Home CCTV reccomendation
Discussion
So, after my parents finding an 8th puncture in 18 months at their new house while their cars have been on the drive, along with a house window being put through a few months ago, they have decided they would like a camera.
So can anyone recommend a 2 camera system for under £200 that has good night capability?
Regards
Mark
So can anyone recommend a 2 camera system for under £200 that has good night capability?
Regards
Mark
To bump an old thread and hopefully get an answer for the OP as well, has anyone tried those cheapo 0.3 megapixels Wi-Fi ones that you get on Ebay for £30? Is the picture TOTALLY hopeless, or just almost completely hopeless?
Not wanting to keep an eye out/identify for burglars or anything, just want to see if it's the postman or a double glazing salesman before I bother going to answer the door!
Not wanting to keep an eye out/identify for burglars or anything, just want to see if it's the postman or a double glazing salesman before I bother going to answer the door!
Hi there
In answer to the first post. I suspect you will struggle to achieve your objectives for under £200. All the kits you see advertised will come with fixed lens wide angle cameras. On the face of it a good thing because you cover a wide angle of view but the problem is pixels spread apart very quickly as you move away from the camera. Each pixel is a piece of information so fewer pixels means less detail. What happens is you form a smaller part of the overall image on screen.
You can't retrospectively zoom in to try and get more detail. The image just pixelates. Realistically a 3.6mm fixed lens camera covering 70º angle of view has an optical range of about 3 metres maximum. Yes, I know it says 25 metres on the box. They're lying !!
Exact requirements will depend on the layout of your property and what you are hoping to achieve. For a few pointers in terms of camera choice have a look at our CCTV camera help and advice page.
In answer to the second post. Wireless CCTV is generally the lowest of the low in terms of DIY solutions. There are a number of reasons not least of which is our European limits on maximum broadcast power. The cameras themselves are going to be cheap & nasty and you may find it simply doesn't work at all. Finally it isn't wireless, you still need a wire to power the camera. As a credible security solution, no chance. For what you are hoping to achieve who knows? All you can do is buy one and see.
Henry
In answer to the first post. I suspect you will struggle to achieve your objectives for under £200. All the kits you see advertised will come with fixed lens wide angle cameras. On the face of it a good thing because you cover a wide angle of view but the problem is pixels spread apart very quickly as you move away from the camera. Each pixel is a piece of information so fewer pixels means less detail. What happens is you form a smaller part of the overall image on screen.
You can't retrospectively zoom in to try and get more detail. The image just pixelates. Realistically a 3.6mm fixed lens camera covering 70º angle of view has an optical range of about 3 metres maximum. Yes, I know it says 25 metres on the box. They're lying !!
Exact requirements will depend on the layout of your property and what you are hoping to achieve. For a few pointers in terms of camera choice have a look at our CCTV camera help and advice page.
In answer to the second post. Wireless CCTV is generally the lowest of the low in terms of DIY solutions. There are a number of reasons not least of which is our European limits on maximum broadcast power. The cameras themselves are going to be cheap & nasty and you may find it simply doesn't work at all. Finally it isn't wireless, you still need a wire to power the camera. As a credible security solution, no chance. For what you are hoping to achieve who knows? All you can do is buy one and see.
Henry
Cheers Henry.
The police have mentioned one to mum that's currently on sale at maplins and I think it's this one.
http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/sentient-pro-hda-dvr-4-c...
It's available used for £240 at maplins.
Says it's a 6mm land but not what the field of view is.
They are having a high power security light fitted tomorrow at the front so hopefully that should help as well.
The police have mentioned one to mum that's currently on sale at maplins and I think it's this one.
http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/sentient-pro-hda-dvr-4-c...
It's available used for £240 at maplins.
Says it's a 6mm land but not what the field of view is.
They are having a high power security light fitted tomorrow at the front so hopefully that should help as well.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
The post in the middle about hikvision cam and blue iris software.
Spot on. Don't waste time with the cheap ones. I did over the years and they're all crap compared with these.
The post in the middle about hikvision cam and blue iris software.
Spot on. Don't waste time with the cheap ones. I did over the years and they're all crap compared with these.
The problem with the cameras linked to is they are fixed lens, usually wide angle. 6mm will be a bit narrower depending on the size of the image sensor but we aren't talking high powered. Using wide angle cameras is a bit like heating your house with the doors and windows open. You can throw as many pixels as you like at the problem but you aren't solving the underlying problem.
The numbers used are laughable to the point of being criminal. To suggest an effective range of 20 metres or more from wide angle lenses is simply not possible. 70º angle of view equates to identification up to around 3 metres at D1 / 960H increasing to just under 6 metres at 1080P 2.0 megapixel significantly less for 720P.
It all depends on what you expect the equipment to do. Usually people have a false sense of distance and angle of view versus effectiveness which is hardly surprising given the advertising waffle.
Henry
The numbers used are laughable to the point of being criminal. To suggest an effective range of 20 metres or more from wide angle lenses is simply not possible. 70º angle of view equates to identification up to around 3 metres at D1 / 960H increasing to just under 6 metres at 1080P 2.0 megapixel significantly less for 720P.
It all depends on what you expect the equipment to do. Usually people have a false sense of distance and angle of view versus effectiveness which is hardly surprising given the advertising waffle.
Henry
Well, I have received and hooked up the £30 Wi-Fi camera - and you know, it really isn't that bad! Even in the dark it gives a picture easily good enough to identify someone, and in the light the picture is fine. You do need an excellent command of Chinglish to get it set up, though. And the (free) "ISpyConnect" software you can download from the net makes it much easier.
So for the minute, I am very chuffed with the £30 "brick". Well worth the money!
So for the minute, I am very chuffed with the £30 "brick". Well worth the money!
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