Security Systems

[exsdgal]

Thinking about installing a security camera system, and am wondering if there are any recommendations from the members. Looked at a few systems in Costco, but the reviews (in Amazon) are not stellar.

Here is the wish list –
– easy installation
– day/night high resolution (motion activated)
– ability to post images/videos to self hosted websites (prefer not using vendor hosted websites)

Anything in particular I should consider in these systems?

TIA for your suggestions.

[spdrun]

By self-hosted, you mean that you don’t want it to upload to the cloud by default like Dropcams, right? Can’t say I blame you — I consider uploading constant footage of where I live or work to the cloud to be a major privacy issue.

Honestly, you can get IP cameras for under $100 a piece if you don’t need pan/tilt ability, and I’d either get a dedicated DVR, or get a reasonably current computer with two 1 TB hard drives (softRAIDed) and install something like ZoneMinder running under Ubuntu. Or, better yet, SecuritySpy on an older Mac Mini!

I’d run over a wired network, ideally with a dedicated switch, not over wireless since you don’t want the cameras to be easily interfered with. Lastly, it would be nice to have the DVR hidden somewhere so that thieves don’t steal it or mess with it to destroy evidence.

If it’s a Mac Mini, it’s small enough to live in an old breaker box mounted in a closet wall that would look like a subsidiary fusebox to the cursory eye.

[exsdgal]

Ability to view images online will be helpful especially when traveling. However I plan to consider this option only if I can host the images in my domain without going through the vendor service.

Thanks for the suggestion, I will research more in the morning.

[moneymaker]

I think the Costco systems offer a lot of bang for the buck. Bought one 6 years or so ago, they are so much better now. Can get near HD quality and an App for ease of use. I have mine outside, I’m not enough of a security expert to trust them inside yet. Don’t want anyone seeing me running around in my underwear doing a Tom Cruise scene from risky business.

[exsdgal]

lol… I can relate. In the past I have walked past quite a few systems at Costco. Yesterday I noticed only 2 wireless systems at the store and the reviews had software/installation complaints. There was a cabled version w/ dvr, but the installation appeared to be tedious. Will post what I end up installing.

[spdrun]

I have mine outside, I’m not enough of a security expert to trust them inside yet. Don’t want anyone seeing me running around in my underwear doing a Tom Cruise scene from risky business.

Practically, if the system isn’t connected to the Internet and is either using analog cameras over coax, encrypted WiFi, or Ethernet, there’s zero chance of that.

Only connect the system to the ‘net if you’re traveling and want remote access to it — an Ethernet cable is easy to unplug.

[FlyerInHi]

I’m waiting for prices of power over Ethernet security systems to drop. I hate cables running around. I finally got all my AV cables inside the wall.

I think smart TVs will soon have built-in security cameras.

[spdrun]

You can run at least an amp over Ethernet cable. A camera probably uses two twisted pairs out of four. No reason why you can’t cut the wallwart cable and connect the wart at one end of the Ethernet cable with the barrel connector at the camera end. Use one twisted pair in parallel for +, the other for -.

Smart TVs with cameras will have limited use, since they’re generally not in all rooms, nor optimally placed to get a good view of an entire room. Plus, unless they support local recording, I’m not trusting the TV maker’s kloudkrap infrastructure to keep footage of my home private.

[FlyerInHi]

Honestly, camera is just nice to have and cool at first but how often will you look?

I already have some automation with a mi casa verde controller.

But if a thief wants to break in, they can have my stuff. I don’t have much worst taking. I don’t even have pictures on the wall.

Did you notice that all the ISPs are now in the home automation business for a monthly fee, of course.

[svelte]

I just did a pretty complete investigation and purchase of a new system.

If you buy the cheap systems at Costco et. al. about all you’ll be able to tell is someone was there. Quality sucks so getting a clear face shot is pretty impossible unless the camera is within 10-15 feet of the subject.

I had one of these systems that I ditched the first time it recorded an important event – frustration is high when you’ve bought a system then it turns out its value during an event is minimal believe me.

Here is what I consider to be the bare minimum:

– HD 1080 full color cameras with IR night mode in the 3MB+ range
– 3 Weeks of recording space on hard drive (about a TB per camera) with ability to support up to 16 cameras
– A good software package with motion detection, zoom, and ability to handle up to 16 cameras
– PoE to minimumize wire running

It does fairly well at night and excellent in the daytime. My system can read license plates up to about 30 feet for slow moving or stationary cars.

If you need license plate reading at a longer distance or a speed greater than about 20 MPH, you’ll need a special purpose camera….I am currently studying getting at least one of these.

I’ve mounted my cameras indoors to avoid detection, to avoid vandalism, to minimize running wires, and to avoid water damage. I think this is a great way to go. Be aware of what I gave up to mount inside my windows: camera angles can be limited in some applications (though mine worked out fine), and the IR lights reflect off the glass making the cameras useless at night (I turned off the active IR to avoid the reflect – results are still pretty good). Note that the IR lights only work up to about 25-30 feet anyway, so it was no big loss.

I record *everything* the camera sees because motion detection is only so good. I don’t want the camera to filter what it records via motion detection (MD), I want everything sent to the hard drive so that if something happens, I can review everything. MD at the SW level gives me some clues as to where to look, but if MD didn’t pick it up I still have it recorded and can find it myself. And I have had to do this.

MD can be set off my moving shadows (as the sun moves across the sky), leaves blowing across the ground, trees shaking, birds flying, etc. So the false alarm to event that I care about ratio is about 10 to 1 at certain times of day. (It can be as low as 1 to 1 at other times of day)

Cameras that fit the bill are $300-400 each and the NVR is about $800. Then there are the incidentals (CAT6, wireless router, etc).

Personally, I would avoid the off-brand things because from what I’ve read many times reliability is an issue.

Two companies that have first-rate products are:

http://www.axis.com/

http://www2.acti.com/corpweb/home/index.aspx

My opinion is that if you don’t go with one of these, expect frustration and repurchase. 🙂

You would be shocked at what I’ve caught on camera in the last 6 months. Theft, vandalism, things we didn’t even know was going on near our property! I thought the neighbors would be creeped out by the cams – no, they’ve actually come over to see if I caught x or y on my hard drive. It has been very helpful.

And let me tell you this: odd, odd things get caught on video between 1 and 4 AM. Very odd indeed.

Finally, life is about to get very difficult for crooks. I’ve noticed that not a week goes by that our local news sources don’t show a clip of what someone recorded with their surveillance cameras. It won’t be long before they will be so common that your every move is logged somewhere by someone from the time you walk out your door until you walk into the next building.

[FlyerInHi]

[quote=svelte]I just did a pretty complete investigation and purchase of a new system.

If you buy the cheap systems at Costco et. al. about all you’ll be able to tell is someone was there. Quality sucks so getting a clear face shot is pretty impossible unless the camera is within 10-15 feet of the subject.

I had one of these systems that I ditched the first time it recorded an important event – frustration is high when you’ve bought a system then it turns out its value during an event is minimal believe me.

Here is what I consider to be the bare minimum:

– HD 1080 full color cameras with IR night mode in the 3MB+ range
– 3 Weeks of recording space on hard drive (about a TB per camera) with ability to support up to 16 cameras
– A good software package with motion detection, zoom, and ability to handle up to 16 cameras
– PoE to minimumize wire running

It does fairly well at night and excellent in the daytime. My system can read license plates up to about 30 feet for slow moving or stationary cars.

If you need license plate reading at a longer distance or a speed greater than about 20 MPH, you’ll need a special purpose camera….I am currently studying getting at least one of these.

I’ve mounted my cameras indoors to avoid detection, to avoid vandalism, to minimize running wires, and to avoid water damage. I think this is a great way to go. Be aware of what I gave up to mount inside my windows: camera angles can be limited in some applications (though mine worked out fine), and the IR lights reflect off the glass making the cameras useless at night (I turned off the active IR to avoid the reflect – results are still pretty good). Note that the IR lights only work up to about 25-30 feet anyway, so it was no big loss.

I record *everything* the camera sees because motion detection is only so good. I don’t want the camera to filter what it records via motion detection (MD), I want everything sent to the hard drive so that if something happens, I can review everything. MD at the SW level gives me some clues as to where to look, but if MD didn’t pick it up I still have it recorded and can find it myself. And I have had to do this.

MD can be set off my moving shadows (as the sun moves across the sky), leaves blowing across the ground, trees shaking, birds flying, etc. So the false alarm to event that I care about ratio is about 10 to 1 at certain times of day. (It can be as low as 1 to 1 at other times of day)

Cameras that fit the bill are $300-400 each and the NVR is about $800. Then there are the incidentals (CAT6, wireless router, etc).

Personally, I would avoid the off-brand things because from what I’ve read many times reliability is an issue.

Two companies that have first-rate products are:

http://www.axis.com/

http://www2.acti.com/corpweb/home/index.aspx

My opinion is that if you don’t go with one of these, expect frustration and repurchase. 🙂

You would be shocked at what I’ve caught on camera in the last 6 months. Theft, vandalism, things we didn’t even know was going on near our property! I thought the neighbors would be creeped out by the cams – no, they’ve actually come over to see if I caught x or y on my hard drive. It has been very helpful.

And let me tell you this: odd, odd things get caught on video between 1 and 4 AM. Very odd indeed.

Finally, life is about to get very difficult for crooks. I’ve noticed that not a week goes by that our local news sources don’t show a clip of what someone recorded with their surveillance cameras. It won’t be long before they will be so common that your every move is logged somewhere by someone from the time you walk out your door until you walk into the next building.[/quote]

Wow, excellent review.

[spdrun]

Honestly, camera is just nice to have and cool at first but how often will you look?
I already have some automation with a mi casa verde controller.
But if a thief wants to break in, they can have my stuff. I don’t have much worst taking. I don’t even have pictures on the wall.

I’d agree — don’t have cameras in my apartment. Even if I did catch a face, unless the thief was local and known to the local precinct, how likely would the police be to find him/her?

I do specify and design camera systems for businesses, though.

[svelte]

[quote=spdrun]

I’d agree — don’t have cameras in my apartment. Even if I did catch a face, unless the thief was local and known to the local precinct, how likely would the police be to find him/her?
[/quote]

That’s what the license plate camera is for. 🙂

And so far, for the two arrestable events, we are batting 50%.

[Hobie]

[quote=svelte]
And let me tell you this: odd, odd things get caught on video between 1 and 4 AM. Very odd indeed.
[/quote]

I was amazed how many skunks, raccoons are out and about at night. And how many strangers go door to door knocking ( casing ) for business and do not leave behind flyers.

[Doofrat]

[quote=svelte]
And let me tell you this: odd, odd things get caught on video between 1 and 4 AM. Very odd indeed.

[/quote]
Do elaborate please 🙂

[Author]

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