My Fiance and I are having an issue that we need to document. We moved about 6 mos ago and have a suspiscion about some neighbors entering onto the property to do some nefarious things (I don't want to go into detail right now.) The best I can hope for right now is to document it if I can and notify the authorities. I am looking into wireless cameras as a means of doing so. Anyone have any experience, recommendations?
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Wireless Security Cameras
- Thread starter Smash05
- Start date
- Joined
- Oct 20, 2004
- Messages
- 4,704
Is it happening in the day or at night? If during the daytime I would think many of the security cameras you can buy would work fine. I would try to find one that you can plug into a computer with a usb cable. Even a higher end webcam might work. These usually have software that starts to record when it detects movement.
If you get one that just has the video output then you have to have a device to record which is probably the more expensive part. You might be able to find one on ebay fairly cheap with a recorder.
If at night then you will need a camera that has built in IR lamp. Some of these do not emit anything visible and others have a dull red glow. Not sure if the red glow might give it away.
You could also possibly get a game camera and set it up if pictures will work. I think some of the more expensive ones will do short video. I would make sure you can get one that you can turn the flash off so they don't know they were just caught and also adjust how often it takes a picture.
I know Sams club has a decent multi camera system but I forget how much they are. My store has them set up so you can see what the video looks like. Probably not a bad thing to have running all the time.
Not sure what you are looking for as far as info? Maybe someone else will have some better information than I do. Good luck.
If you get one that just has the video output then you have to have a device to record which is probably the more expensive part. You might be able to find one on ebay fairly cheap with a recorder.
If at night then you will need a camera that has built in IR lamp. Some of these do not emit anything visible and others have a dull red glow. Not sure if the red glow might give it away.
You could also possibly get a game camera and set it up if pictures will work. I think some of the more expensive ones will do short video. I would make sure you can get one that you can turn the flash off so they don't know they were just caught and also adjust how often it takes a picture.
I know Sams club has a decent multi camera system but I forget how much they are. My store has them set up so you can see what the video looks like. Probably not a bad thing to have running all the time.
Not sure what you are looking for as far as info? Maybe someone else will have some better information than I do. Good luck.
- Joined
- Oct 3, 2004
- Messages
- 4,553
I think it would if being used to document illegal activity instead of as a simple deterrent. My brother has some lower end IR cameras around his house and they look very much like a large red eye when looking at them at night.
Its tough to determine when it might be happening. I think it might be during late night hours and during the day as well. I have looked at some true wireless systems that have a base station and run on your home network. I have a webcam, wonder if it would work if I set the laptop up in the kitchen. I think I'll do some more research on the webcam thing.
- Joined
- Dec 26, 2006
- Messages
- 10,795
I have a X10 wireless mounted inside one of the light sconces outside the garage. The line of sight down the driveway is about 200', and I get good images at 50'. 1.2 GHz, I think, and nothing interferes with it. From the garage to my office where I have the receiver and monitor, is about 80', and it shoots thru 3 brick walls. I paid about $150 for the set up 12 or so years ago, and it still works great. I leave the outside sconce lights on all night (dusk to dawn sensor), and there are no issues with making out faces, tags, etc. at night. I think they offer a program now that will hook directly into your computer, capture images and store them on your HD.
Indoors or outdoors?
What light level (total darkness, full moon, etc?)
How far away from the camera do you want to be able to identify faces?
Do you have a computer that can be on all the time to record video? What OS?
Does the camera to be hidden?
How far from the router will it be?
How much are you willing to spend?
The cheapest, most basic way to go is something like this, which is an OK, inexpensive camera ($110 or so.) You will probably have to leave some lights on.
This camera ($200 ish) has a day/night mode, but it still will have to be relatively bright (bright full moon).
Both cameras come with software to record video. There are better cameras, but they get expensive quickly.
A few other things...
When positioning the camera, watch out for backlight (sun rising through a window) and extremely bright / dark contrasted areas (headlights, sun reflecting off glass, etc)
It is probably not legal to record audio in your area, so if your camera has this feature you will probably want to turn it off.
If you want to record in near-total darkness without the giveaway of a red glow, look into covert IR illuminators. All IR illuminators have to be used with a camera that has a day / night mode (black and white after dark).
What light level (total darkness, full moon, etc?)
How far away from the camera do you want to be able to identify faces?
Do you have a computer that can be on all the time to record video? What OS?
Does the camera to be hidden?
How far from the router will it be?
How much are you willing to spend?
The cheapest, most basic way to go is something like this, which is an OK, inexpensive camera ($110 or so.) You will probably have to leave some lights on.
This camera ($200 ish) has a day/night mode, but it still will have to be relatively bright (bright full moon).
Both cameras come with software to record video. There are better cameras, but they get expensive quickly.
A few other things...
When positioning the camera, watch out for backlight (sun rising through a window) and extremely bright / dark contrasted areas (headlights, sun reflecting off glass, etc)
It is probably not legal to record audio in your area, so if your camera has this feature you will probably want to turn it off.
If you want to record in near-total darkness without the giveaway of a red glow, look into covert IR illuminators. All IR illuminators have to be used with a camera that has a day / night mode (black and white after dark).
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