Not sure where to put this but A/V sounds right. Anyway my parents what me to put in a few security cameras in the back of the house, probably 3-4. I don't know if i should go wired or wireless, cause the good wireless seem a lot more expensive. I also want to run them to the media center, which is in one of the back corners and about 40 ft to the other side. They want to be able to view them from a smartphone, or laptop. Motion detection to text/call/email would be a huge plus. Night/infared would be cool but not completely necessary.
Main Questions:
Wired or wireless?
How to view from web/app interface?
Wired is the most reliable route. If you get a DVR unit (like a Tivo for your cameras), most of those have smartphone & webpage interfaces (for laptop/desktop access) as well as motion detection with alerts. Here are a couple "everything in the box" products that are super easy to setup:
http://www.swann.com/region/usa/entry/us
http://www.zmodo.com/
As far as power goes, there are a few options:
1. Local power (power outlet near the camera)
2. Line power (basically a skinny, long extension cord included with the camera to get power off the DVR box)
3. POE (Power-over-Ethernet, which sends power over an Ethernet cable so that you only have to run a single line to each camera - both the picture & power go over the single cable, which makes it really easy)
Most of the budget models have a dual-cable system that includes the power cable and the video cable in one bundle. The nicer ones have POE so it really is only one cable.
Motion detection is usually done through Email, although most carrier's SMS systems on phones include an email address to forward to a phone (like Verizon would be
yournumber@@vzwpix.com). A list of SMS gateways is here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_SMS_gateways
Some systems also let you upload to FTP or capture to the storage drive. Some systems also let you block out which areas to detect motion in, so if you only want to record motion from a glass door or a window, you can do that too:
http://i.imgur.com/6OwtA6r.jpg
So your installation is basically:
1. Install cameras and run lines
2. Install DVR box (camera lines + power adapter + Ethernet for data)
3. Install apps on phones
4. Install bookmarks on laptops
5. Configure DVR for motion detection & email alerts, recording settings, etc.
6. Test email alerts to SMS to phones
It's all pretty easy, the worst part is having to run the lines through the attic or wherever. Also, a lot of the boxes have VGA output, so you can hook up a local monitor if you want a little security screen at the DVR location. One of the Zmodo's I setup at a friend's shop has two VGA LCD monitors with a splitter - one in the desk area of the shop to monitor the entrance, and the other in the rear of the shop to monitor the entrance when people are working, so any of the workers could glance at a screen and see all of the cameras to see if visitors needed help or whatever.
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