Security Camera System Needed - Any Suggestions?

Char Char

I need a system that is for the outdoors (weather-proof), it needs to have at least 6 cameras. The cameras are going to be spread across 4.5 acres, so I need them to be either wireless or be able to buy a large qty. of cable to have the cables run underground to the main control panel. I would like for the cameras/control panel to be connected to the internet or our computer network for monitoring over the internet. I have read a little bit about the DVR/control panel the cameras hook-up to and as far as the storage it has I don't really care, as I will just erase the previous video, so I would say just enough for a day or two of recording.

I am new to cameras so this is why I am asking on here. If you could please provide a name of a company, a link to a website or a product/kit name that meets these requirements, that would be great. Thanks.

Answer
Hello

Not all CCTV equipment is created equal, in fact there are many options that offer varying performance take cars for example. In the world of CCTV you can find the equivalent of a $2,000 golf cart and a $350,000 Ferrari and everything in between. Both have 4 wheels but that's where the similarities end, itâs under the hood that counts.

One of the best posts ive seen on yahoo many are brutally incarcerate or blatant advertising attempts by online retailers: Caoedhen is dead right and one of the few people who understand CCTV and has worked with it for a while so many people buy a system online and think they know what there talking about.

ApexCCTV does not sell high end products and there IR cameras are not high quality they are from china and Taiwan and most have 48DB signal to noise ratio which is 100x more noise then a good cameras will have resulting in lower image quality and a larger file size on DVR`s (golf cart)

ApexCCTV standalone s are decent quality as they are made by avtech who makes great DVR`s for the residential and low budget market but not a high end solution by any means.

Apex CCTV PC based DVR`s are powered by either Avermedia or Geovision which are not high quality and there marketing greatly exceeds there products features an ability,

back to your question:

95% of all wireless cameras are compete junk and any wireless camera under $400 run on 1.2 or 2.4GHZ and don't offer encryption. This is bad for 2 reasons one the signal can easy be jammed, with a laptop you can actually hacked video feeds so a criminal can use it to spy and know a good time to target your business or home.

Now one option for wireless is using commercial IP radios which are basically wireless routers on steroids and can offer distances up to 40km of wireless with military encryption, this is not a cheap solution but neither is digging a trench. using these radios not only give you a security infrastructure but also communications infrastructures as well for internet and other purposes (LAN network)

Good radio company
http://www.tranzeo.com/

And yes you can do over 30 km no problem with these radios so 4.5 acres is easy to do. these radios are used by US military and I have done projects with them as well.

now in order to use this wireless network to distribute video you need to buy IP cameras which are similar to IP cameras only they transmit video over networks instead of a cable.

The company I recommend for CCTV products is Ascendent Technology Group they have a large product line and offer better products then Pelco Honeywell and Bosch and are about %20 cheaper and in my opinion have the best IR outdoor camera line up.

For an IP I recommend uses Ascendent`s IP servers that have a hard rive built in which does 3 things. Allows you use any analog camera and convert it into an IP addressable server. Allows you to distribute video over the network and has an HDD in it so that if the network goes don't or your NRV (network video recorder) goes down or gets stolen you have data redundancy. some companies use SD cards but to be honest that is quite useless low frame rate and only hours of recording.

http://dealer.ascendentgroup.com//ipnetworkvideo/x4-ip-pro-320-4.html


Also again Caoedhen is dead right you want more then 2 days of recording I can`t tell you how many times people have wanted to look at video up to 2 months and have done projects where they keep video for 3 years. I would suggest no less then a week of recording.

As far as cameras there are many types but for outdoor cameras you typically want IR cameras.

Ascendent has IR cameras that go from 50ft to 10km yes 10km longest in the world.

http://dealer.ascendentgroup.com//dvr-ir-cameras/23_1.html


If you talk to Ascendent and give them a diagram or layout they will design a system for you for free as long as you use there product. They will even test the tranzeo radios and make sure they work so they can send you a completely configured system.

I have used them on many installs and the odd time I received a defective unit they took care of me ASAP and they have great technical support.

http://www.ascendentgroup.com/

If you need anything feel free to email me
williammorales93@ymail.com

what is the best house security camera system (outdoor, nightvision, weather proof)?

IRON MAN

iam trying to buy online which models are the best? my budjet is from $250-300.. all i need is 4 channel cameras.

i need it for house.. night vision, weather prooft, long lastings, clear view of the intruders face. and all features a regular home owner would want!..


i want to it last very long!..i dont want it to break apart like * made in china* products.

is it zmodo? samsung? swann?

thanks!

Answer
The *best* one is about 5x your budget. In your price range are essentially entry-level. Personally, I like Swann and Lorex.

"Clear vision of the intruders face" means the intruder is posing for the system. That is not how these systems are designed - and for your budget, that sort of quality is just not available.

And your budget does not allow us any IP cameras (1 decent outdoor IP camera would be your whole budget with nowhere to store the captured video).

I looked at the Zmodo equipment - good features, did not like the build quality and have stayed with Swann and Lorex for residential installations. The cameras that come in the 4-camera kit will not last a long time - I have found the cameras in the $150 range work and seem to last well. We don't know what sort of outdoor weather your cameras will need to endure. Those I install are usually under the eve of the roof and not in direct sunlight or direct rain/snow.

By the way, all these electronics are "Made in China", but it seems Swann and Lorex have more strict build requirements with regard to better components which is probably why they seem to be "better" (in my opinion, anyway...)

I just installed one of these
http://www.swann.com/s/products/view/?product=1497
The extra 4 channels are there, "just in case"...

Powered by Yahoo! Answers

What camera recorder?CCTV?

Angelcraft

My sister has little children at home and she leaves them with the the babysitter.She wants to install a camera or a CCTV kindda thingy so she can view it when she gets back from work or whatever for security and safety reasons..what should she get?

Answer
There are special solutions called nanny cam kit. You can google to find how much they cost.
In case if you have a running computer at home you can install a network IP camera (there are wireless models with WIFI) or a USB camera (they are really cheap). Some of them have a free recording software.

Security Camera System Needed - Any Suggestions?

Char Char

I need a system that is for the outdoors (weather-proof), it needs to have at least 6 cameras. The cameras are going to be spread across 4.5 acres, so I need them to be either wireless or be able to buy a large qty. of cable to have the cables run underground to the main control panel. I would like for the cameras/control panel to be connected to the internet or our computer network for monitoring over the internet. I have read a little bit about the DVR/control panel the cameras hook-up to and as far as the storage it has I don't really care, as I will just erase the previous video, so I would say just enough for a day or two of recording.

I am new to cameras so this is why I am asking on here. If you could please provide a name of a company, a link to a website or a product/kit name that meets these requirements, that would be great. Thanks.

Answer
Hello

Not all CCTV equipment is created equal, in fact there are many options that offer varying performance take cars for example. In the world of CCTV you can find the equivalent of a $2,000 golf cart and a $350,000 Ferrari and everything in between. Both have 4 wheels but that's where the similarities end, itâs under the hood that counts.

One of the best posts ive seen on yahoo many are brutally incarcerate or blatant advertising attempts by online retailers: Caoedhen is dead right and one of the few people who understand CCTV and has worked with it for a while so many people buy a system online and think they know what there talking about.

ApexCCTV does not sell high end products and there IR cameras are not high quality they are from china and Taiwan and most have 48DB signal to noise ratio which is 100x more noise then a good cameras will have resulting in lower image quality and a larger file size on DVR`s (golf cart)

ApexCCTV standalone s are decent quality as they are made by avtech who makes great DVR`s for the residential and low budget market but not a high end solution by any means.

Apex CCTV PC based DVR`s are powered by either Avermedia or Geovision which are not high quality and there marketing greatly exceeds there products features an ability,

back to your question:

95% of all wireless cameras are compete junk and any wireless camera under $400 run on 1.2 or 2.4GHZ and don't offer encryption. This is bad for 2 reasons one the signal can easy be jammed, with a laptop you can actually hacked video feeds so a criminal can use it to spy and know a good time to target your business or home.

Now one option for wireless is using commercial IP radios which are basically wireless routers on steroids and can offer distances up to 40km of wireless with military encryption, this is not a cheap solution but neither is digging a trench. using these radios not only give you a security infrastructure but also communications infrastructures as well for internet and other purposes (LAN network)

Good radio company
http://www.tranzeo.com/

And yes you can do over 30 km no problem with these radios so 4.5 acres is easy to do. these radios are used by US military and I have done projects with them as well.

now in order to use this wireless network to distribute video you need to buy IP cameras which are similar to IP cameras only they transmit video over networks instead of a cable.

The company I recommend for CCTV products is Ascendent Technology Group they have a large product line and offer better products then Pelco Honeywell and Bosch and are about %20 cheaper and in my opinion have the best IR outdoor camera line up.

For an IP I recommend uses Ascendent`s IP servers that have a hard rive built in which does 3 things. Allows you use any analog camera and convert it into an IP addressable server. Allows you to distribute video over the network and has an HDD in it so that if the network goes don't or your NRV (network video recorder) goes down or gets stolen you have data redundancy. some companies use SD cards but to be honest that is quite useless low frame rate and only hours of recording.

http://dealer.ascendentgroup.com//ipnetworkvideo/x4-ip-pro-320-4.html


Also again Caoedhen is dead right you want more then 2 days of recording I can`t tell you how many times people have wanted to look at video up to 2 months and have done projects where they keep video for 3 years. I would suggest no less then a week of recording.

As far as cameras there are many types but for outdoor cameras you typically want IR cameras.

Ascendent has IR cameras that go from 50ft to 10km yes 10km longest in the world.

http://dealer.ascendentgroup.com//dvr-ir-cameras/23_1.html


If you talk to Ascendent and give them a diagram or layout they will design a system for you for free as long as you use there product. They will even test the tranzeo radios and make sure they work so they can send you a completely configured system.

I have used them on many installs and the odd time I received a defective unit they took care of me ASAP and they have great technical support.

http://www.ascendentgroup.com/

If you need anything feel free to email me
williammorales93@ymail.com

Powered by Yahoo! Answers

How does the CCTV Camera WORKS?

best ip security camera kit image

Deli Delor

I want to buy cctv cameras for my house,but i dont know what are the different cctv cams.i want to know if cctv cams need server or just a video recorder.how this works?can you explain to me what happens when cctv cams record, where does the cams save the video?

Answer
Analog cameras connected to a security DVR: The cameras can be wired or wireless (though that is a strange description because wireless cameras use more wires than wired cameras). The multi-camera DVR records video to a hard drive. The DVR can be part of the computer network and accessed remotely using a smartphone when the network is set up properly. You can also connect TVs around the house... Swann and Lorex make decent residential grade equipment.

IP Network based cameras connected directly to the home computer network. They don't store any video, so you'd need to get a dedicated computer to have the video stored for later access. In this environment, the computer or security hard drive array replaces the DVR used by the analog cameras.

In either case, the decent systems can be triggered with contact-type alarm points or by motion detection in the software or firmware - which can send you an email (assuming your smartphone can get to your email and alert you). That would be your trigger to access the system remotely to see what caused the alarm trigger...

Example of a 4-channel kit - 4 analog cameras + 1 DVR:
http://www.frys.com/product/7183752

You can use a "server" but that seems a bit overkill. The DVR acts as the "server". The better ones use an embedded Linux operating system that is optimized for this security recording task. That way you have less concern about various operating system malware exploit that look for specific vulnerabilities. And as a *nix variant, it is a much more robust environment as compared to certain consumer computer operating systems.

My 8-camera Swann system has a small 500 gig drive and can store about 30 days of best-quality video. The embedded application automatically deletes the oldest video when more space is needed. I set up the menu item to reboot once each week (takes about a minute). My smartphones can get to it. The analog "monitor" video-out connection is connected to all the TVs through the house so any of them can switch to that AV-input and see whats going on. As well, there is an inexpensive VGA monitor in the closet with the DVR for viewing the various menus and commands and options when I want to make a copy of a certain recorded sequence or if the time needs updating or some other access is needed.

If you go this route, look into getting a decent battery back-up for the DVR, cameras, network router, hub and a couple of the monitors. This way, when there is a power outage, you can still "see" and record the surveillance video.

what is the best house security camera system (outdoor, nightvision, weather proof)?

IRON MAN

iam trying to buy online which models are the best? my budjet is from $250-300.. all i need is 4 channel cameras.

i need it for house.. night vision, weather prooft, long lastings, clear view of the intruders face. and all features a regular home owner would want!..


i want to it last very long!..i dont want it to break apart like * made in china* products.

is it zmodo? samsung? swann?

thanks!

Answer
The *best* one is about 5x your budget. In your price range are essentially entry-level. Personally, I like Swann and Lorex.

"Clear vision of the intruders face" means the intruder is posing for the system. That is not how these systems are designed - and for your budget, that sort of quality is just not available.

And your budget does not allow us any IP cameras (1 decent outdoor IP camera would be your whole budget with nowhere to store the captured video).

I looked at the Zmodo equipment - good features, did not like the build quality and have stayed with Swann and Lorex for residential installations. The cameras that come in the 4-camera kit will not last a long time - I have found the cameras in the $150 range work and seem to last well. We don't know what sort of outdoor weather your cameras will need to endure. Those I install are usually under the eve of the roof and not in direct sunlight or direct rain/snow.

By the way, all these electronics are "Made in China", but it seems Swann and Lorex have more strict build requirements with regard to better components which is probably why they seem to be "better" (in my opinion, anyway...)

I just installed one of these
http://www.swann.com/s/products/view/?product=1497
The extra 4 channels are there, "just in case"...

Powered by Yahoo! Answers

What the best surveillance cameras for home?

best ip security camera kit image

Fynest1

Lately, I have people coming to my yard stealing all my stuff. Im almost never home like that because of work. So is what is the best outdoor surveillance cameras that is wireless and can also be viewed from a smart phone? (Android)

Answer
"Best" would be the pro-grade stuff. You should consider setting a budget.

For around $500, Swann and Lorex make decent 4-camera kits (DVR + cameras) that can be accessed remotely - and assumes you have a good knowledge of setting up networks and maintaining network security. It will be a good idea to use outdoor-rated cameras. The cameras with these kits aren't that great, but should be enough to get you started. It is best to install the cameras under the eaves of the house or under some other weather protection (even though they are "outdoor rated"). IP-network cameras cost a lot more, so it is probably best to stay with analog cameras that connect to a DVR that is on the computer network.

When a wired camera is used: A cable with the power and video feed goes from the camera to the DVR. At each end of the cable, there's a plug for power and a plug for video. If there is a mic in the camera, there will be a plug on each side for the mic. If there is Pan/tilt/zoom, there will be another plug for that... but that is all in one cable "bundle".

When a wireless camera is used: The camera needs local power (wire #1). The video is transmitted wirelessly to a base station. The base station connects to power (wire #2) and the DVR (wire #3).

Moral: a wired surveillance camera uses fewer wires than a "wireless" camera.

The DVR can be set up to send you email when certain alarm options are set up in the DVR. That way you don't have to stare at the smartphone all day. A special client needs to be installed on your phone - before you buy, check the ratings on the smartphone app and read the manual (download it from the manufacturer you are considering) to be sure it does what you want.

need a cheap security cameras for outdoor use ?

wiredjeep

your answers may save hundreds of my uncles pigs.
my uncle if a farmer (as you may have guessed) and he raises hugs, someone in the aria go out at night and poisons the hugs.
he has the barn locked all the time but the guy brakes the locks with a hammer. my uncle also has motion detection light all over the barns but they don't help because hes not home at night to see them.
so my question is what is the cheapest set up for a security cameras system.
he would prefer a motion detection, night vision, and tamper proof.

Answer
Check Frys Electronics. If you go to their website, on the left near the top of the screen in the Tabs, select Electronic Components, then Security, Closed Circuit Television... You want to look through CCTV kits or Recorders or Wired Cameras or Wireless Cameras. Those rated for outdoors will be marked "Outdoor" or "Indoor/Outdoor". Those with night vision will have built-in infrared emmiters that turn on when the ambient light is low enough.

The 4-channel (they also come in 8, 9 and 16 channel) surveillance DVRs typically have a menu selection that lets you select a motion detection area in the video frame. Normally, the video is captured at 1 frame every 4 seconds - but when the motion detection field senses motion, the video goes to real-time video capture.

As for "tamper proof" if you set them up right, you will get video of the bad person before they can destory the camera. The trick will be to locate the surveillance DVR someplace they can't find it - or high enough where they can't reach it - or see it. Or, the surveillance DVR could be inside the house and not with the pigs in which case, longer cables will be needed to run from the barn to the house. Some surveillance DVRs have IP addressing capabilities - this means they can be part of a computer network (including the internet) and be accessed from any other computer with appropriate security. All surveillance DVRs have a "monitor" output so they can be connected to a television's AV-input.

Lorex, Clover and Swann make decent consumer-grade surveillance gear.

You can set up 1 camera and a video feed pretty inexpensively - and have that video feed a computer. To do this, you will need a IP based security camera. There aren't many "outdoor rated" IP cameras... and they are expensive.

Powered by Yahoo! Answers

Live Streaming Cameras Wireless To Computer?

best ip security camera kit image

DJ

I want to set up surveillance cameras around the outside of my house. What kind of camera is capable of wireless recordings to a computer or laptop? (Best quality)

Answer
There are two ways.

1) IP network-based cameras become part of the wifi computer network all the other devices in your house are on. The transmit the video wirelessly. But then need power, so they need to be plugged into a power outlet, somehow. If the cameras are on the outside of the house, then they should be out-door rated. If they are expected to transmit useful video when it is dark, then they need to have built-in infrared emitters so they can "see" when it is dark.

If the cameras are supposed to work when there is a power outage, then some sort of battery back-up for each camera is needed. A battery back-up system for the computer, the network router and the whatever device is providing the wifi network will be needed, too. The sizing of the battery back up for the router, wifi switch and computer (and each camera) will depend on how long they are expected to run when there is no power. Fifteen minutes is easy. Several hours can start to add up.

If recording the video is required, then computer should be used ONLY for the surveillance recording. Video uses a LOT of computer hard drive space. When 4 or more cameras are feeding video, the computer won't like doing much else. If the cameras are constantly sending video to the computer for recording, you should probably segment the computer network so the surveillance video is on its own segment and not clogging the rest of the computer network (fighting for space downloading music, NetFlix video, web site access, etc...) when others are connected with their computers, tablets, smartphones, etc.

2) Use analog cameras that connect to a DVR. The DVR is added (preferably wired) to the local network. Computers and various smartphones on the local network can access the DVR using wifi or wired connection. This assumes they have a surveillance video client from the system manufacturer, the password and IP address of the DVR.

For "best quality", look into Pelco. Their IP cameras start at about $3,000 each. They can't see very well in the dark but it is easy enough to install a motion sensing light to go on so the camera can see. Their video server systems (starting at around $7,000) are pretty decent. I like the pan-tilt-zoom control cameras best.

For consumer grade video surveillance systems, I like Swann and Lorex. Don't get the kits - the cameras included aren't that great. For a good system, expect to spend around $800 for the networkable DVR and at least $130 per camera. They won't be pan-tilt, but if you get "addressable" cameras, there is some zoom capability.

I found it ironic that "wireless cameras" actually have more wires than a wired camera.

Wired camera has a cable from the camera to the DVR. One plug goes into the DVR. One plug for power. The network enabled DVR needs power and a connection to the network.

Wireless camera has a power cable for the camera. The camera sends video to a base station. The video base station has two plugs - one for power and one to plug into the DVR.

In the case of an IP based wireless camera, it needs power, to... and since it is on wifi, the wireless router or access point needs power and network connectivity... two more "wires".

So, a "wireless" security camera is not exactly wireless.

I am looking to install 4 wireless motion-activated cameras around the house..anyone ever do this?

Alexander

I prefer wireless, weather-proof and should record everything to my home network server.

Answer
I would suggest that you use a dedicated surveillance DVR rather than a regular data server. Video can use a lot of storage space and IP cameras are a lot more expensive than non-IP cameras... then, when you assign the IP address to the DVR and add it to your home network, you can still get to the video from a computer on your network... or you can also set up monitoring cabilities by connecting the monitor-out jack on the DVR to the televisions on you home. You cannot do this monitoring part with IP based cameras very easily.

And... you do understand that "wireless" means the only wireless part is the video connection... the camera still needs power - and you need a wire for that (unless you get a solar powered one with a battery that charges when the sun is out...

Go to Frys.com. In the blue tabs on the left, hover over "Electronic Components" and follow the path: Security: Closed Circuit Television: and look in CCTV kits, Recorders, Wired or Wireless cameras.

I use a 4-channel Lorex recorder and have a mix of Lorex, Swann and Q-See cameras - all are outdoor rated with night vision. Mine are all wired (video signal), too. Any of the cameras less than $100 will not provide decent video.

Of course, if you have a big budget, then check the PTZ IP cams in the domes... At $1,000 each or more, they don't quite make sense to me, but the Pan, Tilt, Zoom functions are pretty cool... and if you can afford these, you should probably hire someone to do the installation.

Powered by Yahoo! Answers

Can anyone recommend a cheap but reliable CCTV camera?

best ip security camera kit image

PCnoob

Just need one for our house, preferably under £70.
Needs to be reliable 24/7, at night, through all weather conditions etc.
Doesn't need to work past about 15-20 meters, just need it to be clear up close (to spot the burglar! -_-)
Don't really mind whether it is second hand or not, would rather it new, but I have no idea which cameras are reliable or not so I would like someone to answer this with experience of the product they suggest.
Would also like to be able to access it through my computer (or even better, multiple computers), phone maybe, and other easy ways (although them two devices alone would be perfect)

Many thanks to anyone that can help! :)

Answer
Hi "PCnoob":

First, as for reliable brands, Swann (Australia/US/Hong Kong) and Lorex (US) are popular consumer-friendly lines here in the USA and elsewhere, and X10 Ltd has Scottish roots (with former British turntable maker BSR) and is now US-based (famous since the 70's for both wireless appliance/lighting remote control gadgets as well as wireless CCTV cameras).

All 3 companies make "wireless" (easy installation) and IP-based (computer/smartphone & web access) camera models, and you should be able to find dealers or UK internet sources. Depending on IP model you choose, some can even email your phone or computer account when you are away.

Your budget is just about right for a single camera (£70 or $100 USD); £100 or more will get you better features. You can stretch your budget by careful shopping for used or closeout/clearance "deals". I would suggest a visit to a local electronics shop that carries CCTV kits for the home, or a home-security specialty shop (won't cost anything to look), and get a demonstration to familiarize yourself with the various feature options & model differences before you try shopping online. Or visit each of the 3 major brands' websites and take advantage of any "shopping guides" or "buyer guides" they might have to view.

hope this helps,
--Dennis C.
 

Is it possible to have a home security system monitored without having a land line?

Dan the ma

Location NC

Answer
It depends on what type of monitoring hardware and software and extra service you want.

You can have your own wireless cameras and recorder and often today's DVR recorders have an Ethernet port so you can monitor everything from the web from any place.

They also make IP wireless cameras that have their own Ethernet plug right into the camera and the software built-in to the camera as well running as if they are their own server. So you can watch those cameras too right from the internet, anywhere.

Today many people are buying their own DVR wireless systems that come with a PCI card that goes into your PC and allows you to record, watch, everything, right from the internet from anywhere in the world.

You can buy nice 4 wireless cameras (waterproof), the receiver, the dvr card for your computer, everything you need, for less then $150.00.

If you visit eBay look under the category for "Other Surveillance DRV" and you will find many complete wireless kits.

Powered by Yahoo! Answers

Live Streaming Cameras Wireless To Computer?

best ip security camera kit image

DJ

I want to set up surveillance cameras around the outside of my house. What kind of camera is capable of wireless recordings to a computer or laptop? (Best quality)

Answer
There are two ways.

1) IP network-based cameras become part of the wifi computer network all the other devices in your house are on. The transmit the video wirelessly. But then need power, so they need to be plugged into a power outlet, somehow. If the cameras are on the outside of the house, then they should be out-door rated. If they are expected to transmit useful video when it is dark, then they need to have built-in infrared emitters so they can "see" when it is dark.

If the cameras are supposed to work when there is a power outage, then some sort of battery back-up for each camera is needed. A battery back-up system for the computer, the network router and the whatever device is providing the wifi network will be needed, too. The sizing of the battery back up for the router, wifi switch and computer (and each camera) will depend on how long they are expected to run when there is no power. Fifteen minutes is easy. Several hours can start to add up.

If recording the video is required, then computer should be used ONLY for the surveillance recording. Video uses a LOT of computer hard drive space. When 4 or more cameras are feeding video, the computer won't like doing much else. If the cameras are constantly sending video to the computer for recording, you should probably segment the computer network so the surveillance video is on its own segment and not clogging the rest of the computer network (fighting for space downloading music, NetFlix video, web site access, etc...) when others are connected with their computers, tablets, smartphones, etc.

2) Use analog cameras that connect to a DVR. The DVR is added (preferably wired) to the local network. Computers and various smartphones on the local network can access the DVR using wifi or wired connection. This assumes they have a surveillance video client from the system manufacturer, the password and IP address of the DVR.

For "best quality", look into Pelco. Their IP cameras start at about $3,000 each. They can't see very well in the dark but it is easy enough to install a motion sensing light to go on so the camera can see. Their video server systems (starting at around $7,000) are pretty decent. I like the pan-tilt-zoom control cameras best.

For consumer grade video surveillance systems, I like Swann and Lorex. Don't get the kits - the cameras included aren't that great. For a good system, expect to spend around $800 for the networkable DVR and at least $130 per camera. They won't be pan-tilt, but if you get "addressable" cameras, there is some zoom capability.

I found it ironic that "wireless cameras" actually have more wires than a wired camera.

Wired camera has a cable from the camera to the DVR. One plug goes into the DVR. One plug for power. The network enabled DVR needs power and a connection to the network.

Wireless camera has a power cable for the camera. The camera sends video to a base station. The video base station has two plugs - one for power and one to plug into the DVR.

In the case of an IP based wireless camera, it needs power, to... and since it is on wifi, the wireless router or access point needs power and network connectivity... two more "wires".

So, a "wireless" security camera is not exactly wireless.

I am looking to install 4 wireless motion-activated cameras around the house..anyone ever do this?

Alexander

I prefer wireless, weather-proof and should record everything to my home network server.

Answer
I would suggest that you use a dedicated surveillance DVR rather than a regular data server. Video can use a lot of storage space and IP cameras are a lot more expensive than non-IP cameras... then, when you assign the IP address to the DVR and add it to your home network, you can still get to the video from a computer on your network... or you can also set up monitoring cabilities by connecting the monitor-out jack on the DVR to the televisions on you home. You cannot do this monitoring part with IP based cameras very easily.

And... you do understand that "wireless" means the only wireless part is the video connection... the camera still needs power - and you need a wire for that (unless you get a solar powered one with a battery that charges when the sun is out...

Go to Frys.com. In the blue tabs on the left, hover over "Electronic Components" and follow the path: Security: Closed Circuit Television: and look in CCTV kits, Recorders, Wired or Wireless cameras.

I use a 4-channel Lorex recorder and have a mix of Lorex, Swann and Q-See cameras - all are outdoor rated with night vision. Mine are all wired (video signal), too. Any of the cameras less than $100 will not provide decent video.

Of course, if you have a big budget, then check the PTZ IP cams in the domes... At $1,000 each or more, they don't quite make sense to me, but the Pan, Tilt, Zoom functions are pretty cool... and if you can afford these, you should probably hire someone to do the installation.

Powered by Yahoo! Answers