Webcams for home security
-
Do people still have net curtains to peer through? I remember an old neighbour from when I was a young kid who used to do taht all day long - I used to wind her up a great deal by waving to her when I saw the curtains move.
98.4% of statistics are made up on the spot.
-
I've been installing and using cameras for a little over 25 years now. In my home I have an array of HD infrared cameras connected to my self-written home automation system. The camera recording is done using Zoneminder, which is free. I recommend IP cameras that are at least HD. I caught a burglar (got their vehicle photo with tag number) last summer who broke into a neighbors house. Also, if you power the cameras via POE and have that all on a UPS, that's important too. It's not easy to get an affordable system that has enough quality to be useful. Grandstream makes dirt-cheap cameras that can get you started. Professional grade stuff will cost over $1000 per camera. Just yesterday I was 40 miles from home when UPS made a delivery. I could see him at the front door, and when he rang the "doorbell", I answered and thanked him, all from my desk at work in another city.
Basildane wrote:
he rang the "doorbell", I
No one does that anymore. Not UPS, not FedEx, and not USPS. They just leave it at the door. No door bell ringing where I live.
There are two kinds of people in the world: those who can extrapolate from incomplete data. There are only 10 types of people in the world, those who understand binary and those who don't.
-
Basildane wrote:
he rang the "doorbell", I
No one does that anymore. Not UPS, not FedEx, and not USPS. They just leave it at the door. No door bell ringing where I live.
There are two kinds of people in the world: those who can extrapolate from incomplete data. There are only 10 types of people in the world, those who understand binary and those who don't.
All I can say is that I have video of it. And pushing the button initiated a VOIP call to my desk at work, which was logged. I live out in the country, so your mileage may vary. UPS and Fedex are very professional here. However, it took MONTHS to get them comfortable enough to get out of the truck as I have Russian Dobermans. I was able to make the introductions and convince them that they could leave with all their body parts still attached, and we are all friends now. They used to sit in the truck and honk until I went to them.
-
All I can say is that I have video of it. And pushing the button initiated a VOIP call to my desk at work, which was logged. I live out in the country, so your mileage may vary. UPS and Fedex are very professional here. However, it took MONTHS to get them comfortable enough to get out of the truck as I have Russian Dobermans. I was able to make the introductions and convince them that they could leave with all their body parts still attached, and we are all friends now. They used to sit in the truck and honk until I went to them.
Basildane wrote:
I have video of it. And pushing the button initiated a VOIP call to my desk at work, which was logged.
Ya, I've seen some commercials online for a product that does that. Can't recall the name. Cool stuff.
There are two kinds of people in the world: those who can extrapolate from incomplete data. There are only 10 types of people in the world, those who understand binary and those who don't.
-
Basildane wrote:
I have video of it. And pushing the button initiated a VOIP call to my desk at work, which was logged.
Ya, I've seen some commercials online for a product that does that. Can't recall the name. Cool stuff.
There are two kinds of people in the world: those who can extrapolate from incomplete data. There are only 10 types of people in the world, those who understand binary and those who don't.
-
We use Asterisk, with FreePBX as the front-end for communications. All the video and security integration is custom.
That's pretty awesome you did it all yourself. I found the one I had seen ads for, Arlo by NETGEAR: Wireless & AC-Powered Security Cameras[^].
There are two kinds of people in the world: those who can extrapolate from incomplete data. There are only 10 types of people in the world, those who understand binary and those who don't.
-
I've been asked for some advice by someone who wants to monitor the area around her doorstep. Whilst I'm sure (or at least hope) that I can handle the IT side of things, I know next to nothing about cameras. Would it be possible to get pictures from an indoor camera pointing through the window that would be reasonably discernible by day or night or would she have to fork out for an external camera?
98.4% of statistics are made up on the spot.
I've seen ads for this, Arlo by NETGEAR: Wireless & AC-Powered Security Cameras[^], but do not know anything about them.
There are two kinds of people in the world: those who can extrapolate from incomplete data. There are only 10 types of people in the world, those who understand binary and those who don't.
-
I've been asked for some advice by someone who wants to monitor the area around her doorstep. Whilst I'm sure (or at least hope) that I can handle the IT side of things, I know next to nothing about cameras. Would it be possible to get pictures from an indoor camera pointing through the window that would be reasonably discernible by day or night or would she have to fork out for an external camera?
98.4% of statistics are made up on the spot.
Get a rottweiler. ;) Marc
Latest Article - Merkle Trees Learning to code with python is like learning to swim with those little arm floaties. It gives you undeserved confidence and will eventually drown you. - DangerBunny Artificial intelligence is the only remedy for natural stupidity. - CDP1802
-
Get a rottweiler. ;) Marc
Latest Article - Merkle Trees Learning to code with python is like learning to swim with those little arm floaties. It gives you undeserved confidence and will eventually drown you. - DangerBunny Artificial intelligence is the only remedy for natural stupidity. - CDP1802
-
I've been asked for some advice by someone who wants to monitor the area around her doorstep. Whilst I'm sure (or at least hope) that I can handle the IT side of things, I know next to nothing about cameras. Would it be possible to get pictures from an indoor camera pointing through the window that would be reasonably discernible by day or night or would she have to fork out for an external camera?
98.4% of statistics are made up on the spot.
As I understand it, [Ring](https://ring.com/) is a motion-activated camera that effectively replaces an existing doorbell and installation consists of hooking it up to the two wires that should already be there. I'm not shilling for them, I just keep hearing it advertised on some podcasts I listen to. And it sounds to me like sometimes--as others have pointed out--it's just not worth trying to reinvent the wheel when simple ready-made solutions already exist.
-
We use Asterisk, with FreePBX as the front-end for communications. All the video and security integration is custom.
Write an article? ;)
M.D.V. ;) If something has a solution... Why do we have to worry about?. If it has no solution... For what reason do we have to worry about? Help me to understand what I'm saying, and I'll explain it better to you Rating helpful answers is nice, but saying thanks can be even nicer.
-
Remember that if you can see the camera from over the internet so potentially can others. Disable any non needed items and change any default passwords.
You sound paranoid, and um...hold on a sec....yes, you look paranoid as well!
"the debugger doesn't tell me anything because this code compiles just fine" - random QA comment "Facebook is where you tell lies to your friends. Twitter is where you tell the truth to strangers." - chriselst "I don't drink any more... then again, I don't drink any less." - Mike Mullikins uncle
-
You sound paranoid, and um...hold on a sec....yes, you look paranoid as well!
"the debugger doesn't tell me anything because this code compiles just fine" - random QA comment "Facebook is where you tell lies to your friends. Twitter is where you tell the truth to strangers." - chriselst "I don't drink any more... then again, I don't drink any less." - Mike Mullikins uncle
-
I do malware research, what can I say. I don't trust anything connected to the internet. Oh soot I need to disconnect now. ;)
ledtech3 wrote:
don't trust anything connected to the internet
Truth! :thumbsup:
"the debugger doesn't tell me anything because this code compiles just fine" - random QA comment "Facebook is where you tell lies to your friends. Twitter is where you tell the truth to strangers." - chriselst "I don't drink any more... then again, I don't drink any less." - Mike Mullikins uncle
-
I've been asked for some advice by someone who wants to monitor the area around her doorstep. Whilst I'm sure (or at least hope) that I can handle the IT side of things, I know next to nothing about cameras. Would it be possible to get pictures from an indoor camera pointing through the window that would be reasonably discernible by day or night or would she have to fork out for an external camera?
98.4% of statistics are made up on the spot.
I've been playing around with ip cams the past several years and there has been a dramatic improvement in both quality and affordability. In fact, I picked up a few ip cams last week capable of recording at 1080p/30fps for about $62 each. Almost everything I've seen includes integrated IR, which makes night viewing/recording possible (in black and white). Just be sure you don't put this up against a pane of glass, as there will be a reflection. Also... to back up what others have mentioned, POE is really helpful to have (especially if you're going after an outdoor solution), as well as a battery backup.
-
As I understand it, [Ring](https://ring.com/) is a motion-activated camera that effectively replaces an existing doorbell and installation consists of hooking it up to the two wires that should already be there. I'm not shilling for them, I just keep hearing it advertised on some podcasts I listen to. And it sounds to me like sometimes--as others have pointed out--it's just not worth trying to reinvent the wheel when simple ready-made solutions already exist.
-
I've been asked for some advice by someone who wants to monitor the area around her doorstep. Whilst I'm sure (or at least hope) that I can handle the IT side of things, I know next to nothing about cameras. Would it be possible to get pictures from an indoor camera pointing through the window that would be reasonably discernible by day or night or would she have to fork out for an external camera?
98.4% of statistics are made up on the spot.
I bought a RING doorbell. If she has a powered doorbell, it is really easy. It has a camera, motion sensor, and it notifies my on my phone when I am away from the house. If it is powered through the doorbell wires, you can even remotely access the camera and "Peek" outside. Finally, it has, for an extra fee, a record the events and send them to the cloud. A handy feature. My brother now has one, because in MI he is down in the basement, and when someone rings, he can see who it is without climbing the stairs to see it was a package drop. While it's not cheap, I find it well made. And I was able to answer the doorbell when we were on vacation last summer, which is always cool!
-
As I understand it, [Ring](https://ring.com/) is a motion-activated camera that effectively replaces an existing doorbell and installation consists of hooking it up to the two wires that should already be there. I'm not shilling for them, I just keep hearing it advertised on some podcasts I listen to. And it sounds to me like sometimes--as others have pointed out--it's just not worth trying to reinvent the wheel when simple ready-made solutions already exist.
Ring and offerings like them LOVE to identify their brand on the bezel of the devices. The entire device concept is to discreetly monitor your entry so lets advertise that we are. Doth!!! On another note I'm really enjoying this thread as I'm very interested in setting up whole property monitoring inside out and y'all are feeding my imagination.
-
I've been asked for some advice by someone who wants to monitor the area around her doorstep. Whilst I'm sure (or at least hope) that I can handle the IT side of things, I know next to nothing about cameras. Would it be possible to get pictures from an indoor camera pointing through the window that would be reasonably discernible by day or night or would she have to fork out for an external camera?
98.4% of statistics are made up on the spot.
For this woman's application I would suggest a very simple solution. Her door should as most doors do, have a peep sight. You can buy a camera that is ready made to mount over a peep sight in the inside of the door. with it's own screen. Barring that you can make one with a Raspberry Pi3 and camera and screen modules, or even an ESP8266 and same. Either of those solutions will also allow you to connect the video to the home network.
-
I've been asked for some advice by someone who wants to monitor the area around her doorstep. Whilst I'm sure (or at least hope) that I can handle the IT side of things, I know next to nothing about cameras. Would it be possible to get pictures from an indoor camera pointing through the window that would be reasonably discernible by day or night or would she have to fork out for an external camera?
98.4% of statistics are made up on the spot.
For years I've had a Sharx wireless indoor HD camera on the inside of my window with front porch, yard, and some of the street in view. It's worked well and has pretty good quality. I have it setup with a user-defined motion-detection box drawn over the front porch so any movement on the porch triggers 30s of video and 3 snapshots being ftp'd to an ftp site, as well as the 1st snapshot being emailed to me. The capture settings are pretty configurable via the camera's web interface (motion-det-only/constant recording, ftp, email, quality, etc). Since it's on the inside, the physical installation was pretty easy. Attached with bracket to wall, plugs into the nearest outlet, and connects with wifi to my home network. The camera has infrared leds for night vision but I have them turned off b/c they just reflect off the window. Fortunately there's a street light in front of my house that provides sufficient lighting.