CCTV help

typeractive

neilwoods wrote: »

Doesnt need a PC to run, the DVR is a self contained unit, all the software for recording and detection is built into it. Just requires a monitor to place and watch back what has been recorded.

Check. Being IP based I guess it will always need something with web access to communicate with it.

Yes you can watch it over the net with an online browser, plus watch back anything that has been recorded.

For confimation - you mean the DVR setup? If so - I think this could be the one for me.

You can buy IP pan and tilt camera for about £100, quality is not brilliant, but will do everything the DVR box can do via the PC. But for the same quality camera with IP, which will do the same as DVR via PC. would be looking at around £150 per camera.

So the cameras are obviously considerably more expensive. Which in turn poses problems if anyone was to tamper with them.

I guess a DVR needs to have power running to it all the time (well, when it's recording of course). I think I'm probably swaying towards the DVR variant at the moment.

Can I get the same setup for cheaper than what maplins sell? I do have a guy who fits CCTV lined up to come and do the work (though he's not finalised, as it's a relative of my electrician), but I wanted to get a bit of an insight. He only uses good cameras apparently (Sony I think). I just thought I'd find out more info whilst I'm on, as I could maybe get somethign adequate at a slightly cheaper price.

Or - buy the cameras, and then get the DVR at a later point.

neilwoods

Yes the DVR connects via RJ45 usually straight to the broadband router.

Yes with the DVR you can watch online and view all recorded video.

Yes DVR does require constant power at all times, DVR will have 1 power cable, whilst the cameras are powered with a separate PSU which has a 4 or 8 way power adapter to go to each camera.

Can you get cheaper, probably could, but at this moment that is something I don't know. These 2 particular setup are on offer, so maybe not. When he says he uses only sony cameras, he will be referring to the the CCD (charge couple device), which is the image sensor inside of the camera, the bigger the sensor the better the camera, these are 1/4 CCD. When you get to 1/2 then you are looking at more professional quality cameras.

You could buy the cameras first, but if you went with standard CCTV cameras then you would only be able to view them via a TV, as all they come with is a camera, psu, cable with BNC connector, wouldnt not be able to record.

Seeing as you pretty PC knowledgeable, you can buy a USB DVR interface or internal PCI DVR card.

typeractive

neilwoods wrote: »

Yes the DVR connects via RJ45 usually straight to the broadband router.

Check

Yes with the DVR you can watch online and view all recorded video.

Great.

Yes DVR does require constant power at all times, DVR will have 1 power cable, whilst the cameras are powered with a separate PSU which has a 4 or 8 way power adapter to go to each camera.

So this is where the balun converts the power from Cat cable to the individual PSU? As like I say - I only have cat cable running to each spot. With work I could plant more cables...but it could be messy and mean more plastering and decorating! Something I really don't want to do!

Can you get cheaper, probably could, but at this moment that is something I don't know. These 2 particular setup are on offer, so maybe not. When he says he uses only sony cameras, he will be referring to the the CCD (charge couple device), which is the image sensor inside of the camera, the bigger the sensor the better the camera, these are 1/4 CCD. When you get to 1/2 then you are looking at more professional quality cameras.

Right. Well hopefully he can clarify. I might send him a link to the maplin pack. See what he thinks.

You could buy the cameras first, but if you went with standard CCTV cameras then you would only be able to view them via a TV, as all they come with is a camera, psu, cable with BNC connector, wouldnt not be able to record.

Yeah. Well if I got the kit, I wouldn't be ready to put the DVR in I don't think? The house is unoccupied at the moment. I supposed when I get my electrics done, I could have the DVR and cameras working - just not networked to the internet. Purely recording on the DVR? That should be possible? Plus they will act as a detterant

Seeing as you pretty PC knowledgeable, you can buy a USB DVR interface or internal PCI DVR card.

Haha - I don't know about that! heheh. I guess I'm ok, though it's like anything I only know stuff when it coems to having a go at it. So this is all new to me.

Thanks Neil - your help really is appreciated!! :beer::beer:

neilwoods

yes the balun plugs into back of the DVR, then cat 5 plugs into the balun along with the power cable from the PSU. Another balun is plugged into the camera, power plug on the balun plugs into camera as well, then cat 5 goes into the balun. Does sound confusing, but when you see it, so straightforward.

Have just thought of something, depending on how exposed the camera is to the elements, may need to waterproof the cat 5 connection to balun on the camera, bit of self amalgamating tape will do the job.

As long as you have power within the home, it can installed before the internet is working, will work fine as a stand alone unit. Most people buy as that anyway, surprising how few will actually use the network ability of the system.

kev_min

I will stick my neck out here and suggest avoiding the cheaper maplin type cameras, based on personel experience. I have a "messy" home set up utilising 2 ebay secondhand box cams, one low end new box cam and a midrange swan from maplin. All are OK in daylight but the swan looses out once it switches over to IR at night. I link to an album of 4 pictures, the ones with a car in view are from a maplin cam the others from one of these low end box cams http://www.digitaldirectsecurity.co.uk/day-night-dsp-camera-with-icr-clone-2.html .

http://s1124.photobucket.com/albums/l562/Kev_Min/

If good night vision is high on your list of requirements I would honestly suggest you spend a little more on the cameras.

neilwoods

Everyone is entitled to there own opinion, and i will even agree some of the low end cameras are not good, especially the CMOS cameras.

@Kev_min, what DVR is used to record and what resolution is used, as that will determine the quality as well

Which swann camera is that.

MajorR

why not use some IP/network webcams like these for example http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Storage-Options-IP-Night-Day-Camera-SON-IPC1-/270798773786?pt=UK_CCTV&hash=item3f0cdd5e1a If you want better quality picture then you'll have to pay more but the principle is the same.
then install some free motion dection software on your computer/server http://news.cnet.com/8301-27076_3-10301349-248.html

and configure it to 1.email the pic when it gets triggered and 2.save the file in to the cloud like a dropbox account. Then if your house is robbed and the server stolen the edvidence will still be there. What you going to show the police if a DVR is stolen? You should also be able to view the live feed of the webcam too, on the internet anywhere in the world. Job done.

kev_min

neilwoods wrote: »

Everyone is entitled to there own opinion, and i will even agree some of the low end cameras are not good, especially the CMOS cameras.

@Kev_min, what DVR is used to record and what resolution is used, as that will determine the quality as well

Which swann camera is that.

Not really sure, i think its a "pro" 558 thats not going to be there much longer.

I am not able to comment on their other cameras as I have not used them, I was only giving a (unfair*) comparison of budget box cam vs budget bullet cam as TBH thats what the majority of domestic users will buy.

* I say unfair as the box cam obviously needs a lens and housing buying.

Neil, its a Averdigi SEB 3104, again a middle of the road system, at D1 res on both cams[FONT=arial,arial,helvetica]
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neilwoods

Can't say i have seen the 558. Used 555 and 580 series, and a lot of the pro series are 420TVL, but still should give a decent night time picture.

DVR sounds good using D1 704 x 576

kev_min

neilwoods wrote: »

Can't say i have seen the 558. Used 555 and 580 series, and a lot of the pro series are 420TVL, but still should give a decent night time picture.

DVR sounds good using D1 704 x 576

It is quite possible that the cam I ended up with is "dodgy" or not quite up to spec but once bitten twice shy and all that!