Security Cameras for my Home

[bX510]

Well, I want to have a simple/no so expensive security cameras filming the outside of my house. There were a few incidents of kids littering/egging neighbors and stuff. I want to catch those kids or at least if they do it to me. What are some suggestions? Should I make it hook up with my computer or like a harddrive? I want probably around 2 cameras.

 

[w00t]

your ridiculous it's not worth it there most likely not egging random houses but rather egging houses of people they dislike. unless they have a Grudge against you I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[killb0x]

The OP originally posted asking for help with security cameras not for help with the kids in his neighborhood...
As to answer the OP's actual question i guess it would matter about what type of cameras you can get.
Theres differences in types of cameras whether you could actually wire them into a computer and record there directly.
For your situation the only thing that seems to make sense is to wire the cameras to a television or directly to a VCR as an input device.
that way you could directly record from the video camera to a VCR tape. I suppose this could also be done with a dedicated computer or DVD player but i assume that that would be much too expensive.
Otherwise. call local detective/'spy' shop and ask them.

 

[mrCide]

my buddy got a setup with a little wifi computer camera and i guess some software it may have came with? or downloaded. it takes snapshots and/or video only when it sees movement. seemed like a relatively inexpensive setup.

 

[heyheybooboo]

I've been considering TRENDnet TV-IP100 RJ45 or a pan&tilt version like the TRENDnet TV-IP400 RJ45. They have a wireless model - TRENDnet TV-IP100W Wireless + RJ45 but you still need a 120AC outlet for power.

I'm doing a major mod on the homefront (I've yet to pass a year in the last 20 when this has not been the case - :roll: ) and pulling cable thru walls, floors and ceilings. Giga-lan here I come!

I may add a voice model at the front door - TV-IP201 RJ45 with Audio and I'm looking for a 2-way audio version that will work with their software.

There are a few models out there that operate with power over usb/ethernet.

 

[bob4432]

you may want to go to sams or costco and pick up one of their "home security in a box" setups. usually a decent price but defintely home stuff, not industrial.

in my setup i am still running a time lapse vcr, multiplexer that can handle 8 cameras and have 4-5 b/w cameras w/ different lenses. the b/w cameras usually do better at night than the color ones, but who knows now. my stuff is all industrial like brand names of pelco, diebold etc.

i am looking for a dvr for the setup to replace the vcr but my setup is more like what a bank would use, minus the vcr as they are all digital now.

 

[SOSTrooper]

This is the setup I have on the perimeter of my house:

3x Swann Maxi Cam Day/Night Color Security Camera Model SW-C-MDNC

Swann 4 Camera Security PCI Card Model SWRPCDVR4 - comes with software for Windows XP to monitor & record, lots of settings and options to tailor your recording needs.

Recycled some old computer parts for a workable security recording server (with 300GB HD, can hold about 5 months of videos on 24/7 video recording with 3 cameras running). They come with their own 30ft cable on each camera, and you can easily buy extension cables (they look like this, with one for video feed, and one for power).

It is a waste of money indeed, but I got it for fun. ^_^

 

[Blain]

SOSTrooper,
Can you post any still pics from your cameras from dark nights?
I'm interested in seeing what kind of image quality they offer.

Recently our church was broken into. I've been talking with the leadership about cameras for recording as well as some type of alarm system.
The church is located in a semi-isolated area. A very loud alarm outside would alert the neighbors.
I'm afraid a monitoring service would be a waste of $$, since response time would be so slow.

 

[bob4432]

Originally posted by: SOSTrooper
This is the setup I have on the perimeter of my house:

3x Swann Maxi Cam Day/Night Color Security Camera Model SW-C-MDNC

Swann 4 Camera Security PCI Card Model SWRPCDVR4 - comes with software for Windows XP to monitor & record, lots of settings and options to tailor your recording needs.

Recycled some old computer parts for a workable security recording server (with 300GB HD, can hold about 5 months of videos on 24/7 video recording with 3 cameras running). They come with their own 30ft cable on each camera, and you can easily buy extension cables (they look like this, with one for video feed, and one for power).

It is a waste of money indeed, but I got it for fun. ^_^

that stuff sure has dropped in price since the last time i looked. maybe i will throw one of these cards in my home server since it is on 24/7, grab another 300-500GB hdd and let it also take the place of my multiplexer, security monitor and old time lapse vcr...will cut down on items on the desk, lower the heat output and energy costs

is that software pretty stable?

 

[bX510]

Originally posted by: SOSTrooper
This is the setup I have on the perimeter of my house:

3x Swann Maxi Cam Day/Night Color Security Camera Model SW-C-MDNC

Swann 4 Camera Security PCI Card Model SWRPCDVR4 - comes with software for Windows XP to monitor & record, lots of settings and options to tailor your recording needs.

Recycled some old computer parts for a workable security recording server (with 300GB HD, can hold about 5 months of videos on 24/7 video recording with 3 cameras running). They come with their own 30ft cable on each camera, and you can easily buy extension cables (they look like this, with one for video feed, and one for power).

It is a waste of money indeed, but I got it for fun. ^_^

So i have to hook this up to a computer. Do i need to have a dedicated computer? Also, can u upload like a small video clip of what your cameras record. I am interested in seeing the quality.

 

[Zepper]

http://www.geeks.com usually has security cam stuff for low prices.

.bh.