DIY Home-surveillance Security System

Monitor from a Computer

• 1

  Plug one end of a USB cable into the USB receiver from a USB surveillance kit. Plug the other end of the cable into a USB port on a computer or laptop. Plug the receiver into a wall outlet.

• 2

  Place the video camera from the USB surveillance kit in the room or area you want to monitor. You can mount the camera to the wall, or place it on a table or bookcase. Plug the camera's power cord into a wall outlet.

• 3

  Plug one end of a USB cable into a USB receiver and the other end into the USB port on the camera. Plug the receiver into a wall outlet.

• 4

  Download the USB camera's software from the company's website, and double-click it to start the installation process. Complete the installation process, and restart the computer or laptop.

• 5

  Launch the program by selecting it from the "Start" > "All Programs" pop-up menu, and follow the "Wizard" screens to configure it for your system. Watch the video from the camera in a video window on the program.

Wireless Surveillance System

• 6

  Place a wireless camera from the wireless video surveillance camera system in the location you want to watch. It can be mounted to a wall or placed on a shelf of a bookcase.

• 7

  Plug the power cord from the wireless camera into a wall outlet for power and adjust the external antenna so the tip points in the direction of the wireless video receiver that will be receiving the video from the camera.

• 8

  Place the receiver next to a TV set. Plug the receiver's power cord into a wall outlet for power. Plug one end of a video cable into the video output connection on the receiver. Plug the other end of the video cable into a video input connection on the TV (back or side panel).

• 9

  Press "Power" on the TV's remote, followed by "Menu." Navigate through the menus until you reach the "Video input" menu.

• 10

  Select the video input that the video cable is plugged into. Press "Menu" again to exit the menu settings and watch the video from the wireless video camera on the TV screen.

Monitor from a TV

• 11

  Place a surveillance camera against a wall so that the lens faces the area that you want to monitor, for example, a window leading to the backyard. Screw the camera to the wall with wood screws using a Phillips screwdriver. Plug the power cord from the camera into a wall outlet.

• 12

  Run the video cable connected to the camera along the baseboard of the wall until you come to the TV set that you will be viewing the camera's video on. Staple the video cable to the baseboard with a staple gun.

• 13

  Plug the RCA video plug at the end of the video cable into a "Video" input on the back or side panel of the TV.

• 14

  Turn the TV on with its remote. Press "Menu." Select the "System Setup" or comparable menu.

• 15

  Navigate to the "Video Input" menu and select the video input to which the cable is connected. Press "Menu" repeatedly to exit the menu settings. Watch the video transmitted by the camera on the TV screen.