Security Camera

superscaper

Just looking for a bit of inspiration and see if anybody else has security cameras on their property. Does anyone use any webcams for this purpose and, what do you use for recording (dedicated old pc etc?). Also on a slighly non techie issue, anyone know what the law is on camera coverage, can you view driveway and street for example so long as it doesn't view neighbours' property?

I've been spurred by these thoughts because I'm a bit sick of couriers claiming they've tried to deliver when they haven't. Also it would seem sensible in hindsight because there've been one or two instances when someone must have come up the drive in the night to cause damage etc.

a11waysindebt

HI,

I have 4 ip cctv caneras in my shop in Blackpool which I can view from my pc in Swansea.I use my pc for recording and back up to an external hard drive.

You can view your own property but shouldnt overlook any one elses.

aardvarkuk

I use a creative live cam hooked up to my PC that im using now and have it looking out through the net curtains, or outside in a tupperware tub with a glass front, and it can take pictures or film as it has a motion detector and when its captured I can have the footage emailed to me or uploaded to my webspace I prefer email as my gmail account is accessable by me from anywhere.

About the law thing, I dont know but my common sense is not to have it looking at the girl who keeps getting undressed with the light on opposite me as her bloke is an ape.

superscaper

a11waysindebt wrote: »

HI,

I have 4 ip cctv caneras in my shop in Blackpool which I can view from my pc in Swansea.I use my pc for recording and back up to an external hard drive.

You can view your own property but shouldnt overlook any one elses.

I live in Thornton, I could try and break in your shop and see how good the cameras are

I wondered about whether the cameras can legally view the public street as well. (would have been useful this morning to get registration no. of courier for example).

superscaper

aardvarkuk wrote: »

About the law thing, I dont know but my common sense is not to have it looking at the girl who keeps getting undressed with the light on opposite me as her bloke is an ape.

I guess that depends on what floats your boat. Some may prefer the ape looking bloke :eek:

chuckles1066

superscaper wrote: »

Just looking for a bit of inspiration and see if anybody else has security cameras on their property. Does anyone use any webcams for this purpose and, what do you use for recording (dedicated old pc etc?). Also on a slighly non techie issue, anyone know what the law is on camera coverage, can you view driveway and street for example so long as it doesn't view neighbours' property?

I've been spurred by these thoughts because I'm a bit sick of couriers claiming they've tried to deliver when they haven't. Also it would seem sensible in hindsight because there've been one or two instances when someone must have come up the drive in the night to cause damage etc.

I have cameras covering the front and rear of my property.

Not webcams, they're proper grown up cameras running at zero lux and 100fps. Their output runs through a capture card + software that's capable of uploading the video to my personal webspace (so if the thieves steal my computer, I still have their ugly mugs on video), capable of SMS-ing me on my mobile or capable of emailing me jpegs of any activity.

You have to be careful you don't capture any public property activity (i.e the street) as you get into Data Protection Act issues.

superscaper

An old pc I gave away is possibly coming back to me (person I gave it to is getting a better one) and until now I was wondering what I could do with it and it'd be nice to have a dedicated recorder. Maybe cheap webcam is the way to go.

No definite decisions or anything, this is just playing with ideas out loud so I really appreciate all the responses.

superscaper

chuckles1066 wrote: »

You have to be careful you don't capture any public property activity (i.e the street) as you get into Data Protection Act issues.

I did wonder about that.

Nothing to say I can't start off with smaller budget and eventually progress to grown up stuff. But your setup sounds pretty cool (if home security can be considered cool?!?) and I think would be the eventual ideal solution.

chuckles1066

superscaper wrote: »

An old pc I gave away is possibly coming back to me (person I gave it to is getting a better one) and until now I was wondering what I could do with it and it'd be nice to have a dedicated recorder. Maybe cheap webcam is the way to go.

No definite decisions or anything, this is just playing with ideas out loud so I really appreciate all the responses.

Trouble with webcams is, to be blunt, they're aimed at teeny girls who want to take their tops off on Bebo or MSN Live Messenger

You need something that functions at zero lux and 100fps.

superscaper

chuckles1066 wrote: »

Trouble with webcams is, to be blunt, they're aimed at teeny girls who want to take their tops off on Bebo or MSN Live Messenger

You need something that functions at zero lux and 100fps.

Thinking about it my dad already has two cheap b&w cameras (£10 each from QVC returns shop) that connect by scart. He's yet to install them, but I wonder if those could be incorporated. He plans to connect them to an old TV/VCR in the garage.

chuckles1066

superscaper wrote: »

Thinking about it my dad already has two cheap b&w cameras (£10 each from QVC returns shop) that connect by scart. He's yet to install them, but I wonder if those could be incorporated. He plans to connect them to an old TV/VCR in the garage.

What lux do they operate under?

What fps?