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Started By
Message
I want security cameras but am overwhelmed by the whole process
Posted on 11/10/15 at 9:49 am
Posted on 11/10/15 at 9:49 am
Ideally I want two great HD security cameras set up at my house. I would like to be able to check them from my iphone and would like to be able to review, I dunno, 24 hours of footage?
I've read reviews for the Nest drop cams on amazon, and some of their competitors but still don't know what all to buy. I'm turned off by the Nest's $150/year monitoring costs but it seems like if I go with on-site video storage I'd have to buy a dedicated computer to hook up to the cameras?
I'm not Bob Villa but I'm also not afraid to get my hands dirty - can I install these myself?
Any insight into these or other options?
I've read reviews for the Nest drop cams on amazon, and some of their competitors but still don't know what all to buy. I'm turned off by the Nest's $150/year monitoring costs but it seems like if I go with on-site video storage I'd have to buy a dedicated computer to hook up to the cameras?
I'm not Bob Villa but I'm also not afraid to get my hands dirty - can I install these myself?
Any insight into these or other options?
9
Posted on 11/10/15 at 9:57 am to GaryMyMan
Bookmarked...
I, too, am in the same boat as you.
I, too, am in the same boat as you.
Posted on 11/10/15 at 11:24 am to GaryMyMan
The 2 biggest questions before picking a camera are:
Can you easily run a network cable from your router to the camera location?
If not, can you easily get electricity to the camera location?
Ideally, if you can run a network cable to the camera, you should get a camera that supports POE. This will allow you to run 1 cable to each location. Depending on how many cameras you have, it may be cheaper to buy a POE switch, or POE injectors.
As far as a dedicated computer goes for monitoring, it probably depends on the specs of your current computer, and what you use it for.
I just order a couple of Hikvision cameras. Hoping they come in next week. LINK
Can you easily run a network cable from your router to the camera location?
If not, can you easily get electricity to the camera location?
Ideally, if you can run a network cable to the camera, you should get a camera that supports POE. This will allow you to run 1 cable to each location. Depending on how many cameras you have, it may be cheaper to buy a POE switch, or POE injectors.
As far as a dedicated computer goes for monitoring, it probably depends on the specs of your current computer, and what you use it for.
I just order a couple of Hikvision cameras. Hoping they come in next week. LINK
Posted on 11/10/15 at 11:27 am to GaryMyMan
I was in the same boat. I decided to try out this camera with two features: (a) Power over Ethernet, so I could just run a network cable (rather this over wireless and a power adapter) and (b) onboard DVR (micro SD card).
It is great for monitoring. There is no subscription and there is an app for it. The app does have issues, but it generally works good enough for me.
The DVR has annoying issues though. Mainly, when you set it up to record continuously as I have, it is real tough to seek to a point in time to see what was recorded. I think this could be fixed by setting it up to record only when it detects activity, but as it is currently set up, seeking is painful.
I wanted to see how much video a 128GB Micro SD card would hold on continuous record. At 1920x1080, 18 fps, 4096 kbps bit rate and no audio, I am getting over a week's worth of video stored.
Overall, if I were interested in a low-cost HD camera for occasional live monitoring, this camera is worth a shot.
However, if you need constant monitoring, the issues I vaguely mentioned would be too problematic. Also if you need to frequently seek to a point in time in your video footage, this might take some clever tweaking to get you there. If either of these are true, I would just go with another option - probably just get a first class security DVR with how many HD cameras you need.
It is great for monitoring. There is no subscription and there is an app for it. The app does have issues, but it generally works good enough for me.
The DVR has annoying issues though. Mainly, when you set it up to record continuously as I have, it is real tough to seek to a point in time to see what was recorded. I think this could be fixed by setting it up to record only when it detects activity, but as it is currently set up, seeking is painful.
I wanted to see how much video a 128GB Micro SD card would hold on continuous record. At 1920x1080, 18 fps, 4096 kbps bit rate and no audio, I am getting over a week's worth of video stored.
Overall, if I were interested in a low-cost HD camera for occasional live monitoring, this camera is worth a shot.
However, if you need constant monitoring, the issues I vaguely mentioned would be too problematic. Also if you need to frequently seek to a point in time in your video footage, this might take some clever tweaking to get you there. If either of these are true, I would just go with another option - probably just get a first class security DVR with how many HD cameras you need.
Posted on 11/10/15 at 11:55 am to CubsFanBudMan
A couple of other things to consider are style of camera and focal length. There are Pan/Tilt/Zoom cameras if you need to change the aim of the camera often, dome cameras, which is what you see in most department stores, bullet cameras like the trivision linked above, and the turret style in my link. I went with the turret based on fears of someone using a broom or something to move the camera. I've also read that the dome cameras build up more dirt and don't produce as good of a picture when used outside.
The smaller the focal length number, the closer to the camera the video will show.
The smaller the focal length number, the closer to the camera the video will show.
Posted on 11/10/15 at 12:33 pm to GaryMyMan
Posted on 11/10/15 at 12:39 pm to GaryMyMan
If you want cameras for security don't buy Nest. Those are good for checking on the dog or your kids but not to catch someone jacking your Daytons off your whip. I would look into HD-TVI. They are a dime a dozen these days and won't break your bank. Just make sure it has a good hard drive, western digital purple, and if it has the P2P set up (QR code) it will auto network the system to your smart phone.
As far as cameras that would depend on what you are trying to view. Cameras for this technology are also very affordable and you can mix and match them from different manufacturers.
As far as cameras that would depend on what you are trying to view. Cameras for this technology are also very affordable and you can mix and match them from different manufacturers.
This post was edited on 11/10/15 at 12:42 pm
Posted on 11/10/15 at 1:44 pm to TigerWise
quote:
I would look into HD-TVI.
Most of the pre-configured sets use this analog technology. It requires a box that contains a hard-drive about the size of an old DVD player. All of the cameras plug into it. If you go this route, make sure you know how many cameras you may want in the future.
Posted on 11/10/15 at 2:26 pm to CubsFanBudMan
quote:
Most of the pre-configured sets use this analog technology.
If by preconfigured box you mean a DVR than they have many formats. D1, 960H, HD-SDI, HD-TVI, HD-CVI.
HD-TVI is 1080P over coax which is 2MP. I've put countless number of these in the field branded by multiple companies and they are affordable, reliable, and virtually plug and play. Terminating the connector is the hardest part.
quote:
It requires a box that contains a hard-drive about the size of an old DVD player. All of the cameras plug into it.
Which is all part of a security camera system. If not a DVR than an NVR. I wouldn't use my personal CPU as the heart of my CCTV system. Give it a dedicated recorder with its own backbone if you are doing IP.
Posted on 11/10/15 at 2:36 pm to TigerWise
I wasn't saying anything bad about it, just explaining to him what HD-TVI was. Almost all of the threads on here that talked about security cameras were exclusively about IP cameras.
Since you are familiar with this technology, do the DVRs allow you to back-up the hard drives?
Since you are familiar with this technology, do the DVRs allow you to back-up the hard drives?
Posted on 11/10/15 at 3:05 pm to GaryMyMan
It's a lot easier than you think. I've run 6 around the perimeter of my house and the hardest part was running the wires across the attic b/c it was hot as frick 
IP cams are the best, particularly with 1080p although mine are only 720p with NVR.
As far as the DVR/NVR setup and setting it up on your iPhone, it's fairly straight forward if you know a bit about networking and port forwarding. I have a 8 channel NVR with 6 IP cams and they are awesome. Caught 2 sets of criminals already - no lie.
IP cams are the best, particularly with 1080p although mine are only 720p with NVR.
As far as the DVR/NVR setup and setting it up on your iPhone, it's fairly straight forward if you know a bit about networking and port forwarding. I have a 8 channel NVR with 6 IP cams and they are awesome. Caught 2 sets of criminals already - no lie.
Posted on 11/10/15 at 3:15 pm to CubsFanBudMan
Some of the more expensive step up models will but I would be more concerned with a unit that could send diagnostic notifications. Can't tell you how many times someone goes to check the footage of an incident only to realize their hard drive crashed months ago and stopped recording.
Posted on 11/10/15 at 3:47 pm to TigerWise
quote:
only to realize their hard drive crashed months ago and stopped recording.
Mine sends me an alert if it's either tampered with or if it's not working/online.
Posted on 11/10/15 at 3:56 pm to idlewatcher
Which cams do you have?
Posted on 11/10/15 at 4:35 pm to CubsFanBudMan
quote:
Which cams do you have?
LINK
I should upgrade to the 1080p setup though. My 720's are an upgrade from the 700 or 900 TVL which sucked
Posted on 11/10/15 at 8:13 pm to GaryMyMan
Bookmarked.
Come to the brewery and have a pint once you make a choice. I am also in the same boat
Come to the brewery and have a pint once you make a choice. I am also in the same boat
Posted on 11/11/15 at 9:47 am to LSURoss
Shoot me an email Ross and I might be able to help you out.
Posted on 11/11/15 at 11:47 am to TigerWise
I posted something before, but this helps some. I am looking for suggestions to take a current wired system, add three cameras to it and set up cellular notifications. I was being monitored, but dropped my home phone, monitoring co wanted to charge 10 more a month for cellular monitoring.
So essentially what I need is a set up that will work with what I have, allow for cellular alerts and possible monitoring and have three basic cameras for driveway, carport and back door.
So essentially what I need is a set up that will work with what I have, allow for cellular alerts and possible monitoring and have three basic cameras for driveway, carport and back door.
Posted on 11/11/15 at 12:45 pm to TigerWise
Done. Had a Gmail and yahoo. Sent to yahoo. My emails go to spam sometimes.
Posted on 11/11/15 at 1:46 pm to tiger94gop
quote:
I posted something before, but this helps some. I am looking for suggestions to take a current wired system, add three cameras to it and set up cellular notifications. I was being monitored, but dropped my home phone, monitoring co wanted to charge 10 more a month for cellular monitoring.
So essentially what I need is a set up that will work with what I have, allow for cellular alerts and possible monitoring and have three basic cameras for driveway, carport and back door.
Are you looking to self monitor to your cell phone, or a cellular device that can communicate with a monitoring company?
Are you looking to have the cameras interact with your security system, or just have in-home video storage with remote viewing?
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