Security camera set-up

[johnnyla]

dudes if you are on a mac/iphone set up check this out. i think this is the way to go as you can remote view from your phone, get email alerts, sms alerts etc, AND it remotely records via FTP so the pigs can't snag the footage and you can use it all against them later. lol. i'm getting one soon. there is demo software the totally works for free for a month. i hooked it up and it instantly picked up my built in webcam on my computer.

iphone app entitled "Remote Patrol"

and the software for your mac

http://www.securityspy.com/

 

[bass ackwards]

RMCG,Thanks for the link,spent much of the day following it.Although I don't know what Z-wave is,it sounds interesting. Many people seem to be having problems with that company though. Would like to see more positive comments about the company before I made the investment.

Lazyman,The phone is a secondary consideration. I will purchase either an iphone or a droid whichever works best for the application. I will check out the website you referred me to today,and yes the system must send me an alert. That is a primary function for the system.

johnnyla, Thanks, will check out that link today. Have to say though,if it's at all possible I would prefer a droid over an iphone, but that wouldn't be a concern if the system does what I need it to do.

Somebody mentioned that I want to store video. Than is not necessary. I just need to have video associated with an alert sent to my phone and store it there. Probably something like a half hour of video. Of course I would use the remote access function to monitor the building not the grow itself. More than likely I will be at the grow everyday so it would not be necessary to have "grow room video".

On the subject of phones I wonder if there would be advantage in buying an unlocked phone. Or even a dual sim phone! I'm not happy with the thought of carrying two cell-phones around. My current cell-phone is on a pay as you go plan. I wouldn't have it any other way! I have heard that AT&T and T-mobile have internet access plans that are pay as you go also. have to look into that.

I'm beginning to look at this security camera thread in a different light. What is taking shape is a system of sensors and cameras linked to a interface system (dvr,router) which can be accessed remotely from a phone. Looking at it as three categories makes it easier.

Anyway, any comments or suggestions?


Respect bass

 

[tequila_sunrise]

All I can say is I am excited about the capabilities of Zoneminder. Especially the Zone specific features. You can have a camera only care about motion in a certain area. Just seems pretty rad to me!

The other options look good too. I have also heard of a logitech system that runs on windows Sub $500

 

[Chester]

The stuff is out there and the capabilities are attractive.

Be very, very careful what you record and where you record any video to. Personally I'd only record to a Truecrypt encrypted volume so as to avoid providing any evidence to any interested tax feeders.

Avoid incriminating yourself in any way, and then it's a great use of the technology. Otherwise......

 

[RMCG]

Even the 'basic' software that comes with ~most~ camera's would do the trick for minimal monitoring. Even the firmware built-in to the camera has email notification, ftp to remote location, etc.
*IP cameras, not CCTV cameras.

The trendnet(my camera maker) 'master' software is ok, but doesn't have remote viewers, so you would have to RDP into your windows box to 'see' anything.

I don't like having to configure each one individually or having to open up various ports on a firewall to all remote viewing of individual cameras.

When you want 'extended' functionality is when you start to see the holes in the camera manufacturers software unless you are willing to drop $$ on Axis or Vivotek licensing.

 

[igrowone]

the thing about a centralized computer setup is for me it doesn't give much value
they're great for archiving alarms and integrating cameras and sensors in large numbers
but the more sensors, the more false alarms(normally)
i'll trade that for a few good sensors, and a camera or 2 in the most likely locations

 

[RMCG]

The stuff is out there and the capabilities are attractive.

Be very, very careful what you record and where you record any video to. Personally I'd only record to a Truecrypt encrypted volume so as to avoid providing any evidence to any interested tax feeders.

Avoid incriminating yourself in any way, and then it's a great use of the technology. Otherwise......

Encrypted filesystems and a 'self destruct' mode would be essential.

The self destruct/wipe functionality is what got me going off on ZoneMinder. That functionality is just not in 'off the shelf' software. It can easily be built into your ZM box though.

 

[Panama Red]

I have a pc running programs and creating data that I don't want falling into the wrong hands.

The data folders are all encrypted and their 1st destination is a secondary hard drive inside the case.

FTP client (sending to the second destination) also runs off the secondary.

That drive is balanced ever so carefully on 2 small dowels above a deep plastic bowl of cola at the bottom of the case.

One dowel is attached to the removable side panel of the case.

If anybody tries to open the case or move it even slightly, all they end up with is a cocktail, on the house.

Data and Coke. Shaken, not stirred.

A small thermite charge sitting on top of your hard drive, triggered by a mercury/level switch would work too.

Reliable ignition is the only drawback.......

 

[RMCG]

I have a pc running programs and creating data that I don't want falling into the wrong hands.

The data folders are all encrypted and their 1st destination is a secondary hard drive inside the case.

FTP client (sending to the second destination) also runs off the secondary.

That drive is balanced ever so carefully on 2 small dowels above a deep plastic bowl of cola at the bottom of the case.

One dowel is attached to the removable side panel of the case.

If anybody tries to open the case or move it even slightly, all they end up with is a cocktail, on the house.

Data and Coke. Shaken, not stirred.

A small thermite charge sitting on top of your hard drive, triggered by a mercury/level switch would work too.

Reliable ignition is the only drawback.......

Back in the early software pirate days people used to use an electro magnet hooked to a car battery around the door jambs to the room where the servers lived. If you walked out of that room with a HDD, the data was immediately scrambled.

But the coke would work too. :*)

 

[tequila_sunrise]

I have a pc running programs and creating data that I don't want falling into the wrong hands.

The data folders are all encrypted and their 1st destination is a secondary hard drive inside the case.

FTP client (sending to the second destination) also runs off the secondary.

That drive is balanced ever so carefully on 2 small dowels above a deep plastic bowl of cola at the bottom of the case.

One dowel is attached to the removable side panel of the case.

If anybody tries to open the case or move it even slightly, all they end up with is a cocktail, on the house.

Data and Coke. Shaken, not stirred.

A small thermite charge sitting on top of your hard drive, triggered by a mercury/level switch would work too.

Reliable ignition is the only drawback.......

sorry... if they really want that data on the drive, they are going to be able to recover it even if it gets soaked in soda. That will only short out the PCB on the HD not destroy the data on the platters. If you are trying to stop plain thieves I think that the encryption is good enough.

data recovery, not a chance.


Also, aren't you worried about bugs getting into your case? What if you want to upgrade the PC or clean off the fans?

around here, an earth quake would set that off too...


You should really look into offsite backups. It was posted before but I would go with a SSL transfer of the files to an offsite shell but that is just what I'm going to do.

 

[grapeman]

point to a server off site with someone you can trust. I do. I login and check with my iPhone all the time. But I would not stream the video from my ip. Ever.

 

[Tripsick]

I always figured i would point my cameras at entry points and non incriminating items.
just encase i had to show some type of LEO.. it would look like anyone else security system.. i see ebay is loaded with multiple systems even home depot has wireless cameras.

I would be careful with wireless as they can be intercepted but then again what excitement is a door..

They sell webcams that have web servers built into them and you can just log into the website to view the footage.

I just never got around to setting one up because every year they are a little better and a little cheaper.

 

[kp^]

As far as a camera goes, I would recommend a Panasonic BL-C101.

I just installed one in the matter of about 30min the other night and its fuking awesome! One cable to it; A cat5 cable as its powered over ethernet. some of the basics features of the cam.

• Wireless Communication
• Simultaneous MPEG-4 and JPEG
• 10x Digital Zoom Function
• Multi-camera Capability
• Built-in Microphone
• Motion Detection Function
• Recording Program* (Included)
• SSL Support
• External I/O Connector
• Detection Notification Sound

Happy growing

 

[johnnyla]

point to a server off site with someone you can trust. I do. I login and check with my iPhone all the time. But I would not stream the video from my ip. Ever.

what do you mean you would never stream from your ip? can you explain that a little more? thanks!

 

[RMCG]

As far as a camera goes, I would recommend a Panasonic BL-C101.

I just installed one in the matter of about 30min the other night and its fuking awesome! One cable to it; A cat5 cable as its powered over ethernet. some of the basics features of the cam.

• Wireless Communication
• Simultaneous MPEG-4 and JPEG
• 10x Digital Zoom Function
• Multi-camera Capability
• Built-in Microphone
• Motion Detection Function
• Recording Program* (Included)
• SSL Support
• External I/O Connector
• Detection Notification Sound

Happy growing

Nice camera! PoE is the shit.

If you need to, you can 'retrofit' older cameras with PoE (power over ethernet) injectors.

 

[RMCG]

what do you mean you would never stream from your ip? can you explain that a little more? thanks!

Because I can find you...

If you do not know what you are doing and don't properly lock down your firewall/router AND security camera/software, I can peep your setup and probably narrow down which street you are on.

VPN is a better/safer solution, but unless your phone has the ability to VPN in to it, you will limit yourself to laptop/netbook access, although a tethered netbook is the bomb.

 

[johnnyla]

what about a gsm network card for a laptop like from verizon?

would that be secure? what if that was plugged into a dlink wireless access point and was encrypted?

how could you possibly find my street unless i had it pointed at landmarks? you could find me if it was pointed at a door or non descript alley? how?

 

[RMCG]

what about a gsm network card for a laptop like from verizon?

would that be secure? what if that was plugged into a dlink wireless access point and was encrypted?

how could you possibly find my street unless i had it pointed at landmarks? you could find me if it was pointed at a door or non descript alley? how?

gsm card for internet access from your op? That could work, but typically they are bandwidth capped/limited and do not allow you to run servers/services on those networks.

If you need external access (ie to hit it from a starbucks, cell phone, etc.) you need to open up your router/firewall to your internal network.

With your external IP address and narrow it down very quickly to a city. Some further digging and I could get a street.

http://www.geobytes.com/iplocator.htm?getlocation

 

[johnnyla]

yeah you didn't explain the step by step process to clearly. so you hack into a computer cam security site and sift through 1000's of cams. you pick mine. it points to a door with nothing illegal. why would you then trace my ip to find my house? what if i'm a cat woman and live in feces infested house with a security cam? yeah, if it was pointed on plants i could see it as a security issue. please explain?

 

[RMCG]

yeah you didn't explain the step by step process to clearly. so you hack into a computer cam security site and sift through 1000's of cams. you pick mine. it points to a door with nothing illegal. why would you then trace my ip to find my house? what if i'm a cat woman and live in feces infested house with a security cam? yeah, if it was pointed on plants i could see it as a security issue. please explain?

You don't need to hack into a security cam site and sift through 1000's of cams. Your internet connection is being bombarded hourly by 'attacks' (port scanning, etc.) all the time. If you have poorly configured ANYTHING on your internet connection that has port forwarding on, like to camera streams, someone IS going to look at it.

If its just an external security cam pointed at a door/entrance/alley, you are correct, why would I care. But I personally have cameras inside my house as well.