How to Set Up Video Surveillance on the Cheap (for Home or Office)

How to Set Up Video Surveillance on the Cheap (for Home or Office)


The need for security is intrinsic, which is why the connected home and security monitoring services market is expected to reach $13.8 billion this year.

[Related: How Coding Helped This Young Professional Double Her Salary in One Year]

Home and office monitoring solutions can be pricey. Services including those from Time Warner Cable, ADT and others, charge a monthly fee for monitoring, plus the price of leasing necessary equipment (this is in addition to the monthly fee you pay for Internet).

What if you only need to monitor a relatively small space and don’t want to invest in a monthly monitoring service? There is a way you can set up video surveillance on the cheap.

What You Need
For video surveillance of a small home or office, you need a web/IP camera, an Internet connection, and a computer or mobile device for configuration.

Some good webcams are ones from Netgear, D-Link, Axis, and Logitech. They can range in price from $20-$200 depending on video quality and features.

I am going to show you how to set up video surveillance using Netgear’s Arlo Smart Home Security Camera. The HD, two-pack bundle costs a one-time fee of $300.

The Set Up
You need an Internet-connected router and a web cam (and maybe more cams, depending how large a space).


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