Choosing the Right Bodycam: The 13 Most Important Hardware Requirements

The hardware is as critical as the software when selecting body-worn cameras for frontline professionals. The hardware’s durability, functionality, and integration capabilities directly impact the effectiveness and reliability of bodycam solutions. We’ve revised our list of essential hardware considerations to help your organisation make a well-informed decision.

1. Streamlining Performance: User-Friendly, Compliant, and Effective Design

Bodycams should be compact and lightweight, crafted with a keen focus on user-friendliness. Intuitive controls for swift activation and deactivation are essential, with the design featuring tactile buttons for straightforward operation. The absence of screens to maintain low-profile usage and comply with protocols is offset by subtle coloured lights and vibration alerts to discreetly signal the device’s status. 

2. Endurance in Extreme Conditions: Durability and Weather Resistance

Choose a bodycam that is robust enough to endure extreme environmental stress. The device must comply with international standards and have at least an IP65 rating, which signifies comprehensive dust and water resistance.

3. Powering Through Shifts: Battery Life and Management

Long battery life is essential for extended shifts, especially in cold climates. The battery’s quality sustains consistent device operation and enhances dependability. Fast charging keeps devices in a perpetual state of readiness. High-quality batteries ensure enduring performance without frequent replacements.

4. Crystal-Clear Visuals: Video Quality and Field of View

Choose crystal-clear, high-definition video with a minimum 720p resolution. A lens with a wide 140-degree field of view ensures expansive coverage for detailed, comprehensive incident documentation.

5. Seeing in the Dark: Night Vision and Low-light Performance

Bodycams should incorporate advanced night vision technology to ensure clarity in recordings during low-light situations, capturing every detail around the clock for comprehensive documentation and review.

6. Enhanced Audio: Hearing and Locating with Precision

Incorporating top-tier microphone technology is vital for the clarity of audio recordings, capturing crucial information for evidence and context.

7. Evidentiary Precision: Enriching the Context with GPS

Integrating a robust GPS receiver enhances the functionality of bodycams, enabling precise location tracking. This capability is indispensable for mapping incident scenes and corroborating staff reports. This geolocation capability, combined with superior audio clarity, significantly enriches the context and evidentiary value of the recordings.

8. Storing Data Safely: Internal Storage Capacity and Type

Ample SSD storage is critical for secure and consistent recording, and the internal storage must be non-removable and encrypted to enhance data security. End-to-end encryption is crucial to protect the recorded data from capture to storage, ensuring the safety of sensitive information and maintaining the integrity of evidentiary records.

9. Effortless Operation: Ease of Use and Activation

Bodycams should be exceptionally user-friendly, ensuring they can be activated swiftly and efficiently when time and ease of use are critical. The design must prioritise ergonomic features, allowing for immediate access and operation. The weight must be at most 200 grams, with dimensions kept as compact as possible to promote comfort and convenience for the wearer.

10. Secure Attachment: Robust Mounting Options

Secure and adaptable mounting options are integral to the hardware design. They ensure the bodycam remains affixed to various uniforms or equipment, reducing the risk of damage or detachment during physical confrontations or movements.

11. Efficient Management: Docking Stations and Device Management

The integration of advanced docking stations is crucial. These stations should function as charging platforms and automated data upload centres, streamlining secure charging processes, data synchronisation, and device administration. This setup eliminates manual intervention for each device, ensuring a seamless and efficient workflow.

12. Streamlined Assignment: Hardware/Software Integration for Personalised Bodycam Allocation

Effective administration of bodycam resources requires a hardware/software solution that allows for seamless device assignment to individuals. This system ensures that each bodycam is correctly allocated to the right person, which is especially crucial in pool-based working environments where shifts may overlap and multiple users may handle the same equipment.

13. Optimal Signal Strength: Antenna and 4G Connectivity for Reliable Live Streaming

Organisations prioritising live streaming require high-quality antennas in their bodycams to ensure reliable performance in urban and rural environments. Although 5G technology promises faster speeds, 4G remains the more stable and accessible choice for comprehensive coverage. A high-calibre antenna is crucial for maintaining connectivity in urban areas where building density can weaken signal strength. On the other hand, in rural areas where network signals are often weaker, robust antenna quality is necessary to leverage available 4G networks for consistent live streaming when required.

Considering these hardware requirements will ensure your organisation selects a bodycam system that is reliable, efficient, and tailored to the demands of frontline duty. A thoughtful hardware selection can significantly contribute to safeguarding your personnel while also promoting transparency and accountability in community interactions.

ZEPCAM: Excellence in Bodycam Technology and Service Across 40 Countries

ZEPCAM’s bodycams, serving over 600 customers in 40 countries, combine advanced technology with excellent service, all while adhering to EU GDPR standards. Discover ZEPCAM’s commitment to elevating frontline operations and get in touch with one of our experts to guide you.