Basic CCTV Systems

[Pferdestarke]

Before anyone suggests I have voyeuristic tendencies let me tell you that I have, but no worse than yours.

We have off-road parking but have two cars so mine is left on the street and has attracted some 'key' attention in the form of scratches along one side.

Have any of you installed a motion-sensitive mini camera that works in low-light situations linked to either a server or your hard drive?

I'm thinking of giving it a go but don't know where to start.

Thanks in advance.

[10 Pence Short]

You'd be better off with signs saying you have CCTV than wasting your money on a cheap system which will produce sub-standard evidence.

[Brown and Boris]

I bought a simple system for about £250 with 2 x IR cameras. Crap in low light conditions. I think you have to get something decent or not at all.

[ingham]

you will need signs anyway as if no sign , you cart use the video as evidence

[Plotloss]

Panasonic IP Cameras would be a good place to start.

[SimonV8ster]

I just looked into this and had a security chap around to advise. You can buy kits that you can fit yourself with 4 cameras and a hard drive that constantly records. He says the cameras would be OK in normal light but to try and catch someone on it at night time (i.e. recognise somebody) requires a good camera which could cost about 170 quid.

Know how you feel, not nice thinking that somebody could be doing something outside your own house when your indoors.

[ChristianZS]

Axis 220's. When we bought a set it was averaging around £1000 per camera inlcuding housing.

Expensive but the images are fantastic at night.

[10 Pence Short]

ChristianZS said:

Axis 220's. When we bought a set it was averaging around £1000 per camera inlcuding housing.

Expensive but the images are fantastic at night.

And that's the point.

What do you want the CCTV to do? Catch someone in the act, or stop them from doing it in the first place?

There is little point in investing a large sum of money in kit capable for the job, if that cost outweighes the damage the CCTV is trying to prevent.

In this kind of case I'd much rather give the impression of having CCTV than investing in the real thing.

[ChristianZS]

We have approx 30 IP Camera`s , Full signage notifying people and 24hour onsite Security. All camera's are recorded and footage kept.

Its a big job to keep it all going but its certainly worth it!

If you cant afford the decent kit, I would personally just stick the signs and camera housings up.

Edited by ChristianZS on Monday 8th December 11:47

[V8mate]

Costco do an amazing 4 camera, day and night, wireless outdoor system. Includes recorder and monitor for a grand.

[Pferdestarke]

Thanks for the replies. I'll look in to it.

[mel]

I've got a pretty basic one in the factory, it's a "Digi-view4" linky it's not much good for identification or facial but you can tell who's who and spot strangers, the led IR is pretty good for about 20' indoors but much much better outside where there is more ambient light , it plugs into a standard TV as an aux channel, gives four way split screen or single camera, on a decent quality setting records for 2-4 days before it loops, and can motion sense to save memory. In summary for 400 quid it's and absolutely fantastic bit of kit, atleast as good as the Costco one which I also looked at.

[Sciroccology]

ingham said:

You will need signs anyway, as if no signs, you can't use the video as evidence.

That's reassuring.

[mel]

ingham said:

you will need signs anyway as if no sign , you cart use the video as evidence

I've no reason to doubt what you say, but isn't it just bloody typical, you have video evidence of someone up to no good and some bloody legal would say "That's not fair, you can't use that, you hadn't told them you were recording them, or given them the chance to avoid the cameras or smash them", maybe we should use the same idea with unmarked police cars? but then again that's speeding so serious!

[Plotloss]

ingham said:

you will need signs anyway as if no sign , you cart use the video as evidence

Thats not true.

Residential CCTV is exempt from DPA legislation if it covers private land i.e. your garden/driveway.

It can be used as evidence and has been on numerous occassions.

There is nothing beholden on whoever is operating private residential CCTV to have any signage whatsoever.

[10 Pence Short]

Plotloss said:

ingham said:

you will need signs anyway as if no sign , you cart use the video as evidence

Thats not true.

Residential CCTV is exempt from DPA legislation if it covers private land i.e. your garden/driveway.

It can be used as evidence and has been on numerous occassions.

There is nothing beholden on whoever is operating private residential CCTV to have any signage whatsoever.

Has there been any ruling regarding residential CCTV covering public areas?

In the OPs case, it seems he might want to cover a car parked on the pavement.

Would he need to register with the DPA for this and provide signage?

[satchbot]

He will still be exempt as the cctv is operating from a residential premise.

[Plotloss]

10 Pence Short said:

Plotloss said:

ingham said:

you will need signs anyway as if no sign , you cart use the video as evidence

Thats not true.

Residential CCTV is exempt from DPA legislation if it covers private land i.e. your garden/driveway.

It can be used as evidence and has been on numerous occassions.

There is nothing beholden on whoever is operating private residential CCTV to have any signage whatsoever.

Has there been any ruling regarding residential CCTV covering public areas?

In the OPs case, it seems he might want to cover a car parked on the pavement.

Would he need to register with the DPA for this and provide signage?

I dont know to be honest.

Take the case that the car is on the pavement directly outside the property boundary.

I'd guess that it would be reasonable to cover this under the private exemption if the car is always parked there.

It would not however be reasonable to have it covering the entire street and tracking the comings and goings of everyone.

[boomchick]

Dunno if your interested but I have a CCTV Camera + GeoVision Net Card for Sale. I'll post a link to the ad to save time. All you'll need a computer to stick the card in. I have used a lot of these in the past, they're dead easy to set up and the picture quality is great. Plus this one in particular has nightimelow light functions.

Not sure how much you are looking to spend (^^ that is professional high quality kit though, hence the price) but I'm willing to go a little lower than I have up there due to the current climate etc. I'd rather have someone using it as it's just sitting in the office at the moment

[alfabadass]

Like someone else said, dont bother.

Stick a dummy camera up and some signs if you must.

Most likely, if they want to scratch your car, they'll make sure they have hoods and face masks thus your CCTV will be useless.