Security cameras have been used for years, primarily for watching the premises of houses, offices, and other locations to make people feel safe. Business owners usually use cameras for increased productivity through the monitoring of their employees as well as safer outdoor parking.
To transmit real-time data, security cameras must have an internet connection—this connection helps transfer real-time footage from the cameras to your preferred device. For example, imagine you are sitting at home, away from your business, and you need to check the footage of your business premises. You’ll need an internet connection for the cameras to review what’s happening around your business premises.
Multiple options can be used for this internet connection, such as Wi-Fi, Hotspot, or SIM Cards. Our preferred option is a SIM card for a security camera, which works on your internet connection from a service provider without needing a power connection.
We understand you have questions regarding the SIM card for security cameras, and that’s what this blog will cover. Towards the end of the blog, you will be in a much better position to decide if this option is viable for the security cameras installed at your premises.
Table of Contents
Why do Modern Security Cameras have SIM Cards?
Modern-day security cameras have SIM cards so that you can use the data bundles for real-time transmission of footage to your desired device.
The world has gone digital in the last few decades, and the manufacturers of security cameras have observed a requirement for a SIM card in modern-day cameras. The SIM cards allow the internet to work on these devices without a power outlet.
For example, without a SIM card, you’d have to connect the cameras with a Wi-Fi connection that requires a power source, which might not be available at your office. Or, you do not have a working Wi-Fi connection and do not want to pay additional money just for the internet connection to the Cameras.
The manufacturers of modern-day cameras observed this requirement and embedded a SIM port in the cameras. Due to this, the SIM card for security cameras increased their utility, and the cameras have become a popular option all over the United Kingdom. From rural areas with limited Wi-Fi access to urban centers, everyone with surveillance requirements relies on a SIM card for security cameras due to its amazing utility.
Some security cameras have SIM cards already embedded in them, while others may require you to purchase a SIM card separately. These SIM cards for security cameras will require a working data plan to transmit footage, just like the SIM card for your Mobile did.
Therefore, choose your service provider and Data plan wisely for optimal surveillance.
What Should you Look for in SIM Cards for Security Cameras?
When choosing a SIM card for security Cameras, give due consideration to the following factors:
Is the SIM card pre-installed?
Before purchasing a Camera, ask if the SIM card is pre-installed and if it is, ensure that it is properly activated and functions smoothly. There are SIM cards that activate automatically whenever the camera is turned off for the first time. You can contact your network provider’s customer support for assistance if it doesn’t.
The second possibility is that there isn’t a Pre-installed SIM card. In this case, you will have to purchase a new SIM card. Make sure to choose a service provider with data plans to cater to the requirements of your security cameras.
Wondering what is your data requirement? We have that covered in the later sections of this blog.
Is the SIM card Properly Inserted?
Follow the instructions written in the manual to insert your SIM correctly. When inserting your SIM card, double-check the direction of your SIM Card. Inserting the SIM in the correct direction will make the Cameras recognize it for smooth data transmission.
Do you Want to Save Footage Locally?
Decide if you wish to store the footage of cameras on the site, especially in the case of cellular service interruption. You’d want to keep the footage to use later in an emergency. A microSD card will help you in this case.
When purchasing a camera, make sure it has a slot for an SD card; otherwise, you’d end up with no other option but to lose your footage.
You might think of purchasing a cloud service to store data but wait for a second! Cloud services are much costlier compared to SD cards. For example, a 128 GB SD card costs around £15, whereas a basic cloud subscription costs around £33/ year.
Almost 2x the price! If you can pay the additional money, you may opt for it. However, we wouldn’t recommend you go with the cloud-based services.
Interesting read: Is Your SIM Card Not Working? Here’s What You Can Do
Do you Have Good Network Coverage?
Your SIM card for the security camera will operate on 4G and 5G bandwidth; therefore, choose a network operator that provides one of these options in the areas of your cameras. Also, give due attention to the speed of your chosen network operator.
Place your cameras in areas with solid reception to get optimal levels of surveillance. Once everything is set up, you can see what’s happening around your space from anywhere!
How Much Data do SIM Cards for Security Cameras Use?
There isn’t a set standard of how much data security cameras with SIM cards need. Data usage varies from one user to another, and your exact use can only be determined after clarification of your requirements.
To give a rough idea, a security camera with a SIM card can consume from 0.5 GB up to 50GB and even more. This depends on what services you want and how often you use them. Video resolution and your frequency of accessing them can also impact data usage. You can use some tips to reduce data usage to get maximum results from your camera.
Here is a chart for your reference to better understand the data usage of SIM cards for security Cameras.
| Usage scenario | Data transmission Speed | Time | Data usage |
| Sleep Mode | 0Mbps | 1 day | 5MB |
| View Live Video (sub-stream) | 512kbps | 1 hour/day | Around 0.2GB |
| View Live Video (mainstream) | 3Mbps | 1 hour/day | Around 1.4GB |
| Cloud Storage | 1Mbps | 1 hour/ day | Around 0.5GB |
In sleep mode, the camera uses no data, but in live video mode, it uses up to 3MB/s, which leads to 1.4 GB daily usage. If you view live video with a lower resolution, you will use approximately 0.2 GB of data. On cloud storage, an additional 0.5 GB/day would be used to store data on the cloud.
Tips to Limit Data Use on SIM Cards for Security Cameras.
Several steps can help you keep your data allowance down so you do not run short of data for your security surveillance. These steps include:
- Adjust the motion detection sensitivity on your Camera to help reduce false alarms.
- Position the cameras in low-traffic areas to cap the amount of motion detection video clips.
- Use low resolution to watch playbacks of the recorded activity.
- Position your security cameras in areas with good mobile coverage.
If you are looking for incredible value bundles, try Talk Home Mobile, which gives optimal data plans to support your camera surveillance for the whole month. The best news is that UK’s top network provider backs Talk Home Mobile’s coverage. Therefore, signals won’t be a hurdle in your effective surveillance.
Bottom Line
To sum it up, a security camera with a SIM card can give you various benefits for remote monitoring and reliability. It offers the ability to access live video footage and receive alerts from virtually anywhere without relying on a stable Wi-Fi connection.
SIM cards can be more secure as they do not require a power connection, eliminating the risk of power disruptions.
Overall, a SIM card-equipped security camera may be the perfect solution if you’re looking for a reliable and secure way to monitor your property, business, or any premise.
