Surveillance cameras and PC...

[wedg1e]

Getting cheesed off with the night crawlers; this was brought to a head by the removal of the tarpaulin from the Esprit over the weekend.
I've just bought a 4-input card for the PC that takes video from cameras and can record to HDD.
I know about the various limitations; I was looking for recommendations for a camera, preferably with IR LEDs, as high-res as possible (don't see the point if you can't make out their faces - need to know who to wallop). Cost preferably on the lower side of inexpensive... Otherwise I may as well just buy a more expensive insurance policy and leave the keys in the car.
Camera can be installed inside the house, looking through a window; not sure if this will pose probs with IR scatter from the glass?

What thinkest thou?

Ian

[TUS 373]

The cameras with an array of IR leds around them are pretty miserable at illuminating very much at all. They are OK over a front door to illuminate someones face upto about 4-5 feet away. I think you'll need an IR flood light. I went through all this myself about 4 years ago and couldn't find one - but I believe such things are available now.

Sorry can't be of anymore help.

[maddog[uk]]

I use www.rfconcepts.co.uk for my camera's and www.zoneminder.com for the control stuff. Our actually home is automated so hooking this lot up into our house was pretty dam easy and we can do some pretty sophisticated stuff. The PC cost £300 all in as its a low end one. For our garage that I am rebuilding I am using a wireless lan camera from the US (Dlink).

Does that help?

thanks

Simon

>> Edited by maddog[uk] on Tuesday 30th March 21:39

[wedg1e]

Further to this: got the card installed and borrowed a fixed-focus mini camera with inbuilt IR LEDs. To its credit, it does have an impressive range in the dark.
As I suspected, the IR reflects off glass and swamps the camera. If you put the camera against the window, it still reflects off the outer double-glazed pane! Also, the IR LEDs do actually glow red, which is a bit of a giveaway that there's a camera.
So I think I'll stick with the house floodlights and go for 'normal' cameras.
Checked out the sites mentioned and they do have some funky-looking kit: will have to get my order in!

Thanks for the info.


Ian

[arcturus]

Just set the wedge to start automatically when it senses intruders, that should scare them off!!

Seriously, have a look at www.axis.com/products/cam_2420/index.htm

I know Axis cameras aren't on the cheap side of inexpensive, but they do the job. You would also be able to log onto the camera from anywhere on the internet and see what is going on. (if you have a broadband connection at the camera site). They also supply IR floodlights (link halfway down page).

[wedg1e]

arcturus said:

Just set the wedge to start automatically when it senses intruders, that should scare them off!! Seriously, have a look at www.axis.com/products/cam_2420/index.htm I know Axis cameras aren't on the cheap side of inexpensive, but they do the job. You would also be able to log onto the camera from anywhere on the internet and see what is going on. (if you have a broadband connection at the camera site). They also supply IR floodlights (link halfway down page).

The card I have has the remote monitoring function: my house alarm calls me on the mobile if it's triggered so I was thinking it would be the ideal combination: get an alarm notification by phone, log on and see if there are intruders, then call the Police and describe the thieving twats to them....

Ian