Aurélien Audy April 08, 2019 at 4:494 p.m. If you are considering placing your home or second home under video surveillance, you are surely asking yourself many questions. Especially if you are not particularly gifted with computers, or a security ace. We have therefore compiled the most legitimate questions in the form of a FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions). And when you have taken the next step, you can consult our comparison of IP cameras.1)What is an IP camera used for?An IP camera is a device intended to surveillance of a place. Like a webcam except that it operates autonomously in a network, local or remote. One can view live video streams from a web browser, through a NAS server interface, or sometimes on a mobile app. Above all, the camera can be programmed to detect movements and thus trigger video/photo recordings that it stores on a micro SD card or that it sends (FTP, email, NAS, cloud platform, etc.), as soon as a intruder passes through his field of vision. Day or night thanks to night vision regularly implemented.2)Which characteristics should I prioritize when choosing my IP camera?There are at least seven points of technical order to consider before choosing. An outdoor camera and an indoor model Motorized or fixed SD vs HD You can connect the camera via Ethernet or Wi-Fi (you can clearly see the antenna ) The alarm socket, green3)Where should you position your IP camera?The objective is to monitor a home against intrusions, so the camera must be oriented towards the potential access points to housing. The front door first. But be careful, the camera should not be the first thing the intruder sees when breaking in. A little high (so as not to be too easily accessible) and slightly offset, you will save observation time. If you can blend it into the decor, that's even better (in the middle of trinkets or in a well-stocked bookcase, for example). The other option is to place the camera in front of or in rooms where there are valuables, always following the same instructions. The ideal is to combine several cameras to cover multiple angles and leave no chance for the intruder to escape video surveillance. In all cases, the IP camera must be located near an electrical outlet. An obvious fact that complicates the task a little.4)Should you connect your camera by wire or Wi-Fi?With Wi-Fi, it is more convenient and aesthetic. If your house is not wired with Ethernet and the place where you plan to install the camera is not near the router, Wi-Fi is essential. Be careful however, depending on the IP camera models, you should not stray too far from the source of the network (router or box). The Wi-Fi modules of IP cameras sometimes have a limited range: signal strength, responsiveness and sometimes the quality of the camera's video encoding then suffer directly. If you want to stay 100% serene, wired remains the preferred choice.5)Does my computer have to stay on for the camera to work?No, and that's is the whole point of these cameras. In the vast majority of cases, a computer is required to configure the camera. But once everything is set up, the computer can be turned off, unless of course the camera is set to save its streams on the PC in question. In addition, it is possible to schedule the operation of the IP camera so that it automatically switches to surveillance mode, on defined time slots and according to a specific event.6)Is it complicated to configure an IP camera?An IP camera is relatively simple to install but can become complex to configure if you want to go into detail. It takes a minimum of networking skills and computer skills to master your camera at your fingertips. The main uses that require advanced configuration are remote viewing and recording of streams on remote media. In the first case, it is necessary to go through a dynamic DNS service and to ensure that the ports of the router are correctly opened/redirected. In the second, refer to question number 8. The Zavio manufacturer's interface is reserved for advanced users...Now, manufacturers tend more and more to simplify the operation of their products by relying on cloud, which for example avoids having to use a dynamic DNS provider.We advise you not to use the dynamic DNS offered free of charge by certain manufacturers, hosted who knows where, by who knows who. The TrendNet TV-IP762IC is a good mix between total freedom of settings for advanced users (classic web interface) and ease of use for beginners (cloud service). Some models such as Belkin's NetCam or myfox and Kiwatch solutions are entirely cloud-based and are therefore within everyone's reach. ...the fully cloud Kiwatch one is much more affordable7)Are they compatible with all boxes and routers?The two requirements for an IP camera to work with a box or a router means having a free Ethernet port (at least necessary for the first installation of the product) and a box or a router equipped with Wi-Fi (if you want a wireless installation). It is also better to make sure before you have access to the configuration interface of the box or the router, it could be useful for configuring your network.8)How to ensure integrity recorded content?Recorded streams are of several types (video, photo, sound) and can be stored on different media, in several places. On the memory card of the IP camera if it has such an attribute, but we do not recommend that you limit yourself to this solution. A thief, if he spots the camera, will probably have the idea of ​​destroying or stealing your video surveillance equipment, and in any case of getting rid of the memory card. The use of the NAS is more recommended: there is no storage limit (or almost) and you remain completely in control of the hosting. But here again, if the NAS is at your home (which is generally the case), we cannot exclude the risk that a burglar will also steal this good from you (even if it is less discreet than a micro SD card ). NAS Synology DS713+Also, the solutions of mail, remote FTP server or cloud service may seem the best. Some cameras send videos by email, as an alert, but there, the maximum capacity constrains short rushes. On the FTP or cloud side, storage is less limiting but the content is hosted by a third party. One, there is a chance that it will be paid for, and two, you don't know who this third party is and what they can potentially do with your images. In short, there is no miracle solution, the best thing is to combine several forms of storage to deal with as many unforeseen events as possible. The fact remains that if the thug cuts off the power supply to your home before entering it, all your protection will then be neutralized. With Belkin's solution, recordings are hosted on a cloud platform9)Are there any usage fees for an IP camera?Technically no. The only insured expense is the purchase of the camera. Now, models based on cloud platforms, such as Kiwatch, myfox or Belkin, come with a monthly subscription, ranging from a few euros to ten euros per month depending on the nature of the services, for individuals ( with or without commitment, it depends). A significant expense. As for more classic cameras, you may have to pay for the Dynamic DNS service (there are free ones like No-IP.biz, just make sure your hardware supports them). And for remote storage, you will also have to finance the third-party host, unless you go through a free space of the type provided by ISPs with the boxes.10)Can you use your smartphone to view the camera remotely?Manufacturers often offer their own mobile application to extend the means of access to the IP camera to mobile devices. At a minimum, the application allows you to view live streams from the camera. Often you can capture snapshots and hear, if the camera has a microphone, what's going on. And when the application is complete, you can access advanced settings for your camera remotely, trigger recordings (which will be saved on the smartphone) and view recordings made previously and stored in the cloud. Paid services even add the alert by SMS. If the manufacturer does not offer an application or if it does not give satisfaction, it is always possible to install a third-party application, such as IP Cam Viewer Pro from NibblesnBits (Android and iOS ), compatible with a multitude of models. Please note that these third-party applications may be chargeable. Note, however, that there is a Lite version of IP Cam Viewer, which is free.