How much would you need to spend for a good home surveillance system?

[UnholyCarcass]

Is it cheaper to go with one provided by a company or make my own home surveillance system?

 

[xgsound]

As with a computer, the first information we need to give a decent answer is "What do you want to do with it". Examples are check on kids in home, check on pets in home, nanny cam, or outside security for prowlers. Do you want video only or video and audio? Some states require written consent (really!) for audio recording.

That said, any security cameras will need to be effective enough at entrance and exit to positively ID people, actions and vehicles for police purposes. In 2015 720P is a minimum and 1080P and up are desirable.

Costco has a 8 Camera outside/inside day/night video only 1080P stand alone system for $500. http://www.costco.com/.product.1002...geHorizontalTop|PersonalizedClickCPInCategory My boy has this system and is pleased. We changed the fan (quieter and $6 on Amazon) and several Lenses ($8 each on Amazon) to get the zoom for 40 to 80 feet. You can see this system in operation at my local Costco, so check yours if you are interested . Here is a video of the 720P/16 version with the great $550 addon zoom camera. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9XFmIVfvnQ

We let the footage collect on the 2TB hard drive if it is ever needed. We have not tried viewing over the internet. The price is about double for an IP system with similar video.

Jim

 

[John Connor]

Tree fiddy.

 

[KeithP]

Costco has a 8 Camera outside/inside day/night video only 1080P stand alone system for $500. http://www.costco.com/.product.1002...geHorizontalTop|PersonalizedClickCPInCategory My boy has this system and is pleased.

That looks like a pretty reasonable system. Plus, there is an additional $100 off through 10/25.

-KeithP

 

[xgsound]

Wow! It was a ridiculously excellent deal at $499. At$399 it's a steal. That's less than 2 1080p IP cameras!

This is only an analog wired (bnc59 connectors) system instead of the top rated IP Power over ethernet wired systems, but it is 1080p and gave 85% of the functions for less than 1/2 price. Now it's 1/3 price. It can often use old wiring. Some people are still selling the old 960h (960 x 568) resolution systems or less while this is actual 1080p (1920 x 1080) resolution.

Jim

 

[calahan]

Get yourself a loud dog and you will sleep fine. LOL

 

[Zodiark1593]

Get yourself a loud dog and you will sleep fine. LOL

A couple chihuahuas will do the trick too. :whiste:

I wonder what a lawyer would say about a (highly visible) sign out on the front lawn (and several other areas) that says something along the lines of...

"By trespassing on this private property without expressed formal consent of property owners and/or tenants, you hereby consent to all surveillance whilst on these premises for the nature of evidence collection in the event a crime has been committed, including, but not limited to, video and audio recording."

Though the written consent law may still blow holes in this plan as willful illegal trespassing may not be seen as, nor equated to written consent in a court of law.