Posted: 8/10/2009 8:31:58 AM EDT
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I'm looking for advice on security cameras. I need something that will work outdoors and record to some type of digital drive. I would prefer something I can just hook to my home computer and record to a hard drive. Obviously I would prefer not to spend several grand but I also don't want junk. I need at least 2 and probably 4 cameras.
Anyone here with experience and advice? |
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logitech wilife security camera system
http://www.wilife.com/Learning-Center/Video-Tour.aspx linksys makes a really nice camera, and gets better reviews than logitech http://www.linksysbycisco.com/US/en/products/WVC54GCA dakota wireless motion detectors for driveway and backyard http://www.amazon.com/Wireless-Motion-Alert-Kit-600-Range/product-reviews/B000AOMO50/ref=dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1 neat idea - backup power for your security cameras if power goes out, setting up a wireless web cam to use solar power and battery pack http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BqyvH8MlM30 This is some info a friend and fellow ARFcommer sent me. Alot of these systems can even send you a text message with an alert and still photo. |
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There's a fairly long thread on this topic... I started it back in May, and myself and several other ARFCOMers have been steadily adding to it:
Link |
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Advice.
Just be sure they are good quality and take good and clear pictures/video. Yes, part of the camera is a deterent. if the bad guys see's them and goes to greener pastures that is great But, if the badguy decides to break in anyway and your system can't get a good image of him/her from the camera's they are pretty much worthless. I'm not saying HDTV clarity but the person must be immediately recognizable from the video to when you see the guy in real time. |
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Quoted:
Get a Geovision card for your PC. Has BNC connectors for the cameras and records to your hard drive. Price of the card varies depending on the frame rate and how many cams you want to connect (4-16). Be careful of Ebay'd geovision cards... there are a lot of counterfeit cards out there. |
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Quoted:
Quoted:
Get a Geovision card for your PC. Has BNC connectors for the cameras and records to your hard drive. Price of the card varies depending on the frame rate and how many cams you want to connect (4-16). Be careful of Ebay'd geovision cards... there are a lot of counterfeit cards out there. +1 on this Best bet is to get the card from a security supplier, not EBay. |
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I just bought a couple 4 channel DVRs for $95/each las week. Installed one at my shop last weekend.
Seems like the downside is 660 vertical lines of resolution vs 720x480 on my other DVRs highest setting. also, the 1/3 price DVRs take IDEE drives instead of the SATA I started off with VCRs, then ebay computer cards, now I buy stand-alone DVRs when they on sale. It is common to see a nice 4 channel DVR on sale for <$300, add a $100 hard drive. My opinion, it's better and cheaper than a dedicated computer. I like bullet cams with IR LEDs for outside. The place I buy from sends emails few times/week with one-day sales, usually 40-70% off few items just that day. |