DIY: Residential Surveillance Systems

Mount wireless video cameras on the walls opposite entranceways into the home, using wood screws and a Phillips screwdriver. For example, a window leading into the backyard should be covered by a video camera. Place the wireless video receiver next to a TV, and connect a video cable from the output on the receiver to the input on the TV. Set the TV to the input the cable is attached to, and turn on the wireless video receiver. Adjust the settings on the receiver to switch between wireless video cameras you have mounted so that you can keep an eye on what is going on.

Wire window sensors to every window of the home and door sensors to every door. Attach the sensor plates to the windows or doors with wood screws, using a Phillips screwdriver. The sensor transmitter goes on the windowsill or doorway in the same manner. Wire a wall-mounted digital surveillance camera to a transmitter in the same fashion to capture an image should an intruder enter the home and pass through a central area such as the living room. Insert batteries into the battery compartments of all the transmitters, and press their "Sync" buttons. Place the wireless alarm control panel next to your bed on a night table. Plug its power cord into a wall outlet, and press the "Sync" button to connect it to the window and door sensors so that an alarm can sound if a window or door is opened and the surveillance camera can capture a picture to be viewed at a later time.

Screw the tripod screw at the top of the camera tripod into the bottom of the webcam. Stand the tripod so that the webcam is facing in the direction of an entranceway into the home -- for example, a door leading to an attached garage. Repeat this with other webcams. Run the USB cables from the webcams to a webcam receiver and plug the receiver into a USB port on the desktop or laptop. Bring up a webcam viewing program to see what the webcams are looking at.