Hard Drive Recorder (NON PC) for Surveillance

RealGem

Hi,

Someone has been causing malicious damage to my elderly Dad's house , so I want to get him a surveillance system but my brother in law already has a mini camera, so we only need the recording device.

I have an old VCR, and some old VHS tapes, but as we want to be able to make handy DVDs of the videos, we are looking for a Hard Drive recorder.

Can someone tell me if (stand alone) Hard Drive Recorders have a USB socket and a way to transfer recordings onto a USB stick?

(I already have software (and hardware) to transfer VHS to PC, and it's rubbish!!)

So I just want a Hard drive recorder. The camera cannot be connected to a PC. My Dad wants something he can use. He won't use a PC no matter how much we nag him. That's why we need a separate device.

Anyone know please?

thanks a lot

[Deleted User]

So, i'm guessing your father doesn't have a computer? Or the internet? Just wondering if an IP camera might work

edit: you could get something like this.. http://www.maplin.co.uk/160gb-4-ch-h.264-network-dvr-with-1-x-ccd-camera--mobile-access-612636

To connect to the 'storage unit' you would probably need to plug a computer into it with an Ethernet cable

RealGem

So, i'm guessing your father doesn't have a computer?

That's right he claims to be a total technophobe, and yet when it came to his 3d telly; he just read the instructiuons from cover to cover - and sorted it out himself!

But mention "computer" and his brain start quivering! He's adamant and won't have one in the house.


Or the internet? Just wondering if an IP camera might work.

Thanks, but no, that won't be suitable. We already have the camera and it has to be a stand alone device for recording.

thanks

cit_k

I would be surpised if the camera cannot be connected to a pc, but the pc would need a suitable video capture card first.

If you do not want to go that route, perhaps a cheap securrity cctv DVR would be better than a normal hard drive recorder designed for TV use.

TV ones tend to be excellent quality, but limited in their use, as they are not designed for recording long periods, or for recording only movement etc.

A proper security DVR (you can get a cheap one for about 100 or less) will do motion detection, only recording when required.

Is the damage done during they day, or at night?

Is a single camera going to capture all areas where damage occurs?
How big an area are you trying to cover, if you go wide angle you will get a good 'overview' of what happened but wont be able to identify who did it....

[Deleted User]

What is this mini camera? Might help work out what it can be hooked into

RealGem

ringo_24601 wrote: »

What is this mini camera? Might help work out what it can be hooked into

That we already know: it can be connected to a tv, vcr or hard disk recorder via those yellow and white connectors.

this is a very similar camera with the same connectors:
http://www.spycameracctv.com/spycamera/ccd-pinhole-spycamera-hidden-420tv-line


We just need to know if a HHD recorder has a USB port and a way of transferring to a PC.

thanks

[Deleted User]

So something like this?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Friedland-Response-CA1-2-Channel-Recorder/dp/B003LY404E/ref=sr_1_11?s=diy&ie=UTF8&qid=1332523210&sr=1-11

Whether they have a USB port will be dependant on the model. You've also not said any budget - these things aren't cheap

RealGem

cit_k wrote: »

I would be surpised if the camera cannot be connected to a pc, but the pc would need a suitable video capture card first.

If you do not want to go that route, perhaps a cheap securrity cctv DVR would be better than a normal hard drive recorder designed for TV use.

TV ones tend to be excellent quality, but limited in their use, as they are not designed for recording long periods, or for recording only movement etc.

A proper security DVR (you can get a cheap one for about 100 or less) will do motion detection, only recording when required.

Hi, all the ones I have seen all have Infra Red lights around them, and my brother in law said they reflect off the window. (The camera will be inside the top front window).

The camera he has does not have these lights.

Is the damage done during they day, or at night?

Both, but only when he is out. Someone is clearly watching the house. That's why we think it's a neighbour's kids.

Is a single camera going to capture all areas where damage occurs?
How big an area are you trying to cover, if you go wide angle you will get a good 'overview' of what happened but wont be able to identify who did it....

We only need to see who it is coming up the path, and from looking at footage from my brother in law's works, this camera will show that clearly, if another IR light is used.

I have bought a separate large infra red light that won't reflect into the camera.

thanks

RealGem

ringo_24601 wrote: »

So something like this?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Friedland-Response-CA1-2-Channel-Recorder/dp/B003LY404E/ref=sr_1_11?s=diy&ie=UTF8&qid=1332523210&sr=1-11

Whether they have a USB port will be dependant on the model. You've also not said any budget - these things aren't cheap

thanks, that looks good so far. Still reading the spec...

Budget: I was hoping less than £200 but I might be naive.

closed

Without any motion detection, you are going to have to spend a long time reviewing the recordings.

bluesnake

we have a few bespoke camera boxes at work. they are windows boxes but have seen 1 linux one years ago.

This is great software http://www.h264soft.com/

You need motion detection, with zones would be good. Even with motion detection you will get loads of false positives due to sun, reflections, cats, car lights, rain, low light, too much light, and the list goes on.

vcr tapes lat 8 hours at best, have to be rewound and to fast forward through 8 hours - !!!!!! as it is unworkable!!! Only one camera per recorder - some PCs can take 32 cameras with the correct boards.

Even with a mini recorder power is an issue