Don't miss what's happening in Kingwood
People on Kingwood.com are the first to know.
Go to top of page
Close
 
Close
Back

Outdoor security camera advice

Outdoor security camera advice

« Back
This discussion has been locked.
Message Menu
by: Brat Active Indicator LED Icon 15 OP 
~ 8 years ago   Oct 7, '15 10:37pm  
- How are your camera's run and are they downloaded or do they over-loop after a certain period?- Hooked up to DVR or main computer?- Are they under the eaves?- What's a good brand or the brand that you use? - How's the night vision clarity?I'm sure I'm forgetting some other questions, but these will do for now. Thanks for your help on this! Emoticon 4951
* Reactions disabled on political threads.
What are your thoughts? Log in or sign up to comment
Replies:
Message Menu
MGBguy Active Indicator LED Icon 1
~ 8 years ago   Oct 8, '15 6:33am  
I installed a Swan system that I picked up from Best Buy on sale online after Christmas and am very pleased with it.  It looks like it has dropped even more in price to under $450.  Here is a link: www.bestbuy.com/site /swann-8-channel-4-c amera-indoor-outdoor -high-definitio is easy to hookup, but running the cables can be a challenge depending on how your house is laid out (access to attic).  It's an 8 channel system that came with two 1080p cameras and two 720p cameras.  I added a two extra 1080 cameras for about $150 extra.  It came with a  1 TB DVR and I have it setup to record when motion is detected.  With all of my cameras set to the highest resolution, it holds about 1 1/2 month's worth of history and automatically overwrites old footage.  There is a USB port that you can plug into with a memory stick to download footage.  The footage is really clear/sharp and the night vision is pretty good.  I installed all under the eaves with the exception of one.  It is exposed and seems to be holding up just fine.I would avoid the ones that report their resolution in TVL and go for something that records in 1080p, because camera footage that is blurry or grainy is pretty much useless when it comes to trying to identify someone or a vehicle.  This one also comes with a free app that you can use to see your cameras from your phone or a tablet and I also have it hooked up to our TV, so if someone knocks at the door, a quick channel change lets you see who is there. 4951
* Reactions disabled on political threads.
Message Menu
Katzen Active Indicator LED Icon 9
~ 8 years ago   Oct 8, '15 7:31am  
As recommended above, get something that is 1080p. Rather than going a DVR route, you might try IP cameras, you can expand the system as you wish. Starting with 1 at just over $100, you can download Blue Iris software and run for free with a single camera to see how you like and enter into camera fairly cheap. There's also a Blue Iris app to view remotely. Adding the app and more cameras requires purchasing the software, about $50 I believe. If you have a halfway decent PC, you can probably get away with running multiple cameras without an issue. If you want to get away from a PC, you can purchase a NVR.With the camera I recommend below you can also hit the camera's IP directly, so no computer or software needed, and it can record to a NAS drive, computer, FTP site - but takes a lot more effort. The Blue Iris software is very good.The one I started with is Hikvision DS-2CD2332-I 3MP EXIR Turret Network Camera for $110 on Amazon, the prices fluctuate and looks like it's $130 now.http://www.cctvforum.com/ is a great resource.I would stay away from the BNC connectors and DVRs, more hassles, not as easily expandable and future proof. IP cameras and PoE devices are the best way to go in my opinion.  4951
* Reactions disabled on political threads.
Message Menu
shodan66 Active Indicator LED Icon 15
~ 8 years ago   Oct 8, '15 10:46am  
@Brat, a couple of questions for you: - What is the intended purpose of the deployment?  i.e. When someone pulls in the drive do you want to read their license plate or just be able to see that it's a gray van?  Do you want facial recognition or is being able to tell it's a 6' tall white male work?- What's your price range?  Like everything that whirls and spins, generally the more you spend the better the product.  Also like most things that whirl and spin, the ceiling can be very, very high.Clearly both @MGBguy and @Katzen are well versed in the subject.  I'm a relative neophyte and just wanted a cheap system so that I can see my drive from my computer/phone.  I bought a DVR system (2TB hard drive) with 4 BNC 700TVL cameras for about $100 and it meets my needs just fine for right now. 4951
* Reactions disabled on political threads.
Message Menu
BooBear Active Indicator LED Icon 16
~ 8 years ago   Oct 8, '15 11:00am  
@Brat, a couple of questions for you: - What is the intended purpose of the deployment?  i.e. When someone pulls in the drive do you want to read their license plate or just be able to see that it's a gray van?  Do you want facial recognition or is being able to tell it's a 6' tall white male work?- What's your price range?  Like everything that whirls and spins, generally the more you spend the better the product.  Also like most things that whirl and spin, the ceiling can be very, very high.Clearly both @MGBguy and @Katzen are well versed in the subject.  I'm a relative neophyte and just wanted a cheap system so that I can see my drive from my computer/phone.  I bought a DVR system (2TB hard drive) with 4 BNC 700TVL cameras for about $100 and it meets my needs just fine for right now.
 
@shodan66:
 
So if someone where to sneak around the back of your house, they wouldn't be detected, right? Just wondering... 4951
* Reactions disabled on political threads.
Message Menu
shodan66 Active Indicator LED Icon 15
~ 8 years ago   Oct 8, '15 11:44am  
@shodan66:
 
So if someone where to sneak around the back of your house, they wouldn't be detected, right? Just wondering...
 
@BooBear: If it were during the day I'd probably see them on my monitor.  Regardless, the motion detection would kick on the DVR and record the event as well as send me an email that motion has been detected.  One cool advantage to the fancier systems that the other folks reference is a much more sophisticated set of motion sensors and computer analytics as to what trips the recording and what doesn't.  I set up a separate email account specifically for the alerts because you do tend to get a lot of false positives.
4951
* Reactions disabled on political threads.
Message Menu
Brat Active Indicator LED Icon 15 OP 
~ 8 years ago   Oct 8, '15 7:46pm  
@Brat, a couple of questions for you: - What is the intended purpose of the deployment?  i.e. When someone pulls in the drive do you want to read their license plate or just be able to see that it's a gray van?  Do you want facial recognition or is being able to tell it's a 6' tall white male work?- What's your price range?  Like everything that whirls and spins, generally the more you spend the better the product.  Also like most things that whirl and spin, the ceiling can be very, very high.Clearly both @MGBguy and @Katzen are well versed in the subject.  I'm a relative neophyte and just wanted a cheap system so that I can see my drive from my computer/phone.  I bought a DVR system (2TB hard drive) with 4 BNC 700TVL cameras for about $100 and it meets my needs just fine for right now.
 
@shodan66: Good questions.
- I want the camera system to be able to show as much clarity as possible. Which probably means that I need to get a more expensive system. - I have no idea how much these cost. Max $300?I'll look in the models that you three suggested as well as the other models.Appreciate it guys! Emoticon 4951
* Reactions disabled on political threads.
This discussion has been locked.
« Back to Main Page
Views: 8
# Replies: 6

Aesthetic Dentistry Associates




Holy Comforter Lutheran Church & School Logo Three B's Grill Logo Modern Heart and Vascular Institute  Logo Repipe Solutions Inc. Logo Prestige Cleaning Professionals Logo Rowland Ballard  Logo CBD American Shaman Of Kingwood Logo JC Sports Houston Logo Town Center Park Association Logo Ann's Teahouse Logo Clean As A Whistle Logo Primrose School of Eagle Springs Logo Madd Air-Heating and Cooling  Logo Home by Zia LLC Logo Truwin - Windows, Doors & Siding  Logo The Pines at Porter Logo Mallard Creek Apartments Logo Primrose School of Kingwood Logo
Sponsor an ad Sponsor an Ad »