Home security cameras and DVR...

[Brian Stirling]

There are a ton of security cameras many with DVR's but what I'm looking for is...

1. 2-4 cameras, some with night vision

2. DVR to record all cameras

3. The ability to view any camera via the internet, preferably from PC and Android phone

4. The ability to view previously recorded video from the DVR from the internet as in 3

5. Motion based trigger to begin recording

6. Motion based trigger to send text or email


Any options?


Brian

 

[Savatar]

There are a ton of security cameras many with DVR's but what I'm looking for is...

1. 2-4 cameras, some with night vision

2. DVR to record all cameras

3. The ability to view any camera via the internet, preferably from PC and Android phone

4. The ability to view previously recorded video from the DVR from the internet as in 3

5. Motion based trigger to begin recording

6. Motion based trigger to send text or email


Any options?


Brian

I've not seen a commercial package that does all of this, but you should be able to convert normal webcams to do most of it -- including motion detection to record or send email -- with a software package like YawCam: http://www.yawcam.com/ or Blue Iris: http://blueirissoftware.com/.

I don't know if you can view empirical (historical) footage over the internet with these, though, and I'm not sure if it works with multiple cameras hooked up to the same system - but perhaps it's worth trying out. Let me know how it goes, or if you find something else!

 

[Midwayman]

I've not seen a commercial package that does all of this, but you should be able to convert normal webcams to do most of it -- including motion detection to record or send email -- with a software package like YawCam: http://www.yawcam.com/ or Blue Iris: http://blueirissoftware.com/.

I don't know if you can view empirical (historical) footage over the internet with these, though, and I'm not sure if it works with multiple cameras hooked up to the same system - but perhaps it's worth trying out. Let me know how it goes, or if you find something else!

Really? Most NVR systems I've seen can do this. When was the last time you looked at them? Even cheap stuff has pretty good capability. The biggest gotcha is the internet stuff. Depending on the system, they may work in a browser, but only certain browsers, or only have an app for iOS. If you're looking at a HD system, most HD systems only allow remote viewing of lower res video remotely.

 

[Savatar]

Really? Most NVR systems I've seen can do this. When was the last time you looked at them? Even cheap stuff has pretty good capability. The biggest gotcha is the internet stuff. Depending on the system, they may work in a browser, but only certain browsers, or only have an app for iOS. If you're looking at a HD system, most HD systems only allow remote viewing of lower res video remotely.

=\ I've only looked at the ones on Newegg and Amazon. Someone I work with said they tried to set one up, and while they have internet streaming now, they can't look at past data online or do alerts... but I'm not sure where he bought it.

What site is good for NVR systems / what models do you recommend for the OP?

 

[Midwayman]

http://www.costco.com/Q-See-4-Chann...d-4-HD-720p-IP-Cameras.product.100003211.html sounds like it does all the remote stuff. I'd go download the user manual and apps to be sure.

 

[Brian Stirling]

http://www.costco.com/Q-See-4-Chann...d-4-HD-720p-IP-Cameras.product.100003211.html sounds like it does all the remote stuff. I'd go download the user manual and apps to be sure.

Sadly the reviews are less than stellar. Seems the software is clunky and often inoperative.


Brian

 

[Midwayman]

Well they also sell higher end gear.
http://www.costco.com/AvertX-8-Chan...and-4-1080p-IP-Cameras.product.100056665.html

Depends on what you're looking for though. I'd take the costco reviews with a grain of salt if that's what you're looking for. When I've looked through them the users often reveal they have the technical competence of a gnat.

If you're spending that much though you can pick up the Dahau cameras (or other mid-range IP cams) and build a dedicated PC based DVR with blue iris, etc.

I found this site useful.
http://www.networkcameracritic.com/

 

[gar655]

Got a Lorex 1080p NVR from Costco 3 or 4 months ago. It will do everything on your list but #4.

It supports 8 cameras all at 1080p 30fps. Some drop the resolution and FPS as you add more cameras.

It was $1000 on sale. Came with a 2TB drive.

2 drawbacks.

It's sounds like a vacuum running. It's in our upstairs and I can hear it downstairs when it's quiet.

And Lorex customer "support" is more useless than tits on a nun. If you want any help at all, with anything, you're on your own.

The noise is the biggest issue for me. If I knew how loud it was I never would have installed the cameras and taken it back, but my wife wanted to keep it since we had all the camera wires ran and cameras mounted before I found out it howls like a Banshee.

 

[woody99]

I went another way... I have a Synology NAS system with 2 TB of mirrored storage for backups. This system also supports a surveillance package, which supports IP Cameras. You mark out a section of the NAS storage, and the cameras record to that. The only down side to this is the Licenses for cameras are a bit pricey... ($50.00 per). One License comes with the package. There is a full suite of remote apps for iPhones and Android, to view live or recorded footage.

Woody