Wireless & Solar? CCTV Cam
Discussion
Does anyone have any recommendations for a completely wireless CCTV camera?
I'm having some trouble with some shady characters coming into my buildings residential car park and I want to be able to monitor the car from my flat without needing to look out the window. I've spoken with the building management and they asked me to report it to the MET police which I did and along with advice from them and others I've decided I want to put up a camera. - They're taking it pretty seriously so I'm assuming that what I've seen and reported they're aware of in the area.
I won't be able to connect to any power outlets as the car is parked 40 metres away from my flat with no access to mains power. I'm hoping I can get something solar that's discreet. I've tested out the wifi connectivity and I've set up a home plug in the flat right by the window which allows me to connect to my wifi with my iPhone so it could be an IP camera. I've got Synology NAS drives it can record onto if possible.
The alternative is to rig a camera from inside my flat pointing out the window at the car which is 40 metres away but I'm worried that the wide lenses of the cameras and the partial obstruction of a tree towards the rear of the car would make it a bit pointless.
My budget is around £150 or less all in. I've done some research but can't find anything that would suit my needs as there's no possible way to plug the camera into the mains. I Want it to be pretty discreet and small and nothing with any lights that will turn on with motion. I want it to be as low profile as possible. I'm not even sure if I'll be allowed to put it up but it's my parking space so I guess I have the right to monitor it - I need to check with management on this once I've found a decent solution.
Any ideas?
I'm having some trouble with some shady characters coming into my buildings residential car park and I want to be able to monitor the car from my flat without needing to look out the window. I've spoken with the building management and they asked me to report it to the MET police which I did and along with advice from them and others I've decided I want to put up a camera. - They're taking it pretty seriously so I'm assuming that what I've seen and reported they're aware of in the area.
I won't be able to connect to any power outlets as the car is parked 40 metres away from my flat with no access to mains power. I'm hoping I can get something solar that's discreet. I've tested out the wifi connectivity and I've set up a home plug in the flat right by the window which allows me to connect to my wifi with my iPhone so it could be an IP camera. I've got Synology NAS drives it can record onto if possible.
The alternative is to rig a camera from inside my flat pointing out the window at the car which is 40 metres away but I'm worried that the wide lenses of the cameras and the partial obstruction of a tree towards the rear of the car would make it a bit pointless.
My budget is around £150 or less all in. I've done some research but can't find anything that would suit my needs as there's no possible way to plug the camera into the mains. I Want it to be pretty discreet and small and nothing with any lights that will turn on with motion. I want it to be as low profile as possible. I'm not even sure if I'll be allowed to put it up but it's my parking space so I guess I have the right to monitor it - I need to check with management on this once I've found a decent solution.
Any ideas?
Edited by ashleyman on Wednesday 13th April 00:55
Maybe you could run it from a car battery? ie look for one that takes 12V. Even without solar power, it should run for a week or more. If you have two batteries, you could be using one and charging the other, and swap them over every now and then.
Probably the loiterers will go elsewhere once they figure out they're being monitored.
Probably the loiterers will go elsewhere once they figure out they're being monitored.
megaphone said:
You'll need a solar panel, say 12" square and a biggish battery and some sun!
Your best option is to use power over ethernet (PoE) but that would mean getting a CAT5 cable to the camera position.
Any lamp posts in the car park? You could possible get power from these.
There are those small post lamps that stick out the floor with lights around waist height. There's also one light above a garage that would be a good vantage point for a camera but the man who has use of that specific garage isn't very nice and probably wouldn't appreciate a camera above his door.Your best option is to use power over ethernet (PoE) but that would mean getting a CAT5 cable to the camera position.
Any lamp posts in the car park? You could possible get power from these.
I could probably run an ethernet cable round to it but it would have to be super long and I'd need to find a way to get it round without anybody noticing it.
Can you not get the residence all together to agree to a CCTV set-up, covering the whole development carpark and garages aswell as entrance/exits and the approach the management company to get a CCTV system installed it would of course add to the management costs, however it would be minimal payment per month if split between all.
I work in the construction industry and we regular get external companies in to set-up CCTV systems and the costs are not that great.....
The other thing, why do you want it discrete, signs up visible camera will act as deterrent..... surely prevention is best, rather then have a CCTV of some hooded unrecognisable undesirable breaking into your car.
I work in the construction industry and we regular get external companies in to set-up CCTV systems and the costs are not that great.....
The other thing, why do you want it discrete, signs up visible camera will act as deterrent..... surely prevention is best, rather then have a CCTV of some hooded unrecognisable undesirable breaking into your car.
Hoover. said:
Can you not get the residence all together to agree to a CCTV set-up, covering the whole development carpark and garages aswell as entrance/exits and the approach the management company to get a CCTV system installed it would of course add to the management costs, however it would be minimal payment per month if split between all.
I work in the construction industry and we regular get external companies in to set-up CCTV systems and the costs are not that great.....
The other thing, why do you want it discrete, signs up visible camera will act as deterrent..... surely prevention is best, rather then have a CCTV of some hooded unrecognisable undesirable breaking into your car.
They already have a system that monitors doors and the entrance / exit and bin areas but weren't keen to extend it anywhere else. The management have basically written off the car park as a place they cannot enforce any rules or control so they tend to ignore it. I work in the construction industry and we regular get external companies in to set-up CCTV systems and the costs are not that great.....
The other thing, why do you want it discrete, signs up visible camera will act as deterrent..... surely prevention is best, rather then have a CCTV of some hooded unrecognisable undesirable breaking into your car.
I want it to be discrete because it'll be a personal camera in a residential area covering my car park space. Wouldn't want other residents taking offence and breaking the camera if they saw signs and stuff. I basically just want the camera around my car.
I found these things: https://www.arlo.com/en-us/
They look quite decent if a little gimmicky.
I've a couple of those Arlo cameras...... was going to suggest, but being 40m away it won't work.....
Mine is setup on my front door and covers my car when it is parked on the road in front of my house, problem is the neighbours seem to fight for that spot as they know my camera covers it...... the camera has almost 180 deg field of vision, but the motion sensor only works in a limited distance...... you need to set it up on the motion sensor otherwise it eats batteries running 24/7
Picture quality is good both night and day, live alerts to phone when activated if you wish, able to programme periods of time you want the camera / motion sensor active...... a good bit of kit when applied for the right purpose..... I bought 2 cameras only to find for my purposes only one was anygood for my application.
Can't understand your management with not covering the carpark ... ok they can't enforce anything there but it gives their tenants a little bit of security/comfort
Mine is setup on my front door and covers my car when it is parked on the road in front of my house, problem is the neighbours seem to fight for that spot as they know my camera covers it...... the camera has almost 180 deg field of vision, but the motion sensor only works in a limited distance...... you need to set it up on the motion sensor otherwise it eats batteries running 24/7
Picture quality is good both night and day, live alerts to phone when activated if you wish, able to programme periods of time you want the camera / motion sensor active...... a good bit of kit when applied for the right purpose..... I bought 2 cameras only to find for my purposes only one was anygood for my application.
Can't understand your management with not covering the carpark ... ok they can't enforce anything there but it gives their tenants a little bit of security/comfort
Hoover. said:
I've a couple of those Arlo cameras...... was going to suggest, but being 40m away it won't work.....
Mine is setup on my front door and covers my car when it is parked on the road in front of my house, problem is the neighbours seem to fight for that spot as they know my camera covers it...... the camera has almost 180 deg field of vision, but the motion sensor only works in a limited distance...... you need to set it up on the motion sensor otherwise it eats batteries running 24/7
Picture quality is good both night and day, live alerts to phone when activated if you wish, able to programme periods of time you want the camera / motion sensor active...... a good bit of kit when applied for the right purpose..... I bought 2 cameras only to find for my purposes only one was anygood for my application.
Can't understand your management with not covering the carpark ... ok they can't enforce anything there but it gives their tenants a little bit of security/comfort
I saw those Arlo cameras the other day, I had planned to put a very strong wifi antenna in the back window so it would reach. The phone app notifications, recording and timed recording all were really great features we wanted.Mine is setup on my front door and covers my car when it is parked on the road in front of my house, problem is the neighbours seem to fight for that spot as they know my camera covers it...... the camera has almost 180 deg field of vision, but the motion sensor only works in a limited distance...... you need to set it up on the motion sensor otherwise it eats batteries running 24/7
Picture quality is good both night and day, live alerts to phone when activated if you wish, able to programme periods of time you want the camera / motion sensor active...... a good bit of kit when applied for the right purpose..... I bought 2 cameras only to find for my purposes only one was anygood for my application.
Can't understand your management with not covering the carpark ... ok they can't enforce anything there but it gives their tenants a little bit of security/comfort
Having had some damage done to the car this week whilst its been parked out there, I'm now very urgently trying to find a camera system. I am thinking for the mean time I might buy a battery powered IP camera and just place it in the car on the back shelf so it can notify me of movement or record and then I can recall the footage later on.
How do the Arlo cameras work? Are they battery operated or solar? Can't seem to understand how they manage to work for so long without needing power.
Out of interest I just looked through the Arlo blurb, they are very vague regarding battery usage. Looks like the only way you'll get the quoted 4-6 months is to have them on 'motion control'. i.e. they only record and send a message when the detector picks up movement. See Hoover's comments.
I can't see them being any good for your usage as you won't be able to stop it recording every time a car or person moves, that's IF the detector can pick up from range. It will still eat your batteries in no time.
I can't see them being any good for your usage as you won't be able to stop it recording every time a car or person moves, that's IF the detector can pick up from range. It will still eat your batteries in no time.
https://shop.naturespy.org/product/ltl-acorn-5210m...
Designed for nature watching, but lots of landowners use them for security too. Batteries last for ages, and any trigger will then send photos to your phone.
Designed for nature watching, but lots of landowners use them for security too. Batteries last for ages, and any trigger will then send photos to your phone.
Arlo is battery operated....... I have mine set to work between 10pm and 7am on a motion sensor..... mainly the neighbours cat...... I found that during the day it was going off so many times due to people/cars going past ..... and I live on a private road with 64 dwellings and no through traffic.
They take the 3/4 length batteries..... I'm currently looking into rechargeable batteries, trying work out what are best.... and that alone seems a minefield
They take the 3/4 length batteries..... I'm currently looking into rechargeable batteries, trying work out what are best.... and that alone seems a minefield
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