Does a wireless camera still need power?
Yes. A camera has no way to run if it does not have power. All cameras AND transmitters will require electricity. This power normally comes from the wall outlet.

Some customers think a Smoke Detector or Carbon Monoxide Detector wireless hidden camera will operate from a 9 volt battery. That is not the case. You must put a small hole in your ceiling or wall to run the power wire.

The camera is wireless because the transmitter does not have to be connected to the receiver. For example, the signal could go through a house. But the camera and transmitter still need power.

What exactly does wireless mean?
Wireless means there is no video cable running from the wireless camera to your TV or VCR, no wires running across your home between the wireless hidden camera and receiver.

All wireless cameras still require power regardless whether it is a hidden camera or a standard outdoor wireless camera. For example, the clock radio hidden camera will plug into the wall just like a normal clock radio.  The camera and transmitter inside the radio are powered by the clock radio's power supply. On the other hand a smoke detector hidden camera will have to have an external power source. You need to have access behind the wall or ceiling in order to power the smoke detector camera.

A wireless camera must have access to an outlet for it to plug in for power. A wireless receiver is included with each and every wireless camera. The receiver is what connects to your TV or VCR. The receiver also requires power.

Thus a wireless camera only eliminates wires running across your home from one room to another.

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What does 4 channel selectable wireless mean?
It means you can change channels yourself. There are other items that operate on the 2.4GHz wireless frequency such as cordless phones, satellite TV dishes, and now especially wireless routers for computers. These objects can interfere with a 2.4GHz wireless camera and may cause loss of picture.

We have a number of wireless hidden cameras that are labeled "4 channel selectable". This will allow you to change channels to avoid interference.

Most customers will have 2 to 3 clear channels out of the 4 available.

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I have other 2.4GHz products in my home, will that be a problem if I purchase a 2.4GHz wireless hidden camera or transmitter?
Yes, it might cause a problem if you plan on having 3 or 4 wireless cameras. 2.4GHz cordless phones, most satellite dishes, and wireless computer networks are the top three products on the market today that seem to cause interference problems.

Unfortunately this is a common problem the general public faces since 1.2GHz wireless cameras are illegal. The FCC is cracking down on all non-certified wireless products.

We are in the process of producing many of our wireless cameras with an 8 channel transmitter and receiver to help alleviate this problem.

The main problem is the picture will roll as if there is no horizontal hold. You should check with your other manufacturers to see if they are on 2.4GHz. To be safe, purchase one of our 2.4 GHz selectable channel products. Our 2.4 Ghz outdoor transmitter is selectable as well as many of our hidden cameras. That way if you get interference on one channel, you can change channels until you get a good picture.

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If I want to use multiple wireless cameras, do I need a transmitter for each one?
You will need a transmitter and receiver for EACH camera you want to view/record simultaneously. Even though a transmitter or receiver may have 4 channels, they can only be set to 1 at a time.  You can, however operate up to 4 cameras from the same receiver, but you will only be able to view and record one at a time.

Think of how a TV works. You can have hundreds of channels available, but you can only watch one channel at a time per TV. If you want to watch 4 channels at the same time, you would need 4 TVs.

This same principle applies to wireless transmitters and receivers. They can only be set to one channel at a time, and you will need a transmitter and receiver for EACH camera.

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Do the receivers work through walls up to two feet thick?
Yes as long as there isn't excessive amount of metal in the wall.

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