Friend needs home camera system, advice requested

[highland145]

^^^
That's quite cool.

https://www.dropcam.com/cameras/public


I would want to set it to record on motion only but it doesn't look like it can do that.

 

[Midwayman]

do you have any experience with wireless cameras? The lorex one i posted above is not wifi, and i would rather run 10 feet of power cable through a 3/8th's hole I drilled through my wall and drop it to a outlet inside my house than run 80 feet of video cable from multiple cameras to a static DVR. I have had ZERO issues with the 199.99 system i bought and highly recommend it. The RF signal is rated for about 450 feet, if you have a outbuilding (with power) that you want to monitor its a perfect solution and much easier than running 300+ feet of cable across a field or road.

I didn't say they weren't easier or they don't work. I said that wired is the right way and more reliable. *shrug* Use wireless for all I care. I just know if I'm punching holes for wires I'm doing POE. Then you don't need worry about having an indoor outlet nearby (ugly) or running conduit for power in walls (harder than POE) or unsafe extension cords.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

I just got my first - a Trendnet IP camera - recently. It was $40, does WiFi, and has a mounting kit. (Does need AC power though)

Image quality is serviceable.

You can download software from TrendNet that will turn a computer into a DVR and manage cameras (set up motion activation, etc.) So if you have an always-on computer already, you're good.

 

[disappoint]

What with all these cameras being 480p or lower? Can't do 720 or 1080p? Are the imaging sensors so expensive?

 

[Doppel]

What with all these cameras being 480p or lower? Can't do 720 or 1080p? Are the imaging sensors so expensive?

I don't get it, either. When I put some cameras in place HD was a necessity, I refused to tolerate anything lower. Not all HD is the same, but seriously I think in 2013 everything on film should be HD no questions asked.

 

[Midwayman]

I don't get it, either. When I put some cameras in place HD was a necessity, I refused to tolerate anything lower. Not all HD is the same, but seriously I think in 2013 everything on film should be HD no questions asked.

I've seen them down to about $100 a camera for 1mp. The ones that are worthwhile (good sensor, powerful IR, weather proof housing, non-buggy firmware) start around $150. Might be able to get cheaper HD-SDI cameras though if you don't need IP and plan on a NVR to access remotely.

 

[Emilyyu]

Man, I love reading this thread and not seeing one person mention Axis. You know you hit security Camera-phile level when you have to sign waivers stating not to send this camera out of the states

hi, i think you misunderstood me. I get help from their support by email or remote -control. They have market around the world

 

[dave_the_nerd]

What with all these cameras being 480p or lower? Can't do 720 or 1080p? Are the imaging sensors so expensive?

Bandwidth and processing limitations in cheap IP cams (which have to have a little SOC, webserver, etc.), storage capacity limitations on DVRs (more res = more GB) and bandwidth sensitivity. (Upstream DSL is a limitation for people if you're storing data offsite or even just peeking in on the cats.)

And it's also a niche market. I'm the only person I know irl with one, although if you call them "video baby monitors" and make them baby blue or pink, some nerdy parents will admit to owning one.

 

[maddogchen]

how do you guys get power to these cameras? I picked up a trendnet one to try out but then realized I couldn't get power to it outside since it only had a 3 foot power plug. It would look odd to hook up a really long extension cord to it. I'm not an electrician or anything so I didn't know what to do

 

[dave_the_nerd]

how do you guys get power to these cameras? I picked up a trendnet one to try out but then realized I couldn't get power to it outside since it only had a 3 foot power plug. It would look odd to hook up a really long extension cord to it. I'm not an electrician or anything so I didn't know what to do

An extension cord, unfortunately. If you're installing outside under the eaves, you can usually run a narrow exterior conduit from a nearby external outlet up to where the camera lives.

Although if you get a Power-over-Ethernet camera, then it can be, you know, powered by the ethernet cord. But either way, you're running a cable from point A to point B.

 

[Midwayman]

how do you guys get power to these cameras? I picked up a trendnet one to try out but then realized I couldn't get power to it outside since it only had a 3 foot power plug. It would look odd to hook up a really long extension cord to it. I'm not an electrician or anything so I didn't know what to do

That's why you do POE. Trying to use wall warts on outdoors cameras...

Normally you'll drill a small hole behind the camera mount, feed the power/network through and seal with caulk. If you have a pic of where you're trying to mount, we can probably be more helpful.

 

[ch33zw1z]

Just an update. Trolled amazon comparing, and finally decided to get three of these:

http://www.amazon.com/Network-Outdoo...m_cr_pr_sims_t

and one of these:

http://www.amazon.com/TRENDnet-8-Por...d_sim_sbs_p_47

and 1000' roll of cat5e. That's what he can afford to start with, with room for expansion down the road. They will be installed on three seperate corners of the house, catching the areas where most of the action happens so far.

 

[Midwayman]

Good choice. I hear good things about Dahua.
http://www.networkcameracritic.com/?p=1479

 

[Emilyyu]

how do you guys get power to these cameras? I picked up a trendnet one to try out but then realized I couldn't get power to it outside since it only had a 3 foot power plug. It would look odd to hook up a really long extension cord to it. I'm not an electrician or anything so I didn't know what to do

IP camera need to work all the times, so it must be connected directly to the electric socket instead of using a battery. It seems that you do not have any socket outside, ask a professional one for help to install a hidden wire

 

[John Connor]

I don't get it. Dude keeps breaking in and your friend doesn't get some decent locks?

 

[RossMAN]

I just ran across this awesome thread, it is 2 years old but chocked full of useful information.

 

[Emilyyu]

What with all these cameras being 480p or lower? Can't do 720 or 1080p? Are the imaging sensors so expensive?

It is not the case, i know <spam> can reach 720p

 

[ch33zw1z]

I don't get it. Dude keeps breaking in and your friend doesn't get some decent locks?

They're breaking in through double hung windows. He screwed them all shut, and they started breaking the glass instead.

The double hung windows have plastic tabs that break off it you push hard enough.

He's very suspicious about who it is. He's got family that have done this type of thing at the house before, he's getting sick of it and will probably want to pursue legal action with video evidence.

 

[Doppel]

Just an update. Trolled amazon comparing, and finally decided to get three of these:

http://www.amazon.com/Network-Outdoo...m_cr_pr_sims_t

and one of these:

http://www.amazon.com/TRENDnet-8-Por...d_sim_sbs_p_47

and 1000' roll of cat5e. That's what he can afford to start with, with room for expansion down the road. They will be installed on three seperate corners of the house, catching the areas where most of the action happens so far.

I use that same switch and I have the 2 MP version of that camera but without the IR. At least when I got mine 6 months ago it seemed to be the best at this price point and the few reviews I saw (like this: http://www.networkcameracritic.com/?p=764) spoke well of these at their price point. Mine has worked well and I have gone below its minimum temperature without issue.

 

[ch33zw1z]

I wasn't to sure about the operating range, thanks for hte input. The one we picked has a low point at -10 C (14 F). It gets below that often in the winter at night....and on the really cold days doesn't break that during the day. I'm hoping that this situation will be resolved by the time he needs to worry about that.

 

[highland145]

They're breaking in through double hung windows. He screwed them all shut, and they started breaking the glass instead.

The double hung windows have plastic tabs that break off it you push hard enough.

He's very suspicious about who it is. He's got family that have done this type of thing at the house before, he's getting sick of it and will probably want to pursue legal action with video evidence.

Expecting an update on this when they get caught.

 

[1sikbITCH]

You want the wired POE cameras. Wireless are pointless as you have to get power to them anyways. I'd pick up the qsee 720p system from costco (Dahau rebrand) if you want something descent. They are cheaper for the high res systems there. If you just want an older CCTV model you can order them all sorts of places.

My router is in my basement. My wireless cameras are each outside, plugged into outlets and working fine. Not at all useless.

 

[ch33zw1z]

We spent the better part of yesterday installing the camera's. Look good, I'm still working on getting Motion activation to trigger recording. The PSS software that came with the camera's isn't too bad, I can view all three camera's at the same time.

I installed the demo of Blue Iris, and setup one camera on it. For whatever reason, that camera is now locked out. I am thinking I may have to factory reset that one.

happy with them so far, mainly the recording thing that's being a PITA. I've tried a few different settings. In the camera web gui, I pointed them to a FTP server to dump to, no dice yet. I also pointed their "path" for snapshots and recording to the same folders that the FTP server is configured for. no dice yet..

I can successfully record the feeds through the PSS software by clicking record it each individual camera window.

 

[palemale]

<spam?> makes some nice ip cameras with motion tracking/etc.

 

[Emilyyu]

<spam??> makes some nice ip cameras with motion tracking/etc.

Hi, are you a user of <spam> camera? which model do you have ? Maybe we can sharing some installation experience