Will a motion activated CCTV work through a window?

longwalks1

As above, we'd like to monitor our back garden through the kitchen window and also the patio doors, and was looking at the wireless IP cameras, as we dont want to spend too much just yet. Are any capable of detecting motion through windows please?

kwikbreaks

Yes because they detect motion by comparing each frame with the preceding one not by PIR detection.

What won't work is use after dark because if it has no LEDs it will be too dark to record much and it id does have them they will reflect on the window and cause a white out.

You could combine one with no LEDs (and most have them with no easy way to turn off) with an external PIR opertated floodlight - either normal or IR light.

longwalks1

Thanks KB, yes our rear garden is lit by 2 x PIR floodlights already, and they light it up light its daylight once they are on.

To be honest, didnt even think of that - no need for night vision! Are there any motion detection IP cameras you;d recommend up to about £100 please? (no worries if not, but thought I'd ask). Was thinking one of those pet monitor ones and sitting it on the window sill indoors looking straight out into the garden perhaps

Just had a look on amazon and mot seem to have LEDS around the lense, could these be simply covered with electrical tape to prevent the glare on the window at night? Or would it not work that way?

paddyrg

Motion detection can be done a few ways, and my monitoring the video signal is the most variable. Some devices do a good job, others will panic every time the sun comes out or wind blows. That said, it's probably the cheapest option as other options require a PIR or radar device (actually those are only 50p each for a working board electronics wholesale, but I'm not familiar with them being in too many systems yet).

You could cover or disable the IR LED's, but there's also the IR filter on the camera which will switch in and out (if you hear a click around dusk, it's that), so it's not ideal - but there are some pretty decent options from companies like http://www.eye4.so/ for supercheap. I have a wifi PTZ IR camera for under £25 and it's pretty impressive. It doesn't feature motion detection so I won't recommend the exact unit, but they have a range that do include it.