Digital "Game Cams" for home security?

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Texas Tass

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Hello all,

Any opinions on the use of the motion activated 'deer cameras' to capture
images of people entering/leaving property? I'd prefer a camera that feeds to a video recorder in the house but they are cost-prohibitive right now.

I've had trouble with my back gate being left open. I believe it's the local cable people (their service stinks-so repairs are often), but i'd like to know if it's a service person or someone nosing around where they shouldn't (note the cable box for several addresses is located in my yard). I can't put a lock on the gate just yet because the electricity meter is also in the back yard and no access means grossly estimated bills.

I found a 4.0 megapixel camera at BassPro for $99.....Good investment?

Tass
 
It would probably work for what you're trying to accomplish, but keep in mind they are usually triggered with a low cost motion sensor and the cheaper ones can take questionably timed pictures because of that.

You'll need to have a clear view to your gate with some room for the camera to do what it needs to do.

i.e. if you put it too close to the gate and the motion sensor sucks, you could get only a picture of the gate being open because the camera missed the shot. Or just a picture of the gate open and no person in the shot.

I can't tell you how many pictures of deer butts I got before got a better camera and moved it further back from the target area.
 
We have an inexpensive game cam that we use at our ranch. We've gotten some interesting pix of deer, roughly 1000 pix last time of our cows' behinds as they walk near it to graze (and probably rub on the post it was on, the idjits). We only get a good clear pic out 20 feet or so (although we have some absolutely breathtaking time lapse when a storm blew through, but that's beside the point of your post. :p)

What you want, in this situation, is something that can be a fairly good distance away so the people responsible do not see the camera. You also want something in COLOR; particularly with uniforms, being able to call up the company and say "I know it was your guy because I could read the logo and he was dressed in the same blue jumpsuit your people wear" is helpful. And finally, you want something that can read a nametag, if possible.

None of that's going to be cheap.

However, I have some other suggetions: call your power company and tell them that you will be glad to read your own meter in exchange for being able to lock your gate. Alternatively, you should be able to get info as to when they will be out (within a two or three day window, at least) and leave the gate locked any other time. The cable company likewise can call ahead and tell you they're going to need access, whereupon you leave it open. They do NOT like doing this, but they could.

Our backyard is like yours, it has cable for two households. They do ask for access, but they always come to the door and ask; and if the dogs are in the back yard they will come back later. Point being, they can be flexible if they have to be. In your case, they just have to be.

If all else fails, you CERTAINLY can lock your gate every evening when you get home and unlock it in the morning. But I'm for pushing back on the "we want unlimited access to your backyard" thing, myself.

Springmom
 
I've heard of using these cameras for home security, not to stop something, mind you, but just to get a picture of whoever did it. My understanding is that there are some that will email a picture to an email address automatically. That way if the camera is detected and broken/stolen you have a picture anyway.

I'd say take XD's advice and save up to get a better one, that way you don't have to worry about getting a lower quality one and then having it not work the way you want it to.
 
digital cameras

Thanks for the suggestions....i've looked into installing the meter that will allow the meter-reader guys to read remotely from the street (unfortunately, I use a different service provider so the back and forth over who is responsible for the request has started). I'm dreading the long phone wait for someone at Comcast who will be able to note that I am to be notified in advance when they will need access.

I might try the deer cam, if it doesn't work i can always recycle as a Christmas gift for my brother <VBG>, just tell him i was working out the bugs!

Tass
Cypress (hey Springmom-we're almost neighbors!)
 
Lock your gate and post a sign -
Call 123-456-7890 for access
Click to expand...

also add a BEWARE OF DOG sign. Even if you don't have a dog it is pretty good general advice :)

If they complain simply explain that you were tired of finding your gate open and since there is no way to be sure which inconsiderate dolt left it open it is now locked.
 
Tass
Cypress (hey Springmom-we're almost neighbors!)
Click to expand...

Indeed we are!

The "beware of dog" sign is also a good idea. Might not matter if it really is Centerpoint or Comcast doing it, but if it's just some kids or prowlers, it might slow that down.

Springmom
 
Check out Harbor Freight

I got a color weatherproof 'night vision' camera with audio there for $40 on sale. It uses a cable that looks like a phone line to run power and the video/audio. Might be worth looking into.
 
If all else fails, you CERTAINLY can lock your gate every evening when you get home and unlock it in the morning. But I'm for pushing back on the "we want unlimited access to your backyard" thing, myself.

Springmom
Click to expand...

I'm in a similiar situation. I live on about 2 acres and my meter is right next to the house, not visible from the road. My front gate is locked at all times with two padlocks. The electric company has the key to one of them so when they need to drive onto my property and read the meter they can. Now, I don't like someone other than me having a key, but if it means the gate can be locked 24/7, I'll live with it. Could you suggest something like this to your electric company? Than, if the gate was still being left open, you'd have your culprit.


Mike
 
They make these things called binoculars - tell the power company to get some :p

Out where we are at, we are required to to read our own meters. When and if the phone or power company have to come out for something, they are very circumspect about making contact and making sure we know who they are ;)

If the cable service is that bad, why not just cancel it and rent DVDs / read a book / reload ammo / etc ... ?
 
I've got a crumby Linksys wireless camera that has motion detection. The software can only be installed on windows, and the video in the web GUI is only viewable from Internet explorer, so that's crap. But it does give me a good steady view of the back side of my apartment, and if anything moves it will record for a minute.
 
partial solution

I called the electric company and requested they install one of the remote reading devices, I was told a tech. would call within 8-10 days to make an appt. blah, blah, blah...the new meter was installed by the time I got home. That is probably the last time anyone will ever get same day service (with the exception of turning off your power) from Centerpoint Energy!

I plan to rehang the gate so I can put on new hardware that I can secure from the backyard and a spring to automatically close the gate.

I have a Beware of Dog sign-its starting to fade a bit, but just under that is a large sign with an image of a dog (one larger than the dogs I have) and "I can get to the fence in 3.5 seconds...can you?"

Modifications being made all time! Thanks for the great info!
 
Check out WAL-MART, or www.apexcctv.com ( $35 for BW, $65 for color) or where ever , or do a google search of, "inexpensive video security camera" and hook it up to an old VHS VCR and an old TV. Put in the longest running tape and put the VCR on a timer so it only turns on when you are not around or at any time you want to check activity, the tape will last a long time if it is only on part of the time. If the the gate is left open, revue the tape to find out who is responsible. It is not like you are constantly monitoring a store for shop lifters or the till for worker theft, you are just trying to find out what is happening in your back yard ,so keep it cheap, if it works well ,you can add to it or improve on it.
 
To TEXAS TASS : A "BEWARE OF THE DOG" SIGN "sometimes" can be considered an admission that your dog is dangerous and if someone is hurt even if your dog is not dangerous and the person shouldn't have been in your yard, things might go bad in a courtroom, and because you have already admitted that a person should "beware" of your dog, the dog MUST therefore be dangerous. A simple sign saying "DOG ON PREMISES" or "DOG" should get the message across without any perceived admissions. It is just like those "TRESPASSERS WILL BE SHOT" signs and if you have to shoot someone who is doing something bad on your property, what is the first thing that the lawyer for the other guys family going to show the jury, yep your sign. I am not a lawyer and am just passing on what I was told.
 
To TEXAS TASS : A "BEWARE OF THE DOG" SIGN "sometimes" can be considered an admission that your dog is dangerous and if someone is hurt even if your dog is not dangerous and the person shouldn't have been in your yard,
Click to expand...

Heh, I know someone who put up a sign that says
"Warning, very strange dog"
I've seen more than one person read that sign and -really wonder- just what that means. <grin>.
 
What is the distance from house (or nearest secure building with power) to the gate area?

You can run twisted pair ethernet cable a pretty far distance (100 yards between repeaters) & you can make use of an unused pair from the cable to run low-voltage power. A cheapo network based color video camera w/built-in web server functions can be had for less than $100 & I have seen some models with options for both software & hardware based motion detection.

It opens up a lot of options ...

Nick
 
I have First Alert wireless digital cameras connected to a VCR 24/7 time lapse recorder that monitor the exterior, and I have AT&T wireless remote monitoring cameras, motion detectors, appliance/alarm controllers connected to a digital controller that interfaces with my PC monitoring the interior.

When the PC is on I get email alerts on motion detection and can access the system from any PC, laptop, or my cell phone (smart phone). I then view and/or activate alarms/controllers, 911 ... etc. It would be nice if I had three, or more, Pitbulls that I could release the lock on their gate under appropriate circumstances, but such is not possible currently (I do not have the dogs).
 
We at the BLM use game cameras to try and capture images of individuals stealing wood without their gathering permits. They were just implimented, so I can not tell you of the effectiveness yet, hopefully soon though:evil:
 
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