Home CCTV Systems
Discussion
same as me last year. I bought 2 weatherproof cameras with night vision and sound at Aldi for about £40. I scrounged a feed card and image capture/motion detector software for PC from a mate of mine for nothing. Local electrician quoted £70 to fit. Not actually fitted them yet though!
4 Camera colour day/night DVR kit Maplins £399
http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=22804...
Or the same one from CPC for £220
http://cpc.farnell.com/armed/k13853/dvr-kit-4-came...
http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=22804...
Or the same one from CPC for £220
http://cpc.farnell.com/armed/k13853/dvr-kit-4-came...
Even on mine the picture is pretty good. Can determine facial features certainly to the sorts of distances that they will be sat from the boundary of my property. I don't think its necessary to spend a packet. DVR kit is essentially the same as having cam(s), feed card, PC and software, except productised and packaged.
The problem with these cheap systems is that the picture quality is generally naff, perhaps due to the cameras using a CMOS based chipset as opposed to a CCD.
I really would consider spending a bit more and get yourself a decent 2 camera system with dvr and make sure the outdoor cams are infrared and have at least 420tvl preferebly 520tvl resolution.
For the amount people spend on property including contents and cars surely spending 250-300 quid is a no brainer.
I really would consider spending a bit more and get yourself a decent 2 camera system with dvr and make sure the outdoor cams are infrared and have at least 420tvl preferebly 520tvl resolution.
For the amount people spend on property including contents and cars surely spending 250-300 quid is a no brainer.
CHIEF said:
The problem with these cheap systems is that the picture quality is generally naff, perhaps due to the cameras using a CMOS based chipset as opposed to a CCD.
I really would consider spending a bit more and get yourself a decent 2 camera system with dvr and make sure the outdoor cams are infrared and have at least 420tvl preferebly 520tvl resolution.
For the amount people spend on property including contents and cars surely spending 250-300 quid is a no brainer.
Fair point, going to have a look this week. we were planning on moving soon so we may just bring that forward.I really would consider spending a bit more and get yourself a decent 2 camera system with dvr and make sure the outdoor cams are infrared and have at least 420tvl preferebly 520tvl resolution.
For the amount people spend on property including contents and cars surely spending 250-300 quid is a no brainer.
I was so disappointed with the results from kit we bought for the business that I went out and bought the company as it were 
Things to look for on the kit you`re going to buy:
Recording I`m not a big fan of PC based recording cards. A good card is going to cost you not far short of a proper DVR recorder. Your PC hard drive isn`t designed for 24/7 use, one fitted to a DVR should be (providing the seller isn`t cutting corners). Also if the cctv recording corrupts or damages your hard drive how much of a problem would that be for you?
Make sure the DVR records in what`s called D1 resolution (704 x 576 pixels). The example that`s been posted from one of our national competitors only records in 640 x 272 pixels, a sort of odd sounding half D1 or field (which would normally be 704 x 288 pixels). Don`t confuse record and display resolutions by the way. It may well look great on the telly, but you need to play it back or make a copy then it`s the record resolution that`s important.
Cameras An absolute minefield. We spent nearly a year evaluation cameras with different electronics. Everything was Sony and everything was 1/3 inch CCD (we didn`t even bother with the cheap stuff), even so the differences were immense. To confuse things yet further many of the different cameras out there use the same or similar camera body. They are sourced from third party companies and then the electronics are added. The critical thing is knowing what CCD is fitted and what DSP or chipset.
Probably the most important thing is to get a camera with the correct lens. To get good detail you need to be zoomed in on the subject. A wide angle camera that gives a general overview is never going to capture great detail from further away than 3-5 metres.
If you can`t sleep one night and want to learn all about cctv then click this link cctv42.co.uk cctv buying guide .Have a read of the cctv DVR section and the camera section, they are going to be the most use.
Hope that helps.
Keep smiling.
Henry
Things to look for on the kit you`re going to buy:
Recording I`m not a big fan of PC based recording cards. A good card is going to cost you not far short of a proper DVR recorder. Your PC hard drive isn`t designed for 24/7 use, one fitted to a DVR should be (providing the seller isn`t cutting corners). Also if the cctv recording corrupts or damages your hard drive how much of a problem would that be for you?
Make sure the DVR records in what`s called D1 resolution (704 x 576 pixels). The example that`s been posted from one of our national competitors only records in 640 x 272 pixels, a sort of odd sounding half D1 or field (which would normally be 704 x 288 pixels). Don`t confuse record and display resolutions by the way. It may well look great on the telly, but you need to play it back or make a copy then it`s the record resolution that`s important.
Cameras An absolute minefield. We spent nearly a year evaluation cameras with different electronics. Everything was Sony and everything was 1/3 inch CCD (we didn`t even bother with the cheap stuff), even so the differences were immense. To confuse things yet further many of the different cameras out there use the same or similar camera body. They are sourced from third party companies and then the electronics are added. The critical thing is knowing what CCD is fitted and what DSP or chipset.
Probably the most important thing is to get a camera with the correct lens. To get good detail you need to be zoomed in on the subject. A wide angle camera that gives a general overview is never going to capture great detail from further away than 3-5 metres.
If you can`t sleep one night and want to learn all about cctv then click this link cctv42.co.uk cctv buying guide .Have a read of the cctv DVR section and the camera section, they are going to be the most use.
Hope that helps.
Keep smiling.
Henry
Henry-F said:
I was so disappointed with the results from kit we bought for the business that I went out and bought the company as it were
Things to look for on the kit you`re going to buy:
Recording I`m not a big fan of PC based recording cards. A good card is going to cost you not far short of a proper DVR recorder. Your PC hard drive isn`t designed for 24/7 use, one fitted to a DVR should be (providing the seller isn`t cutting corners). Also if the cctv recording corrupts or damages your hard drive how much of a problem would that be for you?
Make sure the DVR records in what`s called D1 resolution (704 x 576 pixels). The example that`s been posted from one of our national competitors only records in 640 x 272 pixels, a sort of odd sounding half D1 or field (which would normally be 704 x 288 pixels). Don`t confuse record and display resolutions by the way. It may well look great on the telly, but you need to play it back or make a copy then it`s the record resolution that`s important.
Cameras An absolute minefield. We spent nearly a year evaluation cameras with different electronics. Everything was Sony and everything was 1/3 inch CCD (we didn`t even bother with the cheap stuff), even so the differences were immense. To confuse things yet further many of the different cameras out there use the same or similar camera body. They are sourced from third party companies and then the electronics are added. The critical thing is knowing what CCD is fitted and what DSP or chipset.
Probably the most important thing is to get a camera with the correct lens. To get good detail you need to be zoomed in on the subject. A wide angle camera that gives a general overview is never going to capture great detail from further away than 3-5 metres.
If you can`t sleep one night and want to learn all about cctv then click this link cctv42.co.uk cctv buying guide .Have a read of the cctv DVR section and the camera section, they are going to be the most use.
Hope that helps.
Keep smiling.
Henry
Great site!Things to look for on the kit you`re going to buy:
Recording I`m not a big fan of PC based recording cards. A good card is going to cost you not far short of a proper DVR recorder. Your PC hard drive isn`t designed for 24/7 use, one fitted to a DVR should be (providing the seller isn`t cutting corners). Also if the cctv recording corrupts or damages your hard drive how much of a problem would that be for you?
Make sure the DVR records in what`s called D1 resolution (704 x 576 pixels). The example that`s been posted from one of our national competitors only records in 640 x 272 pixels, a sort of odd sounding half D1 or field (which would normally be 704 x 288 pixels). Don`t confuse record and display resolutions by the way. It may well look great on the telly, but you need to play it back or make a copy then it`s the record resolution that`s important.
Cameras An absolute minefield. We spent nearly a year evaluation cameras with different electronics. Everything was Sony and everything was 1/3 inch CCD (we didn`t even bother with the cheap stuff), even so the differences were immense. To confuse things yet further many of the different cameras out there use the same or similar camera body. They are sourced from third party companies and then the electronics are added. The critical thing is knowing what CCD is fitted and what DSP or chipset.
Probably the most important thing is to get a camera with the correct lens. To get good detail you need to be zoomed in on the subject. A wide angle camera that gives a general overview is never going to capture great detail from further away than 3-5 metres.
If you can`t sleep one night and want to learn all about cctv then click this link cctv42.co.uk cctv buying guide .Have a read of the cctv DVR section and the camera section, they are going to be the most use.
Hope that helps.
Keep smiling.
Henry
Thanks for that eliot, very kind of you to say. It`s something that`s evolving, particularly in relation to simplifying product selection.
The vast majority of people bying cctv at the moment are just going out and buying one box solutions which really aren`t doing them much good, particularly in relation to camera selection. I think half an hour spent reading the info section of the site will help people make a much more informed purchase.
All the best with the go kart on your profile, your missus must love you !! Looks like she used to have a dining room once
Henry
The vast majority of people bying cctv at the moment are just going out and buying one box solutions which really aren`t doing them much good, particularly in relation to camera selection. I think half an hour spent reading the info section of the site will help people make a much more informed purchase.
All the best with the go kart on your profile, your missus must love you !! Looks like she used to have a dining room once
Henry
Henry-F said:
Thanks for that eliot, very kind of you to say. It`s something that`s evolving, particularly in relation to simplifying product selection.
The vast majority of people bying cctv at the moment are just going out and buying one box solutions which really aren`t doing them much good, particularly in relation to camera selection. I think half an hour spent reading the info section of the site will help people make a much more informed purchase.
All the best with the go kart on your profile, your missus must love you !! Looks like she used to have a dining room once
Henry
I bought the maplin one above, the bearing on the fan has gone already. I want one I can access over the internet and a couple of better cameras also - So your site has been bookmarked.The vast majority of people bying cctv at the moment are just going out and buying one box solutions which really aren`t doing them much good, particularly in relation to camera selection. I think half an hour spent reading the info section of the site will help people make a much more informed purchase.
All the best with the go kart on your profile, your missus must love you !! Looks like she used to have a dining room once
Henry
It's a shame when you realise after the event that there are limitations with what you've bought! It's what drove me to set the business up. There may be a bit of a Pistonheads offer happening in the near future. nothing drastic, just a little thank you and a bit of fun for any headers buying off us. Watch this space !!
Keep smiling, (and I still pity your missus and the loss of her dining room - you're a bad man!!).
Henry
Keep smiling, (and I still pity your missus and the loss of her dining room - you're a bad man!!).
Henry
Henry-F said:
There may be a bit of a Pistonheads offer happening in the near future.
I hope so im looking to get one of these sysrtems in the near future 
.I have to say - Hats off to you Henry - You have indeed excelled.
I have been looking into home cctv systems recently - I must admit - I'm no idiot when it normally comes to this sort of thing as it runs closely along side what I actually do.
However I found the information by most sites extremely vague with hardly any screen shots of the quality and in the sites that did there was no explanations of the camera quality or a comparison.
Your site sums all this up perfectly and IMO is excellent.
However I do have one criticism albeit a positive one;
I know your site does offer one package deal however, I would be inclined to offer a few more of these, maybe some on varying levels of quality and then some for say 4 and 8 camera sytems. There maybe some potential customers who decide not purchase through your site as they are not sure what connectors and other parts maybe required - A lot of internet sales are impulse buys and some people cant be bothered to read up on or Email to find out what is exactly required.
I think this may generate more sales as your customers will know they have purchased exactly what they need.
Just my two pence - But do keep up the good work.
Funnily enough I was chatting to the site builders only today about this very thing. I've put together a package which basically gives all the kit you need for cameras, leads, all the little bits and bobs for a set price. So I'm hoping for people will be able to press a button and basically load the shopping cart with all they need. They can then change cameras, extend leads and so on.
I've got a real problem with all these "packages" which people offer. They put in 4 cheap and cheerful cameras and a DVR which may or may not be up to the job. The problem is that especially with the cameras you could well need 4 completely different cameras on a 4 camera system. A camera to film inside, a camera to film cars coming onto the drive, a camera filming people coming to the front door (we've had a very specific camera built for that which I've not seen elsewhere ), a general overview, etc, etc. It's finding a balance between a one click purchase and what's right for the job. I do think it takes an hour or so of sitting down and scribbling on a bit of paper to do the job properly. With our plan you can change stuff and it doesn't disadvantage you, ie you get a full credit for the stuff you don't want against the stuff you do whilst still enjoying a bit of a saving on the overall purchase.
I do appreciate your comments though and it is something I'm aware of. A lot of people simply give us a call or an email and we can advise on the little odds and sods they'll need. I'm working with the P/H royalty at the moment to have a tiny corner of the site as a cctv advice centre which I hope will help people looking to invest in the product. Watch this space as they say. In the meantime if you do have any specific queries feel free to email me or wait until next week when I may be able to advise on here!!
I had thought people might want a 2 camera "filming the driveway at the front of the house" package which they could add to at a later stage if they wanted to. Do you think that would be of interest ?
Once again many thanks for the kind words. Your reflection of the general state of the market was what I faced when making our initial purchase and that led me to taking a year out to research and set the business up.
Keep smiling.
Henry
I've got a real problem with all these "packages" which people offer. They put in 4 cheap and cheerful cameras and a DVR which may or may not be up to the job. The problem is that especially with the cameras you could well need 4 completely different cameras on a 4 camera system. A camera to film inside, a camera to film cars coming onto the drive, a camera filming people coming to the front door (we've had a very specific camera built for that which I've not seen elsewhere
), a general overview, etc, etc. It's finding a balance between a one click purchase and what's right for the job. I do think it takes an hour or so of sitting down and scribbling on a bit of paper to do the job properly. With our plan you can change stuff and it doesn't disadvantage you, ie you get a full credit for the stuff you don't want against the stuff you do whilst still enjoying a bit of a saving on the overall purchase.I do appreciate your comments though and it is something I'm aware of. A lot of people simply give us a call or an email and we can advise on the little odds and sods they'll need. I'm working with the P/H royalty at the moment to have a tiny corner of the site as a cctv advice centre which I hope will help people looking to invest in the product. Watch this space as they say. In the meantime if you do have any specific queries feel free to email me or wait until next week when I may be able to advise on here!!
I had thought people might want a 2 camera "filming the driveway at the front of the house" package which they could add to at a later stage if they wanted to. Do you think that would be of interest ?
Once again many thanks for the kind words. Your reflection of the general state of the market was what I faced when making our initial purchase and that led me to taking a year out to research and set the business up.
Keep smiling.
Henry
eliot said:
What about one of you DVR's setup on the internet as a demo, perhaps with a pan and tilt camera that we can play with! I'm itching to bin my 4 channel DVR already!
The problem is you end up with hundreds of people logging on and the internet connection can't handle it. The internet's quite a big place !I'd love to have an upload speed similar to our download speed. Then we could easily do something. It is available but just not at 25 quid a month !! In the meantime I hope the videos give an idea of how things work.
Ironically I've got a perfect location for a camera we could use as well. And no, not where you lot are thinking. Stop sniggering at the back
Henry
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