Surveillance system - need advice please

[JJEH]

I know we have a lots of users here with lots of experience.

I'm interested in an surveillance system for in- and outside the home. Since I do not have any experience with it, I'm a little bit overwhelmed by the numbers of manufacturers, models and prices.

What would be a good brand, company to buy from and do the come wireless? I do not own a castle and 20+ cars, therefore cannot or don't want spend a fortune.

We do have ADT, but I'm not sure if I want their system...

Any help would be greatly appreciated

 

[rburg]

Before I retired I was in charge of our system. its such a developing subject that you will need to be much more specific about your needs. Probably need to talk to some experts and get a few out to your house for "estimates". Really you're picking their brains.

Some thoughts here. Outside cameras have all kinds of options. Including ones that only record (or the recorders can be programmed) only when they see movement. They even come with UV LEDs that operate all night but others can't see them. Inside is problematic. I don't like the placement of cameras up high. You never get a good look at someone's face. And you can't walk around in your underwear. Neither can your wife or kids.

What you'll probably find is its almost impossible to find the activity you want. Going back in time maybe a month is a chore. If you've got 12 or 18 cameras it takes nearly forever to find the things you want. And then you'll run into the resolution problem. Its usually a direct trade off between how sharp you want your images and how long you want to keep them.

My suggestion is that you go to a big box store or Sam's Club and buy one of their systems. You can usually get one for $200-300 and has everything you need. Set it up yourself and learn as you go. Then when you get some preferences, make a bigger jump.

The goal is to hide everything so an intruder never sees the cameras or knows there's even a security system in the home. It includes a really good job of hiding wires and the recorder/DVR. If the bad guy steals it, you've got nothing.

 

[msinc]

"The goal is to hide everything so an intruder never sees the cameras or knows there's even a security system in the home. It includes a really good job of hiding wires and the recorder/DVR. If the bad guy steals it, you've got nothing."

Maybe...and then again maybe not. The goal is to not get broke into and have anything stolen in the first place. So, highly visible cameras up high and out of reach looking everywhere so the bad guys feel like they dont have a chance to start with has worked for me. Definately hide the DVR, I agree you dont want them to find that, but if it gets to the point where they are in the house looking...you probably got bigger problems. Suggest you look at the Samsung 8 channel DVR. Sony day/night cameras and make sure your cameras have at least a 1/3" CCD.
__________________

 

[8000fthi]

I want the would be thieves to know there being watched. I had mine installed by a professional co. I have external cameras that show all sides of my house and my driveway. I can watch it on a monitor by my bed, on my Droid phone, computer,TV. It's called digital watch dog. If I was computer savvy and could pull wires through my walls and ceiling I would have saved a bunch. Get as good a system as you can afford . Good quality cameras are what you need. The first day I had mine in a guy walked up the drive way and came to the the front door and saw the entry camera and flipped it the bird and walked away. The security co came out and played it back, a good picture of the guy with the date and time on the video. We turned it over to the Sheriff since this a gated community with no trespassing signs. The security co asked if they could use it in there adds. Good luck !

 

[Roadtrash]

I want the would be thieves to know there being watched. I had mine installed by a professional co. I have external cameras that show all sides of my house and my driveway. I can watch it on a monitor by my bed, on my Droid phone, computer,TV. It's called digital watch dog. If I was computer savvy and could pull wires through my walls and ceiling I would have saved a bunch. Get as good a system as you can afford . Good quality cameras are what you need. The first day I had mine in a guy walked up the drive way and came to the the front door and saw the entry camera and flipped it the bird and walked away. The security co came out and played it back, a good picture of the guy with the date and time on the video. We turned it over to the Sheriff since this a gated community with no trespassing signs. The security co asked if they could use it in there adds. Good luck !

What was the cost on a system like this if you don't mind me asking. Just a ball park figure is good.

 

[JJEH]

Thank you very much guys. I'm thinking of at least 4 cameras, one would be inside and the other 3 outside. Sure I would want to have more, but it needs to be affordable too.

I will look in to the digital watch dog thing. Thank you very much.

Also, the "NV" mode on the cameras sounds perfect too.

Thanks again. If you have anything else, don't hesitate to throw it at me

 

[JJEH]

EPHD08/8 8-channel HD-CCTV DVR (8 TB) - $2,594.00

Holy mother on earth....

 

[gdauth]

Go by SAMs Club, they usually have 3 or 4 systems.

 

[Gamecock]

Radio Shack sells some real nice FAKE cameras for 20 bucks. You will get 99% of the value of a system for 1% of the cost.

"Surveillance" is active monitoring. Video only recording systems are not surveillance. Nor monitoring.

Additionally, unless there is a murder, the cops don't care about the pix you may take. When you show the pix to the cops after a break-in, they will ask you, "Who is that?" You say, "I don't know." They say, "We don't either." That's what your $3,000 buys you.

A friend who owns 4 gas stations said a judge wouldn't allow his video of the perp to be entered into evidence. I assume that would vary state-to-state.

The bottom line is that there are a million assumptions about what a video system will do for you, most of them wrong, but eagerly exploited by system marketers.

As HOA President, I did have a system installed at our pool and clubhouse. Our expectation was that if there was a problem, we would
likely recognize the perp. Otherwise, we would have installed fakes.
I have installed fakes at our subdivision entrance.

 

[JJEH]

Thanks for sharing your experience Gamecock. But I do think it should help to recognize the perp if you get a good picture of his face. Especially if he/her/they are known to local Police.

I don't want to spend $3k, but I do think about installing cameras.

I already sent an email to my ADT Rep., he might can give me a good system which will be monitored as well.

 

[absolutevil]

I bought a 4 camera day/night system from here years ago. It worked flawless for years until my house took a direct hit from lightning which knocked it and a bunch of other stuff out..
Surveillance Cameras | Security Camera Systems | Security DVRs

 

[Gamecock]

But I do think it should help to recognize the perp if you get a good picture of his face. Especially if he/her/they are known to local Police.

A false assumption.

Should you call the police because someone broke into your house, an officer will show up with a police report form to fill out so you can submit it to your insurance company.

No investigation will occur.

The only person who will look at the pic is the officer who responded. "Known to local Police" suggests that the pic will be passed around for every officer to see. That isn't going to happen. Unless you live in a very small community. In which case, your house is unlikely to be broken into, anyway.

 

[Engine 21]

A false assumption.

Should you call the police because someone broke into your house, an officer will show up with a police report form to fill out so you can submit it to your insurance company.

No investigation will occur.

The only person who will look at the pic is the officer who responded. "Known to local Police" suggests that the pic will be passed around for every officer to see. That isn't going to happen. Unless you live in a very small community. In which case, your house is unlikely to be broken into, anyway.

How true. I had a retail business and two guys came in and saw the fake camera the previous own had installed. They looked at it and laughed - turned to me and said" that sxxxx is fake". Obviously these two were not ADT installer tech. I just laughed and agreed.

 

[JJEH]

A false assumption.

Should you call the police because someone broke into your house, an officer will show up with a police report form to fill out so you can submit it to your insurance company.

No investigation will occur.

Really? Now that's dissapointing...

 

[JJEH]

We do have house alarm system and stuff, just want to add video.

I'm waiting for the ADT Rep. to respond, otherwise I will check out Sams Club