All About CCTV/spy camera for monitoring maids

[zhizunbao]

KS_me:

Yup. My hse got 4 cams installed after my beloved 7 years maid returned for good.


We made known to the maid and explained to her that the purpose of the cam is not to \"spy her\" but for my kids and security purposes. 1 maid that I'd sent home due to stealing didn't like the idea & got troubled with the cam but current maid is perfectly fine with it.

My view. Maid that has intention to do \"wrong things\" will feel awkward and uncomfortable with the cam but for those decent one, they shouldn't have any issue with it.

I need to install CCTV at home before main coming. Could you also PM me what kind of CCTV you use and cost, and where to buy? Thanks

[zhizunbao]

mrswongtuition:

There are several types (internet cam, CCTV with recording, Wireless CCTV, CCTV with remote viewing) and their prices vary depending on the type and the country of origin. Based on our experience, Korean ones are better but more pricey by about 30%.

If you are keen, PM me your contact. Will ask my hubs to arrange for demo to show you (should be at my place).

Could you share the differences among those 4 types? thanks

[peapot]

I have installed CCTV in my house and I never regret it. If $1000+ can buy me peace of mind and act as deterrent when I m not at home, why not? I have the CCTV for years and it’s low maintenance. So what more can I ask for?

[peapot]

Also I think you need to inform the maid. There’s no need to hide. I tell all my maids and they signed on my houserules to confirm that they understand there is a CCTV in the whole house and they are not allowed to ever change in bedrooms.

[jtoh]

Where do you install your CCTVs? In the living room obviously. Anywhere else? My valuables are in my bedroom but I wouldn’t want to install a camera there.


Also what kind of CCTVs can you install which you can view on your laptop/phone or record?

[omgmum]

I have 5 wireless webcams: living room, baby's room, dining room and kitchen. I kinda regret going wireless because the webcams really slow down my internet connection, even after installing powerlines. If you want to install, go for wired, unless you absolutely don't want to pull cables.


I must admit that I'm paranoid but mine is a low-floor unit without grilles, so it's also for security as well.

Nowadays, most webcams and cctvs allow you to view footage over the internet, and you can get a separate recorder for both.

Advantages of webcams:
- more attractive than cctv, especially if wireless
- better resolution than cctv
- can be easier to install if you're IT savvy.
- some have privacy modes, and you can turn off the cams via internet or smartphones.

Disadvantages of webcams:
- slow down the internet connection (for wireless)
- most have no Infra-red capabilities, which means that they get quite useless nearing the late afternoons or early evenings.

Advantages of cctv:
- cheaper than webcams
- IR cctv are much cheaper than IR webcams which cost at least 1k and above. (infra red is necessary if you suspect your maid is sneaking out at night when you're all asleep.)
- wireless cctv are very unstable and unsecured and are not common

Disadvantage of cctv:
- ugly cabling.

I wish that I had installed CCTVs instead, but I chose webcams because I can't have the cabling done. CCTVs are more useful for monitoring and recording, while webcams (even the pan tilt zoom ones) are most useful for live monitoring. Cos you can't really make use of all the functions when you're recording. I have pan tilt zoom ones, and I can tell you that you don't really need the zoom function, and even if you use them, you'll find that the resolution may not be that good!

Another piece of advice the installer told me (after I'd bought the webcams!), was that it's better to have more basic cameras or CCTV to capture the biggest possible area of the house, than to have a few expensive webcams (Pan tilt zoom) that covers only a small area of the house.

It'll be good if you go for uninterrupted power supply cos that way, the cams or cctvs will be connected to the main power supply and there's no way for anyone to switch them off. I've actually heard horror stories of smart maids turning off the surveillance cameras! :shock:

[nms1]

KS_me:

My view. Maid that has intention to do \"wrong things\" will feel awkward and uncomfortable with the cam but for those decent one, they shouldn't have any issue with it.

I would disagree. If I had a camera pointing at me all day while I was working I would feel very uncomfortable even if I wasn't doing anything wrong.

I understand that if you don't have anyone around to supervise the maid, you may feel it is necessary but you also need to put yourself in the maid's shoes.

[jtoh]

omgmum:

I have 5 wireless webcams: living room, baby's room, dining room and kitchen. I kinda regret going wireless because the webcams really slow down my internet connection, even after installing powerlines. If you want to install, go for wired, unless you absolutely don't want to pull cables.


I must admit that I'm paranoid but mine is a low-floor unit without grilles, so it's also for security as well.

Nowadays, most webcams and cctvs allow you to view footage over the internet, and you can get a separate recorder for both.

Advantages of webcams:
- more attractive than cctv, especially if wireless
- better resolution than cctv
- can be easier to install if you're IT savvy.
- some have privacy modes, and you can turn off the cams via internet or smartphones.

Disadvantages of webcams:
- slow down the internet connection (for wireless)
- most have no Infra-red capabilities, which means that they get quite useless nearing the late afternoons or early evenings.

Advantages of cctv:
- cheaper than webcams
- IR cctv are much cheaper than IR webcams which cost at least 1k and above. (infra red is necessary if you suspect your maid is sneaking out at night when you're all asleep.)
- wireless cctv are very unstable and unsecured and are not common

Disadvantage of cctv:
- ugly cabling.

I wish that I had installed CCTVs instead, but I chose webcams because I can't have the cabling done. CCTVs are more useful for monitoring and recording, while webcams (even the pan tilt zoom ones) are most useful for live monitoring. Cos you can't really make use of all the functions when you're recording. I have pan tilt zoom ones, and I can tell you that you don't really need the zoom function, and even if you use them, you'll find that the resolution may not be that good!

Another piece of advice the installer told me (after I'd bought the webcams!), was that it's better to have more basic cameras or CCTV to capture the biggest possible area of the house, than to have a few expensive webcams (Pan tilt zoom) that covers only a small area of the house.

It'll be good if you go for uninterrupted power supply cos that way, the cams or cctvs will be connected to the main power supply and there's no way for anyone to switch them off. I've actually heard horror stories of smart maids turning off the surveillance cameras! :shock:

Thanks omgmum.

[omgmum]

nms1:

I would disagree. If I had a camera pointing at me all day while I was working I would feel very uncomfortable even if I wasn't doing anything wrong.

I understand that if you don't have anyone around to supervise the maid, you may feel it is necessary but you also need to put yourself in the maid's shoes.

I agree that it's really uncomfortable and I have to keep reminding myself not to do things like scratch myself and shake my legs! :rotflmao:

But after some time, I got used to it. My rationale is that I will never, ever compromise the privacy of the maid. I do it, so that she and I can have peace of mind. If she's innocent, there's video to prove it. If we do anything wrong to her, there's also proof. It's actually there to protect all innocent parties.

Businesses have them, retail outlets and banks have them. But we still go to work and still shop and bank right? My maid, especially when she's new, is ultimately a stranger. The security and safety of my home is as important to me as their security and safety are for businesses and shops.

And anyway, maids are very smart. Some will stand in front of the cameras and wave to show that they are working. Some will hide beyond the coverage of the cameras.

[zhizunbao]

Thanks expert omgmum!