Modern Spy Cameras

Hidden camera technology has evolved tremendously. Spy cameras and surveillance equipment once only available to government financed law enforcement agencies can now be purchased by anyone for a few hundred dollars. Today color wireless security cameras cost as little as $50 including transmitter and receiver. Most systems are ready to go out of the box and can be operational in a few minutes.

What types of cameras are available? There are three main types of spy cameras: cameras hidden in objects, pinhole spy cameras, and cameras hidden on your person. Spy cameras are usually wireless, but not always, which means they have their own power source and storage device. They are just as functional as a regular security camera, and can be setup with motion sensors and internet broadcasting. Infrared and day night versions will ensure you are covered 24/7.

The first type is security cameras hidden in objects, such as books, pictures frames, or an alarm clock. These cameras are seamlessly integrated into the object and are nearly undetectable. Cameras are most commonly used to guard homes and offices, and include nanny cams. This is the best way to find out if a spouse is cheating on you are a nanny or family member is abusing your kids. Others have found them helpful to look after elderly or special needs relatives and children playing outside.

Secondly, pinhole cameras are mini cameras that look through a very small hole commonly in a wall, desk, or piece of furniture. They may be wired or wireless and may or may not have their own storage device. Most models are about the size of a thumb nail, which makes them easy to conceal and install in tight spaces. Cameras can be hidden in literally anything. For do it yourself types there are a plethora of informative articles on how to install your own spy camera into any object. In a home setting some ideas might include a child’s toy, coffee table books, or fake plants. In a business setting many conceal cameras in office supplies, such as a calculator, stapler, or Kleenex box.

The third type is cameras hidden on your person. Gone are the days when “wearing a wire” meant cables running all over the place from batteries to cameras and microphones. Some examples include cameras hidden in a necktie, watch, ballpoint pen, purse or jewelry. These are usually used to collect evidence for criminal investigations, blackmailing, or just to keep a recording of important meetings.



About the Author: Mike Ward is the owner and operator of Protection Depot, a leading online provider of wireless security cameras and hidden cameras. For more information about security cameras, please visit www.security-cams.com.

How Do You Film the Tour De France?

The 2008 Tour de France has been one of the most exciting Tour races in a long time. With multiple GC (overall fastest rider) contenders all within seconds of each other the yellow jersey could change any day. The Tour’s popularity has been rising in the US ever since Lance Armstrong’s astounding seven consecutive victories. More than any other rider has achieved in history. In Europe its popularity may be hard to grasp. Fans will camp out for weeks just to get the best spots on the hardest climbs. It is estimated Tour de France television viewership to be well over 1 billion. How do you film an event that plays out over hundreds of kilometers where breakaway riders may be 10 or 15 minutes up the road? Capturing such an event on film and televising a sport where the venue is an entire country is an impressive technical feat involving thousands of wired and wireless cameras, hundreds of journalists, and a high tech communications network.


Fans watching expect to see close ups of the pain and determination on their heroes faces as they power away from the field, the sensational crashes where bikes and bodies go flying through the air, hectic sprint finishes, and all the other elements that make the race exciting. The majority of the tour is filmed by a team camera operators riding on the back of touring motorcycles. These guys will literally get in the riders faces as they follow the race up the mountains and down the harrowing descents at blood curdling speeds. This is a dangerous job as speeds may be as racer speeds may be as high as 90km/hr approaching hairpin turns, many times skidding around switch backs and even riding off the road. The wireless cameras used here are linked up to helicopters following the race.


Up to three helicopters will be in the air at all times filming the Tour. These copters are fitted with advanced gyroscopic stabilized video cameras, which enable operators to zoom in on the action. These state of the art cameras are the same technology used by military, law enforcement, news agencies, and NASA. Pilots must be every aware of their surroundings keeping in mind the constant changes of elevations as riders ascend and descend mountains. They must also be cognizant not to fly over fans and have an eye out for emergency landing spots. Every stage of the tour is planned with helicopter flight plans in mind.


Static cameras and aerials near the stage finishes ensure fans get the best views of sprint finishes and grueling mountain top battles. All of this video and audio data is beamed to a group of mobile production trucks at the host at the host city. Over 40 miles of cabling feeds the footage to a host a journalists for voice over commentary, and then sent to the fans in 170 countries worldwide. Co-ordination must be seamless and the setup is precise. One mistake and fans in Spain might end up with commentary in Russian. Security is tight around these facilities, which are usually guarded by police forces operating network of CCTV cameras comprised of, dome cameras, wireless security cameras, and other hidden cameras.


You would think that all this setup would keep production workers, and volunteers in host cities busy 24/7, but how long does it really take? The science is dialed in it can be done in 2 hours every morning and evening. The equipment is broken down as soon as the riders cross the finish line and driven to the next city. Setup begins again the next day starting at around 3 o’clock in the morning.

About the Author: Mike Ward is the owner and operator of Protection Depot, a leading online provider of wireless security cameras and hidden cameras. For more information about security cameras, please visit www.security-cams.com.

Hidden Camera Weddings

Everyone wants to preserve the memory of their wedding day. Traditionally this entails an involved search for a reputable wedding photography firm, and then sitting down with them and trying to explain what you do and do not want. Many wedding photography packages can be thousands of dollars and all you may end up with is a flashy book. You will no doubt end up with some great shots, but will have to put up with the distraction of a photographer roving around or jumping in front of the action during the wedding vows. Is she crying or has she just been blinded by the flash? Instead of hiring an expensive wedding photographer consider a hidden camera wedding ceremony. Nothing will better preserve the sanctity of those tender moments, since mini cameras are unobtrusive and easily concealed.

The concept is simple. Conceal several hidden cameras throughout your ceremony venue. The cameras will be run continuously capturing every moment on film thereby guaranteeing you get phenomenal footage for the wedding video. Photographers take great shots, but cannot be everywhere at once, and frankly you do not want them to be. Using hidden cameras will give you fantastic close ups of the bride and groom’s facial expressions. You can do this by purchasing regular wireless security cameras and placing them throughout the ceremony hall. These cameras are a snap to setup and can be up and running in an hour or less. Determine the angles you want to cover and discreetly conceal them in decorations at your venue. Be sure to test everything out during the rehearsal to make sure you are getting the shots you want. In the end you will end up with several hours worth of video footage to go through. Hire a savvy friend or professional to put it all together while you are on the honeymoon. The best part is you retain ownership of all images captured as well as the cameras themselves.

The price of the cameras really depends on quality of images produced. High resolution wireless surveillance cameras will also record audio and can be purchased for several hundred dollars. You will also need a multi channel receiver and some sort of storage medium, such as a digital video recorder. A more advanced option would be to use remote operated cameras with pan, tilt, and zoom function. Someone in another room would operate the cameras. You could even broadcast your wedding over the internet for those who were unable to attend the ceremony in person, but would have liked to. Of course you can still have a photographer take photos of family and friends before and after, but you will not have to worry about the unnatural feel of a stranger walking about during the actual ceremony.

About the Author: Mike Ward is the owner and operator of Protection Depot, a leading online provider of wireless security cameras and hidden cameras. For more information about security cameras, please visit www.security-cams.com.

Solar Power Wireless Security Cameras

Wireless security cameras provide protection at a fraction of the cost of traditional hard wired alarm systems. Since there are no wires it is easy to move the cameras and motion detectors to any location both indoors and outdoors. Some models are designed to stand up to all weather conditions and can handle extreme temperatures; others may need to be placed inside weatherproof camera housing.

The great thing about wireless security cameras is that they need no outside power lines or power connection. They can be used in any remote location without electricity or internet connection. Because the cameras are wireless their usability is limitless. They can monitor family activities, animals, construction sites, parking garages, environmental changes, universities and schools, private properties and businesses.

Of course they will still need to be plugged into a power source at some time. This usually is in the form of a battery pack, or internal battery. However, the problem here is that batteries need to be replaced or recharged. Solar cells attached to camera units can continually charge batteries. Solar technology has improved greatly over the last several years and efficiency and panels will even function on cloudy overcast days. Motion sensors that activate only when activity is present ensure camera run time and data storage space will not be wasted.

If you are a home owner you can use your solar-powered security cameras to capture anything that happens while you are away by connecting them to any recording device, such as a digital video recorder (DVR), VCR, or computer. Your camera can also be set up to automatically connect to your computer and give you instant messages in case of a fire or gas leak. So when you are away you can find out the status of your home environment at any time. It can detect glass break-ins as well as any movement on your property.

The latest solar-powered security camera kits are very easy to install. They are developed so that you can easily move any camera to a new location around your property. High power transmitters may be necessary for large properties or acreages. You can also add new cameras to the existing system very easily since there are no wires to deal with. The solar panels that are included in the security camera kits are big enough to recharge the internal battery during the day. There is also a back-up power supply in case the battery runs out of power overnight. So if you want to use your security cameras hassle free in outdoors or remote locations, then a solar-powered motion-sensing camera is the best choice.



About the Author: Mike Ward is the owner and operator of Protection Depot, a leading online provider of wireless security cameras and digital video recorders. For more information about security cameras, please visit www.security-cams.com.