OK, I'm doing the pre-wire planning for a new home that I'll build soon and I am currently researching cameras in order to decide where to run wires. During my research I have formed a few observations that I would like to run by you guys for your thoughts/opinions.
DISCLAIMER: I am NOT a security/camera guy. I am a humble computer programmer that enjoys being a DIYer. I claim little to no knowledge about security cameras. I need help!
So I've noticed that there are some good things, some bad things, some right ways and some wrong ways. However, I LOT of what I read here on over at the CCTVForum site seems to fall in one of several "religious wars". These are:
* IP Camera -vs- Analog Camera
* Dedicated DVR -vs- PC based DVR
* A few expensive, high quality cameras -vs- lots of cheap cameras
IP -vs- Analog
The arguments against IP cameras seems to be mostly the cost. However, it seems that IP cameras are now competitive in price so this argument seems mute. The difference to me really seems to be about how you want to use the video stream from the camera. IP cameras have different considerations than analog cameras. This is merely a matter of preference. For the record, I have no preference here.
Dedicated DVR -vs- PC DVR
OK, here I definitely do have a preference. I feel that a PC-based DVR will offer far more capabilities that a pre-defined dedicated DVR. My preference may be based partly on the fact that I'm a programmer; although, I really don't want to spend my free time programming at home. I've been doing this for nearly 30 years...I like doing other things in the evenings...there's beer, billiards, beer....did I mention beer?
Expensive -vs- Cheap
Now this religious war is somewhat interesting. I realize that over at the CCTVForum site most of the knowledgeable people are professionals who prefer higher-end solutions. That's fine, but I also wanted to hear from the DIYers...so I researched here, too.
You can buy a few expensive cameras and hope that you capture the perfect angle to identify any intruder. Alternatively, you can buy lots (10 to 12, or more) cheap cameras in hopes of increasing your chance of capturing an intruders face.
I struggle on this one. No idea which way I'll go. I supposed I should run wire everywhere that I might want a camera and just add cameras in a phased approach.
OK, so what are your thoughts? Did I get this right or am I off in another world?
DISCLAIMER: I am NOT a security/camera guy. I am a humble computer programmer that enjoys being a DIYer. I claim little to no knowledge about security cameras. I need help!
So I've noticed that there are some good things, some bad things, some right ways and some wrong ways. However, I LOT of what I read here on over at the CCTVForum site seems to fall in one of several "religious wars". These are:
* IP Camera -vs- Analog Camera
* Dedicated DVR -vs- PC based DVR
* A few expensive, high quality cameras -vs- lots of cheap cameras
IP -vs- Analog
The arguments against IP cameras seems to be mostly the cost. However, it seems that IP cameras are now competitive in price so this argument seems mute. The difference to me really seems to be about how you want to use the video stream from the camera. IP cameras have different considerations than analog cameras. This is merely a matter of preference. For the record, I have no preference here.
Dedicated DVR -vs- PC DVR
OK, here I definitely do have a preference. I feel that a PC-based DVR will offer far more capabilities that a pre-defined dedicated DVR. My preference may be based partly on the fact that I'm a programmer; although, I really don't want to spend my free time programming at home. I've been doing this for nearly 30 years...I like doing other things in the evenings...there's beer, billiards, beer....did I mention beer?
Expensive -vs- Cheap
Now this religious war is somewhat interesting. I realize that over at the CCTVForum site most of the knowledgeable people are professionals who prefer higher-end solutions. That's fine, but I also wanted to hear from the DIYers...so I researched here, too.
You can buy a few expensive cameras and hope that you capture the perfect angle to identify any intruder. Alternatively, you can buy lots (10 to 12, or more) cheap cameras in hopes of increasing your chance of capturing an intruders face.
I struggle on this one. No idea which way I'll go. I supposed I should run wire everywhere that I might want a camera and just add cameras in a phased approach.
OK, so what are your thoughts? Did I get this right or am I off in another world?