How to choose a CCTV camera for your entrance

Is it possible to install video surveillance at the entrance?

The installation of video surveillance and recording systems in the entrances of apartment buildings in Ukraine is regulated by law. According to the Civil Code of Ukraine and the Constitution, every person has the right to protect their home, which may include the installation of video surveillance systems.

But at the same time, it is necessary to take into account the rights of neighbors and not violate their privacy. The installation of cameras is possible only with the consent of the residents, obtained orally at a general meeting, or preferably in writing. It is also important to ensure that video recording devices do not record covertly and do not violate the personal rights of others. Therefore, there is a sticker at the entrance with information that the facility is under surveillance.

As for the video cameras installed at the entrance to the entrance, everything is more complicated from a legal point of view. To do this, a meeting of residents of the entire house is held, with whom it is necessary to agree on the control zone and the type of device to be mounted. In this case, it is necessary to obtain consent from at least 2/3 of all residents of the house.

Criteria for choosing a video camera for an entrance

To choose the right video camera, you need to understand that the entrance to a house is a small space that is not heated and often not lit for various reasons. Taking into account the operating conditions and the size of the entrance, we will consider the main criteria for selecting devices:

1. Form factor (type) of the video camera. Determines its design and size, which affects ease of use and functionality. As a rule, cylindrical and dome video cameras are installed in entrances. Cylindrical ones have a long shape and can be equipped with mounting brackets, suitable for mounting on walls or ceilings. Dome cameras are ceiling mounted and have a compact and less noticeable design. By their design, devices with a dome form factor are stronger than cylindrical ones, especially if the former have a vandal-proof housing.
2. Connection option. Installation of wired video cameras usually requires laying a cable from the camera to the DVR or monitor. This cable not only transmits video signal, but can also supply power to the camera via PoE (Power over Ethernet) technology. Unlike wired systems, wireless video cameras use Wi-Fi to transmit video signals. They often only require access to an electrical outlet for power, and the data is transferred to a dash cam or stored on built-in memory or the cloud.
3. Shooting resolution and viewing angle. There are no special requirements for these parameters, because the room is small. For an entrance camera, an expansion of 1.3 - 2.0 megapixels is sufficient. Buying a more expensive system with a resolution of 4-8 megapixels is irrational and expensive.
4. Availability of infrared illumination. IR illumination makes it possible to shoot in low light conditions or complete darkness, which very often happens in our entrances. This illumination allows the camera to “see” in the infrared spectrum, which is invisible to the human eye, providing clear images even in complete darkness in the entrance.

It is better to choose a video camera with WDR technology, which allows you to clearly see dark objects, for example, people’s faces against the backdrop of bright light from the street when the entrance doors are opened. Another good option is a camera with a motion sensor, which records only when a person appears in the detection zone, thereby saving disk space.