Swann Audio SpyCam

Setting up a basic closed circuit TV system’s simple enough. You get a camera and a monitor and some cable, you drill holes in some walls to run the wire, and you’re in business. Cameras are cheap these days, and for your monitor you can use anything that takes a composite video input – any off-the-shelf TV, for instance. Proper security monitors may have more rugged construction and better electronics, and may have multiple switchable inputs as well, but they’re also more expensive.

Cheap video cameras all have infra-red sensitivity. So you can stick an IR illuminator next to them and see your baby, or shop, or area frequented by interesting wildlife, while the area looks pitch black to the naked eye. Many cheap cameras have a microphone built in, too, so with another wire you can have sound to go with your vision.

The Swann Wireless Guardian. It’s a black and white camera and five inch monitor set, it uses a 900MHz radio link to transmit video and audio, it’s got video and audio outputs so you can connect it to other gear, and it’s got two channels so you can buy a second camera and switch between them. The Wireless Guardian kit comprises the camera and monitor, a mains plugpack for each of them, and a screw-fix mounting bracket that lets you easily attach the camera to a wall. There’s a thread on the bottom of the camera for the bracket-mount screw, but it’s smaller than the normal tripod mount thread used by various other camera gear.