Surveillance Video on Intranet?
- Thread starter domingo3
- Start date
IVB
Senior Member
Thanks. I'm hopefully going to get one of the following in short order, hopefully all of us can triangulate our experiences and figure out the best way to do this:ver0776 said:
- Kodicom card
- Avermedia that electron is reviewing
- this Divis-cap series card: http://www.divisdvr.com/
IVB
Senior Member
A great solution for your application is the LukWerks system by WiLife. It offers full digital VGA (640x480) video that is WMV encoded so you can stream video to an Internet browser, PDA or Windows Smartphone allowing you to access your cameras remotely.
It uses the HomePlug technology to create a network in your home to stream video from the camera to your PC without suffering any image quality lapses or requiring you to configure a router like some wireless webcams. You can connect up to 6 cameras to a system. The software is what really sets LukWerks apart from other systems. It is a really cool interface that is very user-friendly. The software allows motion-based recording with up to 16 different motion zones that you can create by just dragging an area accross the frame. You can configure the software to alert you by cell phone, email or text message when a camera detects motion. I love the powerful built-in search and playback tools that allow me to quickly scan back through recorded video. You are able to do a lot with the video clips because it is in a digital format.
The starter kit system will set you back $299 but I think it is the best total surveillance solution out there for the money. It is easy to use and only took me about 15 minutes to set up at work. I have already caught some crazy stuff
here at the office. Just my $.02...
It uses the HomePlug technology to create a network in your home to stream video from the camera to your PC without suffering any image quality lapses or requiring you to configure a router like some wireless webcams. You can connect up to 6 cameras to a system. The software is what really sets LukWerks apart from other systems. It is a really cool interface that is very user-friendly. The software allows motion-based recording with up to 16 different motion zones that you can create by just dragging an area accross the frame. You can configure the software to alert you by cell phone, email or text message when a camera detects motion. I love the powerful built-in search and playback tools that allow me to quickly scan back through recorded video. You are able to do a lot with the video clips because it is in a digital format.
The starter kit system will set you back $299 but I think it is the best total surveillance solution out there for the money. It is easy to use and only took me about 15 minutes to set up at work. I have already caught some crazy stuff
here at the office. Just my $.02...Wow. Thanks for all the replies. I had checked back a few times and thought nobody was replying, before I noticed that my post was moved.
The things that sounded most interesting were:
1. Swann 4 channel suggested by ver0776 - You didn't mention much about setting up intranet viewing. Does that mean you can't do it, or it's really easy with included software. I'm guessing it's one extreme or the other.
2. If I did the USB webcam thing, how do I make that video available to other computers in my home besides the one it's physically connected to? Is this a real option, or just a fun thought that you could piece something together for very cheap? Is there software that can do motion detection and recording with these? Are there nice ir cameras as well, or just the cheapo ones?
3. The LukWerks system sounds incredible and ideal for my situation. My big concern is about the cameras. Looks like they just have one camera you can use, and they're a little expensive. What is the quality of the image like? How does it perform in the dark. Does sending the video over the power lines really work that well? Does it matter if the outlets are on different breakers?
4. Will check out electron's review of the nv5000, but not sure if the incremental cost will be worth it for me.
Would really like to hear back from CannonG about LukWerks. You don't work for them, do you?
edit: Found a review at http://digitalcameras.engadget.com/2006/01...lance-in-a-box/
Would still like to hear from CannonG
The things that sounded most interesting were:
1. Swann 4 channel suggested by ver0776 - You didn't mention much about setting up intranet viewing. Does that mean you can't do it, or it's really easy with included software. I'm guessing it's one extreme or the other.
2. If I did the USB webcam thing, how do I make that video available to other computers in my home besides the one it's physically connected to? Is this a real option, or just a fun thought that you could piece something together for very cheap? Is there software that can do motion detection and recording with these? Are there nice ir cameras as well, or just the cheapo ones?
3. The LukWerks system sounds incredible and ideal for my situation. My big concern is about the cameras. Looks like they just have one camera you can use, and they're a little expensive. What is the quality of the image like? How does it perform in the dark. Does sending the video over the power lines really work that well? Does it matter if the outlets are on different breakers?
4. Will check out electron's review of the nv5000, but not sure if the incremental cost will be worth it for me.
Would really like to hear back from CannonG about LukWerks. You don't work for them, do you?
edit: Found a review at http://digitalcameras.engadget.com/2006/01...lance-in-a-box/
Would still like to hear from CannonG
I read that review from the link you posted and think a couple of the replies are pretty accurate to my experience with LukWerks. I am not super tech savvy and was able to get my system set up quickly with all the cool features (motion detection, alerts, remote viewing) enabled. There is not a monthly subscription fee but I would probably be willing to pay a few bucks a month just for the wow factor of checking in remotely on my office when I am away.
There is only the one camera and, like the review mentions, it doesn't feature pan tilt zoom capabilities. However, the areas I need to keep an eye on aren't so big that I really need those features. The image quality is really good - even in low light conditions. I found that if you leave the cameras at the default setting for auto-brightness, they will adjust for the light conditions. The frames per second decreases but the quality is still great for the conditions. Supposedly, there are nightvision and outdoor cameras coming soon.
I haven't really had any problems with the data streaming over the powerlines. My office isn't huge but we have a couple different areas that I like to monitor. I tried to set it up at home where there is a little more space but my laptop at home is a couple years old and didn't have a compatible video card. They list the system requirements at http://www.wilife.com/About/Requirements.aspx . Make sure your PC meets these specs.
As far as price goes, I felt like the $299 + 3 additional cams at $229 each was pretty good for what I got. I guess it all depends on your situation. The software interface is really slick with some cool tools. FWIW, my friend sells PCs and peripherals and thinks it is a great deal for the features you get...and he usually loves to tell me how I got ripped off on all my gadgets B)
I hope this helps...
PS - please send $5,000 commission like the Bill Gates MS advertising email tracking campaign.
There is only the one camera and, like the review mentions, it doesn't feature pan tilt zoom capabilities. However, the areas I need to keep an eye on aren't so big that I really need those features. The image quality is really good - even in low light conditions. I found that if you leave the cameras at the default setting for auto-brightness, they will adjust for the light conditions. The frames per second decreases but the quality is still great for the conditions. Supposedly, there are nightvision and outdoor cameras coming soon.
I haven't really had any problems with the data streaming over the powerlines. My office isn't huge but we have a couple different areas that I like to monitor. I tried to set it up at home where there is a little more space but my laptop at home is a couple years old and didn't have a compatible video card. They list the system requirements at http://www.wilife.com/About/Requirements.aspx . Make sure your PC meets these specs.
As far as price goes, I felt like the $299 + 3 additional cams at $229 each was pretty good for what I got. I guess it all depends on your situation. The software interface is really slick with some cool tools. FWIW, my friend sells PCs and peripherals and thinks it is a great deal for the features you get...and he usually loves to tell me how I got ripped off on all my gadgets B)
I hope this helps...
PS - please send $5,000 commission like the Bill Gates MS advertising email tracking campaign.
Very interesting topic! I happen to be an alarm/surveillance system installer.....at work! But at home, I don't have the deep pockets to install DVR's like the ones I do at work. They're awesome, but the DVR is somewhere between 3,000 - 4,000 dollars. Too rich for my blood.
In my own home, I installed a LukWerks 2-camera system. I can't believe it! It is seriously a perfect picture. It has 99% all of the same features as my expensive systems that I install in businesses and schools. Also, it has some extra features that smoke the other ones.
My favorite thing is the free remote viewing over the internet. And to my cell phone. Everybody I show my phone to, see live video from my front yard, blows them away.
Thanks for this post.....I had never been here before, but am glad I did. This is a great post.
P.S. Last night I worked 'til 10:30 PM at the County Landfill working on a system that I installed. We had to take video from a truck that stole a trailer, right in front of the camera......it took me 30 to find the license plate shot, and burn it to a cd, for the Sheriff's Department. -With my LukWerks system, it would've taken 30 SECONDS to right-click the image, and email it to the Sheriff!! Very Nice!!!! A lot of bang for the buck!
In my own home, I installed a LukWerks 2-camera system. I can't believe it! It is seriously a perfect picture. It has 99% all of the same features as my expensive systems that I install in businesses and schools. Also, it has some extra features that smoke the other ones.
My favorite thing is the free remote viewing over the internet. And to my cell phone. Everybody I show my phone to, see live video from my front yard, blows them away.
Thanks for this post.....I had never been here before, but am glad I did. This is a great post.
P.S. Last night I worked 'til 10:30 PM at the County Landfill working on a system that I installed. We had to take video from a truck that stole a trailer, right in front of the camera......it took me 30 to find the license plate shot, and burn it to a cd, for the Sheriff's Department. -With my LukWerks system, it would've taken 30 SECONDS to right-click the image, and email it to the Sheriff!! Very Nice!!!! A lot of bang for the buck!
Could you elaborate on the intranet connectivity for the Swann card (or I guess any video capture) and the LukWerks system?
For a capture card, is setting up web access free - you just need a broadband connection?
For the LukWerks system, is it true what the site said about you having to pay to access your video for more than just a few minutes a day?
I like the idea of the LukWerks system, but I want to be able to access the video all the time.
Sounds like it doesn't matter whether I only want it for intranet or if it gets sent out to the internet. Is that right?
Thanks for all the response
For a capture card, is setting up web access free - you just need a broadband connection?
For the LukWerks system, is it true what the site said about you having to pay to access your video for more than just a few minutes a day?
I like the idea of the LukWerks system, but I want to be able to access the video all the time.
Sounds like it doesn't matter whether I only want it for intranet or if it gets sent out to the internet. Is that right?
Thanks for all the response
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.
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.
jimbo said:
The other option for a static IP is to use a dynamic dns service for a dynamic IP address. This lets you use a domain name (mycamera.com) that is automatically updated as your ip address changes.
This also has a fee as well, but your cable provider may also provide this functionality as well. Cablevision, for example, offers Boost which increases bandwidth and I believe also provides a dynamic dns service for IP (they allow hosting, I did not look at the specifics though) for $10 a month as well.
http://www.optimumonline.com/index.jhtml?p...e=boost_landing
The other service that provides this is:
http://www.tzo.com/
although there are some unix tools that let you do this yourself as well. I have not used those, but they would let you reduce the cost to the domain registration alone, and would avoid a monthly charge.
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