The Value of DIY Home Security Cameras

At one time, home security cameras were a premium option, requiring professional installation on a wired network. But with the latest DIY models, homeowners and renters can install their own wireless home security cameras easily, offering high-resolution images, night vision, facial recognition capabilities, and other features.

The benefits of having wireless security cameras are well-documented. They help protect homes, condominiums, and apartments from break-ins and vandalism by deterring criminals. They also help detect unwanted intruders, sound alarms, and can send alerts to homeowners, even when they are not at home. 

These kinds of protection can also result in lower insurance premiums, occasionally even offsetting the cost of the security cameras themselves.

Each DIY home security camera can be used on its own, as part of a network of cameras that operate independently but can be viewed with the same smartphone, or as part of a professionally monitored home security network. 

In this article, we’ll take a look at why it is so valuable to invest in a DIY home security camera and how easy it is to get started.

Easy Installation of DIY Home Security Cameras

As the leading DIY options, Blue by ADT indoor, outdoor, and doorbell cameras are easy to install. For example, the indoor security camera can be mounted on just about any surface, either freestanding or with a mounting bracket.You can even install them upside down on the ceiling (just don’t forget to flip the image right way up in the app for the camera). The security camera needs to be plugged into a power source and includes a battery backup if there is a power outage.

For its part, the Blue by ADT doorbell camera requires a 16- to 24-volt AC power supply, which is the standard doorbell supply in the US. It uses a power mounting bracket that attaches to the wall with two screws (or adhesive strips) and has battery backup if the doorbell power source goes off. 

The base for the Blue by ADT outdoor camera and its adjustable arm can be placed on a flat surface or mounted on a wall or soffit using the mounting hardware with the camera. It comes with a rechargeable battery pack that is rated to last three to six months between charges, depending on the usage.

When you are installing your cameras, make sure:

• They are positioned at the proper angle to get the best images.

• They are within a strong reception range of your home Wi-Fi system.

• And that you have enough cameras if you want to cover a number of zones of protection inside and out.

Easy installation of the home security cameras also means they are easy to take with you if you move homes.

Easily Connect Your DIY Security Camera to Your Wi-Fi Network

Connecting the cameras to a Wi-Fi network is also straightforward. The ADT smartphone app generates a QR code that encodes the network login details. You just put the code in front of the camera, and it recognizes it and connects to your home network. 

The Value of DIY Doorbell Security Cameras

A good doorbell camera allows you to monitor who comes to your door, speak with them, and decide whether to open the door. Not only does this help with security precautions, but also it provides convenience in daily living, allowing you to, say, admit a repair person even if no one is home or to check when your kids are home from school.

Additional key features of the Blue by ADT doorbell camera that we’ll go into further detail include:

• High-quality video

• Night vision 

• Push notifications with video previews

• Noise cancellation for the two-way talk feature

• Battery backup if the power goes off

• Cloud storage of video files

• Fire and carbon monoxide detector

The Blue by ADT doorbell camera ($199.99) lets you monitor your front door (or back), which is important since it is the source for 34% of break-ins. Unlike some old, grainy security cameras, this one provides high-quality video, with 1080p HD resolution and a 180-degree viewing range (and 9.8 feet of coverage) to capture whoever has approached your house. It also includes night vision so that you can get clear images in low light conditions.

With the free ADT smartphone app, you can receive alerts when someone rings your doorbell or approaches your home, setting up customized motion activation zones. With face-recognition software, the camera can be trained to create a database of known friends and family who come to your house regularly. When the camera sees a visitor, it can quickly let you know if they are part of this database.  

The camera can also be integrated with Alexa, smart home personal assistant, and controlled with voice commands.

DIY Indoor Security Cameras: Customized Detection Zones

Like the doorbell camera, the Blue by ADT indoor camera ($199.99) is set apart by the quality of its high-definition video, allowing crystal-clear video images, night vision  and two-way communication, so you can remind your kids to do their homework or tell your dog to get off the couch. Its face-recognition software helps cut down the number of irrelevant alerts you might receive.

The camera can be connected to other smart home systems, so if a motion detector picks up an intruder, it can also turn on your smart home lights. Push-activated alerts to your smartphone include video previews.

The camera also offers:

• A 130-degree field of view and 16.4-foot range

• An SD card for local video storage

• LED privacy indicator

• Alexa integration

The ability to set custom motion detection is a handy feature, allowing you to change the zone if, for example, movement of trees or cars outside your window is setting off the camera. You can also restrict alerts to certain times of the day.

DIY Outdoor Security Cameras: Better Night Vision

With the Blue by ADT outdoor camera ($199.99), the night vision works to give good low light images, with a 16.4-foot range, using infrared technology. Customized motion detection zones allow you to get only the alerts you wish pushed to your smartphone. And its 24/7 surveillance capabilities help to prevent burglaries, make sure your kids and pets are safe in the yard, and track home deliveries and contractors as they arrive or depart from your home.

If you have more than one outdoor or indoor camera, the free ADT Blue mobile app will let you switch among them to get different views and to establish two-way communication with whoever you see there.

The camera supports IFTTT applets that allow it to interact with third-party smart devices. It also works with Amazon Alexa voice commands and has an SD card slot for local video storage.

Extending Your Wi-Fi Connection for Your DIY Home Security Cameras

One of the limitations of wireless DIY home security cameras is that they must be in the range of your Wi-Fi network, but you can extend the working range of your Blue indoor, outdoor, and doorbell cameras by using the Blue Extender + Chime ($49.99).

Not only does it allow you to move your cameras farther away and cover more protection zones, but also the device's chime can sound if someone rings your doorbell or provide an extra alarm if a security alert goes off. It also has custom tones for doorbell and motion triggers and uses low-powered Wi-Fi to extend its battery life. It can, as well, improve the battery life of your outdoor home security cameras. (It needs to be plugged into a power outlet that is within range of both your Wi-Fi router and various cameras.)

Your Choice of DIY Home Security Camera Monitoring Options

With the Blue by ADT home security cameras, you get a cost-effective DIY option with no long-term contracts and one day of cloud storage of videos. But for only an additional $19.99 per month, you can receive 24/7 professional ADT monitoring, automatically alerting emergency services and you as needed.

The solution includes:

• The first month free 

• Three interconnected and ADT-owned monitoring centers

• One-day cloud video storage

• Month-to-month payments (no long-term contracts)

• Three levels of protection, using Wi-Fi, a cellular signal, and text message

You can also choose to build your own home security system tailored to your specific needs, which can include:

• A base station

• Entry keypad

• A security yard sign and window stickers

• Extra home security cameras

• Door sensors

• Window sensors

• Motion sensors

• Fire safety sensors

• Glass break sensors

• Temperature/flood sensors

• Keychain remotes

As the leader in home security for 150 years, ADT has experts who can help you choose the easy-to-use equipment and features that you need. Also, if you decide that DIY is not the way to go, consider hiring our professionals to install your cameras or an entire security system. We can ensure that all components are working, explain how things operate, suggest other ways to secure your home, and conduct a security assessment.