home security - surveillance & a safe

[KMK0420]

home security - surveillance

Got blazed and i started thinking about ways to prevent break-ins, watch over things (especially my truck), etc. I was thinking about getting some sort of surveillance set up, and i was thinking something very simple - 1 outdoor/all weather day/night (possibly with IR) camera to post up outside to get a view of the street and my front door... and secondly a camera indoors.

i wanted to go all IP-based/networked/wireless, to avoid hassle on the wires and whatnot.

i've searched amazon, newegg, googled for an hour...i've came across a lot of "Yes this product is amazing!!" and a lot of "Those other reviews are horseshit. I had to RMA 5 of these things".....so it's 50/50 across the board mostly. I figured I'd post up here because I'm sure someone here who reads this has personal experience with using some sort of home surveillance cameras and hopefully wireless ones.

on that note...does anyone know of a good brand/model/website to shop at? i'm not afraid to drop a couple bucks, i just wanna get an idea of what's out there thats not gonna crap out on me during a cold winter or something like that.


lastly...

i was thinking about getting a small wall safe to fit emergency items in to hide from a possible LEO bust. i own a handgun and other things small that could just incriminate me further...anyone have one of these? they're easy to find online and my buddy will help me cut out of the drywall along with mounting it on the studs.

 

[uncle_shorty]

if you want the best picture go with Mobotix

 

[CranAppleGemz]

wireless SOUNDS good but go hardwire on the cameras...a four camera set up with a good dvr will run u about 800 bucks..i try to stay away from wireless because customers always come back complaining about to the poor quality. they're great at first but they wont last more than a few months without problems. u also have to consider weather conditions even though they say "all weather". if ur in a area where u get all four seasons its also not a good idea
the hardwire cameras are easy to install if u have an unfinished basement or an attic. if u dont have any of these installation will be much more difficult as u can imagine but i'd rather have some exposed wiring along baseboards than to use wireless. trust me ..they truly suck!
also....the term wireless is a little bit of a lie...u still have to run the power wires for the cameras, they are not battery operated. since u have to run a power line u might as well run the coaxial for the camera itself.

as far as the ip based network , u can use a computer if u have enough disk space. otherwise an ip dvr would be just fine.

dealextreme.com is a good website..it takes a little long to get equipment

as far as the safe goes....if the leo's ever get to ur spot theyre gonna tear everything apart. the best advice is to just get rid of the piece since a safe isnt gonna stop them much .if the gun is dirty than u definately need to get rid of it.

 

[KMK0420]

wireless SOUNDS good but go hardwire on the cameras...a four camera set up with a good dvr will run u about 800 bucks..i try to stay away from wireless because customers always come back complaining about to the poor quality. they're great at first but they wont last more than a few months without problems. u also have to consider weather conditions even though they say "all weather". if ur in a area where u get all four seasons its also not a good idea
the hardwire cameras are easy to install if u have an unfinished basement or an attic. if u dont have any of these installation will be much more difficult as u can imagine but i'd rather have some exposed wiring along baseboards than to use wireless. trust me ..they truly suck!
also....the term wireless is a little bit of a lie...u still have to run the power wires for the cameras, they are not battery operated. since u have to run a power line u might as well run the coaxial for the camera itself.

as far as the ip based network , u can use a computer if u have enough disk space. otherwise an ip dvr would be just fine.

dealextreme.com is a good website..it takes a little long to get equipment

as far as the safe goes....if the leo's ever get to ur spot theyre gonna tear everything apart. the best advice is to just get rid of the piece since a safe isnt gonna stop them much .if the gun is dirty than u definately need to get rid of it.

appreciate it... afa the safe, nah...i doubt they'd find it unless they literally tore my walls down. but i dont know why they'd do that for such a small op. second i was thinking a poster would be better...that would be deceiving to them.. a lot of people i know who got busted just had their shit searched....drawers, computer desks, beds, cabinets, etc. they didnt go tearing apart the walls and ripping pictures down or anything..

 

[chef]

x10.com security is pretty cool, plan on trying their cam kits next.
In a hallway or growroom, the extra Power Horn sirens will make your ears bleed!
I swear its like those sound weapons they're using on the ship pirates, totally disorienting & obnoxious as %$#. The little ones are worse than the big I think? Both together are gnarly lol

I've been amazed at the quality for the price so far.

 

[sparky101]

www.supercircuits.com

www.smarthome.com

www.absoluteautomation.com


You'll find a ton of video surveillance at supercircuits.


Best Regards


sparky101

 

[ChaosCatalunya]

Axis were the first ppl to make IP cameras, still the best AFAIK, it is what I bought after a lot of looking into it.

If you do not need to access the contents of a safe that often ;-) it is amazing what a bit of filler and wallpaper/paint can hide...

 

[s13sr20det]

surveillance is a good investment.
it caught those damn pigs playing wii
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ffHWfFU5phU
(sorry about the stupid commercial)

 

[stillsmokin843]

great idea for a thread somthing ive been planning for a while......

 

[mrdizzle]

I spoke with a lawyer and she told me to get a camera and record my scripts, and to make it very aware that my house has cameras in it by posting a big note next to my scripts, she said cops behave differently when they know they are being watched, and it prevents them from ripping up scripts and pocketing cash

I found a set up with a dvr for 219 from radio shack

 

[good drown]

DO NOT GO WIRELESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
for about $100 or more depending on the size and range, i can get a wireless jammer.
perfect for those annoying asshats talking loud on a train, or even better for surveillance.
all i would need is one on me, and the cameras wouldn't work...

 

[chef]

X10 security systems use the house electrical wiring that its plugged into to link important components, its a solid system.
A jammer could probably take out a cam signal tho, good point!

 

[wintermute]

DO NOT GO WIRELESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
for about $100 or more depending on the size and range, i can get a wireless jammer.
perfect for those annoying asshats talking loud on a train, or even better for surveillance.
all i would need is one on me, and the cameras wouldn't work...

Lot of broad assumptions stated. Recent advances change the picture:

Jamming is pretty effective, even brute force wibble wabble type kilowatt beasts. FHSS is old and easily disrupted with noise. DSSS and OFDM over wide band is much harder to screw with, particularly if countermeasures are employed like your own 1W 900Mhz/2.4Ghz/5.8Ghz OFDM amplifiers with directional point to point

Unfortunately most DSSS/OFDM type 802.11 or 802.16 networks do not protect the physical layer and/or management commands at all. This means you can now jam digital networks in a very wide area with merely a laptop and packet injection.

Not all bad news, as WPA2 uses AES which provide privacy of any data going over the wireless. After screwing up WEP, LEAP, WPA they finally got their $^#@ together with WPA2. Using a good key / passphrase is still up to you!

A good hardline or fiber is nice, but wireless goes where nothing else can and is usefule done right. My Two Cents.

 

[chef]

You're the guy I've been hoping to run into, thanks for the lowdown

 

[Lord Doobie]

get a dog?
LMAO

 

[kmk420kali]

I have a 4 camera + DVR set up...$600 from Sam's Club online--
I have all 4 sides of my house covered...there is no way anybody can get to my house without being recorded--
Great peace o mind!!

 

[TKB-Man]

Trendnet Cameras + Housing are cheap, effective, work amazingly well and extremely easy to setup if you know how to do wireless router configurations. I get a text message and e-mail with pictures and videos of big movements of a set threshold from my trendnets. Check the best prices for em on froogle.com
g'luck have fun, be safe!

 

[MMAJAY]

Got my house covered with q-see 4 camera system with dvr card in puter with hidden hard drive. Night vision is awsome and it gives you a good piece of mine. I have about 500 bux max in everything includeing upgraded night cam's and 8 camera ready. I agree don't waste your cash on wireless. Go hard wired for better resolution and interferance.

 

[JACKtheREFFER]

i suggest the wired over wireless it is much more reliable

i have four color and night cams all on a motion sensor dvr program runing on my comp