Need to install surveillance cameras

[whobob]

I got unwelcome visitors while I was gone today. They tried doing picking/prying my metal mesh door. Now I need surveillance cameras.

Important to me? 2 cameras minimum and DVR/recording while I'm gone. When I'm at home, I hope they don't know I'm at home with my 870.

What's out there for me? I'm trying not to be a victim.

[packnrat]

check out "frys" they have a shake n bake system,

of a local "spy" type of store.

.

[Beatone]

I think I could use the same thing.

[five.five-six]

it is very important to know what you want your system for, observation, surveillance or identification. if you want remote assess, then a good encryption is important, a frys system is real good if you want to know what time someone broke into your house, however if you want to be able to use the video as evidence in court, I would recommended a much more robust system. the cameras i have been selling a lot lately use night vision technology and will see color in the dark at very low light levels, an exit sign is really all it needs in a blacked out room. and you can identify someone with them. but those are a bit spendy, the cameras are close to the price of a freys system

[whobob]

I would say I need it for surveillance or identification purpose. Night vision is not important to me.

[johnthomas]

http://www.x10.com/homepage.htm

I bought the wireless ones and was not happy with the transmission. Sometimes they were clear, other's not so clear.
I bought the hard wire ones black and white with infrared, they work great.
They have different programs for your computer and saving the video.

[freonr22]

The 500 dollar ones did not work well 1 Year. Ago maybe something changed. IMHO you are gonna need to spend. Some $

[BSlacker]

Check these folks out they have every thing and the service is great.

http://www.supercircuits.com/

This is the best low light camera out there. Needs a little knowledge to get the best video out of it and don't point it at the sun, but with a little experimentation you can do it.

http://www.supercircuits.com/Security-Cameras/Fixed-Security-Cameras/PC164CEX-2

You need a lens such as this. It will need to be matched to the size area you want to cover. The lens is the limiting factor in cost and quality. Spend money here.
http://www.supercircuits.com/Camera-...ses/CML5-50MMZ
These folks have some low cost systems and parts to built a system. This might work just fine.

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=5072895&CatId=1928

Some tips.
Try to get 30fps record on each camera.
Motion detection is very desirable.
Light is king get good lighting it saves money on cameras and you can see at night.
Review Review Review if you don't you lose the edge. You will see some crazy stuff.
Good Luck
B

[ryang]

Most people mistakingly get a lower-res camera set on wide angle view. Good for observing motion, incredibly lousy for actually getting a clear image of a person's face.

Why not use a residential alarm company? Cams are good for identifying people after the fact. Alarms are better at deterrance.

[Jcnbets]

I am a security contractor and have industrial equipment. Honeywell cameras high quality DVRs I will trade services for guns if anyone is interested.

[Rob454]

I do security and fire alarms also. I got a wireless camera kit from costco. It works pretty good. its a completely self contained system. Comes with two cameras a monitor/recorder with 2 gig memory stick. also has sound and night vision. Cost 350$. the only thing is the cameras are fairly large. I bought another costco kit for 300$ with 4 cameras a DVR with 350 gig harddrive but no monitor has AV outs so youcan use a old little tv for the monitor.
If you need a cheap system the 350$ costco kit is cheap and easy to install. Im returning mine cause of the size of the cameras other than that I woudl of kept it. All it requires is a 110 v outlet for the power.
the other 300$ system uses cat 5 wire so I got plentyof that and Im a electrician and I can instal it easy.
if youre in OC look up the costco kit or Ill sell you mine for what I bought it for

[five.five-six]

OMG, everybody does survalance systems... anyone else like the speco intensifier series cameras for a mid range setup?

[whobob]

I think I'll try this one out.

Thanks everyone.

[five.five-six]

the good thing about costco is that you can return them on the off chance that they don't work all that well

[NSR500]

If you like to tinker, you can try and build your own setup using Zoneminder. The features you'll get with a system like that will blow the Costo system away.