Noob wanting indoor cameras

[DrunkyDoggy]

Hi everybody,

I am new to this home automation thing. I would like to setup cameras in a home. Idealy I would like to get some outside, but I live in Canada, and I don't think the cameras would work in the bitter cold.

How would I go about setting up cameras in my house? I would like to be able to record (motion censor).

What equipment would I need?

I don't need something top of the line in regards to cameras, but good quality.

 

[electron]

Welcome to CT!

What kind of temperatures are we talking about here? I live in Central NY (where we get ridiculous amounts of snow), and all my cameras have been doing fine whenever it is really cold outside. However, they do have cameras which have built in heaters, if it really is a concern in your area.

As for indoor cameras, do you want everything to be hardware based, or are you ok with using software to detect the motion, and trigger actions?

 

[DrunkyDoggy]

We are looking at -40 celcius with wind at a maximum. I would not mind using software to do it, but how much of a load is it on a personal computer? Would it be better to get DVR and hook up the cameras to that?

Also, how is the wireless cameras these days? Are they at par with the wired ones?

 

[electron]

Wireless cameras and motion don't go together IMO. Any kind of interference will trigger the motion detection process. If you are using a PC, you probably would want to dedicated it to just your cameras, so nothing can interfere with the recording process. I guess you have a few questions to ask yourself:

• Are you willing to pay for decent quality stuff?
• Is the goal here to 'increase' security, or are you more interested if the big brown UPS truck has stopped by?
• Are you concerned about energy consumption?

If you want cameras for security, keep in mind that if you can't recognize the person in the video, you are just wasting money. This usually means that cheap cameras are not an option.

 

[DrunkyDoggy]

Thanks for the replies Dan,

I am looking in to security inside the house and garage. I want to be able to see the face of the intruder. So I would need something wired with a DVR. Can you recommend anything for 3 cameras (Front, rear door and inside the garage)?

If I was to choose something for outdoors in the future do you have an suggestions?

 

[gair]

These are a few Panasonic network cameras to look at
- BL-C1 (wired)
- BL-C111 (wired, pan-tilt)
- BL-C131 (wired-wireless, pan-tilt)
- BB-HCM581 (wired, pan-tilt, optical zoom)

These are at different features and price. If you have wired connection at the locations, the BL-C111 will be a good choice.
For outdoor, the BL-C140 or BB-HCM371 are good ones.

The cameras can be used with the TenM3 service, http://www.tenm3.com .
The camera feeds can be Monitored, Recorded and (if needed) Shared. Other than the cameras at the location nothing else is needed (no DVR's etc)

Info for Home Monitoring with network cameras is here
http://www.tenm3.com/blogs/?p=88

 

[twilo123]

if you do the Panasonic and have a bb check out my post and pm me if interested. thanks.

http://www.cocoontech.com/index.php?showtopic=11501

 

[CollinR]

Axis207mw without much doubt unless you want sub $100 stuff.

 

[thewireguy]

Check out the AVerDiGi EB1704HB WiFi 4 channel DVR. You can get packaged with 4 wifi cameras or you can use your own ip cameras.

http://www.avermedia.com/AVerDiGi/Product/Detail.aspx?id=142 ://http://www.avermedia.com/AVerDiGi/P...il.aspx?id=142