Home Cctv???

Cricri

I do like some suggested: I've got my old webcam connecting to my PC, which runs 24/7 anyways.
I use Media Player Classic (my fav video player anyway) to record the video in XviD format (using the FFDShow filter).

Both are opensource, available from respectively:
http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=82303
http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=53761

Downsides:
- the webcam is not very good in low lighting conditions (depends on the webcam model itself)
- the PC needs to be on all the time
- it's not motion activated

Advantages:
+ very cheap
+ effective (=dissuasive, at least in my case)
+ video is somewhat small (around 700MB ish overnight?)
+ low resources consumption

*edit* fixed my fingers and fixed my typos

tim158

Thanks guys for all your insight,

please keep the ideas coming




many thanks

Tim

m00nie

this should do the trick ...

tim158

Thanks mOOnie been looking at thoses on ebay, look good

anyone used this type off system and can they post there opinions please


Thanks

:money:

m00nie

ive got 1 of the cameras shown, bought on on its own from ebay, also got a dvr card, again picked it up on its own from ebay, so you can make your own set up if you shop around

not set it all up proper yet but ive had it running to check it, seems very good, in the dark it picks it up really well (black and white) then colour normally.

couldnt get the software to work with the card i got but the chap gave me a link to an alternative (free) and that works fine.

loads of options, on constant, sensor, remote viewing, multi cameras. as i said, ive not set mine up properly so cant say too much. but am pleased so far

hth

(i paid £30 for 1 camera, and £12.50 for a dvr card so seems cheaper to build your own)

tim158

m00nie wrote:

ive got 1 of the cameras shown, bought on on its own from ebay, also got a dvr card, again picked it up on its own from ebay, so you can make your own set up if you shop around

not set it all up proper yet but ive had it running to check it, seems very good, in the dark it picks it up really well (black and white) then colour normally.

couldnt get the software to work with the card i got but the chap gave me a link to an alternative (free) and that works fine.

loads of options, on constant, sensor, remote viewing, multi cameras. as i said, ive not set mine up properly so cant say too much. but am pleased so far

hth

(i paid £30 for 1 camera, and £12.50 for a dvr card so seems cheaper to build your own)

Thanks again

Looks like this is the way forward, the only disadvantage i can see is that i will have to leave the pc all night and if it gets nicked so does the recordings,

Thanks :T

Tim

BillScarab

I'm not familiar with CCTV systems, but you'd probably be better off using a separate PC for the CCTV. You could use a cheap second hand one as it wouldn't need to be a very high spec one. Then you could keep it hidden or locked away somewhere. It wouldn't need a monitor/keyboard/mouse once it was set up as you could remote control it with your 'main' PC.

You might even be able to pick up a suitable PC on Freecycle. A quick google suggests you could use Zoneminder software for Linux if you want to go down that route. That way your OS and software would be free.

navig8r

I don't know how they stack up but Maplin have a lot of this type of stuff.I think the brand name of some is Swann.
edit:http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=98258&TabID=1&source=1&doy=search

Dave

Gewens

You need to assess what you really want to get out of this system, their is no point having cameras round your property, if they are not a decent quality.
What do you need to monitor, if it is just your car then you need a camera that is focused on your car so you can see if anyone if doing anything to it. A camera with a general view of your property is no good unless you are sitting watching it when something happens, and theirfor do somthing about it.
I would say to get one decent camera and a stand alone dvr or geovision dvr card. Try https://www.henrys.co.uk
Just remember what you want to achieve. Web cams would be a waist of time for this. You also need to look at lighting, is the area lit up at night? would a pir light help to deter vandals ect.
If you need any more advice then just ask.

johnmc

If you contact your local Security Shop you can get an audible warning system that links to a PIR sensor. They are very effective, but not neighbour friendly.

Also consider upgrading your car alarm. You can get them on Ebay that send a text message. Could that be used to start the PC using "Wake On LAN" / wake on phone?