Surveillance Video on Intranet?

[jimbo]

Great input.... You guys know what's up.

I use Verizon. I just barely changed my monthly service plan to include unlimited data minutes. I converted my other plan over. I think it might have been $10/month more than my old plan, but it doesn't even matter. I use way too many minutes. I always spend more than my plan anyway.

All I know, is this!!!........For plain bang for the buck, I am very very happy with my LukWerks system. Just today, I showed the system to a customer where we installed a security system (burglar alarm). The owner of the business said that he wished he would've pre-wired for a camera system, but the building has a big warehouse in back, and the ceiling is like 25' high. No attic. I told him we could expose wires, or .....we pulled up the LukWerks website. I showed him what that option was and he was blown away. I think he bought a system for his shop and one for his house! It is simply an awesome solution if your pockets are bottomless pits!

Peace out!

 

[domingo3]

there is no fee for the remote viewing....but yes, it's limited to 3:00 minute increments. But, you can just reload it immediately and get another 3 minutes. That's unlimited. I've only done that once though. It turns out that 3 minutes is plenty of time.

Yes, you definitely need broadband for either system. Downloading a single photo w/dial up is a pain, imagine video.....Hi-speed is a necessity.

The professional systems we install at work require us to hire a computer guy to come out and set up the remote viewing. That costs usually about $45 I think. There's no additional monthly fee for that. BUT, what I do know is that the customer has to get a Static IP address from there internet service provider, because usually the IP address they have is dynamic. And that generally costs about $10/month extra on their internet bill. That's true to my city, I don't know about other ISP's.

Three minutes is not plenty of time if one of the cameras is pointed at my baby.

A big thing that I'm trying to find is a solution that allows me to access the video feed from any of the cameras from any computer within my house at any time.

If this quote from the review is true, then the LukWerks system is usless to me.

"you'll find that you can only access your video feeds from the LukWerks site- for only 10 minutes a day! Bumping up to a generous hour-per-day will cost you $8-a-month (but lets not forget, that extra loot also jacks your per-view limit up from 2 minutes to 15),"

If it's actually unlimited, then it would be fine.

Does anyone know which it is?

Thanks.

 

[domingo3]

Here's a competitor to the LukWerks system based on the same technology.

http://www.gigafast.com/products/product_pdf/PE872-CS.pdf

From what I can tell, though, you can only have two cameras, and they both have to go to the same outlet. Bummer.

Sent a message to LukWerks asking about the limits for online viewing. I'll post the reply here when/if it comes unless someone else can answer the question sooner.

 

[domingo3]

Got this response from WiLife:

Hi Brian,



Thanks for your interest in the Lukwerks Digital Surveillance System. Remote viewing is free. There are two modes for remote viewing Relay mode and Direct mode. With relay mode you are limited to 3 minutes of viewing at a time. In direct mode there is no limit. Direct mode requires additional configuration of your router/firewall.







Jay Chambers

Technical Support Team Lead

 

[domingo3]

Here's one more response from WiLife. I'm going to see if they have this at my local Radio Shack. I'll post a review if I get it, though I get the feeling I'm talking to myself here.


Hi Brian,



There are no fees associated with direct mode or relay mode. We will have a night kit (IR) for the cameras available in the future. Right now it will operate with two lux of light (about twice the brightness of the full moon.)



Regards,

 

[Stinger]

I'm late to joining this thread, but I finally settled on a combination of solutions:

- (1) 8-port DVR card 240fps
- (1) Dell server (ie cheap) dedicated to "hosting" cameras
- Active Webcam running on server
- Split and boost camera signals to Video Distribution (Some will cringe, but this signal doesn't degrade enough to notice).
- (2) DCS-5300g Dlink IP cameras
- (1) Security Dome for DCS-5300g (Not meant for outdoor use, but has worked perfectly outside)
- USB cameras on multiple computers in house.
- (6) low-lux cameras outside around perimeter

I've discussed many of the products mentioned above in these forums, and you can see how they integrate in the web at my website.

 

[noshali]

A collegue at work bought the wilife kit and according to him the only thing that he does not like about the product is the price.

He wanted to get more cameras. $229 per camera was what he did not like but he ordered 2 more because he loves the setup and most importantly it has very big WAF as his wife can track what the cat is upto now.

regards,

 

[noshali]

Spoke to Don at wilife and asked him to become a cocoontech member. The product looks very promising and I saw what my friend's live coverage of his house looks (from the office via internet) and the passing car from his front window camera looked very nice and smooth.

Great potential......

regards,

 

[warehousecctv]

I am even later to this thread but I noticed that dvr boards were mentioned.
Please see this link for a very reasonable (cost wise) Divis dvr system.

AFFORDABLE DIVIS SYSTEM

This system has the ability to send video to a PDA as someone mentioned was a want. It has 4 alarm output relays that can be tied to any camera to be activated by motion. The system can email or text message you through email if a camera detects motion. You can tie in your window or door switches to the system and be text messaged or emailed if they are activated (or use a relay output to a horn etc.).

DIVIS systems are the best in the market considering software, and hardware integration.

Please check the demo, use guest as the password and login (No caps!)

 

[acheslow]

I saw the Wilife / Luk Werks system at a conference and was fairly impressed. The main thing keeping me away from it is the fact that remote viewing goes through their servers and their T&Cs imply that they can add/increase fees at any time.

If there is a direct option that allows for remote viewing without going through their servers than I would be more interested. Can anyone who has the system describe how this works and what the remote web interface looks like when connecting directly to multiple cameras?

Thanks!

 

[domingo3]

Hi. I didn't move very quickly, but finally purchased the WiLife system today. As for now, I just have the basic one-camera setup.

Setup took about 15 minutes. I would have been faster, but most of their documentation is on the CD only, and I had to look for a couple minutes to see the instructions on activating the camera. Initially it told me that no cameras existed.

Once you have the camera installed, you can just unplug it and move it to a new location. After a few seconds, it will pick up again. If you're looking through the remote feed, you have to restart the feed after you plug the camera back in.

As I said, I only have one camera, but I can infer some things from working with the interface. On the computer that you have the system connected to, you have multiple split screen options when working with multiple cameras. As for the remote interface, you have to pick one camera at a time.

As advertised, you can view using their relay for 3 minutes at a time. You can also view using "direct view" for unlimited time. Either way you have to establish an account and log in via their website. I don't see anything that infers they will start charging fees, but as someone pointed out, they could. In order to get direct view, I had to open up 3 ports on my wireless router and Windows XP firewall. This is pretty easy if you've had to open up ports on your computer before, but otherwise, it's not well documented how to do it.

My intended use for this is primarily as a baby monitor, and possibly also to be used as a home security deterrent/monitor. My wife and I use laptops around the house often, so we intend to have the video feed running on the laptop all the time. We can open the window to look in on her whenever we want, and we can give the password to our family so they can look at the baby while she's sleeping from around the world. I think I'll end up using one for the baby's room for several years until having a camera ends up being a privacy issue for the kid, or technology improves so much that I move to something else.

Our baby isn't here yet, so right now, I have it pointing out a front window into our driveway/front door access. Something fairly stupid that I didn't think of is that the video looks pretty crappy if you're shooting through a window screen. I just moved it up to above where the screen is in the window. When the baby comes, we'll see if I decide to purchase more cameras for outside. Add on cameras are a little pricy at $229 each. I'm hoping that the product will succeed and prices will come down.

Performance in the dark seems to be good for my requirements. I put the camera in the closet in a room with the blinds closed and could still see some image, though it was understandably getting fuzzy and dark.

As the rep told me a few months ago, they now have an IR kit available. It consists of an set of IR lights and a replacement lens. You can get the kit for $40 or $60 depending on how large of a IR light you want. I think I'll wait and see how this does in the dark with a light on outside before I consider buying one of those.

I just got this, so haven't played around with the motion detecting stuff or Email alerts. It looks like you have to have a pop3 mail server to send the mail from. Not sure if that's standard, but it means I'll have to dig to figure out what my "home" Email is. All I use in internet based Email.

To me, the best advantages of this system is that you get very good image quality without having to run wires. We move often, so it's good to not have to invest the time of wiring a new home, and being able to set up quickly. I also have a HomePlug audio sender for my stereo. There doesn't appear to be any interference or problems between the two systems.

I don't know if this was the most organized, but I hope it helps someone out there.

 

[BraveSirRobbin]

Just talking off the top of my head (i.e. have not looked into this yet) but I'm wondering if external IR LED emitters could have harmful effects on a baby or young child. I've seen some of these arrays with a very large number of IR/LED's mounted on them.

I realize your post suggested that you are placing them outside and didn't mean that you were going to use them for your baby's room, I'm just wondering out loud.

I do know that age is considered for "total" radiation dose allowed, but I believe those guidelines are not considered for this particular energy range.

I also know that the eyes are not allowed the same "total dose" as the main body.

Again, I'm not sure and I'll try to look into this more.

 

[upstatemike]

This is a good point. I would worry about IR LEDs like the ones built into a camera being aimed directly at a baby's face. Better to a a b/w camera with no LEDs and have a separate LED illuminator providing indirect light. (Maybe bounce it off a wall). I suspect you can have as much IR light as you want, just as long as the light source is not directly in the child's line of sight.

I have also seen overhead lights positioned directly over a crib where a baby might be able to stare directly at a bright bulb. This could also be a vision hazard. (Much like an adult staring at the sun or a bare bulb filiment).

 

[BraveSirRobbin]

Yes, of course I didn't mean to alarm anyone or cause any "panic", just bringing this up as I believe you can never be to safe, especially when small babies are concerned.

I did find a couple of interesting links, but after browsing them I really didn't find anything jump out at me for a reason for alarm! I DID find it interesting that other companies are at least concerned over this question (so at least this "normalized" my paranioa level ).

http://www.isorainbow.com/ir/eye_safety.html

http://www.derwentcctv.com/datasheets/safety.pdf

http://www.icnirp.de/documents/led.pdf

 

[domingo3]

Interesting that this topic should come up, as my job is in radiation safety. You beat me to the punch, though. Especially the last link that you posted was excellent.
I'm not worried about the IR being any danger. When she's younger, I'll probably just leave the light on. This is our first baby, so I'm just going by what I've read, but they say lights don't bother the baby, and it's probably better than being in the dark. When she gets a little older, I may convert to IR, or not. The camera seems to do fairly well in low light, so I'll just have to see how it goes.