Home CCTV

[8bit]

The folk 2 doors along from us had their car broken into last night which reminded me that getting some sort of exterior CCTV has been on my to-do list for a while. Everyone and their dog seems to offer some sort of all-singing, all-dancing solution now, most of the features of which we don't really need but looking for some real-world experience.

One thing worth noting is that we live on a street which is usually fairly busy through daytimes and does get passing car and pedestrian traffic so motion-sensing stuff might end up picking up everything, unless these things are designed or can be configured to only trigger when someone approaches within a certain range? Another thing worth mentioning is that I have a home NAS in the house which I guess could be used to store video data if that's an option (I know most offer cloud storage for a subscription though), the NAS in question runs OpenMediaVault, which is based on Ubuntu Linux in case that matters for compatibility reasons.

Grateful for any useful insight received.

[Rowley92]

Very happy with my Nest Outdoor IQ Camera. You can set up perimeters with various levels of notification. In my case I have it set up so if anyone is in the driveway I get a notification on my phone. I liked being able to view remotely from my phone if required. I pay 40 a year for a subscription service which records the previous 5 days of footage.

[zedx19]

I have 3 Ring cameras which I'm happy with, Ring Doorbell 2, Ring Floodlight and Ring Stick Up. Started off with the Doorbell which worked well, so decided to replace the security light on the back garden with the Ring Floodlight cam. Then this week had a Stick Up cam delivered which oversees the driveway. Apps easy to use, everythings recorded to the cloud and all seems to work fine. Be aware though, if you want to save recordings you need to pay a subscription of £2.50 per device per month, or £24.99 per device per year, or £80 for all the devices per year. It is pricey but if you're happy with that, seems a good system to me. So simple even the wife can use it!

[i4got]

I have 3 blink XT cameras. No subscription, easy app, scheduling for arming/disarming. Battery powered. Easy DIY fixing/setup.

So far they've been up a couple of months with no issues.

[outnumbered]

I'm curious as to whether having CCTV really helps at all as a deterrent. I've certainly seen a lot of videos of scrotes in hoodies nicking cars off people's drives...

[Carrot]

outnumbered said:

I'm curious as to whether having CCTV really helps at all as a deterrent. I've certainly seen a lot of videos of scrotes in hoodies nicking cars off people's drives...

In my opinion it will deter the average chav scroat walking past looking for an easy opportunity.

I might provide a deterrent to those looking to casually nick a car but I don't think it will make a difference to those nicking an expensive item to order.

[PaulPGreen]

I agree with above poster.

[evil len]

I was given a Blink system as a present. It's better than nothing, but I wouldn't buy one myself personally ... too many flaws, glitches and inadequacies.

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

outnumbered said:

I'm curious as to whether having CCTV really helps at all as a deterrent. I've certainly seen a lot of videos of scrotes in hoodies nicking cars off people's drives...

All it really does is show you are serious about security. All deterrents are really designed to move people on to softer targets. We've captured all sorts on our CCTV. One or two have definitely been deterred..(perp notices the CCTV then pretend they are looking for a dog or something as they back up the drive)

With regard to motion, we have Hik Vision which divides the screen up into loads of squares. You can mark those which do or don't activate the motion.

CCTV has other benefits..bugger, did I shut the front door? And downsides..."what time did you get in...no it wasn't I checked the cameras!"

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

Great too see the wildlife too!

[CzechItOut]

outnumbered said:

I'm curious as to whether having CCTV really helps at all as a deterrent. I've certainly seen a lot of videos of scrotes in hoodies nicking cars off people's drives...

It doesn't. I have numerous videos on my phone from our CCTV of people trying the door handles on our cars.

[Kev_Mk3]

i4got said:

I have 3 blink XT cameras. No subscription, easy app, scheduling for arming/disarming. Battery powered. Easy DIY fixing/setup.

So far they've been up a couple of months with no issues.

I have these also to put up along with bright security lights that are motion detected so they will be in the spot light.

[anonymous-user]

The Netatmo Presence is quite interesting, built-in flood light, night vision, zone detection, identify cars, people and non-human animals.

Will also capture to a nas box but needs mains power, ideal to replace an external light.

It does need internet access to work so not suitable as a stand-alone device.

[8bit]

Thanks all. The systems whereby they are motion triggered, can these be configured at all, such that every passing car or half-pedestrian on the street/pavement about 8 meters from the front of the house won't set them off?

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

8bit said:

Thanks all. The systems whereby they are motion triggered, can these be configured at all, such that every passing car or half-pedestrian on the street/pavement about 8 meters from the front of the house won't set them off?

Usually you can configure which pixels (in boxes) set off the trigger. Tis so on Hik Vision anyhoo (see my explanation above)

[Cotty]

Carrot said:

outnumbered said:

I'm curious as to whether having CCTV really helps at all as a deterrent. I've certainly seen a lot of videos of scrotes in hoodies nicking cars off people's drives...

In my opinion it will deter the average chav scroat walking past looking for an easy opportunity.

I might provide a deterrent to those looking to casually nick a car but I don't think it will make a difference to those nicking an expensive item to order.

In my housing estate they have put up "CCTV in operation" signs but not the actual cameras as they thing the signs will deter people.

[anonymous-user]

8bit said:

Thanks all. The systems whereby they are motion triggered, can these be configured at all, such that every passing car or half-pedestrian on the street/pavement about 8 meters from the front of the house won't set them off?

You can draw upto 3 detection zones in the Netatmo app, everything outside the zone is ignored but it captures full frame when a zone triggers.

[tim0409]

I'm not sure whether or not it's a real deterrent, but the real benefit for me is that I get an instant notification/email the second somebody steps onto my drive (Nest); if it was nefarious I would call the police.

[Cpl nobby nobbs]

We have 3 Ring cameras Door bell pro and 2 x stick up cams.
I like the integration with the echo dots and the app is easy to use.
You can draw areas on the screen for notifications and ignore certain areas, all the cameras have 2 way talk and the stick up cam has an alarm you can activate.
Will it stop some scrote having a go at my shed? Probably not but I like tech.
And I have been able to speak to a few delivery drivers instead of missing deliveries.

[AJB88]

I've got an old hardwired Swann system (4 camera) that I can view on my phone but its pants.

Going to replace it with 2x Nest camera's and a Nest doorbell. Simply because I have Google Home set up etc.