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Hidden security cameras are more popular today than ever before. They are also called hidden spy cameras. They are most often used for home security and business security.

They can be used for both home security and business security but some are usually better for one than the other. Hidden spy cameras are nothing more than a board camera hidden inside a common object that you are used to seeing around the home, office or business. The board camera transmits images to a DVR or VCR. Some even have a cable so you can hook it up directly to your TV for viewing.

Some options that are commonly available for hidden cameras are a choice of black and white or color images; wired or wireless transmission of the images and some have an option for a high power transmission, which allows an additional 1500 feet for wireless transmission.

Almost all hidden spy cameras use a 3.7 mm wide-angle lens which gives you 100° field of view. And even though they don’t have night vision capability they can run on ambient light to get clear pictures in darkened conditions.

With the increase in hidden cameras that are used for business security and home security competition has become very competitive with more manufacturers entering the field. This creates a situation where there are literally hundreds of manufacturers and thousands of cameras to choose from.

Is a pretty safe bet that if you find a spy camera for home security or hidden spy camera for business security on a website that is US-based, the products have been thoroughly vetted by the distributor so you can buy in confidence.

The three most popular hidden security cameras that can be used for both home security and business security are the wall clock hidden security camera, the radio hidden camera and the alarm clock hidden camera.

The wall clock camera is a functioning quartz wall clock that will fit into a home, office or business setting. It is virtually impossible to tell that there is a hidden security camera inside.

The radio hidden camera or boom box camera, as it is called, is a fully functioning AM/FM radio. It can also be used in any type of setting.

The most popular of all hidden spy cameras is the alarm clock hidden spy camera. It is a fully functioning Sony “dream machine” one of the most popular alarm clock radios in the world.

Those are three of the most popular hidden security cameras. There many more to be sure. Their versatility allows for use for home security and business security, which is partially why they are so popular.

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The advances in high-tech surveillance and recording equipment have provided a very viable alternative to protecting ones property while the owner or occupant is away. Current technology offers not only wired cameras (i.e. cameras connected to a recording device via wire or cable), but also wireless cameras, that may be hidden from sight, or alternatively, highly visible, that send a signal to recording devices and/or to a high speed internet-connected computer which allows for real time monitoring of the area under camera view. One can actually observe activity at a particular site while it is happening!

These cameras transmit the video image to a recording device using a specific radio frequency and therefore eliminate the need to install wiring in places that may be difficult to access or where visibility of a wire is not desired. As might be expected, the wireless camera installation is the more expensive investment, but due to simplicity and flexibility in installation and some aesthetic value, it may be well worth any difference in cost. Most installations are comprised of a “system” of full color cameras ranging in size from as few as two to as many as sixteen with some capable of of capturing video in extreme low light scenarios. With planning, cameras can be placed in such a way as to provide complete coverage of the property.

Cameras that are placed where they can be seen provide a deterrent effect as well as providing video images of of activity at the site being monitored. If someone with ill intent sees a camera they are less likely to proceed with their planned activity. On the other hand, if the desire is to monitor an activity without the knowledge of persons who might be in the covered area, then there are a wide variety of cameras that are referred to as “hidden”. These cameras can be hidden in everything from clock radios and thermostats to ball point pens or even screw heads and many, many more configurations.

The scene that is captured can then be stored on a digital recording device (usually purchased as part of a system) for later review or can be viewed at any time via the internet from any computer having a high speed connection and access to the internet. In the early days of video capture of this type, the scenes were stored on magnetic tape on a recorder that operated continuously. That is no longer the case since the video images can now be captured digitally and the cameras can be set to record to send a signal only when motion is detected in the covered area and the recorder only operates when it is receiving a signal.

The ability to monitor activity as it happens (referred to as “real-time”), which the internet viewing option provides has, in documented cases, allowed an owner to call the police from their location hundreds of miles away and have the police arrive at their property and catch the criminals either in the act or as they were exiting the property. This is the ultimate payoff, but even if just being able to provide video to the authorities is the only option, it becomes a tremendous aid in catching the criminals since the video provides physical information regarding those for whom they will be searching once they are brought in to investigate.

Using video cameras and recording equipment as one of the measures to safeguard ones property puts the owner in total control of the monitoring activity. It eliminates the need to rely on third parties whether they be family, friends or a paid service and the monitoring is 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and 52 weeks a year (or 24/7/52 as has become the popular vernacular). Do not get caught in the “it will never happen to me” trap. I know of no one (save some involved in insurance fraud) who actually thought it would happen to them, but the fact that they did no think it would happen to them did not prevent it. This type of surveillance equipment has become very reliable and affordable. It is definitely something every homeowner, or even business owner, should seriously consider.