Surveillance system

[Origisaurus]

I'm pretty sure you could assemble the components from scratch, but I'm looking for a setup that would do all the following:

- Transmit pictures to a PC via a wireless router via 802.x

- Activate on motion detector or sound

- Sleep delay

Any suggestions?

[The Gorn]

Costco and Sam's both sell prepackaged security DVR systems that consist of a bunch of cameras, some weatherproof and some for indoor use only, a base unit which is a PC packaged in a set top box, and software. Recording can be triggered to activate on motion in the field of view.

I've seen low end systems like this at both Costco and Sam's for ~$500.

To do what you want on a small scale, just browse www.newegg.com and look at network video cameras. There are several on the market for $200 or so that have wireless networking and prepackaged software.

[pxsant]

So you know where I am coming from, in addition to my IT activities, I have been selling and installing video surveillance systems into small businesses for a few years.

In order to select the right equipment, there are a couple of initial questions you need to get to.

1. Do you need just one camera or do you need multiple cameras?
2. Do you need to record the surveillance video to hard disk for proof of a break in or to identify someone caught on video?

If the answer to both questions is no, you can use a single IP based surveillance camera.

If the answer to either question is yes, you should use standard non-IP cameras and an IP based DVR.   While you could use a PC as a DVR, I don't recommend it.  First it would have to stay on all the time.  Second, it is easier for an intruder to find a PC while a DVR can be pretty effectively hidden since it is much smaller.

The systems sold by Cotsco and Sam's are usually multiple camera units with a DVR.  If you go that way, make sure the DVR is an IP based unit.  Not all of them are.  Also most of those systems use wired cameras, not wireless one's so you would have to be selective.

The next question is does the camera need to be disguised or hidden or can you use a standard appearing camera?  A standard wireless IP camera can be had for in the $200 range while a hidden camera can be double that or more.  Hidden cameras are available in all sorts of units like clocks, radios, thermostats, books etc.

Most of these types of systems can trigger on motion detect.  They can also send emails when they are triggered so if you can receive emails on your phone, you can be immediately alerted when the camera detects motion.

Triggering on audio is a problem.  Those types of systems are too unreliable and are prone to false alarms.  Almost anything can trigger them from wind, dogs barking in the neighborhood, or a loud car passing by. 

One other thing is that the camera should be able to see in low light using infrared if possible while showing color in good light.   Most intrusions will be at night while the lights are off.    Make sure the camera you choose has an infrared option.

As I recall, you live in an apartment so I'm guessing that you could get by with a single IP based camera assuming you do not want to record.  There are dozens of sources for those but both Linksys and Dlink sell models which should work for you.

Here is a camera from Dlink which should work for you http://www.dlink.com/products/?pid=510

Here is a wireless color camera with infrared LED's built in for low light.  http://securityturf.net/eshop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2_22&products_id=334

One thing with wireless cameras connected to a DVR - Each wireless camera needs a separate wireless receiver which plugs into the DVR ports.  These may or may not even be mentioned in ads so you need to ask.  Otherwise you may end up with a wireless camera you can't connect to anything.  Note that this only applies to non IP cameras.

If you need a hidden camera, check here or use Google http://securityturf.net/eshop/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=2_18

[The Gorn]

I also didn't see the point with triggering on sound. If there's no motion there is nothing to record.

[Origisaurus]

1. Do you need just one camera or do you need multiple cameras?
2. Do you need to record the surveillance video to hard disk for proof of a break in or to identify someone caught on video?

The next question is does the camera need to be disguised or hidden or can you use a standard appearing camera? 

Thanks for the clarification about sound activation.

I need multiple cameras, one for each of several apartments.  The mission is to catch and/or deter unauthorized entry, with a record the intruder can't destroy even if destroying the camera.

I want to record the images.  I picture a server to collect them in real time via wireless.

Camera doesn't need to be disguised.  If the intruder notices it, it's too late - "smile, you're on candid camera".

Yeah, I came here totally clueless.  Thank you.  The links are especially helpful.

[pxsant]

In the situation you describe, you need a single wireless IP camera for each location.  You can set up a remote PC to monitor and record each camera.    The remote PC needs to run the client software which allows access to and recording of the  cameras

Most IP camera systems will come with some sort of remote monitoring software.  Just for reference, here is a link to the kind of software you need.  http://www.visec.net/index.php

This particular software allows monitoring of 4 remote cameras at $79 for the program.

You would likely need to use a dynamic DNS service to be sure you can reference a fixed IP at each location.  Most broadband providers periodically rotate your IP.

[The Gorn]

You would likely need to use a dynamic DNS service to be sure you can reference a fixed IP at each location.  Most broadband providers periodically rotate your IP.

IF his cameras are at a different physical location than the DVR.

If everything runs from the same router in the same facility, then the IP addresses of the cameras can be fixed, or, perhaps a network name can be assigned to each camera (IE: "FRONT_DOOR_1", etc)

The router configuration will become considerably more complex with an offsite PC for monitoring/recording. Whoever sets it up will have to worry about configuring open ports on the router, etc.

In order to assure that the PC doesn't get jacked by bad guys, it should probably be in a separate location (another building.) Or locked in a closet if in the same facility.

For sure, someone handy with simple networks will need to set this up.

[pxsant]

If all cameras are connected to the same DVR, the only thing which has an IP address is the DVR.  DVR's are normally accessed through port 80 although you can usually set it up for any port you want. 

The DVR will have an internal IP address assigned by the router under DHCP.   Open up the chosen port on the router so someone from outside can get to the DVR.    As an example, if the IP assigned by the ISP is 126.22.34.55 and the access port is 80, you would access the DVR from outside with 126.22.34.55:80.

It is pretty easy to set up.

[Origisaurus]

Great stuff, guys!

Good point about the server being jacked.  Probably overkill for this app, but the server could just email its images to anywhere, either on schedule, or just on detecting a physical intrusion to its own space.

I once envisioned a system that would transmit its data by high-frequency sound to a window, causing the window to vibrate while a laser monitoring system picked up the data.  Way overkill for this app. KeWl, nonetheless.

[The Gorn]

Great stuff, guys!

Good point about the server being jacked.  Probably overkill for this app, but the server could just email its images to anywhere, either on schedule, or just on detecting a physical intrusion to its own space.

Decisions, decisions!

Emailed means just stills.

You can record movies, too. Which can be a lot more useful.

[pxsant]

the server could just email its images to anywhere, either on schedule, or just on detecting a physical intrusion to its own space.

Unless you specifically set up the DVR for stills, they record full motion video.  Some DVR's allow you to set up an automatic FTP of the video files on a regular schedule.  It is probably overkill as long as you have the DVR in a hidden secure spot.

[pxsant]

BTW just to clarify, that surveillance software I mentioned is not necessary if you are using a DVR.  The DVR has built in software and WEB server so all you need remotely is a browser.