5
Installation
Choosing the Location
For best results, carefully consider where you want to mount the dome. Whilst the
optimal placement solution will vary from application to application depending on intent of
installation, the environment of use and the lighting conditions encountered, there are a
few points which are almost universal.
What you want to monitor
The most obvious factor to consider when planning where to install your camera is
the question of what you wish to monitor, and how a movable camera system can be
incorporated into your specific environment.
• Ensure that the camera is located close enough to what you want to monitor to capture
the required details. For example, if you wish to capture the details of a face, the
camera may need to be located within fifty feet (about 15m) of the subject (assuming
the lens is fully zoomed in). This is also true if trying to read printed information - such
as a vehicle’s registration plate.
• Try to place the camera in a position that a potential security threat will find it difficult
to avoid.
• A strategy which is often effective is to monitor entrances and exits - after all, a
security threat has to get in somewhere.
Field of view
The dome camera can pan a full 360º. This means that (for example) installing the dome
camera in a tight corner is probably not an ideal utilization of its potential! A wall is a better
option, as it allows 180º of view for the camera. A freestanding pole of sufficient height
and integrity to reliably hold the camera securely is an ideal choice, as is the centre of the
ceiling in a larger room or a warehouse.
Height
For best results, the dome camera should be mounted as high up as practicable. This is
because the camera has complete freedom of tilt movement below. Stated more simply, it
can see things below it, but not above!
General
• Try to aim the camera at an area which is evenly lit. Objects or people in shadows near
brightly lit objects are very hard to see.
• It’s better to have the camera in the shade looking into the light than vice-versa.
• When running your cable, try to avoid bending it at sharp angles. This can interrupt
the signal flow and degrade the quality of your images. If the cable must be bent, try to
make the bend as gradual as possible.
• Don’t put your cable near live electrical wiring. AC electricity generates radio “noise”
which can interfere with the signal from your camera.