Security surveillance camera

[swapmeet]

You gotta know I thrive on such projects though.

It bears noting that I have been the admin on a few large scale camera systems at work, the largest boasting a few hundred cameras, so setting up the software and tweaking settings is just another day at work for me. Thankfully, I was paid by the hour to learn most of what I know about surveillance cams and software.

I figure that the time spent now will mean less time later. Those DVR systems typically record 24/7 and so you have to sift through everything to see anything. Multiply that by the number of cameras you have and that task gets pretty daunting. Set up the motion correctly, (on any system) and you just have to breeze through the highlights. Delete the odd false trigger and then archive anything worth saving. In the past 7 months, I have only archived video from 3 different events.

Mine is set up to only record on triggers, but I don't have alerts set up currently, it writes over old video once its out of space.

 

[Peter123]

I think I would have to move if I needed camera's around my home.

If you live anywhere within a 30 minute drive of a high density area, you have a decent relative chance of someone trying to steal your stuff. Even out in the country, you're not 100% in the clear of someone trying to steal from you.

I've had my mailbox ran over twice, and one time I was never able to determine who did it, but I suspect it was the mailman. Since I have one of those decorative mailboxes, it cost $250 to replace plus my labor. It would have been nice to have the USPS pick up that cost.

We also had a problem with some teens from another neighborhood breaking into cars in my neighborhood until they were caught.

Those types of things can happen in ANY neighborhood.

Since I have an outdoor kitchen with stereo equipment, a couple of large screen tvs and other stuff, I do worry a little since I have a yard service seeing that stuff out in the open 24/7.

Finally, with two kids, It's nice to be able to quickly look at the yard from time to time.

Just like OCD, I don't need a system, I want a system.

 

[Peter123]

You gotta know I thrive on such projects though.

It bears noting that I have been the admin on a few large scale camera systems at work, the largest boasting a few hundred cameras, so setting up the software and tweaking settings is just another day at work for me. Thankfully, I was paid by the hour to learn most of what I know about surveillance cams and software.

I figure that the time spent now will mean less time later. Those DVR systems typically record 24/7 and so you have to sift through everything to see anything. Multiply that by the number of cameras you have and that task gets pretty daunting. Set up the motion correctly, (on any system) and you just have to breeze through the highlights. Delete the odd false trigger and then archive anything worth saving. In the past 7 months, I have only archived video from 3 different events.

My old zModo clone system (which I didn't have when my mailbox was ran over), was capable of both defining areas of view that could be set up to detect motion, so it didn't recognize motion everywhere, and could be set to both record video when motion was detected onto its HD as well as send an alert via email or text.

I'm hoping the Reolink has these same functions as well. I just assumed that since my cheap old system had them than the new one will. You know what they say about assume.

 

[OCD Solutions]

You assumed correctly and will not be disappointed.

I ordered a 4th Reolink camera this morning. This one is a 2MP wireless model that I plan to keep mobile so I can keep an eye on whatever needs keeping an eye on. Fixed cameras are great but it will be very handy to have one that can move around and set up to watch specific areas.

 

[Peter123]

I purchased a pair of Foscams for mobile use.

http://www.amazon.com/Foscam-Wirele...qid=1442593056&sr=1-4&keywords=foscam+f18918w

 

[Mark44]

We had a motion detector at the gates to our property at one time but got rid of it. We sometimes forgot and left the gate open and the wildlife going in and out would set it off. Got annoying real quick listening to that beep in the house.

 

[Peter123]

The sucky part is it won't be delivered until the end of October. But, at least that will be when my attic is cool when I run the cables (right now I have the old analog cables which I'll have to swap out).

Holy hand grenades batman, it showed up today!!!! From Hong Kong. I ordered it last Wednesday.

 

[OCD Solutions]

Not bad at all. I may be ordering one myself here pretty quick.

It's $499 for the 8CH NVR with 4 4MP cameras. I want to get at least 4 more cameras anyways and it doesn't look like I'm going to be able to get what I want out of a PC based recorder.

I have everything switched over to the new 8 core PC and while it is handling everything a lot better, it's still not where it needs to be if I want max resolution out of all 8 cameras.

 

[Peter123]

Not bad at all. I may be ordering one myself here pretty quick.

It's $499 for the 8CH NVR with 4 4MP cameras. I want to get at least 4 more cameras anyways and it doesn't look like I'm going to be able to get what I want out of a PC based recorder.

I have everything switched over to the new 8 core PC and while it is handling everything a lot better, it's still not where it needs to be if I want max resolution out of all 8 cameras.

FYI, the NVR is set up with video output through the HDMI as PAL with a crazy resolution. I had to hook up a monitor via the VGA port and go into the setting and change it to NTSC 1080 so my TV could use the signal.

The initial setup is super simple, and the Reolink app for the phone is fairly easy as well (which I guess you already know).

My plan is to start running ethernet Saturday morning and hopefully get the cameras up.

 

[OCD Solutions]

Any chance you could run a quick check for me?

I am curious if I could buy a 4ch NVR ($200 cheaper than a 8ch) and then connect more cameras through my existing network? Or does it only recognize cameras plugged into it directly?

Edit: I found some notes last night that says you can only connect 4 cams to a 4ch recorder so I probably already have my answer. What I need to find is a place to buy just the NVR with no cameras.

 

[Peter123]

Any chance you could run a quick check for me?

I am curious if I could buy a 4ch NVR ($200 cheaper than a 8ch) and then connect more cameras through my existing network? Or does it only recognize cameras plugged into it directly?

Edit: I found some notes last night that says you can only connect 4 cams to a 4ch recorder so I probably already have my answer. What I need to find is a place to buy just the NVR with no cameras.

This weekend, I'll connect a POE switch to it and see what happens when I connect a camera to that switch and that switch to the unit.

 

[Peter123]

A couple of screenshots from my phone I emailed to myself. This doesn't give a good representation of the resolution, but they do show how good they do with color and night vision. The night photo was with my backyard lights off. The only lights on were far awasy at the corner of my lot, across the canal and in my neighbor's yard. Had you looked out the window, you wouldn't see anything. Although I do have two cameras out there; therefore, double the camera lighting power.

 

[OCD Solutions]

Thankfully the cold weather is coming so spiders won't be a problem much longer. I had one move in on my main camera and he is getting bold. I used a telescoping pole to clean up all the webs last night and within an hour, he was hard at work rebuilding.

Here he is in action;


And here is what he can accomplish in a night;

 

[Peter123]

Thankfully the cold weather is coming so spiders won't be a problem much longer. I had one move in on my main camera and he is getting bold. I used a telescoping pole to clean up all the webs last night and within an hour, he was hard at work rebuilding.

What a little jerk. lol

 

[OCD Solutions]

I'm sure you will have the same issue. I googled the subject and found whole sections in forums on what to use and how to go about preventing them. Answers ranged from spider houses, gels and sprays and of course....BURN IT ALL!!!!!!!

For now I taped a rag to my telescoping painters handle until I can drag my extension ladder out and treat the area with some form of pesticide.

 

[Peter123]

Because you posted those shots of your Reolink cameras, I went with Reolink for my system. I buddy of mine ordered him a Reolink after seeing mine on Monday. Now my next door neighbor is buying one for him.

They need to give you a commission if the dominoes keep falling.

 

[OCD Solutions]

I okay with that, lol.

I think they are new in this market and buying their way in. I actually expect their prices to jump up once they really catch on.

 

[Peter123]

I just received two of the cameras with optical zoom.

I'm going to point one at our front sidewalk and the other on the road zoomed in for a license plate read.

I'm going to try to up the road one this Sunday, but not sure when I'll install the other one.

I still plan to get the PTZ for the backyard.

So far, this is a very good system.

 

[OCD Solutions]

So, I just got full approval to order 4 more cameras.

8 cars got broken into one street over from us on Monday night. I checked our cameras out in the morning but they didn't capture anything. However, I realized that I had a couple that were not recording so who knows what they missed.

Earlier today, I spent 3 hours uploading the firmware to each camera and setting everything back up and tweaking the settings.

I usually go through the footage each night when I get home and delete all the false triggers. Tonight, I was down to my last couple views when something caught my eye. I wasn't sure at first if it was just me coming home from work but quickly realized that it was actually on the live feed.

I watched this guy walk up to my truck, try the door handle and then shine a flashlight in my window. I have done it with cats before so I grabbed my truck keys and hit the door unlock button first, relocked them and then hit the panic button. You can see him react with each function as i toggled them, lol.

As soon as I triggered the panic button, the guy started to run away but I saw him duck between our house and the neighbors and right into a dead end with 6ft fences and a gate. I slipped into my shoes, opened the garage door and advanced out with a flashlight and 9mm to see if I could actually contain him but as soon as he realized I was coming around the corner, I heard him scale the fence into the neighbors back yard. I gave chase and pushed right through the neighbors gate and watched as he jumped the last fence. I contemplated firing a couple shots into the ground but instead just called out to him, "yeah, you better #uckin run!"

I then realized that I did not have my phone, nor did I alert my wife to what was going on so I ran back in the house to grab my phone and dial 911.

 

[Peter123]

Dang, I can't view them for some reason.