Out door home security cameras

[hondaman]

Hi,

Last night my convertible top was cut 5 times. This makes me really mad, goes without saying. My neighbor is nuts, and I think he did it. Anyway... On to the questions.

I want to install cameras that monitor both the front and back yards. I would like them to be day and night cameras. How many do I need? Where do I place them? What kind should I get? I'd like one of my computers to record the video from them, so how exactly is this done? How are they wired for outdoors? What kind of outdoor cabling do I need?

Ive done some looking around today on the internet for guides, but they dont seem to really exist. So if any of you have any input on this it sure would be helpful!

 

[alkemyst]

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[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: alkemyst

Originally posted by: hondaman
Hi,

Last night my convertible top was cut 5 times. This makes me really mad, goes without saying. My neighbor is nuts, and I think he did it. Anyway... On to the questions.

I want to install cameras that monitor both the front and back yards. I would like them to be day and night cameras. How many do I need? Where do I place them? What kind should I get? I'd like one of my computers to record the video from them, so how exactly is this done? How are they wired for outdoors? What kind of outdoor cabling do I need?

Ive done some looking around today on the internet for guides, but they dont seem to really exist. So if any of you have any input on this it sure would be helpful!

Check out the 'spy' sites. search video surveillance, spy camera, etc

I understand the feeling about convertibles. A chick I knew back in 1988-1989ish had a new 911...we were in our late teens. It couldn't be proved, but her ex cut it on a montly basis. Her insurance told her no more tops or they would drop her and her family. She got a hardtop...and they hired a 'lookout'...problem was solved.

personally I will be looking to have video at my house, I am in the IT industry so monitoring the cameras is easy. I work a slow 15mins away. Mostly I worry about my animals than my stuff though.

 

[Plop]

I used to work for a security company and to be honest they'll charge you an arm and a leg for the equipment, which you rent from them. A typical 4 camera setup with monitor and 40GB DVR would run you around 1500 and thats for low end cameras.

DIY would be a lot more cost effective. We used to use 8mm night/day bullet cameras. you can either run the cable through your attic, granted you have one, or run outdoor coax cables. It's not too hard to hook the cameras up to your pc, some cameras even come with software to monitor them over the web.

If you just want to scare the guy away go to your local store and see if they have those fake cameras. they look like a camera but they are just a shell with a battery operated led that illuminates a red "recording light" hook up motion lights outside to deter them even more.

 

[rahvin]

http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.as...8&whse=BC&topnav=&cat=4803&hierPath=79*4803*

http://www.smarthomeusa.com/Shop/Video/cv-surveillance/

http://www.zoneminder.com/

 

[hondaman]

Yeah, Id like to DIY for sure. One camera needs to be clear out in my backyard monitoring the alley, so I'll need to run power and coax (if thats what it uses) out to that point. On camera lenses: Whats the difference between a 4 mm and 8 mm lens? The cameras seem to have different lens types.

 

[Plop]

4mm lens will give you quality equivalent to a cheap web cam, not much resolution. 8mm gives better resolution you can make out facial features and will also give a wider viewable range.

 

[xanis]

I would get 2 webcams and hook them up to your home Wi-Fi network, assuming you have one. All you would need is to set up one PC to be a DMZ host and set up like Apache or something and monitor it from there. There was also this DIY intrusion detection system that this guy made with RadioShack lasers, LEDs and IR parts. Was in a book I have, called "Hardware Hacking Tips for Geeks" or something, an O'Reilly book.

 

[RedPickle]

x10.com

 

[KillyKillall]

Just get tinfoil to put on your head .You will instantly be able to monitor anything within 100 feet of your mind when you are home.


btw, sorry hear about your top. that really sucks. Good luck busting the bastard.

 

[TNM93]

I posted a link here that may be of some use. Good luck.

http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview.aspx?catid=38&threadid=1694142

 

[ShadowBlade]

http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?&DID=7&Partnumber=335-765

simple, you need a TV tuner to hook it up to your computer though
You would also have to go back and delete the file yourself every now and then so you dont run out of HD space.
Not the best recording system, but looks like a good camera

http://www.partsexpress.com/webpage.cfm...O=2&&DID=7&CATID=47&ObjectGroup_ID=389
other cameras

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: ysperalda
I posted a link here that may be of some use. Good luck.

http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview.aspx?catid=38&threadid=1694142

depending on the level you are going...if you are wanting to protect inside you will need a secure or hidden record source. Remote capture sources are teh most elite now.

 

[hondaman]

Cameras with the built in web server are nice. Also expensive. I'll trench to get the cameras where i need them, once I get a better understand of what I need and how its done.

 

[Bootprint]

Originally posted by: ShadowBlade
http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?&DID=7&Partnumber=335-765

simple, you need a TV tuner to hook it up to your computer though
You would also have to go back and delete the file yourself every now and then so you dont run out of HD space.
Not the best recording system, but looks like a good camera

http://www.partsexpress.com/webpage.cfm...O=2&&DID=7&CATID=47&ObjectGroup_ID=389
other cameras

I thought about using an PVR program for doing something like that. I have BeyondTV and a spare hauppauge usb2, and was thinking about hooking a camera up to it and use the scheduling to record at certain times.

 

[Squisher]

How far from the location you want to observe are you going to be able to put these cameras? How much area do you need to look at (will the cameras need to pan?)

If you were looking at 10-30 feet away and the same distance wide you could get away with two IR 1/3" CCD's and two used time lapse VCRs for around $200.

If you want to view it on your PC you could always run it to a TV tuner card.

Now they do have entire setups to to assign IP addresses to cameras and cameras that have that capability already.

I think logitech has one that is for outside that pans and is telescopic and is addressed by ethernet but it was out of my price range ($500).

 

[hondaman]

honestly, I think i'll hire me a home security consultant to tell me what I need, and where to put it. I'm sure I could hack my way through it and get something running, but I want to know what all my options are, and need to know things like camera placement, camera types, etc.

 

[FeuerFrei]

I think you will want a camera rated at 0.05 lux for recording in near complete darkness. Also those with infrared illumination allow you to record at 0 lux.

 

[alkemyst]

a great source for cheap surveilance gear is www.isellsurplus.com

great deals on time-lapse/real time VCRs, cameras, and 4 channel recording adapters (the kind that put 4 cameras on one video tape).

When recording you have to take in to account what you are trying to accomplish. Are you looking for positive identification or just to know someone is there?