Webcam as Security camera?

[Kelemvor]

So we've apparently had some issue sin our neighborhood with some teenagers breaking into cars. So, I want to take an old webcam I have laying around and put it in my window in case anyone touches my car.

I have an old Creative Labs webcam I can use but am looking for what software would be good that can do some sort of motion sensor capture where it'd just recording after it senses movement.

Also, this is obviously at night so if the program would have controls to boost the settings to make it work better, that'd be great too. I do have outside lights by my garage so it won't be totally dark...

Thanks.

 

[Red Squirrel]

I tried zoneminder once, but was not really impressed, maybe it's better now. We use Blue Iris (non free, and uses Windows) at work and it seems to work good.

I've been toying with the idea of setting up PoE security cameras at home myself. We don't have much issues here but always nice to be prepared and it would be kinda neat to watch over my property from work. Just be sure that wherever it records is a rather well secured/hidden location in the house. Use EMT conduit for any exposed wiring.

 

[mizzou]

big hard drive and decent resolution camera is all u need. video editing software couldnt hurt. timestamping should help be more effective

 

[Red Squirrel]

Raid 5 or 10 is highly advisable as well. Would hate for a drive to fail before you grab a copy of some evidence you need for an incident.

 

[John Connor]

You need a B/W camera and IR for night viewing. Something with low lux capability.

 

[Kelemvor]

Looks like the cameras I have currently (they're pretty old) don't do night vision at all. I tried and couldn't see much of anything in the low light.

SO I guess I need to find an inexpensive camera that has decent enough night vision...

 

[Gillbot]

check out Contacam, couple that with your camera of choice.

i have done this with cheap IP cameras and even a USB webcam via Yawcam but none give any image at night.

 

[Doppel]

Get a dropcam.com and be done with it. $150 to buy it, $10/month and it is guaranteed 100% easier to use than anything anybody here will recommend. It is also very reliable, gives you full real-time video access remotely (works well even over 3G) or a browser, includes motion detection and off-site DVR (thus removing any fear you may have of somebody stealing your PC or NAS drive). Video resolution is 720p. Runs nicely over wi-fi. Is 100% standalone, so no managing software on a PC required.

I have two dropcams and a Dahua IP camera setup outside. The wired Dahua gives a better image, but it isn't wireless and its motion detection is inferior, plus it is more work to get it setup, remote access doesn't work well, and it requires a local drive to store footage on.

I can tell you confidently no camera gives a great night image until you start spending fairly serious money. Most of the cheap cameras will have infrared lights, and they are not terrible for stills, but they are terrible for movement.

 

[Lifted]

You can find outdoor IR illuminators on ebay for under $25. They claim to have a 60' range. I'd try one of those out before spending $100+ on a new IP cam. If your existing cam sucks even with the IR, you can at least use the IR when you buy another cam with auto B&W night mode.

 

[zanejohnson]

as far as software, if your just controlling one cam, VLC is good,.. has zoom function and tilt/pan

 

[1sikbITCH]

So we've apparently had some issue sin our neighborhood with some teenagers breaking into cars. So, I want to take an old webcam I have laying around and put it in my window in case anyone touches my car.

I have an old Creative Labs webcam I can use but am looking for what software would be good that can do some sort of motion sensor capture where it'd just recording after it senses movement.

Also, this is obviously at night so if the program would have controls to boost the settings to make it work better, that'd be great too. I do have outside lights by my garage so it won't be totally dark...

Thanks.

Yawcam will work fine for a single webcam.

 

[Doppel]

You can find outdoor IR illuminators on ebay for under $25. They claim to have a 60' range. I'd try one of those out before spending $100+ on a new IP cam. If your existing cam sucks even with the IR, you can at least use the IR when you buy another cam with auto B&W night mode.

A webcam won't read IR, though. You're right that a standalone illuminator is better, however!

 

[John Connor]

Webcams DO! read IR. How do you thinkl Freetrack works? http://www.free-track.net/english/

Some cameras might have an IR filter so you might have to remove that.

 

[slightlyhuman]

found this thread after searching for webcams.


i'm getting ready to move into an apartment for 6 months. i have a great dane(they are great apartment dogs fwiw) i'd like to keep an eye on.

i don't really need DVR or recording anything. i just want to be able to watch him from work(will only be 4 miles away) and make sure he doesn't fuck anything up too bad.

the dropcam looks like it will be perfect for my needs.. any one care to confirm? new to the camera/dvr scene.

 

[Doppel]

found this thread after searching for webcams.


i'm getting ready to move into an apartment for 6 months. i have a great dane(they are great apartment dogs fwiw) i'd like to keep an eye on.

i don't really need DVR or recording anything. i just want to be able to watch him from work(will only be 4 miles away) and make sure he doesn't fuck anything up too bad.

the dropcam looks like it will be perfect for my needs.. any one care to confirm? new to the camera/dvr scene.

It is $150 and if you don't need DVR no monthly fee, so it seems to me it would work pretty perfectly for this application.

 

[jdoggg12]

found this thread after searching for webcams.


i'm getting ready to move into an apartment for 6 months. i have a great dane(they are great apartment dogs fwiw) i'd like to keep an eye on.

i don't really need DVR or recording anything. i just want to be able to watch him from work(will only be 4 miles away) and make sure he doesn't fuck anything up too bad.

the dropcam looks like it will be perfect for my needs.. any one care to confirm? new to the camera/dvr scene.

I can't speak to the dropcam, but foscam network cameras are ok for your purposes. $150ish for a network camera with pan/tilt/zoom. No cost to remote in if you have a little network know-how