8 installation tips to get the most out of your outdoor security camera

It’s self-explanatory, isn’t it?

You bang a few holes in the wall, fix the camera to it, and away you go.

There isn’t much more to it than that.

Yet, if you want to get the most out of your camera, you’ll want to get the positioning right.

And whilst some areas are obvious, some bits aren’t always thought of. 

 

Why positioning is important

You’ve just got yourself a new camera, or you want one.

Just like with anything, you want to get the most out of your purchase.

If you’ve got a camera to keep an eye on livestock or improve security, positioning can make all the difference.

It could save you forking out more money for another camera.

One, well-positioned security camera, will do the job of two.

And then there’s how a camera will affect your property’s appearance. You’ll need to position it in a way that isn’t too offensive.

The same applies if you want your camera to be covert.

A well-placed camera will make all the difference.

Remember these 8 points when installing your camera:

• Height is your best friend
• Know what your camera can do
• Maximise the field of view
• Stay away from nature
• Cover the entry points
• One camera is as good as two
• Place it where you want
• Make sure nothing’s in the way

Get these right and you’ll have a slick security system.

 

Place your security camera high up

There are a few reasons why putting a camera up high is going to work better for you.

1. It can see more
2. It’s harder to vandalise
3. It’s harder to see

When you’re watching a film, how often is the protagonist hidden just above where the bad guy is looking?

People don’t look up. They concentrate on what’s in front of them.

If you’re concerned putting a camera on your building is going to ruin the look. Putting it up high will be much less noticeable.

The main reason is to place a camera high up, is so it can see as much as possible.

If a camera can see above and around buildings it reduces the need to get more cameras to cover those areas.

Not to mention the fact that the further away something’s seen the more time you’ve to react.

Putting a camera too low will make it easier to vandalise.

After finally getting yourself some CCTV, you don’t want someone to smash it to pieces.

Now, we’re not saying put it as high as you possibly can.

There’s a point where that becomes impractical.

Find a medium where your camera can see into the distance and what’s going on close by.

 

What can your camera do?

Before buying a security camera you’ll have done a bit of research into what it can do.

Things like field of view will give you a pretty good idea about where you can place it.

Our 360 cameras and static cameras have a 96° field of view.

This essentially means, if you can see the camera lens, it can see you.

Whereas the static camera stays where it is the 360 can have a good look around.

So when you’re putting up your camera, think about what you want it to see.

Is it your workshop door. Or is it two gates on either side of your paddock?

If you’re trying to make one camera do too much from one position it won’t work as effectively.

 

Make the field of view as big as possible

You’ve bought yourself a 360 camera. Naturally, you want it to use all 360 of it’s degrees.

By maximising the field of view you’ll get the most out of your camera.

Installing your camera on a wall will limit you to 180°. Which is good, but your 360 camera deserves so much more!

For example, if you have an open-sided steel-framed building your camera will be able to swivel all the way around.

On one side there’s the outdoors, where your camera can keep watch for criminal activity.

On the other, there are your cows. Happily waiting out winter in the warmth of your barn.

Not everyone’s a farmer. So, you probably don’t have a steel-framed building to put your camera on.

However, your building will have corners.

Using a corner bracket, you can mount your camera so that it has a 270° field of view.

Effectively doing the job of three static cameras.

But if the corner isn’t the best place to put your camera don’t put it there just for the sake of it.

You may lose sight of the part of your property by placing it there.

Your desired subject is the most important thing. If you can maximise the field of view too, you’re onto a winner.

 

Stay away from nature

Nature is relentless.

It doesn’t care about you or your camera.

And a poorly positioned camera will be treated with the same respect water shows a match.

Trees can be a huge nuisance.

They move when they’re not supposed to.

Grow when they shouldn’t.

And they shed leaves and branches constantly.

These acts of nature will mess with your camera in three ways:

• It will damage it
• The view will be obscured
• It will set off the motion sensor

All three outcomes are bound to cause you some frustration.

Yes, you can always prune trees to suit your needs. But they’ll always grow back.

It’s better to avoid them altogether to ensure your camera can see everything and is less likely to be damaged.

 

 

Cover the key areas

Probably the most obvious point on the list.

But you’ll be surprised at how often mistakes are made.

Let’s say for you have a driveway with an entrance gate.

You can’t see the gate from the property, but you can see the driveway.

Do you,

1. Put the camera on the property covering the drive?
2. Or install it so you can see who’s going through the gate?

The answer B.

Always cover the entrance points.

That way you won’t miss anyone who slinks off before being seen by the camera mounted on the property.

The other key areas are the front, side and rear of the property.

A couple of well place cameras will be able to cover your entire property.

However, always remember to position the camera so it can see the access point on your property.

 

You don’t need 100 cameras

As a company that sells rural security cameras, you’d think we’d want you to buy a camera for every stone of your property.

And if you want to do that, we won’t stop you.

One well-placed camera can do the job of three.

As we said earlier, our static cameras have a 96° field of view.

You’d need three of those cameras to cover the same area as a 360 security camera mounted on a corner bracket.

Potentially saving you £80 and the faff of setting up three cameras instead of one.

But if you really, really, really want to get 100 cameras we’ll happily take the order!

Is there anything in front of the camera?

It goes without saying that you shouldn’t put your camera behind a beam.

Any kind of obstruction is going to affect your camera’s performance.

The one obstruction that people don’t realise will cause their camera to work improperly is glass.

If you’ve got your camera inside, looking out the window it will record no problem.

But its motion and humanoid detection won’t work.

So if a person’s trying to get into your property you won’t be any the wiser as you didn’t receive a motion alert.

Put your camera in an open space where nothing is going to get in its line of sight.

 

Put the camera where you want

Don’t compromise on your camera position.

If you want to stick it on a pole – do it.

If there’s no power where you want to install a camera – use a remote system.

You don’t get Wi-Fi at the property – there’s a 4G camera for just that scenario.

The fact is, there’s an installation solution for all your issues.

We have an abundance of accessories to ensure you won’t have to compromise on where you want to put your security camera.

It doesn’t matter how remote or quirky your security installation is, if it’s the best thing for your scenario, you’ll be able to get it done.

 

Have a think

After getting a new security camera you don’t want to have to buy another one a few days later.

Before going to town with your masonry drill.

Take a step back.

Think, is this the best place?

Are you going to get the most out of your camera by putting there?

A well-placed security system will help you take steps to prevent your property being a victim of rural crime.

A common goal we can all get behind.

When your new camera arrives, think about these eight points when installing it:

• Place it high up
• Work to your camera’s strengths
• Are you maximising the field of view
• Install away from trees and plant life
• Property access points should be covered
• You may only need one camera
• You can install the camera wherever you want
• Your camera can’t see through obstacles, even glass

Good installation’s essentially a money-saving tactic. Something we all need at the moment.

Now that you know the best practices when installing a security camera, you’re ready to choose the best camera for you.

Read this article to find the camera that best fits your needs.

 

Related Articles

• 5 things to consider when buying a rural security camera
• 7 reasons to get a security camera
• Should I get a static or 360 security camera?
• Security camera laws and restrictions

 

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