Home CCTV setup - help?

[C.A.R.]

So with my new Manshed nearly complete & after watching PMac go through his break-in ordeal,

I'd like to ask the more learned members on this forum about what they'd recommend for a basic CCTV system?

I'd probably prefer to piece it together from Jaycar parts too...

 

Any help guys?

[benny]

Hey Lurch,

 

 

Considering your looking at doing it yourself probably better off getting a pack. Swann make some decent ones see here-

 

 

http://www.swannstore.com.au/cart.php?target=product&product_id=679&substring=dtb

 

 

Benny

[luvemfast]

I was talking with Dimitri about it last week.

He has gotten a PVR from eBay, Hong Kong for about $30. Get an old pc and go to a computer swap meet where you can get cameras for $30 odd.

The PVR card has 4 video ins and 1 audio.

Software can be set up for motion detection and hosted to a website where you can view and control from your smartphone.

I'm also looking into it.

Maybe we could do it for a workshop day?

[luvemfast]

Just had a look at Bdnny's link.

Wow

Too easy and great value.

 

Group buy?

[zr240]

Im in. Need to updat the old one at the shop

 

 

[NZeder]

If you want a device that can do this and a bunch of other features - have a look at a Synology DiskStation NAS unit. These are not only a Media Server, iTunes Server, NAS, FTP, NFS, iSCSI, CIFs, but also have a video surveillance feature (the smaller units, ie 2 disks DS211 or DS211j also gives you RAID 1, ie disk mirroring so if one fails your data is still ok, the cheaper DS110j also has the surveillance feature, both are licensed for a single camera out of the box but up to 5-8 can be licensed on these small unit, 5 on the DS110j and DS211j but 8 on the DS111 and DS211)

 

see

http://www.synology.com/us/products/features/live_view.php

 

I am thinking about getting one at home for all of the above ie media server, nas, surveillance etc as don't have that kind of stuff currently

[C.A.R.]

Thanks for the suggestions guys. Group buy sounds good...

 

Benny, that might be a goer as it looks pretty idiot proof.

 

Mike - thanks for that, but it looks a little OTT for my purposes - I'm a n00b at this sorta stuff...

[Scoota G]

I've done a bit of work in this area, those swan units are awesome. Depending on HDD size you can go for a month recording or change it to 25 FPS for a lot clearer image and about 7 day recording time.                                                                                         

[mossy]

i'd be in for a group buy too.

[Zedman240®]

Depending on your budget, those Swann units are probably the quickest and easiest to setup and start. My one was just a cheapie option to catch people illegally dumping rubbish in our yard. I did catch one guy in a ute but the only problem was the camera I was using didn't have a big enough infra red floodlight to get his plates. What made it hard was the headlights shining into the camera making the number plate appear as just a white rectangle. One thing I do recommend is not to skimp on the camera. Buy the highest resolution with the biggest IR floodlight possible. Even adding an extra IR floodlight will help. That's for outside but for indoors, any good camera should be ok. My setup cost around $60 + free PIII pc which you can find on any nature strip!

[RB30X]

It doesn't really stop people getting in though does it. I just gives you a picture or video to show the cops after you find all your stuff missing (assuming you can't identify them yourself). I'd put more money into securing your shed, although if someone wants to get in they will. People rob banks and servos all the time and end up on CCTV but get away with it, unless they are completely stupid.

[luvemfast]

Just fit a few high security Lockwood padlocks and locks too! 

[C.A.R.]

Just fit a few high security Lockwood padlocks and locks too! 

Before the cars & equipment get moved in, I'll be going nuts locking the place up tighter than Fort Knox

[sco_aus]

The other problem that some sheds have are tech screws...  Its not hard to get in.  Like Pete said, if they want in, they will get in. 

Deterring is the key, if they think its going to be a big risk, they will look somewhere else.  This means advertising the fact you have cameras and alarms, alarms are great deterrents in built up areas where you know your neighbors and someone will check it out if they hear it, but if a tree falls in the forest and no one is there to hear it, then no one gives a fuck.

At the end of the day, if they know what they want and where it is and they think its worth the risk, they will do it.  I remember when doing security, the biggest fortresses would still get hit and they're strength just meant they were lazy with how they stored valuables.  It can also advertise the fact you may have valuables, it can be a double edged sword.  Make it hard and you should prevail.

[.]

Do what I do. Just leave a heap of bits lying around in dim corners. That encourages the redbacks to hide under them. That should deter them from picking stuff up

 

Although I think it backfired just before the last lapz at the lake when I got a couple of bites on my finger.

[Roberto]

Yeah, I agree that CCTV is no guarantee.  It may help though, but if a thief knows you have CCTV he will just cover his face.  Since there are never any guarantees (despite the best security) you must have insurance. 

 

The trick i think is to make it as hard as possible so that they go away and steal the porsche down the road......

[handsandwhich]

I like this as a deterrent.

 

 

 

[benny]

The other problem that some sheds have are tech screws...  Its not hard to get in.  Like Pete said, if they want in, they will get in. 

Deterring is the key, if they think its going to be a big risk, they will look somewhere else.  This means advertising the fact you have cameras and alarms, alarms are great deterrents in built up areas where you know your neighbors and someone will check it out if they hear it, but if a tree falls in the forest and no one is there to hear it, then no one gives a fudge.

At the end of the day, if they know what they want and where it is and they think its worth the risk, they will do it.  I remember when doing security, the biggest fortresses would still get hit and they're strength just meant they were lazy with how they stored valuables.  It can also advertise the fact you may have valuables, it can be a double edged sword.  Make it hard and you should prevail.

 

 

+1 with the tech screws.... i remember a while back at church they tried to get in by pulling off sheets and smashing through gyprock.... funny thing was there was a cupboard there and they couldn't get in lol!!

[sco_aus]

lol.  A friend and I built a shed out of an old carport at his place and it was held together with tech screws.  So he decided to tack weld all of the panels in place.  This thing was a bunker before he even did that.... lol

[C.A.R.]

I'm seriously thinking about putting a dob of MIG weld on the inside of each Tech-Screw on the two bottom rows.

 

Oh & try to keep it on topic please guys

[sco_aus]

Its related.  Positioning of cameras is vital too, you want to get them front on when they enter and even outside if you can, but be aware of the laws of filming public areas, you can't have the camera showing a public road for example, only your property.

[MaygZ]

Its related.  Positioning of cameras is vital too, you want to get them front on when they enter and even outside if you can, but be aware of the laws of filming public areas, you can't have the camera showing a public road for example, only your property.

 

Sorry.  I have to correct this.  You can film public places.  You can't film private place, or places that would be expected to be private.  So you can film down you driveway and out into the street, but you can be filming over the back fence (or down the driveway across the road).  So I agree it is important to be careful where you position the cameras.

 

Lurch, call me if you need clarification.

 

Don't overlook the value of sensor lights as a night time deterrent.

 

Make sure that what ever alarm you get, it is monitored - either by a GOOD firm or by yourself via your mobile.  Don't rely on neighbours to ring it in once they are sick of the noise!! (an hour later).

 

Another alarm to strongly consider is the yard alarm.  Very similar to the buzzer in your local milk bar.  Set it up around your shed/across your driveway.  Set it up about 2 ft so that cats don't trigger it.  It can be used to turn on lights/sound an alarm/start recording etc.  Better than waiting until they are inside to trigger the alarm.  The damage is done then.

 

[sco_aus]

There you go.

I wouldn't bother with a monitoring company, by the time they react its too late.  We had a system in my old house that called my mobile and I knew my neighbors well, so they would check it out if I wasn't home and I could silence the alarm from my phone.  There is no point in paying a security guard to respond to it, trust me, by they time they even react, the people have usually gone, but when they arrive, they can't do anything more than you or I anyway and its not cheap.

 

Sorry, off topic a bit again.

[Scoota G]

Just build a loft, shower and shitter in the thing, tear down the house and build an extension to the first garage. You'll be spending more time in there anyway.

[MaygZ]

Just build a loft, shower and shiverter in the thing, tear down the house and build an extension to the first garage. You'll be spending more time in there anyway.