Security cameras.
Discussion
Hello,
can anyone recommend a good surveylance system with motion activated, infa red colour camera, that will record to a hard drive?
I'm looking for something of good enough quality to be able to identify an intruder.
It's for a property I have, but not lived in at the moment. It's been burgled before, and since I've installed an alarm system intruders regularly try to remove the alarm box, setting off the alarm.
Either they are stupid and keep coming back, or it's different people.
At the moment it's doing the job of scaring them off, but i think it's only a matter of time before they do some damage trying to get in.
I'd like to get an image of whoever it is for the Guardia Civil to identify.
(I live in Spain)
Preferably a system I can buy online, and install myself.
Thanks in advance.
can anyone recommend a good surveylance system with motion activated, infa red colour camera, that will record to a hard drive?
I'm looking for something of good enough quality to be able to identify an intruder.
It's for a property I have, but not lived in at the moment. It's been burgled before, and since I've installed an alarm system intruders regularly try to remove the alarm box, setting off the alarm.
Either they are stupid and keep coming back, or it's different people.
At the moment it's doing the job of scaring them off, but i think it's only a matter of time before they do some damage trying to get in.
I'd like to get an image of whoever it is for the Guardia Civil to identify.
(I live in Spain)
Preferably a system I can buy online, and install myself.
Thanks in advance.
I haven't realy considered that to be honest.
I'd rather buy on quality than price.
One infared colour camera and a hard drive will do the job at the moment, as I can mount it to cover the entrance, and where the alarm box is, then I'd like to add more later.
I'd like the camera to be descrete.
Cheers, Mick.
I'd rather buy on quality than price.
One infared colour camera and a hard drive will do the job at the moment, as I can mount it to cover the entrance, and where the alarm box is, then I'd like to add more later.
I'd like the camera to be descrete.
Cheers, Mick.
If you are looking for quality I highly recommend Samsung Techwin DVRs and cameras. Either a vandal resistant external dome or bullet camera if you feel it's not likely to be tampered with. By the sound of it though a VR dome is the way to go and probably with built in IR if you want to be discreet. eg
http://www.hunters-wholesalers.co.uk/scv2081r-comp...
Some of their cheaper DVRs are not so great, I can get you further advice on this if you like. I have a 9 camera model which hasn't missed a beat.
http://www.hunters-wholesalers.co.uk/scv2081r-comp...
Some of their cheaper DVRs are not so great, I can get you further advice on this if you like. I have a 9 camera model which hasn't missed a beat.
No worries. If you're not sure have a look here
http://www.sapphire-cctv.co.uk/pdfs/CCTV_Systems_g...
some useful info. They have a sister site for alarms with very good info also.
FOr general advice I'd steer clear of any DVR which reckons it can do the works for £150 or £50 cameras. You'll just be disappointed although the actual setup of the system is equally important.
ETA 50m is pushing it but should be ok for analogue. If necessary though instead of using RG59 or whatever you could use CAT5e cable and some video baluns to extend this range way more.
http://www.sapphire-cctv.co.uk/pdfs/CCTV_Systems_g...
some useful info. They have a sister site for alarms with very good info also.
FOr general advice I'd steer clear of any DVR which reckons it can do the works for £150 or £50 cameras. You'll just be disappointed although the actual setup of the system is equally important.
ETA 50m is pushing it but should be ok for analogue. If necessary though instead of using RG59 or whatever you could use CAT5e cable and some video baluns to extend this range way more.
Edited by Driller on Sunday 3rd April 15:08
Any oppinions on this system?
http://www.hunters-wholesalers.co.uk/images/CnM4ca...
I quite like the fact I can check what's going on with my iphone, as I live 12km away from the property.
Thanks for the link to the guide. I'll have a read of that tonight, in bed, with a glass of malt.
http://www.hunters-wholesalers.co.uk/images/CnM4ca...
I quite like the fact I can check what's going on with my iphone, as I live 12km away from the property.
Thanks for the link to the guide. I'll have a read of that tonight, in bed, with a glass of malt.
Edited by mickrick on Sunday 3rd April 15:17
Ha, hah, I see you're starting to have all the fun that I did 
You'll find decent IP cameras very expensive ie £600 or £700 per camera although if you're prepared to pay why not? Having looked at the system you asked about, if you're not going to be around and you've got problems with people on the property I would fit antivandal domes and nothing else.
The remote iPhone viewing thing is a bit of a sticking point. You just won't find it on any "Pro" DVR and on many of those more domestic range DVRs (Avermedia and the like) that have it, it doesn't work very well.
Go to the App Store and have a look at the ratings on some of the iPhone viewers eg Averdigi iviewer, you'll see that there are problems (although saying that, the latest update on that one seems to have improved things).
My DVR is "pro" grade and I use a Slingbox to view my cameras on the iPhone which works very well.
Also have a word with Henry at cctv42, who posts on here. I don't know how well his iPhone viewing systems work and his systems are in the domestic price ranges.
You'll find decent IP cameras very expensive ie £600 or £700 per camera although if you're prepared to pay why not? Having looked at the system you asked about, if you're not going to be around and you've got problems with people on the property I would fit antivandal domes and nothing else.
The remote iPhone viewing thing is a bit of a sticking point. You just won't find it on any "Pro" DVR and on many of those more domestic range DVRs (Avermedia and the like) that have it, it doesn't work very well.
Go to the App Store and have a look at the ratings on some of the iPhone viewers eg Averdigi iviewer, you'll see that there are problems (although saying that, the latest update on that one seems to have improved things).
My DVR is "pro" grade and I use a Slingbox to view my cameras on the iPhone which works very well.
Also have a word with Henry at cctv42, who posts on here. I don't know how well his iPhone viewing systems work and his systems are in the domestic price ranges.
And as if by magic the shopkeeper appeared
Right then, the system you put a link to: cameras only have 1/4 inch CCD sensors which smacks of an extremely cheap bundle package. These days even cheap cameras should have 1/3 inch CCD sensors. The cameras are all fixed lens, ie. there is only 1 angle of view so it would be a miracle if that just happened to be right for your needs. Too wide and you waste pixels on unwanted areas and don't pick up sufficient detail at distance, too narrow and you don't cover the area you want to (most people fit cameras which have too wide a field of view). Also the recording resolution is a little bit misleading, I can't tell if they are saying the unit records in D1 resolution when recording a single camera or a quad view of 4 cameras, ie CIF for each camera. You want a recorder which records in D1 per individual camera independently.
As for full vandal domes, I wouldn't actually recommend them as a general piece of advice. They tend to be harder to position whilst setting up, especially if you are wall mounting and the built in infra red illumination won't be as bright. If you need protection from tampering then consider an open faced vandal dome camera.
There is a lot to learn if you are going to get it right as a starting point have a look at our buying guides CCTV guide
Finally for remote viewing our DVR recorders feature a clever viewing method other than the main full function remote viewer. They have a stripped down viewing system which works on simple HTML and jpeg so is viewable on any platform without the need to download any form of app and it is also resource gentle which is important in areas of poor mobile internet access. We have really struggled with app based remote viewers we think the problem lies with the need to use a proxy server and those servers being put under too much strain. View at 3.00am and they work for a while. Try them during normal hours and you're knackered.
You also need to make very sure that the people selling you the gear can make it work. We sell a number of systems to people who have bought kit and between themselves the retailer and the manufacturer been unable to get it to work.
Oh, and just to slightly correct Driller's recommendation it's actually cctv42 for CCTV, not 911virgin. The latter is our Porsche business and so prices might look a little our of your projected range !!
Feel free to either post on here or get in touch if you want any help / advice.
All the best
Henry
Right then, the system you put a link to: cameras only have 1/4 inch CCD sensors which smacks of an extremely cheap bundle package. These days even cheap cameras should have 1/3 inch CCD sensors. The cameras are all fixed lens, ie. there is only 1 angle of view so it would be a miracle if that just happened to be right for your needs. Too wide and you waste pixels on unwanted areas and don't pick up sufficient detail at distance, too narrow and you don't cover the area you want to (most people fit cameras which have too wide a field of view). Also the recording resolution is a little bit misleading, I can't tell if they are saying the unit records in D1 resolution when recording a single camera or a quad view of 4 cameras, ie CIF for each camera. You want a recorder which records in D1 per individual camera independently.
As for full vandal domes, I wouldn't actually recommend them as a general piece of advice. They tend to be harder to position whilst setting up, especially if you are wall mounting and the built in infra red illumination won't be as bright. If you need protection from tampering then consider an open faced vandal dome camera.
There is a lot to learn if you are going to get it right as a starting point have a look at our buying guides CCTV guide
Finally for remote viewing our DVR recorders feature a clever viewing method other than the main full function remote viewer. They have a stripped down viewing system which works on simple HTML and jpeg so is viewable on any platform without the need to download any form of app and it is also resource gentle which is important in areas of poor mobile internet access. We have really struggled with app based remote viewers we think the problem lies with the need to use a proxy server and those servers being put under too much strain. View at 3.00am and they work for a while. Try them during normal hours and you're knackered.
You also need to make very sure that the people selling you the gear can make it work. We sell a number of systems to people who have bought kit and between themselves the retailer and the manufacturer been unable to get it to work.
Oh, and just to slightly correct Driller's recommendation it's actually cctv42 for CCTV, not 911virgin. The latter is our Porsche business and so prices might look a little our of your projected range !!
Feel free to either post on here or get in touch if you want any help / advice.
All the best
Henry
I can vouch for CCTV42.
I've just bought 5 cameras to include 1 long lens viewing circa 30m, the rest being wide angle vandal proof cameras (sorry, not into the lingo!) and a hard drive DV player. It took me a day or so to install, very easy and if I can do it, anyone can. I then called and spoke to Matt and within 10 minutes I had full browser capability when I'm off site, which is frankly amazing. Their systems are very intuitive and a worthwhile addition to my castle, and I feel very comfortable being able to see what's happening.
I've just bought 5 cameras to include 1 long lens viewing circa 30m, the rest being wide angle vandal proof cameras (sorry, not into the lingo!) and a hard drive DV player. It took me a day or so to install, very easy and if I can do it, anyone can. I then called and spoke to Matt and within 10 minutes I had full browser capability when I'm off site, which is frankly amazing. Their systems are very intuitive and a worthwhile addition to my castle, and I feel very comfortable being able to see what's happening.
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