Installation

The installation processes of a wired system and wireless system are quite different. A wired system must be hardwired throughout the house with each camera connected to the central monitoring or recording unit. This hardwiring means drilling through walls and ceilings, climbing through insulation, and threading wires down walls. It is a job best left to professional installers and electricians.

By contrast, wireless cameras, the most common type used in homes, are quick and easy to install. The installation is often done as a DIY project. The wireless cameras connect to their central system by radio waves. Most will, however, have a wired connection to an electrical source. Otherwise, they would be battery-powered, an expensive option that requires changing and/or recharging batteries regularly. The cameras can be placed anywhere inside or outside the home, as long as they are in the range of the central unit. They can also be repositioned if needs change over time.

Electricity and Wires

Wired systems rely on a battery backup system during a power outage. Wireless cameras connected to the home’s electrical wiring should also have a battery backup for use during an outage. This can be a battery in the unit, preferably a rechargeable lithium-ion battery pack that will be long-lasting and eco-friendly.

The hardwired system used with wired cameras sends power to each camera either through electrical wiring or power over Ethernet ¹ wiring (PoE). Therefore, these cameras do not need to be placed near electrical outlets.

If the connections of a wired system are run through the walls, this creates the most pleasing appearance, but this is a difficult task in a retrofit installation. In this case, a wireless system can be less intrusive and provide a better visual effect. The cameras of a wired system tend to be more difficult to conceal because of the wired connection to the home.

Ease of Use

The wireless camera system is more user-friendly because of the capability of Internet access. If the system is connected to the Internet, the feed from the camera can be linked to phone apps or outside computer programs via a simple interface for remote monitoring, allowing the home’s residents to see what is happening when they are away. Higher-end cameras allow the viewer to control the camera from another location, such as pan, tilt, or zoom. Having Internet access also allows the camera system to be integrated into wireless home security and home automation systems.

Signal Interference and Hacking

A wired system does not allow signal interference from wireless devices nearby, but a wireless system does. The only interruption possible with the circuit of a wired system is the cutting of the connecting wires. Doing this triggers an alarm signaling that the circuit has been broken.

The circuit of a wireless system, on the other hand, can be disrupted by jamming or interference. Wireless jammers are available for purchase online, and an alarm may not signal that jamming has occurred. In addition, the wireless system operates in the same radio frequency spectrum as a variety of other wireless devices, including cell phones, car alarms, baby monitors, radios, and cordless phones. Interference can also come from the home’s structure, bad weather, sunspots, or proximity to power lines. These signal distractions can interfere with the home’s security cameras, causing loss of signal or other malfunctions. Again, an alarm may not alert the residents of this interference. Newer models reduce but do not eliminate these risks.

If a wireless system is connected to the Internet to take advantage of remote and integrated features, hacking is another possibility. If the cameras are hacked, they can be remotely accessed by someone unauthorized to view and perhaps even manipulate the images. Good Internet security is essential to prevent this type of home invasion. Use a unique password and change it on a regular basis. If a wired system is closed and does not have access to the Internet, remote hacking is not possible.