The 3 Different Types of Nanny Cameras:
Chances are you've heard of "nanny cameras" or "nanny cams," but you may not have any idea the types of nanny cameras out there, or even how to go about looking for ones. There are many websites (and even a few brick and mortar retail spy stores) that you can look at nanny cameras, but as with any purchase, it helps to know what you are looking for, so that you don't buy something that you don't need.
When it comes to nanny cameras, there are three types. Your particular situation or application will help dictate which one of these nanny cams is best for you:
- Wired Nanny Camera - A "wired" nanny camera doesn't refer to the power cable wire that most hidden cameras have (due to power requirements), it refers to where the video is viewed. A wired nanny camera has a camera hidden in an ordinary-looking object (such as a clock radio, air purifier, fake book, etc), but is connected to another device with a wire to transmit the video. For example, a wired nanny cam will usually transmit video to a DVR unit, a TV, or VCR.
These "wired nanny cameras" are becoming less and less common, simply because wireless technology has advanced and become cheap enough that you don't need to worry about running wires any more. It's much easier for someone to use one of the other two types of nanny cameras.
- Wireless Nanny Camera - "Wireless" nanny cameras are becoming more and more popular for many reasons. The first reason is that the nanny cam doesn't need to have a wire connected to a DVR unit, TV or VCR. There still is however a wire that is usually needed to supply power to the nanny camera, because battery-powered cameras have a very limited recording life until they need to be recharged, which usually range from 1-10 hours.
These wireless nanny cams can stream your video to a few different places. One place is to a portable DVR unit that can be placed (or hidden) usually anywhere within 500 feet of the camera. This allows you to stream your video somewhere without the hassle of running a wire to the recording device. One of the most popular places to stream your hidden camera is to a receiver connected to your PC or router. This option is especially popular because it enables you to not only record the video on your computer, but also lets you stream your video over your internet connection, so you can view it remotely from places like your office, or even on your smartphone.
- Self-Recording Nanny Camera - The third and final type of nanny camera is the type of hidden camera that is self-recording. By self-recording, this means that the video isn't transmitted via a wire, or even wirelessly to another device. The video is recorded internally to a hard drive or removable memory card. This type is becoming increasingly popular due to the ease of use. Owners of a self-recording nanny cam don't have to worry about running wires anywhere, or connecting anything to their PC or router. Setting up a self-recording nanny cam is as easy as turning the camera on and walking away.
When you are ready to view your video captured from a self-recording nanny camera, you have a few options. The first is to connect the nanny cam directly to your TV usually with RCA cables that come with the camera. This is usually possible on higher-end nanny cameras, because it requires more expensive components inside the hidden camera. The other way to view the video is by removing the memory card and inserting it into your PC. This option is popular because memory cards can be read by both PC and Macintosh computers, so you aren't limited to any specific operating system. This also allows you to easily save your video to your computer, or even send it to someone else, if needed.
