Video Surveillance on a Budget using X-10

Reliability

The key to any security system is reliability. If I cannot depend on the system staying up there is not much use of it. The only issue I came across in a month of running the cameras was the annoying cordless phone in my office. It kept interfering with the signal of the motion sensor floodlight. I opted for a new 5.8 GHz phone and problem solved. Apart from that the system was up 24/7. I did need to tune down the sensitivity of the motion sensors so the blowing trees didn’t keep triggering the sensors, but again it was minimal tweaking.

Conclusion

One caveat you will need to be aware of is that the cameras work in the 2.4 GHz range which is the range of a lot of office equipment (such as phones, microwaves, wireless routers) which will interfere with the signal strength. Trial and error is the only real methodology to place the antennae correctly.

After my evening activities I decided to check the stills that had been captured and also posted to my FTP site. The pictures were decent, and while I was unable to make out my face, I was able to pick out my car in the parking lot and discern colour and make.

For the price and equipment, X10 cannot be beat. While these are not professional level Closed Circuit TV cameras, they offer the small business owner an affordable alternative even without employing a dedicated IT person on staff. X10 allowed me to feel more secure without busting the wallet or having to hire someone to help me. The product was reliable and met the need required by me at my store. Overall I would rate the product at 3.5/5 stars.