Is this CCTV cam any good & what does a USB capture device do/is it needed?

Frank_Sebem

Is this CCTV camera any good and what exactly is a USB capture device?

Hi all

For Ages I have been looking for a decent CCTV camera to position outside our House. We definitely want infra red as a feature because I believe the very sight of the lights act as a great deterrent. I also want to be able to watch the pictures on my P.C, so was sure we needed to buy an I.P camera. However, this little cam seems able to do the trick with an extra piece of kit called a USB capture device.!

Here is the cam

http://www.paramountzone.com/spycam-nightvision.htm

Here is the USB capture device.!


http://www.spycameracctv.com/spycamera/usb-video-capture-device-av-rca-cctv-dvr-motion-detect-internet-view

My idea is to set up a desktop PC (that we no longer use anymore) in the loft and use it solely with this cam, with the PC added to our wireless network at home. !I presume this set up will work??

Just a couple of questions...

Firstly, this cam seems very cheap for what sounds like a brilliant cam. Is it so good?

With the stuff here can I just add this cam to our wireless network?

If this is not a good set-up does anybody know of an alternative outdoor Cam (With infra red) that I can add to our network? !I have about £100 to spend.!

Thanks all.!

kwikbreaks

An analogue camera running on 2.4GHz is likely to both cause and suffer interference with nearby WiFi kit.

Infra red LEDs are pretty much invisible so they in themselves will be no deterrrent.

If you want a wireless CCTV camera I'd suggest you look at Foscam IP cameras instead of that kit. I wanted a weather camera and tried one - it was unsuitable for that because of the focal length but my son now has it as a CCTV and it works very well for that. I won it on eBay for around £60 but was lucky as they often cost more. Here is the mini write of the model I tried out - http://www.digitalham.co.uk/equipment/Foscam_FI8905W_wireless_IP_camera.php Being digital it works well on WiFi although I used it wired. There are also pages on standard CCTV type cameras and a cheap capture device which I use for what I finally settled on as a weather cam.

Frank_Sebem

I obviously missed that vital info that the cam I put up was only analogue, so, thank you for that info. I'm gonna trapse on over to EBay to have a look at the Foscam cameras, which seem ideal for what I want, which is to be positioned 4 - 5 metres up outside my front door pointing down at the door. I intend to hook this up as a standalone cam running on a Desktop that I no longer use. Thanks for the advice mate. In the meantime if you know of another EXTERNAL ip cam with Infra Red and a better resolution/more features for up to about £75 then please let me know.

Thanks again.

kwikbreaks

Look for a seller with really good feedback as there are lots of fake Foscam units around. Don't be afraid to ask if the camera is a genuine Foscam one. That said I think most of the fakes are the indoor only PTZ (steerable) ones.

s_b

putting a computer in the loft might not be a good idea as it might suck in all the gunge from the glassfivbre wadding into the fans, seize, then burn your house down
i wouldnt do it unless i could put it in an area well ventilated

kwikbreaks

He's looking at wireless IP cameras now so no need to take that particular risk but certainly worth a mention.