emuleiii
I want to install some Surveillance & security Cameras for my house. outside window. i am thinking maybe 3 sides of my house . front side, drive way side and the back side of my house. good enough to cover whoever can get into my driveway and back yard....
Which brand and model is the best ? i want something relatively easy to install and use . better something can just record directly to my computer.
Answer
For home use, recorded to computer, webcams work as well as anything else. Make sure the resolution is 640x480, plug 'em in, and you're set.
As for brands and all... there are only a few manufacturers, but the cams are sold under many brand names.
Many big-box home improvement stores, stores like Costco and Sam's Club, and even large department stores, sell security systems now. Cost can run from a hundred bucks for a simple system, to many thousands of dollars.
Look for the following:
1. Video is recorded in a standard format, like AVI. Real AVI, not some proprietary container format that requires the DVR software to work with. IF you need the video for something, you want everyone to be able to see it. Proprietary software is a pain in the posterior, and gets in the way more than anything else.
2. Resolution of at least 640x480. If you have the storage, even higher. Don't let anyone tell that 160x120 is "good enough", I can guarantee that it is most definitely NOT enough. Even 320x240, which is the default for many systems, is just barely good enough some of the time, and useless more of the time.
3. You don't need to store the video for years, but you need to have at least 7 days before the system rolls over and records on top of old video.
4. YOU need to know how to operate the equipment. Don't expect somebody else to come in and extract an event for you.
I don't install video systems, I'm the guy that has to retrieve the video off the system, and then try and make it into something useful. If you follow the 4 things I mention, your video will be of much more use in case you ever need it.
For home use, recorded to computer, webcams work as well as anything else. Make sure the resolution is 640x480, plug 'em in, and you're set.
As for brands and all... there are only a few manufacturers, but the cams are sold under many brand names.
Many big-box home improvement stores, stores like Costco and Sam's Club, and even large department stores, sell security systems now. Cost can run from a hundred bucks for a simple system, to many thousands of dollars.
Look for the following:
1. Video is recorded in a standard format, like AVI. Real AVI, not some proprietary container format that requires the DVR software to work with. IF you need the video for something, you want everyone to be able to see it. Proprietary software is a pain in the posterior, and gets in the way more than anything else.
2. Resolution of at least 640x480. If you have the storage, even higher. Don't let anyone tell that 160x120 is "good enough", I can guarantee that it is most definitely NOT enough. Even 320x240, which is the default for many systems, is just barely good enough some of the time, and useless more of the time.
3. You don't need to store the video for years, but you need to have at least 7 days before the system rolls over and records on top of old video.
4. YOU need to know how to operate the equipment. Don't expect somebody else to come in and extract an event for you.
I don't install video systems, I'm the guy that has to retrieve the video off the system, and then try and make it into something useful. If you follow the 4 things I mention, your video will be of much more use in case you ever need it.
MY RIGHT TO A SECURITY CAMERA?
MY RIGHT TO A SECURITY CAMERA?
I LIVE IN OAKLAND, AND i PUT A SECURITY CAMERA UP OUTSIDE MY UNIT FACING THE DRIVEWAY AND STREET, i WAS INSTRUCTED BY MY LANDLORD TO REMOVE THE CAMERA.
I FEEL THAT IS SHOULD BE MY RIGHT TO PROTECT MYSELF AS A FEMALE LIVING ALONE, THIS IS SURPRISING TO ME AND i WOULD LIKE TO PUT THE CAMERA BACK UP AS SOON AS i FIND OUT WHAT THE LAW IS IN REGARDS TO THIS ISSUE, ANYONE KNOW?
GUESS IF THE CAMERA IS ILLEGAL, I SHOULD GO OUT AND GET MYSELF A GUN!
Answer
The issue as I read it from your question and from the discussion board isn't about the legality of the security camera, but rather about what you can do in the "public" area of your apartment building. Sadly for you, the answer is, "more or less whatever your landlord tells you". You don't own the stairwells, front door, or walk-up to your apartment; your landlord does.
Flip things around to his perspective: you're now responsible for the buildings and grounds, as well as attracting tenants, and without consulting you suddenly there appears a security camera right next to the front door. This is your property. Maybe you don't like the look of it--it's hostile and threatening, and you're afraid that it will put off possible tenants. Maybe you're offended that the tenant thought she could just put something up without consulting you--what's next, she repaints the front door? Whatever the reason, this is your property, and unless you've been giving out pretty weird leases, you control what goes on everywhere on the property except the actual rented units. It's your call.
My suggestion is that you not get confrontational. Your landlord holds all the cards here: he can make you take it down just because it's sunny out and the last digit of your zip code is three. If you owned a house and your neighbor put a security camera on your house looking at his yard, you could do the exact same thing, and sue him to boot. Your rental agreement covers only the inside of your apartment, so you're negotiating from the weaker position here. Your advantage: the camera is already up. Taking it down requires work, an alteration to the new status quo. So I advise that you politely approach your landlord, ask to talk to him about the camera, and explain why you felt it was necessary. Tell him that, in casual conversation with your neighbors, none of them had expressed dismay at it. You'll of course take it down if he feels strongly about it, but you think it could also act as a deterrent for acts of crime and vandalism--play up the good things about the camera. If he is concerned that one resident seems to have a position of power over the others, point out that the others don't mind, and that you're acting as an unpaid security guard. Offer to provide him the tapes whenever he asks. Bottom line: be as accomodating as you possibly can, play up the positives, and immediately follow up the negatives with solutions that re-emphasize the positives. You still may lose, but I think your chances are better this way than if you go to him with a signed petition, which seems combative and challenges his legitimate authority in the matter.
I put up a question to this effect at www.lawguru.com, under the Landlord/Tenant section in California. It should be addressed by a lawyer within the next week or two, so check back. It hasn't been posted yet, or I'd link to it here. Subject is, "Resident-installed security camera OK outside apartment?"
The issue as I read it from your question and from the discussion board isn't about the legality of the security camera, but rather about what you can do in the "public" area of your apartment building. Sadly for you, the answer is, "more or less whatever your landlord tells you". You don't own the stairwells, front door, or walk-up to your apartment; your landlord does.
Flip things around to his perspective: you're now responsible for the buildings and grounds, as well as attracting tenants, and without consulting you suddenly there appears a security camera right next to the front door. This is your property. Maybe you don't like the look of it--it's hostile and threatening, and you're afraid that it will put off possible tenants. Maybe you're offended that the tenant thought she could just put something up without consulting you--what's next, she repaints the front door? Whatever the reason, this is your property, and unless you've been giving out pretty weird leases, you control what goes on everywhere on the property except the actual rented units. It's your call.
My suggestion is that you not get confrontational. Your landlord holds all the cards here: he can make you take it down just because it's sunny out and the last digit of your zip code is three. If you owned a house and your neighbor put a security camera on your house looking at his yard, you could do the exact same thing, and sue him to boot. Your rental agreement covers only the inside of your apartment, so you're negotiating from the weaker position here. Your advantage: the camera is already up. Taking it down requires work, an alteration to the new status quo. So I advise that you politely approach your landlord, ask to talk to him about the camera, and explain why you felt it was necessary. Tell him that, in casual conversation with your neighbors, none of them had expressed dismay at it. You'll of course take it down if he feels strongly about it, but you think it could also act as a deterrent for acts of crime and vandalism--play up the good things about the camera. If he is concerned that one resident seems to have a position of power over the others, point out that the others don't mind, and that you're acting as an unpaid security guard. Offer to provide him the tapes whenever he asks. Bottom line: be as accomodating as you possibly can, play up the positives, and immediately follow up the negatives with solutions that re-emphasize the positives. You still may lose, but I think your chances are better this way than if you go to him with a signed petition, which seems combative and challenges his legitimate authority in the matter.
I put up a question to this effect at www.lawguru.com, under the Landlord/Tenant section in California. It should be addressed by a lawyer within the next week or two, so check back. It hasn't been posted yet, or I'd link to it here. Subject is, "Resident-installed security camera OK outside apartment?"
Powered by Yahoo! Answers
Tidak ada komentar:
Posting Komentar