Security Camera advice

[Supine]

Having recently had my house broken into, I am considering setting up a surveillance system (so that I can identify the mofo's and perform Islamic justice on their testicles using garden shears).

I am looking at setting up a system using Linux Motion, a low end PC and surveillance cameras.

Now the cameras are where I need advice. All of the web cams I have looked at are USB based. I need something that will plug into a network somehow. Wireless would be good but I can run cables if necessary. Or is there some kind of Ethernet-USB converter I could use?

 

[Messugga]

Hello. You do get ethernet based camera's that use IP. If you want, I can find out which brands are good and model numbers? Just PM me. I don't sell them though.

 

[bdt]

I can help you with cameras, but when it comes to RJ45-enabled hardware you end up having to trade off between:

- how much do you want to spend on this ..per camera (and it can get very entertainingly expensive)
- which end of the device is more important, viz.
..- LAN side where you get better network behaviour, at the cost of, well, crappy video (this gets subjective and depends on cost anyway)
..- the imaging/lens side of things

As to software, Motion may well work (and methinks it's time for a test too) but mention of a Loonix system *immediately* set off my MJPEG (motion-jpg) alarm but, apparently, this may well be catered for here (this is my hot-potato issue for wanting to check it out)

 

[Goobie]

if your intentions are to identify them using CCTV, be prepared to spend some big bucks. If you only want to see the activity coupled to motion detection...buy it from bid or buy.

 

[Ryder_JHB]

Zoneminder! + Axis!

You cannot go wrong!

Also, search this forum for many Zoneminder related threads!

 

[bdt]

Zoneminder! + Axis!

Ahh yes, there we go - was wondering what was taking you so long to get here. But, while I'm with you all the way on ZM, Axis cams, lovely as they are, get entertainingly expensive ..or am I wrong here - are they better priced than my possibly faulty memory tells me? Also, the main problem I have with devices that come out of the IT world is they're great from the RJ45 side but should you want better video, sorry for you: no better lens on the front allowed ..kind of a blow what with it being a camera and all. But if you get a device from the CCTV world you get nicely catered for on the sensor/lens front at the expense of not necessarily as nice LAN side ..so which is the better way to go?

 

[eitai2001]

Anyone here know where to Rent a CCTV system? I'm probably going to buy a wireless system from vguard later that'll set me back R2600 ... but I only need it for RAGE:
http://www.vguard.co.za/gatekeeperduo.htm

I have a Vguard DVR card, but no software CD, I will try get the software from them later. If I do succeed ... is there anything else I should know about.

I am basically just using the cameras to ensure that if someone steals something from the stand and is caught, we have proof, or if something is stolen at night by security / lanners.

 

[Ryder_JHB]

Ahh yes, there we go - was wondering what was taking you so long to get here. But, while I'm with you all the way on ZM, Axis cams, lovely as they are, get entertainingly expensive ..or am I wrong here - are they better priced than my possibly faulty memory tells me? Also, the main problem I have with devices that come out of the IT world is they're great from the RJ45 side but should you want better video, sorry for you: no better lens on the front allowed ..kind of a blow what with it being a camera and all. But if you get a device from the CCTV world you get nicely catered for on the sensor/lens front at the expense of not necessarily as nice LAN side ..so which is the better way to go?

Agreed, Axis cams to tend to be quite expensive, but there are models that support different lenses afaik.

The cheaper method would be to go for a 4 or 8 port DVR card, with some decent CCTV cams imho.

I am an AxisCam fan, as I am the proud owner of a 210 which I managed to win! Afaik they retail (or did) for +- R3500 (not sure what they go for these days) but it is hands down the best cam in my collection (of 9) and has amazing "night vision"

I also love the fact that I can even configure the intervals of the Activity LED (making it visible from the street) - a green led, flashing every three seconds, from the darkness of the side of the garage wall, just under the overhang!