Manual Operation
You will need a 2.4GHz receiver or receiver/recorder to pick up the transmitted audio and video signal and, if you choose a battery powered camera, you will need a remote on/off transmitter to switch your camera off when it is not in use.
A simple 2.4GHz wireless to audio/video receiver can be used to pick up the camera transmissions which can then be displayed on a TV set via the SCART connector input or recorded on your video/DVD recorder if you have one. AV Receiver Budget: £60.
A hand held Personal Video Recorder (PVR) is an even better solution, combining the 2.4GHz receiver, LCD monitor and recorder all in one neat package. An SD memory card is used for recording the audio and video and it can then be transferred to a laptop or PC and views using Windows Media Player or similar. We have customised the PVR and fitted it with an external antenna to extend its range to over 150 meters under favourable conditions. PVR budget: £300
Automatic Operation
Our ZedCam Digital Video Recorder, DVR, will automatically switch on when it receives a trigger from a PIR (detects human/animals at up to 10 metres), a door/cupboard/drawer switch or an under carpet mat. This trigger also switches on any of our covert cameras. As the camera and trigger are separate from the DVR, the DVR can be hidden in a cupboard or another room and the recorded video will not be lost should the camera be detected.
The recordings are saved on an SD memory card and can be played back on a TV set, laptop or PC. DVR Budget: £400
Our trigger devices are a PIR sensor device, a floor mat sensor and a magnetic switch trigger device, WHICH are switched on when an intruder approaches and send a signal to the hidden camera to switch on, and simultaneously send a signal to the DVR to switch it on and record the transmission. Remote/Trigger Budget: £100-150
Battery life
A covert camera, once deployed, can remain in its hidden location in standby mode for at least 6 months. They have enough battery power to run for between 8 and 72 hours of video/audio transmission time depending on the type of camera and the battery type - in general the smaller CMOS cameras have three times the battery life of CCD, however CMOS produces somewhat poorer video quality and does not work as well in low light conditions.
The trigger devices can be switched off and will then last for at least 12 months. When in standby, the batteries last for 18 weeks for the PIR and 30 weeks for the mat and door switch products.
The DVR is usually plugged into the mains, but the other options are internal battery at 45 minutes, external battery at 4 hours and a 12V car adaptor.
See Shop for all available products.
