Security Cameras Made Simple - CCTV Guide for the Beginner

Ask Questions & Get Expert Answers

This section of our site offers professional advice developed over decades of CCTV system design and installation. Here you can ask questions about your application in the comments section and receive expert answers. You can access the comments section quickly by clicking the "scroll to comments section" link at the top right of each page.

Customizing Our Kits

How to customize one of our kits to fit your needs. It's easy! You can easily change the cameras and add or remove parts in any of our kits. In other words, you can change our kits to fit your exact needs. Customize a kit and create a custom quote in minutes; its free, fast and even a little fun!

Lorex vs Backstreet Surveillance

Lorex is 100% owned by this Chinese manufacturer and is “selling”, or as our government is calling it, “dumping” low cost equipment directly into the US market. Because Lorex is located in Canada, Lorex allows this Chinese manufacturer to mask...

The Pro's Golden Rules

The experts at Backstreet Surveillance have decades of experience. We have taken our knowledge and simplified it into this easy to understand advice. An effective system is designed to meet the challenges of the environment and the goals of the owner, while each video surveillance system is unique, the majority...

Understanding Resolution & Frame Rates

Resolution is simply a way to measure the size of the video being produced. Smaller images produce low resolution video, larger images produce HD or high definition video. It really is that simple, the larger the image being recorded, the higher the resolution and quality. Frame rates are...

Should you install it...or have it installed?

Our systems are professional grade but designed to be installed by a beginner. With our support and advice we help you get it right the first time! But we understand that's not for everyone, you may desire that clean professional installation by a pro. No problem we...

Smart Phone Camera Viewing & Control - How it Works

The ability to remotely view and manage your video surveillance system from anywhere in the world is one of the most powerful features built right into our systems. You can remotely access your system anywhere and anytime through the internet or on your smart phone. Imagine...

Choosing the Right System

You might be surprised to know, many people unknowingly make their choice of camera systems based on the wrong information. That's where we come in! We understand this is likely the first time you have been in the market for a video surveillance system. All the sales hype can be confusing...

Where will you locate your video recorder?

As you start to consider equipment locations, keep in mind the following: All systems require a video recorder or some type of modem for the camera to report. This is also commonly referred to as the “front end”. The important thing here is to understand that any device you choose will have to be protected from the elements. Consider your...

Home Security Camera Placement

Before you start installing, walk the areas where you plan to locate the cameras. If possible, stand at each camera's location. Pay attention to what you see. Can you see everything you want to at that location? Whatever you see, the camera will see. These design tips will help you get it right the first time.

Business Camera Placement

In business and commercial applications cameras are typically located at the corners of the building. Cameras are used to secure parking lots, lobbies, docks, emergency exits, first floor glass windows, break areas, halls, laboratories, inside warehouses, shops, entry gates and electrical and data rooms. Trap surveillance is very effective in large buildings. Cameras are strategically...

Configuring Your System

There are many different ways to connect you CCTV equipment to each other and the internet. The configuration should be adapted to your application. We know this sound technical but it's actually very simple...

Selecting the Right Cameras

There are four things to consider when selecting the right camera. We’ll teach you about each one and show you how easy it is to get it right. Which housing should you choose? Which lens should you use? What resolution do you need? What night vision distance is needed? We answer all these questions with easy to apply...

Capturing License Plates

One of the most common requests our customers have is the ability to identify vehicles on or near their property. This can be achieved if you follow the rules and recommendations we detail below. It is important that you follow them, simply because capturing a license plate is one of the most challenging tasks a video surveillance system is asked to do. In fact, it’s easier to get facial recognition than it is to capture a license plate...

Hard Drives & Storing Video

Recording multiple channels of HD video requires a hard drive that can keep up with the work load. An average hard drive is likely to fail within one to two years, so what should you look for? How big of a drive do you need? Our hard drives are designed specifically for surveillance video recorders. They can keep up with the work load, assuring...

Pan-Tilt-Zoom Cameras - PTZ

PTZ stands for Pan, tilt, zoom. PTZ cameras are powerful surveillance tools for long range and wide area surveillance. But there are some things you should consider before deciding on a PTZ camera. PTZ cameras require more power than normal cameras, they have three motors (one for pan, one for tilt, one for zoom) plus a heater and blower. Because of this, most PTZ cameras are NOT...

CCTV Power & Wire Tips

Follow the advice in this post and you will have no problems powering you security cameras or transmitting the video. Simple to understand guidelines keep you on target and ensures you'll "get it right the first time"...

Transmitting Video - Coax, Network, Wifi

Security camera systems use different technologies to transmit the video depending on the manufacturer. Wireless cameras and systems are the most convenient but also the least reliable and offer the lowest performance. Most professional CCTV surveillance systems transmit video over coax or network cable. But there are tricks we can teach you to solve installation problems and still reliably transmit video...

CCTV Design Concepts, Examples & Advice

Your system should be designed to meet your needs. Proper camera location ensures two things. First you get the clarity and coverage you are looking for, and second you get the most out of each camera without breaking the golden rule of "Don't ask one camera to do the work of two..."

What is Color Night Vision?

It's actually not a new technology but rather the refinement of the old. The ability for a camera to generate color images at night is a direct result of the light sensitivity of the video chip in the camera. As the chips become more and more sensitive they have the ability to operate with very little light. Even a full moon can generate enough ambient light to keep a camera in color mode during...

Warning Signs - Do they Work?

We see warning signs for security systems and camera systems everywhere, in front yards, at the convenience store, parking garages, they are everywhere...but do they work? The FBI says you are 15 times less likely to be...

How to Add Audio Recording to your CCTV System

Audio can be an incredibly useful management tool, for example, monitoring the performance of a sales department. Imagine having clear audio/video documentation of conversations. An Automotive Dealership may use this as a way to document their negotiations with the customer. Think about how powerful it would be to go back and listen to what they actually said.

The Smart Way to Upgrade an Old CCTV Analog System

There are millions of old analog CCTV security cameras and systems still in use today. You can find them in homes and businesses everywhere. The question is - How do you upgrade a CCTV Analog camera system to 4K without rewiring everything?

Wiring a CCTV System, Pulling Cables - Best Practices

Follow these rules running cable and you'll save time and have a more reliable surveillance system. Running cable from a camera to a video recorder or network connection can be simple or complicated depending on the type of structure and the location of the camera. There are simple best practices that apply to all wire runs...

Backstreet Surveillance Files For Patent - Universal Security Camera Mount

Scott McQuarrie CEO of Backstreet Surveillance, a 28 year industry veteran "…it's hard to understand how the security industry missed the idea. We throw hundreds of obsolete mounts into the dumpster each year."

Good & Bad Camera Installations Rated

We've rate the best and worst camera system installations we could find. Watch the video and learn what to do and what to avoid. Get it right the first time!

Backstreet Surveillance - Your CCTV Outfitter

Backstreet is your one stop CCTV supplier. We help you make the right choices, our motto - "get it right the first time". A full service outfitter, from design, to equipment, expert advice, and lifetime free technical support, we cover it all. We are the one stop shop for CCTV home and business solutions. Oh, and don't even get us started on our 5 Year Warranty, the industry's longest!