Swann CCTV, hints or tips appreciated...
Discussion
So after our neighbours had some cut logs pinched some time over the last few days from their land I thought I'd rush into things and buy the first CCTV kit I could lay my hands on at Maplin.
There was the usual sale on various stuff but I picked up this;
http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/swann-dvr8-4550-8-channe...
And these;
http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/swann-pro-a856-1080p-day...
(there's quite a lot of ground to cover)
So tasking myself with getting a start on installation tomorrow has anyone any expert advise? I'm thinking of installing the actual box in the loft out the way where I can simply connect to the internet and view the "action" on phones/tablets etc.
Hopefully it'll never be needed for it's intended purpose but it'll be handy for the bairn when she's playing in the garden
There was the usual sale on various stuff but I picked up this;
http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/swann-dvr8-4550-8-channe...
And these;
http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/swann-pro-a856-1080p-day...
(there's quite a lot of ground to cover)
So tasking myself with getting a start on installation tomorrow has anyone any expert advise? I'm thinking of installing the actual box in the loft out the way where I can simply connect to the internet and view the "action" on phones/tablets etc.
Hopefully it'll never be needed for it's intended purpose but it'll be handy for the bairn when she's playing in the garden
Give got one and the app on my phone a bit s
t. It's fine for real time viewing but rubbish for looking for something saved on the hard drive, for this you need to use the box with a screen plugged into it. This may be a problem if it it in the loft. Plus it needs to be plugged into the network, unless you have a wifi one.
t. It's fine for real time viewing but rubbish for looking for something saved on the hard drive, for this you need to use the box with a screen plugged into it. This may be a problem if it it in the loft. Plus it needs to be plugged into the network, unless you have a wifi one.Was just planning on running a cat 5 cable to the box and plugging in a monitor if I ever needed to look at something, presumably having not had cctv before once the novelty of watching the local wildlife passes unless we get done I won't ever really be looking for stuff.
(Planning on using an HDMI run already in place to the living room tv)
(Planning on using an HDMI run already in place to the living room tv)
Can you have the box connected to your tv? I find mine useful for checking the car is still on the drive, and that Ive chained up my motorbike in the garage. Also useful to see who's knocking on the door, and if your expecting visitors you can watch for them coming.
Installation is very easy, decide where your box (PVR) will be located, run the main cables from the box to where you want the cameras (extension cables are available) drilling through walls where necessary, fit the cameras to the house, connect the camera cable to the PVR cable, and Bobs your uncle. The cables will be twin cables, one cable carries power to the camera, the other cable carries the video from the camera to the PVR.
When I installed my Swann system I couldn't get the join from the camera cables to the main cables to be inside the house where they would be under cover, so where the cable joined each other on the outside of the house I protected them by concealing them inside these '2 way angle boxes' (with there cover plates on) from B&Q to protect them from the rain etc...
http://www.diy.com/departments/mk-black-2-way-angl...
Installation is very easy, decide where your box (PVR) will be located, run the main cables from the box to where you want the cameras (extension cables are available) drilling through walls where necessary, fit the cameras to the house, connect the camera cable to the PVR cable, and Bobs your uncle. The cables will be twin cables, one cable carries power to the camera, the other cable carries the video from the camera to the PVR.
When I installed my Swann system I couldn't get the join from the camera cables to the main cables to be inside the house where they would be under cover, so where the cable joined each other on the outside of the house I protected them by concealing them inside these '2 way angle boxes' (with there cover plates on) from B&Q to protect them from the rain etc...
http://www.diy.com/departments/mk-black-2-way-angl...
Edited by LeadFarmer on Tuesday 18th October 20:43
Operate my SWANN8 cams from loft, connected wired to downstairs router and TV, also linked to PC, laptops and iPhones, that is when home even with a static IP address, I still have not fathomed out how to link iPhones to CCTV when away from home. Any help help, links or advice would be appreciated
Here are a few things I learned from setting up my system:
To save running a network cable from the loft to your router you could use a 'powerline' adapter that sends the signal through your electrical circuit. I do this with mine and it works perfectly, although you'll need a spare plug socket at each location.
Water gets into all sorts of places, even if you think you've sealed it properly. For some reason all the IP POE CCTV cameras seem to have silly 12" leads with huge connector plugs on them. They're too big to drill a hole through masonry (unless you want a big hole!) and the leads are too short to actually reach through UK house walls anyway. This means you basically have to install a weatherproof junction box next to the camera so that you can conceal the connection and keep it dry.
The NVRs usually create enough heat that I doubt the surrounding air will get below zero in a loft, although I can't back that up. Not had a problem with mine, though!
Probably not what you want to hear but I took my Swann system back and replaced it with a Dahua system. The images were marginally better on the Swann but I had endless troubles trying to get it to do what I wanted. The snapshot email system kept breaking and as mentioned before, it was pretty useless for watching back recorded footage on your phone.
Good luck with the install, I enjoyed the challenge and have since set up two more systems. I'm so much quicker at it now and reckon I could do a four camera setup in four or five hours - the first took two days!
To save running a network cable from the loft to your router you could use a 'powerline' adapter that sends the signal through your electrical circuit. I do this with mine and it works perfectly, although you'll need a spare plug socket at each location.
Water gets into all sorts of places, even if you think you've sealed it properly. For some reason all the IP POE CCTV cameras seem to have silly 12" leads with huge connector plugs on them. They're too big to drill a hole through masonry (unless you want a big hole!) and the leads are too short to actually reach through UK house walls anyway. This means you basically have to install a weatherproof junction box next to the camera so that you can conceal the connection and keep it dry.
The NVRs usually create enough heat that I doubt the surrounding air will get below zero in a loft, although I can't back that up. Not had a problem with mine, though!
Probably not what you want to hear but I took my Swann system back and replaced it with a Dahua system. The images were marginally better on the Swann but I had endless troubles trying to get it to do what I wanted. The snapshot email system kept breaking and as mentioned before, it was pretty useless for watching back recorded footage on your phone.
Good luck with the install, I enjoyed the challenge and have since set up two more systems. I'm so much quicker at it now and reckon I could do a four camera setup in four or five hours - the first took two days!
Wings said:
Operate my SWANN8 cams from loft, connected wired to downstairs router and TV, also linked to PC, laptops and iPhones, that is when home even with a static IP address, I still have not fathomed out how to link iPhones to CCTV when away from home. Any help help, links or advice would be appreciated
You mean you can't access your CCTV when outside the home network? E.g. It won't work when you use the 3G/4G on your phone network?Gassing Station | Homes, Gardens and DIY | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff