frankvw
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- Aug 8, 2009
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Due to recent incidents I'm considering putting up two security camera's at our gate. However, I'm on a tight budget and I prefer the DIY approach over buying an out-of-the-box all-in-one system.
Because running cables to the gate is difficult I'm looking at solar powered WiFi (i.e. IP) camera's. I've also got a spare Raspberry Pi 3B (8GB model) that I'm hoping to press into service as a security box. We'd use a TV to monitor the camera's when necessary. Our WiFi router puts out a good signal and watching streaming video on my laptop while sitting at the gate (where the cameras will go up) works fine, so signal coverage is no problem.
I'm seeing a lot of Chinese camera's but I'm extremely loathe to buy one of those without recommendations. I've also seen quite a few FOSS packages for the RPi that are intended for surveillance, but most of those either assume fitting the Pi with a HAT display or with a camera board, which isn't what I've got in mind.
So I'm looking for advice and suggestions on the following:
1. What make and model of solar powered WiFi (IP) camera would MB posters recommend? (Edit: systems with NiCd and LeadAcid batteries are out; based on service life I'm looking at LeFePO4.)
2. What software should I look at to record video from two security camera's? Motion detection would be a plus (i.e. not record anything when nothing in the image moves) and I'd like to record both camera feeds for, say, a week at which point the recording should loop back and the most recent video data will overwrite the oldest. (Edit: I don't need push notifications or Internet connectivity; I'm not worried about receiving alerts and then watching the cams at home while wandering through the suburbs of Ouagadougou.
Recording the two feeds and watching them on our TV is more than sufficient.)
I am aware that wireless cameras are vulnerable to signal jamming (although the average wall jumper looking for something quick and easy to steal probably won't have one) and cables can (and in the past have been) cut as well, and cutting a cable appears to happen more frequently so far than wireless signals being jammed, so WiFi isn't the worst way to go here, I believe. (Edit: I won't need Internet connectivity or "push" notifications ; I'm not planning to monitor the camera's on my phone while out in the suburbs of Ouagadougou. Recording the feeds and watching them on our living room TV is more than sufficient.)
Looking forward to your considered opinions!
// FvW
Because running cables to the gate is difficult I'm looking at solar powered WiFi (i.e. IP) camera's. I've also got a spare Raspberry Pi 3B (8GB model) that I'm hoping to press into service as a security box. We'd use a TV to monitor the camera's when necessary. Our WiFi router puts out a good signal and watching streaming video on my laptop while sitting at the gate (where the cameras will go up) works fine, so signal coverage is no problem.
I'm seeing a lot of Chinese camera's but I'm extremely loathe to buy one of those without recommendations. I've also seen quite a few FOSS packages for the RPi that are intended for surveillance, but most of those either assume fitting the Pi with a HAT display or with a camera board, which isn't what I've got in mind.
So I'm looking for advice and suggestions on the following:
1. What make and model of solar powered WiFi (IP) camera would MB posters recommend? (Edit: systems with NiCd and LeadAcid batteries are out; based on service life I'm looking at LeFePO4.)
2. What software should I look at to record video from two security camera's? Motion detection would be a plus (i.e. not record anything when nothing in the image moves) and I'd like to record both camera feeds for, say, a week at which point the recording should loop back and the most recent video data will overwrite the oldest. (Edit: I don't need push notifications or Internet connectivity; I'm not worried about receiving alerts and then watching the cams at home while wandering through the suburbs of Ouagadougou.
Recording the two feeds and watching them on our TV is more than sufficient.)I am aware that wireless cameras are vulnerable to signal jamming (although the average wall jumper looking for something quick and easy to steal probably won't have one) and cables can (and in the past have been) cut as well, and cutting a cable appears to happen more frequently so far than wireless signals being jammed, so WiFi isn't the worst way to go here, I believe. (Edit: I won't need Internet connectivity or "push" notifications ; I'm not planning to monitor the camera's on my phone while out in the suburbs of Ouagadougou. Recording the feeds and watching them on our living room TV is more than sufficient.)
Looking forward to your considered opinions!
// FvW
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