OT: Security Camera

I am interested in a security camera setup for outside of my home. I would like one which can record footage. Any suggestions as to the types which are available, or any specific model? Thanks...

Reply to
jwill
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menards sells a goodone beleive zeneth brand

Reply to
mark Ransley

You might want to look at the X-10 cameras

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A neighbor has them all over the house, including outside the from door. I THINK it is a wireless system (not sure about that), but he claims that he can take a still shot every five seconds and store the data onto a CD. One CD holds almost 5 months of pictures, according to him.

Reply to
Rileyesi

I am glad I'm not your neighbor. No barking dogs, unruly teens nor drug deals made here.

Reply to
Skirmishd

Look into the cameras and recorders separately.

You look for cammera(s) that will suit the conditions and needs of where it is watching. You then get a recorder to suit your security regime.

Reply to
Gary Tait

I would suggest supercircuits.com for the equipment. It is more expensive than other gear, but there is a big difference in quality.

The X-10 cameras I have seen having extremely poor low light response. Those with built in IR LED's will usually only light out to

10 ft absolute max. I bought a swann baby cam and at 4 ft in darkness the image is incredibly dim. The complete systems that you see in stores look impressive, but keep in mind this is being done under high light levels. I suspect you will want to do your video monitoring outside and at night. The best camera is one that is inaccessable (see LED distance limitations)

I'm using supercircuits pc152 and pc23 cameras with 4 and 6 mm lenses for outside work. A couple of 40 watt outside bulbs gives more than adequate illumination. If the motion detector lights are tripped, its like daytime. Home Depot currently has a motion detector light that is two stage, in that it can run at a low level as an accent light, but will ramp up to full with motion. The pc23 also have a red LED on the front, and I have one prominently positioned above the vehicles as an effective theft/vandalism deterence (also noticed less dog doo doo in the yard since installing cameras). This camera also provides the audio feed to the VCR There are also a couple of internal hidden cameras for the extremely bold. You want outside cameras to be visible as a deterence, but inside cameras should not be obvious.

I have an 8 channel switcher with an alarm input that will fixate on whatever camera is sending an alarm via a magnetic or passive IR sensor. They sell a 4 camera non-alarm switcher for about half as much. These switchers have 2 outputs, one goes to the VCR and another goes to a splitter which sends the signal to all TV's in the house, and flipping to *line-2* will bring up the system so you can check those "bump in the night" noises without even having to get out of bed.

For recording, I have a dedicated VCR with a set of (14) 8 hr tapes, 2 for each day of the week. One goes in while we are at work and another does the 10PM to 6AM shift. A new set of tapes is about $25 at Costco.

Reply to
Mike Hunt

Prior to my putting it in, a guy was staying with his girlfriend down the street. Her ex stole the guys bronco, vandalized it and stole his work tools, and then abandoned the vehicle in front of my house. Sort of a "see what I just did statement." Would have been even better if my system had been installed and the guy who thought he was making a statement ended up in the graybar hotel. All of my neighbors are aware of my system and know that my peripheral coverage protects them as well, and if their vehicles are broken into, stolen, or vandalized, that i will likely have a decent videotape of the perps.

Reply to
Mike Hunt

So, you're the neighborhood watchdog ? Or just a guy that wants to end up in court testifying about a video ? Is your neighborhood that full of aggravated ex-husbands that it will happen again ?

Bob

Reply to
'nuther Bob

Mike Hunt rambled on about something in :

Curious here. You using a time lapse recorder? If so, which one would you recommend?

NOI

Reply to
Thund3rstruck

Security Labs 18007740284 wwwspycorder.com sells inexpensive cameras and event recorders. Menards sells the same basic camera I beleive Zeneth brand for 100 and a 40.00 device that controls any vcr

Reply to
mark Ransley

I'm thinking of setting up some sort of video security/alarm system in my new place out at the lake. My place is far enough out that by the time the police respond to an alarm the crooks will be long gone. I'm thinking that the average crook will think twice about breaking in if he sees himself on a monitor. Will your system set off an alarm or does it just record 24/7 ?

By the way, a friend had his place trashed during a break in I wonder what "nother Bob" would have to say if that was his place? :)

Lorence

Reply to
Lorence M

The crook may just break in and steal the expensive monitoring equipment you've installed. If the police can't get there in a reasonable time, he'll have plenty of time to do it. If your lake place is like most, then the video monitoring equipment will be the most valuable thing there.

Often the best security for a lake place or cottage is to simply not leave anything worth stealing in it when you're not there.

Regards,

George Wenzel

Reply to
George Wenzel

For a remote location, it is best to hide the cameras and recording equipment so that those who are breaking in aren't even aware they are being taped. If it is that remote, they will just steal the gear. There are generally two types of lake cabins, and yours sounds like one of the nice ones that is well equipped with enough stuff that it is difficult to remove the gear each time you use it.

Are there other occupied cabins nearby? If so, your best bet is to augment a cabin alarm system with extra flashing lights and sirens. Sure, the police may not get there in a hurry, but crooks generally don't like being in places where their activities are attracting attention. Security is done in layers, and each layer should either limit the time a goblin is there or convince the goblin to go somewhere else. For that matter, a number of motion detector lights high up on the cabin or on poles will also bring attention to the trespassers presence. It doesn't matter as much what response there is to the lights being on as it matters that it makes the goblins feel uncomfortable being there. I once went to our cabin in Maine in October for the heck of it, and a guy a mile down the lake who saw the lights on (which he'd never seen before after labor day) called the state police to check us out. I for one feel better knowing there is someone looking out for our property. A good neighborhood watch program is probably your best bet for a timely response.

We empty our cabin of valuables in the winter and usually leave a front porch window unlatched. We see evidence that people who are ice fishing, snowmobiling, or whatever have come in and made a fire. In the 80 years it has been in the family, no serious theft or vandalism has ever occurred.

Reply to
Mike Hunt

x-no-archive: yes

After a lot of internet research, I picked up a camera and a time stamped/time lapse VCR from Radio Shack mail order. I wanted to deal with a well-known source in case of problems, etc. The VCR is great, not too expensive, lots of features. The time stamp is important. I can do continuous loop. The camera is all-weather, with built-in motion sensor, audio, IR LED. It's a fair picture, but again I didn't go with the high end. You're right about the IR LED; it only works a short distance. For the next camera, I want something that has more nighttime capability.

Overall, I'm happy with the setup. I can also make returns to the store if I need to.

Dave

Reply to
Airkings

I checked supercircuits and did not see a camera like one at Menards, by Zeneth and also sold at Security Labs 1 800 774 0284

-wwwspycorder.com . It has i.r. leds, a motion sensor and records voice. I have had it in for years and it works. Security labs also has event recorders, or a 30.00 adaptor at menards will turn any vcr into one. I use an old vcr as a dummy with a security labs sticker so a theif would steal the dummy vcr and the real one is hidden . also most cheap alarms can be programed to call several people

Reply to
mark Ransley

I am interested in getting some cameras myself here...however, I have not used a vcr in about 7 years and have no intention of ever using that archaic technology again :) . Can I get something setup to record straight to a PC or DVR?

Reply to
fishbulb

Ransley's actually been dead for about 12 years. He set up a bot to occasially post messages to various newsgroups. As you can see he had no forethought regarding progressive technology.

Reply to
G Henslee

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