Security cameras

[nothanks]

I'm starting to investigate security cameras - the ones that connect to wifi and will email or text if they detect something untoward. Has anyone any recommendations based on personal experience?

[Tim Watts]

have quite a nice NVR (free software that runs easily on linux - maybe other things) and does much of what you are after (it emails at least).

[leenowell]

As I recall a number of WiFi cameras had security vulnerabilities which enabled someone to hack them. Would be worth checking.

[NY]

I have a couple of Foscam cameras which are about 4 years old. They do

640x480 (SD) stills and video. Newer cameras will probably be able to do 1920x1080 (HD). The image quality isn't as good as it could be at that resolution because of compression artefacts. Also they make a loud clonk whenever they change between visible light and infra-red - which happens every few minutes in a room if there is bright sunlight outside the window but the inside is in the shade. They have the standard problem that focus is different for visible and IR, so you try to focus the image correctly for light and then find the IR image is a bit blurred.

The motion triggering is good, though I find I have to wind its sensitivity down to avoid lots of false triggering when the sun comes out and goes in. I've set it to email five pictures, 1 second apart, when triggered. I've not investigated recording video.

The pan and tilt (but not focus) can be adjusted remotely over the web - either within the house or from anywhere on the internet. Make sure you set a strong password on the cameras if you are exposing them to the internet by setting port forwarding rules on your router. You can also view live video over the internet, though that is a bit jerky when viewed remotely if you have slow internet (specifically, slow *upload* since that is usually the slower).

[Alan J. Wylie]

+1. Not just WiFi, though.

Only today:

Don't trust Which:

Pervasive "Peekaboo" vulnerability:

The usual problem with IoT (Internet of Things) is lack of manufacturer support. Once you've paid, why should they waste time and effort fixing your device, when they could be designing a newer, shinier version to sell you?

[Marland]

Are you going for multiple cameras or are attracted by pan ,tilt and zoom? I have Foscam had one that is the latter but that is I can watch wildlife that comes into the garden live.

For security unless someone is on hand to observing and watching multiple fixed ones covering the areas you want covered are better. You can bet that if you only have one or an unattended PTZ any incident will happen out of view.

Even WiFi ones need power so by the time you have run a power cable you may as well run one for the video images anyway. With the right type you may be able to send the power up the data cable.

GH

[Alan J. Wylie]

P.S.

This damning report just in.

[Clive Arthur]

Not professional enough for you I guess, but I'll mention it here in case others are interested.

I've been experimenting with using Nokia Lumia Windows phones as WiFi IP cameras. There's an app called IPCam Pro which is inexpensive and works well (or a free windows app called Win IP Camera which is s**te and crashes) and there's free PC software called ContaCam.

Lumia cameras can be had for not much money from eBay, ones with a broken SIM slot are cheap. Mostly they have pretty decent cameras, though not night vision. The app seems very stable, I've been running one for weeks so I can see who's at the front door from my 2nd floor office.

Cheers

[Dave Liquorice]

+1 I can't see the point of WiFi as a) the camera still need a cable for power b) WiFi can be jammed c) WiFi can be hacked.

Look for PoE (Power over Ethernet) IP cameras. I have Hikvision DS-2CD2432F-I, I use it in 1920x1080 (Full HD) mode(*) but it can go up to 2048x1536. I have it set to upload 5 images at 1 second intervals when something trips its (image based) intruder detection . This is really an indoor security camera so it has a PIR detection and IR illumination built in but as mine is in a window looking out I can't use those facilities.

I very happy with the picture quality and resolution but not so happy with Hikvision and the firmware/abilty to watch a live stream. It used to work but either they chaaged the "web components" they use for streaming or modern browsers don't support or take objection to it. What ever, the result is live streams don't work.

The DS-2CD2432 is now discontinued but see what the DS-2CD2442 has to offer.

(*)

[samchunk]

But it is much easier to run a low voltage twin flex to the nearest power point than a video cable back to the PVR.

But no druggy burglar will bother with a house.

Trivial to get one which can't be hacked.

[The Natural Philosopher]

Thats what happens when the cost of support vastly exceeds the product cost.

I knew someone who finally scrapped a 1956 fridge. In 2005

It cost £600 back in the day. More than a small car would.

Such kit was worth fixing and was built to last.

[whisky-dave]

But with what sort of efficiency, As I stoped using my Mac G4 tower to run my webcam 24/7 as it was running at about 120W, so I brought a mac m ini 2010 which by my calculatons would pay for itsself in about 2 years, as it ran at under 5W doing a better job than the 1999 G4.

[Rob Morley]

Which requires a cable to the router. I only have a couple of wired devices left (and one location where there used to be a PC, which is I think still cabled) everything else including multiple cameras is wireless. As I use IR illuminators I don't think PoE would cope anyway.

[Dave Liquorice]

802.3af or 802.3at are normally a tad under 13 W at the device but there variations that go considerably higher.