for your convenience.. A
live demo of
our CCD cameras is also available.
- What is the difference in
quality between your CMOS and CCD cameras?
There is a huge difference in quality between the two,
especially when working in different light conditions. CCD
cameras can adjust to the amount of light that comes into the
lens, so the picture looks great in both bright sunlight and in dim lighting. CMOS
only looks good in well lit areas indoors and shielded from
direct sunlight. The main disadvantage of CCD cameras is
that they require 12V power, which means that you can't use a 9V
battery to power them.
- How fast can I get the
camera?
If you live in the United States, we can ship it USPS
Express Mail, which takes one day to arrive. It generally
arrives before 10:30 AM the next day. The option to ship it
Express Mail appears after you add the item to your shopping
cart. We also offer FedEx for added reliability.
Canadian deliveries are shipped via USPS Global Airmail and arrive in
one to two weeks.
- How can I setup a camera to
record while I'm away? I want to be able to view it live over
the internet.
There are a few different ways to setup a
security system. The best way, when using only one camera, is to
buy an inexpensive SVIDEO / RCA / TV input card (such as the
kworld brand) for your computer from
newegg.com. You can then use
the TV viewing program that comes with it, or download a program
off
download.com. For internet
broadcasting, we recommend a program called
Active
WebCam, which is inexpensive, reliable, and fast to setup.
For a multi-camera setup, you can use a quad processor, which
takes four inputs and combines them into a split screen display
(see our live demo
for an example).
Misc tips:
1. Your computer may be stolen if you are trying to catch
burglars in the act. For this reason, you may want to have the
images uploaded to the internet (such as your email account)
regularly.
2. If you have a router controlling your internet access, you'll
need to setup port forwarding to allow your computer to do web
hosting. This will require a good knowledge of computer
networking to setup! If you connect directly to the internet
though a broadband cable connection, it's likely you will not
have to do any port forwarding.
3. We recommend using the quad processor instead of a DVR
because the active webcam software is more compatible. You will
be able to view the pictures from any computer, even at
libraries and internet cafe's.
Alternative solutions:
1. For a multi-camera setup, you can use a motion-activated DVR
(digital video recorder). We sell them at
http://www.hiddencamstore.com
2. Another good home
security solution is our VCR camera, which records directly to
tape. It can record up to 10 hours straight using a 10 hour VHS
tape.
Will other people be able to
pick up the signal from a wireless cam?
They will only be able to view it if they also own a 1.2 GHz
receiver and know where to look for the signal. In most
situations, that's highly unlikely. If that's
a concern, we also sell wired cams, which can be directly
connected to your TV or VCR.
- Can I run more than one
wireless cam
at once?
Generally, you can only run one wireless camera at once, since they are on
similar frequencies. We sell some camera kits on
page 2 of our product catalog
which allow you to run two at once.
- How do I hide the spy cam in
an object?
To drill the hole,
we recommend using a drill press with a
drill bit that is slightly larger than the size of the pinhole
lens. Brush a tiny dab of superglue on the edge of the face of
the camera, but not so much that it would possibly flow onto the
lens. If any glue gets on the lens, the camera will not work
anymore. Press the camera against your object so that the lens is
visible through the hole. Hold in place for a minute until the superglue is dry, then use epoxy to create
a permanent bond.
- Do
the spy cams work in the dark?
The cameras work best in regular indoor lighting.
CCD cameras work well in low light situations, but the quality will be reduced.
Please see our picture quality comparison
chart
for more details.
- Are the cameras weatherproof?
We sell weatherproof (waterproof) night vision cameras.
Alternatively, you can put a camera in a transparent plastic or
glass box to protect it from getting wet.
- How can I adjust the focus of
the spy cam?
On some of our cameras, there are two tiny holes on the face of the camera which
can be adjusted using a pin, paper clip, or simply by turning
the whole surface gently like a knob. Most of our cameras don't
need to be adjusted. If the camera is already mounted in an
object, such as a clock or fire detector, the focus is preset. Our
cameras ship with the focus already set to the ideal setting, so
you probably won't need to change it.
- The
reception is poor on the receiver. How can I improve it?
You may be picking up a signal on the wrong frequency. Be
sure to turn the knob all the way before turning it back to the
frequency that looks best.
- Is it possible to see the
infrared light coming from the nightvision cams?
You can only see the infrared LED's if you look directly at
the camera, and even then they will appear dim. (This is not
recommended though, because you are essentially shining a bright
light in your eye.) The LED's illuminate the surroundings with
invisible light, so an observer will not realize they are being
recorded unless they look directly at the camera itself. Even
then, they may not realize what it is, if it is hidden in
another object.
- Can I use the cameras with
your two way mirrors?
The CCD cameras work great with our two way mirrors. The
CMOS cameras don't work with them, however.
- Other vendors are selling 2.4
GHz cameras. What's the difference between those and your 1.2
GHz cameras?
The difference is primarily a matter of personal preference.
To make a broad generalization, 2.4 GHz is a more accurate
signal,
whereas 1.2 GHz broadcasts farther. The main advantage of having
both options is that you can buy one of each with no worries
about them interfering at the same frequency.
All images,
formatting, and original text are Copyright 2004-2008 Reflective Security, LLC.
All Rights Reserved.
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