Security cameras get them!

[BULLSI]

Caught my first theft from the house Saturday. This guy stole my neighbors bike off of the back deck. My neighbor calls me up to see if I had anything on tape = my hard drive. I was checking it out and called him back and said I got it. My neighbor suspected who did it and was down at his house and he confessed before I told him I had it but still it worked. These are IP cameras so I can be in miles away and look at what is going on around the house. The only problem is sometimes the router will kick the wireless camera out and wont hook back up which kind pf erks me for what I paid to get this system going which was alot and I still am getting three more cameras but those will have infra red sensors for the night time.

Actually I was home when this guy took the bike and four out of five cameras were down at the time. I knew they were down but didnt feel like fixing them since I was home but the one that needed to work was when he took the bike. Fixing the issue of them being down is just unplugging the camera and plugging it back in. I think I need a better router but havent looked into it to much as this is just a few months old.

These record to a NVR I bought and put in 3 terra bytes of storage which means I can record all my cameras at once 24/7 for probably four months till it records over the first file that I recorded prior.

My old sytsem that I will still use records by motion to a vcr. I have two vcr's that support 4 cameras each. In and around the house. These new IP cameras which I will end up having 9 total here (have 6 now) record to the NVR. The NVR supports 12 cameras though. So right now I have 9 cameras that are working as I type this. One IP camera is still in the box, buy three more and I have to fix a set of the old vcr camera system I have to get it back working again. This will end up being on three different systems around the house because sometimes they just dont work new and old. So all in all I will have 17 cameras going in this little space I call home. You can not come on my property and not get caught on tape no way no how. And I believe if you are going to kill something no better way than OVERKILL.

Oh and the guy is/was busted guy sold the bike. Cops got it back and the bike is back up on the deck now.

I just wanted to say get a camera system they are well worth the money invested for the piece of mind that it buys knowing you will be able to tell who is lerking around your house.

If you click on the pic it will take you to photobucket to see the vid. Which actually is clearer with the program I use to view it here at the house than here in PB.

 

[Mags]

Very nice setup.

 

[wally]

I've got them at all the doors and windows and keep their motion detection alarm beep on. More false alarm beeps than I'd like, but anyone positioning themselves for a home invasion won't have the element of surprise. Lighting is the worst

The remote Email notifications of motion detection is nice too while I'm at work.

 

[CoRoMo]

That's awesome. Can you give me some more info on your rig? Brand, model, suppliers, prices, whatever?

 

[KBintheSLC]

Makes me want cctv at home. I have been seeing some decent little 4-8 cam setups at Costco with monitor and dvr for pretty cheap. I may have to take the plunge.

 

[AWorthyOpponent]

You can set up a pretty cool little home camera set up for cheap. WiLife cameras come 3 different styles, one is even hidden, and you can set it up to only record motion. Also, you can view the camera via the web if you set it up, so you can see your house while your on vacation.

http://www.techwarelabs.com/reviews/security/logitech_wilife_security_cameras/index_2.shtml

Theyre only like 300 bucks, work with your computer, and provide a full, good quality video that is not interrupted.

Sample video of my old apartment:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CzoDpdGZ1k

 

[BULLSI]

CoRoMo

That's awesome. Can you give me some more info on your rig? Brand, model, suppliers, prices, whatever?

__________________

The nvr is a viostor vs2012 which supports 12 cameras. They have lesser models. It is what I got because I just need that, my router and the cameras on, no need to run the computer all the time. And the cameras are axis 207mw. Which are ok in a lot of light but in low light they are grainy. They have a fixed lens that do ok out to about twenty feet then not so good. The cameras dont have zoom but the nvr has a zoom feature that helps to see things closer up. You can set it up to record just motion events email you when that happens, audio or not lots of things I cant remember or got around to use yet.

As with cameras you need to do research to see what would work for your own situation and you get what you pay for really. Cheap is cheap. The cameras I got off of ebay. The nvr came from some place out of Texas.

 

[CoRoMo]

Thanks. I've been thinking about this for a long time. The only things I've looked at are the three or four kits that they have at Sam's Club for a few hundred dollars. And then I've seen the $1,000 NVRs online like the one you got. I think that I'd be satisfied with 4+ cameras, all outside, looking at my drive and front porch; digital recording and at least a couple of them low-light useful.

This is one of those things where there are a billion different choices out there. You can get set up for anywhere between $100 and $10,000.

 

[rondog]

Are these things wireless? 'Cause if I have to drill a zillion holes and run wires, that's a deal-breaker.

 

[BULLSI]

If you do go the nvr route and think that four will work I suggest that you get a 6 camera system in case you want to add a camera or two. (And you will there will be an area that you want to have covered someday). I was going to go with the 8 but went with the 12 for that reason and will have 9 when I get done as I need the night cameras. I dont think that I thought it through enough but went with the cameras I have now because I wanted to have a color camera I believe that all of the IR-infrared cameras are still just black and white. I wanted to see the color of cars and shirts etc if anything came up around here though. So I will just get the other cameras later on.

There is a billlion different choices google network camera reviews or IP cameras and there is a cctv site that has a lot of useful stuff. Do some research so you dont end up with junk.

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The cameras I have are all wireless the 207mw has a better lens/sensor or whatever it is called than the 207w which because I cant run wires all over either and is why I went wireless. You will need a wireless router though they dont cost all that much if you dont have one.

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I dont know about other camera companies but with the axis camera I have you could just buy 1 camera and once you get it set up you can live view whatever it is pointing at because they have a program call axiscam dot net where you log in and look at your camera.

That is what I am doing now for each camera opened up in different browsers. But the nvr I have I can log in and see all my cameras on one page with the viostor program over the internet but I havent figured (got around to) on how to do that yet.


I think it is kind of cool to be a hundred miles away and look at what is going on at your house.

 

[BULLSI]

Probably shouldnt post this because I am more of a private kind of person especially for the internet. But. This is what it looks like over here. Man I want to move. Every spring I look at houses. In the upper left screen the house on the right. "The hangout house". Some kid 16-17 got shot last April. In the foot. I think that he shot himself cant confirm that though dont talk to them. Then three weeks later seen the same kid pull out a 1911 out of some guys back pocket (not on the camera just looking out the window).

As you can tell anything far away is washed out but up close and with the single screen it is better. These four screens are small and I reduced the pic on top of it.

On a side note ordered a Mossberg 500 20 gauge with a pistol grip today for some extra protection.

 

[DFW1911]

3 terra bytes of storage

What a great system. Thanks for the post.

Stay safe,
DFW1911

 

[CoRoMo]

Thanks again BULLSI. When I mentioned 4+ cameras, that'd be my minimum; four cameras to cover my driveway and front porch. I would want at least one or two night-capable cameras in that group too. More than four, I would put extras in back and them put some inside the house if I actually had as many as you.

I mainly want to record who comes up to the front door / see them coming before I hear them knock/ring. The video/photo quality of your system is excellent. I'd want it all to be color and quality like that.

Are any of your cameras remote controllable for pan/zoom?

 

[uspJ]

Very nice setup.

I sign the contract on my first home next week and I'll definetly be trying out the setup you've got. Thanks for posting.

 

[valorius]

I have a 4 camera monitoring system at my place.

 

[BULLSI]

Are any of your cameras remote controllable for pan/zoom?

mine are not but they have them

I sign the contract on my first home next week and I'll definetly be trying out the setup you've got.

I really like the nvr as it is a turn key operation small, hide-able could be used to dehumidify a safe (thinking about that) lots of storeage/hard drive (you have to buy your own hard drives) and probably all of the features that you may need. Cameras are just top of the low scale or middle of the low scale IMO. They are ok for what I need them to do.


I have a 4 camera monitoring system at my place.

Excellent!

As should everybody that wants to know what goes around their place. Get something that records if their ever is an event you can always go to the tape and see what it was. Front door, back door, your cars and any walkway/area that a perp may use to sneek around


if I actually had as many as you.

I know I have camera overkill but the old system is up and still works so I will use it then I went digital to check my junk out online. A backup never hurts if one fails. I dont have the best setup out there but it is something that can catch a person taking my neighbors bike at least.

 

[Zoogster]

I keep some cameras rolling on motorcycles sometimes too.

Mainly as insurance in case of a hit and run.
I cannot even notice them hidden on a bike and I know where they are.
That way irregardless of the outcome someone that drives away after an impact is going to prison.

When you hook up the video to software and look frame by frame it is amazing how far and detailed you can see. You can make out the license plate of someone hundreds of yards away zooming in, even with a wide angled lens.
Remove the IR filter and you can see well at night too (though the image looks weird in daylight, but still has most of the details.)



It was also an eye opener when I think of dash cams on police vehicles. Even if the cop didn't see who it was or get a license plate on a streak flying by, the dash cam certainly saw all that was there to see.

I primarily use the system if riding at night when the drunks are out.
Though in the daylight I don't always want to document my own riding.

 

[sonier]

Ill be looking at all these options very soon, we have had lots of vandalism and even one of our dogs killed. I am really on edge and ticked, and that 4 camera setup sounds like what I need to invest in.

 

[Dnaltrop]

4 camera better than nothing, but one on each corner of the house, and inside on the entryways is my "minimum" investment.

My friends keep telling me to invest in magnetic locks too, deadbolts less effective today with the rise in bump-keys.

The same friend used to set up IP camera systems when they were still multi-thousand $$$ affairs, most notably to a customer who used them to monitor their Stables when out of state.

It's not the world any of us grew up in anymore.

 

[Zoogster]

4 camera better than nothing, but one on each corner of the house, and inside on the entryways is my "minimum" investment.

The same friend used to set up IP camera systems when they were still multi-thousand $$$ affairs, most notably to a customer who used them to monitor their Stables when out of state.

Do keep in mind that a typical system on the net can be hacked or the typical way the system is accessed online bypassed, so you may be showing more people the interior of your home than you know with cameras constantly connected to the internet.

My friends keep telling me to invest in magnetic locks too, deadbolts less effective today with the rise in bump-keys.

Magnetic locks need electricity to work. They either are stuck locked when you lose power (better hope it was not an earthquake that took out power, ruptured gas lines, and started fires), or they are designed to require power to stay locked and become unlocked when you lose power.
Either way you have a problem when the power is out (or shut off.)

 

[Sir Aardvark]

Here is a link to a company that will customize the system for you.

For example, if you want 3 armored-dome, vandal-proof cameras for outside, 2 regular cameras for inside, and 1 Hi-Res, long-range, Day/Night camera to watch the street, then this place will set you up with the right stuff:

http://www.scdlink.com/default.aspx

Costco has very cheap deals on systems:

http://www.costco.com/Common/Category.aspx?cat=4802&eCat=BC|79|4802&lang=en-US&whse=BC&topnav=

Right now they have a 4 camera system for $399.99, and an 8 camera system for $499.00, both with free shipping.

Also, you might consider having an online storage feature.
With this, images obtained by your cameras would be stored on your hard drive and also stored online. This way, if someone breaks into your house and steals your hard drive, you would still have the images available to look at via your online backup.

 

[Dnaltrop]

Correct Zoog,

Beyond securing the access to the video system and not displaying a roadmap of the house, a solid perimeter and cameras to catch better detail on faces at entry points is more accurately what I'd build as optimum. (only 3 cameras right now, need to re-wire)

A proper backup battery system, say a bank of lead acids on power inverters... would be the wise choice for the maglocks, and the security system both. but If they're cutting the power on the house, we probably have one of the absolute worst case situations going.

Hit and run people who just wander through your yard, open doors, unlocked windows, unlocked bikes, ladders left outside, etc are the more likely threat, and precisely why more people need to pay attention today.