The Truth About Wireless

Posted by J.J. Lewsac on August 3, 2011 1 comments

The Truth About Wireless

by J.J. Lewsac

In today’s world, we are constantly bombarded with the word “wireless”. From cordless and cellular phones, Bluetooth, WiFi, to computer accessories, everything is marketed as wireless, reliable, and easy to set up. We use these products everyday with just the occasional hiccup. Therefore, it is only natural to assume when investing in a surveillance camera system, those same words, wireless, reliable, and easy to set up, all apply. Sadly, this is not the case. The fact of the matter is that all those wireless devices I named are commonplace in just about every single home in the country. Those devices all interfere with wireless cameras on a regular basis. Throw in microwaves, overhead power lines, and your neighbors wireless signal clutter and you can begin to see why wireless cameras have such a difficult time cutting through the cluttered airwaves to display a decent picture. Read more »

Squeeze, part 4

Posted by J.J. Lewsac on July 18, 2011 None comments

Squeeze, part 4

by J.J. Lewsac

 

Sandra rushed home after calling the police, wanting to meet them there. When she arrived there were two squad cars parked outside her house, but no sign of the pick up truck she had seen on her cameras. She parked out front and hurried up to a couple of officers that were talking outside her door.  Read more »

Squeeze, part 3

Posted by J.J. Lewsac on July 15, 2011 None comments

Squeeze, part 3

by J.J. Lewsac

 

Sandra was sitting on her couch with her laptop pouring over various websites selling surveillance cameras. There was an awful lot of equipment available out there, and not knowing much about the technology, Sandra felt overwhelmed. Seeing that one of the websites offered system design help over the phone, she dialed the number and got a hold of a sales rep for the company. She explained her situation describing what had been taken and that there has been no sign of how these people were breaking into her home. The sales rep provided her with a couple of different options based on what she wanted to do, and after finally settling on a system she placed an order. Because both break-ins happened while she was at work, Sandra really wanted a system that she could monitor while away from the house, as well as some indoor cameras to see exactly how these people were entering and leaving her house while the doors were locked. She paid a little more than she originally intended, but at this point she just wanted to catch the thief and not have to worry about the safety of her possessions every time she left the house.  Read more »

Squeeze, part 2

Posted by J.J. Lewsac on July 13, 2011 None comments

Squeeze, part 2

by J.J. Lewsac

The police had come and gone from Sandra’s home. They took down her statement, looked around the house, both inside and out, but there wasn’t anything that could really be done. The police had confirmed that there were no signs of forced entry; however with nothing else to do for Sandra, the police suggested that she look into a surveillance system, as video footage could have gone a long way towards helping them catch the thief that had stolen her vase of coins. Sandra had estimated it to have been at least a couple hundred dollars in that vase that was now gone.

Later that night she put some thought into what a camera system could do for her home, even going so far as to look up a couple places on the internet who specialized in home surveillance systems. Unfortunately most of the systems were priced outside what she was willing to pay for a couple of cameras. Resolute that this was a one time problem, and it wouldn’t be worth spending money on something that was unlikely to happen again, she decided against going forward with a camera system.
The next couple of weeks that went by bolstered Sandra’s confidence that she need not worry about being robbed again. There had be nothing else taken form her house in that period, nor were there any signs that someone had come in to the house while she worked. She had even replaced her coin vase and had started a new collection, determined to save up for a trip to visit Europe like her sister.
Sandra came home from work one evening, stepped into her house from the garage and saw it immediately, or rather, it was what she didn’t see that got her attention. Her TV was gone. She dropped her purse onto the floor as she stepped in. It wasn’t just her TV. Her stereo and speakers were gone too. Bewildered, she checked the doors. Both front and back were locked. The windows all closed, and still no sign of forced entry. Sandra felt sick to her stomach. Once again she called the police, but she already knew they wouldn’t be able to help. She needed to buy a surveillance system to watch her house. There was no way around it now.Quequeg came running in from her doggy door. Sandra collapsed on the floor, and pulled her dog into her arms and cried.
Log on Friday afternoon to find out how Sandra was being robbed, and if the burglars were caught.

Squeeze, part 1

Posted by J.J. Lewsac on July 11, 2011 None comments

Squeeze, part 1

by J.J. Lewsac

the following is based on a true story

Sandra Miller set her keys on the kitchen counter, and began sifting through the mail; bills, credit card applications (promising criminally low interest rates), local supermarket ads, and a post card from her older sister in Europe. Some people get to have all the fun. Sandra shoved the pile away as her dog rushed in through the doggy door leading to the back yard, nipping excitedly at her heels.

“Hello Quequeg!” Sandra exclaimed, bending over to play with the Cocker-Spaniel. The dog collapsed at her feet, encouraging the affectionate stroking he was receiving. “How was your day?” Sandra asked her canine companion. Quequeg held a special place in her heart. Her father had given the dog to her when she had left home and headed to college 7 years ago. The dogs name came from a character in Moby Dick, a story Sandra grew up having read to her by her Father. Sandra retrieved some food for the dog and poured it into his bowl.

Feeling hungry herself, she pulled a TV dinner out from the freezer and placed it in her microwave.  Wanting to get out of the clothes she had been working in all day, she headed upstairs to change while her dinner cooked.

She walked into the closet in her bedroom looking for something to wear. Feeling some coins rattling around in her pants pocket she pulled them out to drop into her large vase where she was collecting spare change…only the vase wasn’t there…

Confused, Sandra looked around the closet wondering if she had moved it that morning. But even as the thought crossed her mind, she had already thrown it out as preposterous. The vase was huge, and contained coins she had placed in it over the last 5 years. There was no way she could have moved it by herself. Vases don’t just disappear though. Someone had to have taken it. She inspected the top of the dresser closely. Indeed, there were scratch marks on top indicating something heavy had been dragged across the varnish. Sandra blinked in bewilderment. Had she really been robbed? How could she have been robbed? This kind of thing only happened to other people…besides, there was no sign of a break in. She ran back down stairs and checked all the doors and windows. Every single one had been locked. There was no way anyone could have broken in. But then, where did the vase with all her money go? Her mind still clouded with confusion, Sandra did the only thing she could think of. She picked up the phone and called the police.

Log on Wednesday afternoon to read part 2 as the mystery surrounding Sandra’s home deepens.