Spy Cameras – A How To
Friday, April 8th, 2011Every month I get lots of email questions about how to set up hidden cameras. With so many questions I decided to post a general guideline on how to set up your first spy camera, and this is it:
1. Figure out what camera suits your project.
There are many good options out there and choosing can be a bit scary. Here is what you need to know.
Where will you be hiding the camera? Pin hole cameras are wired but very small and hide well, or do you want a camera built into a device. Whatever you decide, chances are you will need to hide some wires. For a wired camera you will have two wires to deal with, The data cable, which can be either BNC or RCA.
A BNC cable is very much like your cable TV cable only with a different end. RCA is the Yellow Red and White TV cable you may well have going from your VCR to your TV. If you need either of these cables you can get them at Radio Shack. Your camera will come with the correct power cable, usually with an AC to DC converter, and possibly a power cable extender. You will need to make sure that you can reach from a power source to the camera.
You can do without the data cable hassles by going with a wireless camera. You can find many of theses online and some even run on a 9 volt battery. . . for about an hour. Wireless cameras may be a little harder to hide because they have to accommodate a transmitter, so choose wisely.
2. The Art of the Conceal
One of the better options for hiding is plain view is to purchase a camera that looks like something that is already in the environment.
A motion detector style unit is a great option here. It’s function as a motion detector has been disabled, it is a great way to hide without arousing suspicion.
Another option is a fake smoke detector. It will let you camouflage your black and white or color camera, and if you have a drop ceiling, it is easy to install.
Plan your Installation of these devices wisely. If people see you changing out 1 motion detector and nothing else, they may figure out the deal.
3. What to Do With the Video.
Sending video to your computer: Sending video to your PC is really cool. Most Cameras are set up to send the output to either a TV or VCR. This is why they are BNC and RCA.
I recommend connecting your PC via our DiGiCam Software and USB Camera Cable as one of the best ways to to spy over time is to, allow you to connect to your computer and view / record the video directly.
If you have plan on using more than one camera you may want to consider one of our Digicam Boards. These boards go into a PCI slot in your Computer and support from four to 16 cameras. You can find them in our PC Components group.
That’s pretty much it! As always, we welcome your questions and will try to answer them as quickly as we can. Just email us at questions@phaedrussecurity.com. Good luck with your Project!
Before you buy anything, check my web site at Security Camera.. This article, Spy Cameras – A How To is available for free reprint.
