Advice on Security Camera Placement for Complex

maumau

maumau

Honorary Master
Joined
Aug 13, 2009
Messages
23,459
Reaction score
8,196
Location
Northwold
Our trustees have proposed the installation of a security camera system with off site monitoring which we'll all contribute towards. The complex is 150m x 120m surrounded by a wall with electric fence and all sides apart from the street have bushes/trees on the outside. The electric fence has been cut a few times.

What do you guys think of the suggested camera placement, (shown below as 2 circles on the corners 😁)?

As I see it the central row of units is unprotected because camera range is 40m and the middle driveway is 60m from the gate. Also won't there be a blind spot of about 40m in the middle of each perimeter wall or does that not matter?

The people who've quoted used their own internal SKU for the cameras so I don't know which model they're quoting on. Mr Efficient who sent the quote hasn't answered my email asking (anonymously) for model numbers.

camera-system.jpg
 
What's the description of the camera in the quote? The SKU might be the distributor's code. Post the code.
 
No cameras watching the entrance? I’d double up on the ones on the vacant land as well
 
maumau said:
Our trustees have proposed the installation of a security camera system with off site monitoring which we'll all contribute towards. The complex is 150m x 120m surrounded by a wall with electric fence and all sides apart from the street have bushes/trees on the outside. The electric fence has been cut a few times.

What do you guys think of the suggested camera placement, (shown below as 2 circles on the corners 😁)?

As I see it the central row of units is unprotected because camera range is 40m and the middle driveway is 60m from the gate. Also won't there be a blind spot of about 40m in the middle of each perimeter wall or does that not matter?

The people who've quoted used their own internal SKU for the cameras so I don't know which model they're quoting on. Mr Efficient who sent the quote hasn't answered my email asking (anonymously) for model numbers.

View attachment 1801663
Click to expand...
This is nearby, they have what looks like EZVIZ or Hikvision wired or PoE cameras every 15-20 meters. So basically like your pic but with an extra one in the middle. If I walk with the dog and get close to the fence the American Ezviz camera automated voice trigger voice says "this is private property. Please turn around and leave the premises." They are also linked with the local security company.

Screenshot_2025-03-05-18-17-08-696-edit_com.google.android.apps.maps.jpg
Screenshot_2025-03-05-18-22-40-895-edit_com.google.android.apps.maps.jpg
 
Last edited:
I would do something like this. Security company can advice on how many is needed. I won't put ones in the corner. Also neighbour side you want them to point inwards not to encroach in their privacy

Screenshot_2025-03-05-18-26-30-340-edit_com.kiwibrowser.browser.jpg
 
Off site monitoring? What will that help. No way to even see if they are monitoring and how long does it take them to respond?
 
Thanks so much @RedViking.

That's exactly the type of input I was looking for, especially the info about where you walk the dog. Also appreciate your design background for placement of the cameras.
 
Jean Claude Vaaldamme said:
Off site monitoring? What will that help. No way to even see if they are monitoring and how long does it take them to respond?
Click to expand...

Exactly JC, that's what most people are fighting against but one of the trustees pushing for off site monitoring is a very dominant man and he's difficult to stand up to. At the previous meeting when we said R6 000p.m. is too expensive he replied that it's less than we pay the gardeners. I'm a coward and no way was I going to start an argument by saying they monitor 10x complexes simultaneously so I let it ride.
 
maumau said:
Exactly JC, that's what most people are fighting against but one of the trustees pushing for off site monitoring is a very dominant man and he's difficult to stand up to. At the previous meeting when we said R6 000p.m. is too expensive he replied that it's less than we pay the gardeners. I'm a coward and no way was I going to start an argument by saying they monitor 10x complexes simultaneously so I let it ride.
Click to expand...
You are paying way too much for your gardeners. :ROFL: what a chop. It's easy to spend other people's money.
 
maumau said:
Exactly JC, that's what most people are fighting against but one of the trustees pushing for off site monitoring is a very dominant man and he's difficult to stand up to. At the previous meeting when we said R6 000p.m. is too expensive he replied that it's less than we pay the gardeners. I'm a coward and no way was I going to start an argument by saying they monitor 10x complexes simultaneously so I let it ride.
Click to expand...
One of my clients have a offsite monitoring division. The offsite company sets up trigger zones on the cameras and as soon as the zone gets triggered it comes up as a alarm on one of their screens. They then decide if it is a non-event (tenant/gardener etc.) or they dispatch armed reaction.
 
What happens if the electric fence is cut? It should trigger an alert at security provider if the electric fence detects tampering/a fault. An electric fence is primarily a perimeter alarm, if no alert if cut, useless. Cheaper than the camera system.

If the above is already in place and they are proceeding with the cameras anyway, are these cameras smart and can detect humans and no go zones (like the people moving outside of the fence in a no go zone)?
 
Crowley said:
One of my clients have a offsite monitoring division. The offsite company sets up trigger zones on the cameras and as soon as the zone gets triggered it comes up as a alarm on one of their screens. They then decide if it is a non-event (tenant/gardener etc.) or they dispatch armed reaction.
Click to expand...

Basically what happens at our estate
 
supersunbird said:
What happens if the electric fence is cut? It should trigger an alert at security provider if the electric fence detects tampering/a fault. An electric fence is primarily a perimeter alarm, if no alert if cut, useless. Cheaper than the camera system.

If the above is already in place and they are proceeding with the cameras anyway, are these cameras smart and can detect humans and no go zones (like the people moving outside of the fence in a no go zone)?
Click to expand...

Tks Supersun, at the moment if the fence is cut or tampered with the alarm sounds in our complex and at the security company who respond via WhatsApp and rush to the scene.

I believe the suggested cameras are smart and do detect humans, not sure about no go zones. So far the company who's quoted haven't responded to THREE separate emails which I sent from a private email address on different days to different departments. All the quote says is Dahua 5MP which is how I know the range is 40M.
 
Just regarding the comment about the voice activation. Make sure the tenants near these camera's are ok with it.

I had to turn voice alerts off for my property as the neighbor said they often got woken up.
 
I think the big question is how much is your budget.

When it comes to security you pay for what you get there can be plenty of suggestions but the budget figure should be paramount in these decisions.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X