How Do Security Cameras Work?

Before selecting security cameras for home or office, it is a must to understand how they work. Without sufficient knowledge, you might waste money and choose the wrong item.
In this article, we will explain how do security cameras work and explain their types and NVR systems to help you make the right decision.

Let’s begin with the basics.

Types of Security Cameras

Wired Security Camera

PoE cameras and DC-powered cameras are both wired cameras. They need a wire or cable for power, data transfer, or both.

A Power over Ethernet (PoE) camera requires a wired connection to a Network Video Recorder (NVR) or PoE router. You need to insert one end of the ethernet into the camera and the other end into the NVR or router. It transmits its data through an ethernet cable and ensures a reliable connection.

It also needs to be powered, but there is no need for an extra cable. The same ethernet cable can be used for power and data transfer.

In contrast, a DC-powered camera requires a DC connection through an adapter for the power. You only need to insert its adapter to the nearest wall outlet and connect it to the camera.

It is connected to the network through Wi-Fi. You can connect the camera directly to a Wi-Fi NVR. But if the NVR is non-Wi-Fi, there must be a wired connection between it and a router.

Wireless Security Camera

A wireless security camera does not require a wire for data transfer and power. It is powered by batteries or a small solar panel.

It uses Wi-Fi or a 4G LTE cellular network to transfer data. The wireless Wi-Fi camera can be connected to a Wi-Fi router. But a 4G LTE camera requires a SIM card (usually nano) with a cellular data plan. It works without the need for a Wi-Fi connection.

Security Camera System

A security camera system is a combination of cameras (either wired or wireless), an NVR, and a connection medium, which could be Wi-Fi or ethernet. The number of cameras depends on the area and places you want to cover, and the NVR is selected according to the cameras.

How Do Security Cameras Work?

How Do Wired Security Cameras Work？

A PoE security camera has a dedicated ethernet cable for data transfer and power. It is a digital camera that captures the video and processes it. After processing, the video recording is stored in a microSD card or NVR.

Even if the data is stored in the card, you need to connect the ethernet cable from the camera to a PoE router for power. If your Wi-Fi router does not support PoE, you can use a PoE injector or switch to get the camera working.

A DC-powered camera also processes the video and stores it in a microSD card, cloud storage, FTP server, or NVR.

Since it depends on Wi-Fi for data transfer, there must be a reliable connection, and the camera must be placed within the range of the Wi-Fi. The transfer rate depends on the router’s speed. Secondly, if there is any interference in the Wi-Fi due to other devices, it will result in low-quality recording.

NVR is not necessary for these cameras to work, but it is recommended to have one for excess data storage and to create a central system for multiple cameras.

Once your camera is powered and connected for data transfer, you can access the data through your devices remotely.

How Do Wireless Security Cameras Work？

A wireless camera has built-in batteries that are usually connected to a small solar panel. So, the camera is powered easily and can be placed anywhere, like a standalone device.
It records the video and processes it. Then, the processed video is stored in its microSD card. It requires a Wi-Fi or 4G LTE connection to connect your device to the camera. You can access the camera and data anytime and anywhere.

How Do Security Camera System (NVR) Work?

NVR stands for Network Video Recorder. It is a mini device that stores data transferred by cameras and creates a central system for all cameras. It has a dedicated storage device where the data is stored, or it can also store data in the cloud.

The digital IP cameras, along with the NVR, create a complete security camera system. You need to select the NVR according to the number of cameras you have.

How Do Wired Security Camera System (NVR) Work?

The wired PoE cameras are connected to the NVR via a dedicated ethernet cable. Each camera will have a separate cable for data transfer.

There are certain slots in the NVR where cameras are connected. You can get a 4, 8, 16, 32, or any other suitable channel NVR according to your needs.

The cameras record videos and process the data. Then, the data is sent to the NVR, where it is stored. Users can then connect to the NVR and access the stored recordings.

How Do Wireless Security Camera System (NVR) Work?

The wireless cameras are connected to Wi-Fi through a router. All the cameras will be connected to the same router, so it should have a strong connection and fast data transfer rate.

The router is connected to an NVR through a wired connection. That’s how the camera sends its data to NVR through Wi-Fi. There is also another option, which is Wi-Fi NVR. It allows cameras to connect to the NVR directly without using a router.

Top Picks for Security Cameras (Systems)

RLC-810WA

This wireless 4K resolution (8MP) surveillance camera offers incredible video quality 24/7. It gives you clear and sharp details of distant objects. Even if it is night, you can see the colorful video recordings through its color night vision feature.

The camera is smart enough to detect a person, pet, or object and send instant alerts to your connected devices. It activates the spotlight and siren if there is any intruder on your property.

Its dual audio also lets you speak with the people at the door and hear what they are saying.

The most important feature is the dual-band Wi-Fi 6, which ensures higher transmission speed for clear videos without lags. Choose the 5GHz band for incredible speed and 2.4 GHz for broader coverage.

E1 Outdoor Pro

E1 Outdoor Pro is specially designed to cover a wide outdoor area. It offers a 355⁰ pan, 50⁰ tilt, and 3X optical zoom. Thus, this single camera lets you focus on any object and monitor a wide area. On top of that, its 4K resolution ensures crisp and fine details in the videos.

It has an auto-tracking feature, which monitors the activity of people. You get instant alerts through smart detection of people, vehicles, and pets. Most importantly, the time-lapse feature allows you to view daily activities in a few minutes.

Other exciting features of the camera include dual-audio communication, a warning system, and color night vision. This camera also offers dual-band Wi-Fi 6 for a faster and more stable connection.

RLK12-800WB4

A complete and powerful security kit for home and office security. It contains four 4K (8MP) Wi-Fi cameras and a 12-channel Wi-Fi NVR. You can cover all outdoor areas with this smart system.

It captures 4K videos all day and is also equipped with color night vision for crystal-clear visuals at night. All these cameras can detect movements, offer instant alerts, and save the recording in the 2TB storage.

It is also possible to add more cameras to the system, as the NVR has 12 channels. So you can secure more places. Most importantly, the Wi-Fi 6 will offer fast streaming with minimal latency.

FAQs

1. Do security cameras record all the time?

Yes, security cameras record all the time. But they can also be customized to record at specific times or if there is any movement. Typically, people prefer to record all the time.

2. Do security cameras need Wi-Fi to work?

Some cameras require Wi-Fi to work. But nowadays, most cameras have internal storage, such as microSD, to store data, or they store data in the NVR. They do not need internet, and they can flawlessly work offline.

3. How do home security cameras get power?

PoE cameras are powered through the ethernet cable, which also facilitates data transfer. In contrast, Wi-Fi cameras are powered by batteries or an adapter.

Conclusion

Security cameras are essential for the security of a house, office, or any other place. But before you make a decision, it is better to understand how do security cameras work. Once you have an idea of the Wi-Fi cameras, PoE cameras, their wired connection, NVR, and other things, you make the right decision for optimal security and surveillance.