So you decided that it is time to protect your home or business by installing new security cameras all around the place. That is a good and smart investment, but you should know that a security camera system is as good as the one that supplies and installs it.
That is why we at Smart Security in Lebanon wanted to give you some hints on how to choose such a supplier and installer by giving you these important 4 questions to ask such people who are in charge of safeguarding your house, company, or school, and if they cannot answer these questions then you should reconsider hiring them for the job, and find people more suitable and experienced to keep you safe.
So let us not waste any more time and dive directly into the questions.
1. What brand of hard disk drives do you use in your recording machines?
Investing your money by buying the best IP network cameras that have the latest features like zoom and fisheye lenses that provide you with a 180 to 360-degree view is all fine and dandy.
But remember that if your hard drive storage is not good enough this will lead to trouble down the line. Especially when it comes to performance and the lifespan of your storage which means more repairs and exchanged parts, which sadly means more expenses for you.
That is why you have to make sure what type and brand of hard drives that the installer or supplier is going to use, and if they are well equipped for your project.
If your main goal is surveillance then you will need the right equipment and a hard drive that is optimized for that goal. There are many hard drives on the market today that might be able to deliver you the performance that you want but in our opinion, at Smart Security Lebanon the best two options that you have are the Western Digital Purple, and the Seagate SkyHawk as well as the Toshiba S300.
Now you may be wondering what might happen if you install just any random hard drive from an old PC or laptop well sure it will work ….. For a while but it will eventually fail because the normal hard drives are not made for the stress of writing information for long periods all round the clock 24 hours a day 7 days a week.
On the other hand, the hard drives that are made for surveillance are more durable, reliable, and more advanced than the normal hard drives you find in PCs and laptops.
On a side note, make sure that your installer or provider does know that the hard drive they are installing is compatible with your surveillance system.
Our professionals at Smart Security will be with you to show you to make sure that you get the best security camera system, including the hard drives to give power to your system. Check out Smart Security to learn more about how we choose what is right for you by working with you.
2. How will they waterproof the Security System cable connections?
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Investing in a security camera system is a big step and it can take you a step back or forward, so protecting this investment is your responsibility, that is why make sure to keep your connections as safe and secure as possible. Learn what weatherproofing precautions will the installer or dealer use when setting up your system, and what would happen if these steps fail.
Usually, the IP (International Protection) rating will classify the degree of protection that the camera’s housing will offer. If the security cameras are going to be inside then you will not likely need a camera with a high IP rating. But if your cameras need to resist extreme weather conditions, then you will need them to have a higher IP rating. Because moisture, wind, heat, dust, and other debris will affect your camera if it does not have proper protection. So our advice is to make sure that the installer installs you a camera with an IP
rating of at least IP66 or better. To know more you can either check our website or our Youtube channel.
Your installer or provider needs to make sure of the appropriate IP rating they are using, moreover, the weatherproofing installed must be able to protect your outdoor cameras at a rating of IP66 as stated a minute ago. If they use normal electrical tapes to waterproof, or if they don’t seal the weatherproof boxes properly then the system could have a critical failure, and your investment would go to waste.
As such your installer or provider must stand by their word. So if the installation or weatherproofing fails, the manufacturer will not be held accountable and they will not repair or replace the failed parts. That is why at Smart Security we always stand by our word and that is because of high quality brands that we distribute. To learn more about our commitment towards you visit us at Smart Security to find out more.
3. What kind of cables will the installer be using.
When you see a construction company building a hospital you usually hope that they are using the best materials otherwise the building might fall on the helpless people when they are using it. The same applies to the network cables used by your installers when setting up, if the cables are not of high quality then your system will not last for very long and will eventually crash.
So here is a pro tip! If the person installing your system is not sure about the kind of cable they are using, then most likely they are using CCA (Copper-Coated Aluminum)
cables. These CCA cables are regularly failing the network certification tests, and are a way for installers to cut corners and save money. Your installer should use the superior copper cable substitutes when setting up a system
Also, take note that you have to consider the future into account when installing the cables for your system. You are in the end investing in a system that will probably cost you thousands of dollars, so you want that investment to last you for a couple of years in the future. In today’s market, the CAT5E is the standard but we believe that the CAT6 is the better option for the present generation of cameras today and in the future 3, 6, 8, and even 10 years down the line, and will provide you with the high-speed data transfer rates you need for an optimized security system.
4. Is the security system being installed for you a subscription-based project?
How often do you talk to a salesperson and they offer you a complete project that is too good to be true? It promises you quality efficiency and saves you a lot of money. Right? Well, what you don’t know is that the system you installed is subscription-based. Whether it is monthly or yearly it does not matter because the system you paid for is not your own, actually it is a hostage of the dealer who sold you the system in the first place.
So make sure of that when you sign the contract, and always be on the lookout for the fine print.
Extra: Does your service extend nationwide?
A good dealer can usually extend his services to other geographical regions within the country depending on their reach and ability, which is a very good thing if you want to make the most out of the prices that the said dealer might have. This is where Smart Security comes in! We provide our services all over Lebanon with competitive prices in the Lebanese market and catering to all your security needs. So check us out on our website and be sure to follow our social media on Facebook, Instagram and Youtube for more info and new deals as well as products.
