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Webcams, Security, and Me.
Doc
Registered User, ClubPA regular
Registered User, ClubPA regular
I had a break-in a few months ago. Now my friend's car was tagged.
I wish to get a webcam setup. I have the software I need to record stuff when there's motion, but I don't have the hardware. It's a long-ish outdoor run out to where the camera needs to be from my main computer. I don't really want to put together a machine that can run outdoors. What's the best way to get a camera out there that I can hook up to my computer?
I wish to get a webcam setup. I have the software I need to record stuff when there's motion, but I don't have the hardware. It's a long-ish outdoor run out to where the camera needs to be from my main computer. I don't really want to put together a machine that can run outdoors. What's the best way to get a camera out there that I can hook up to my computer?
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A bit more searching suggests that cheaper models also exist.
Really I can't think of a way to do it without either a cable run or a nearby pc. How close is it to the nearest point indoors?
edit: Advicewise, wireless?
I host a podcast about movies.
2.4 wireless analog is a bad idea unless it's point to point. The omnidirectional models are prone to problems from wi-fi, microwaves, and phones. The DSC-950, and the DSC-900 will probley be cheaper.
Some newbie mistakes:
1. Mounting the camera inside via a window. You'll get a poor image + glare and you'll have an expensive paperweight.
2. Not mounting with an outdoor housing. Rain kills cameras.
3. Wanting wireless and not thinking about where you're going to power the cameras.
4. Wanting audio. Most states use the federal guidelines for audio. One party has to consent to the conversation. This means one of the people in the conversation needs to be aware they are being recorded. This does not mean that the homeowner counts if they are listening to it after the fact.
5. Being cheap on the wiring side. If you go analog (and it will probley be cheaper if your deploying multiple cameras) don't go with cheap wiring. You want 95% Braiding COPPER (not aluminum, it's for cable) shielding.
6. Using PTZ (Pan-Tilt-Zoom) cameras. For what they cost you can use a number of fixed cameras for the same field of view. PTZ's are for active monitoring systems (You're using security guards.)
7. Being cheap. You get what you pay for in the security industry. Buy a cheap capture card/software and you get what you paid for.
8. Don't use E-bay. The gear there is cheap knockoff stuff that may or may not work.
9. Plan where you're going to place cameras. Don't just throw them up. Plan what you want to see. Work backwards from there.
10. Webcams have shit resolution. They are not the same things as IP based security cameras.
Because you're gonna face a few problems;
* Deterrence, you place the camera is easy view.. you actually want to make it stand out. However, this will guarantee it will be made a target for youths to throw stones at.
* Resolution, most cameras are shitty low res/quality. If you want something to capture them with (to take pictures of their faces and relatively low profile/hard to spot camera) then expect to pay through the nose.
As to usb cameras, if you're doing this on the cheap as I expect you are then possibly putting a powered usb hub connected pc->usb hub->camera with long usb cables might get around your maximum length problem.
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I've got a spare copy of Portal, if anyone wants it message me.
They won't be a deterrence at all. Ever. Using cameras to prevent thief is waste of money. The only way for cameras to deter crime at all is the drop in crime you see from repeat offenders being in jail. People aren't afraid of the cameras and have the time they don't even understand what the field of view is. I apologize if the tone is harsher in this post then normal for H/A. But the idea that cameras are a deterrant is a dangerous and bad idea.
I work in the security industry as a sales engineer for a company that makes DVRs. You can look at all of the crime statistics and they don't show the cameras as a deterrant. They will help you catch the guy who breaks into your place. They can help you recover your stuff. They will not prevent the crime from happening.
It sucks, but there is very little you can do to deter someone from breaking in if they are willing to throw a rock through a window. They don't pay attention to anything except for the shit they know they want. In this case, they knew I had console games because they stole a package containing a wii controller from my front porch a few weeks before. Things they didn't steal from me:
1. Any one of 3 firearms. I had trigger/bolt locks on all of them, but they weren't in a safe or anything.
2. My brand new hand-held camcorder that was sitting right next to the game systems.
3. Any of my computer stuff, which was way more expensive than the consoles.
4. The console cables
5. My DVDs
6. My giant case of CDs that was also sitting right next to the consoles, with a convinient carrying handle.
The officer that came over said this was pretty common among break-ins. People know what they are after, and due to adrenaline or whatever, ONLY see the stuff they are after. They don't see cameras, they don't see security systems.
I am more interested in looking down the alley behind my house, since I have a good idea of who is responsible for the spray painting. If I can see where they come from, that will help a lot. The alley is lit, too.
The lighting can work for and against you. If the lighting is behind the person coming in, you won't see anything with most cameras. The light behind them puts them in to the shade. There are solutions, but frankly they are way outside your budget. The cheap solution is to use an IR camera and hope they come at night.
This may sound counter intutive but are they spray painting in the alley? If they are, can you get rid of the light?
It sounds like there's not a lot we can do, aside from posting signs that say "if you tag my stuff, I'll shoot you in the goddamn face," which would be of questionable legality. The paint cleaned off my friend's car pretty well, thankfully.
With the budget you set....not really. Sorry.
That is a big problem right there. Advertising what security system you have is a big no-no. It makes it easy for thieves to just find the schematics and figure out how to disable it. I highly suggest you remove it.
Uh, I'm not worried about Ocean's 11 here.
Stop watching movies. A sign saying "Protected by ADT" doesn't tell me what system is in use. Even if I had a sign telling what system is in use it doesn't tell me what contacts are in use, how are they deployed, or where the panel is. Nor does it tell me if the system has a cell back up. And I don't know what you mean by "Schematics". Operating manuals are availble on the web. But alarm panels don't have a "Press X to turn off the whole system" option. And if they did, you'd still have to get inside. Or do you mean a diagram that shows where all of your door contacts are? Cause the only one of those, if one exists would be with the installer who did the install.
Anything you see in the movies about security systems is crap. Anything you see on TV about security is also crap. Attempts to even disable the systems are much, much more rare then smash and grabs. Watching Ocean's 11 will not make you into a good thief.
Johnny has a good point Doc, and in my professional (security) opinion, i'd try it. You can get a wireless webcam for around 100-130.
There are only two issues to consider
1) While previously mentioned, lighting could be an issue. A 30 dollar motion activated light could help with any lighting issues where your friends car is - test the camera and see what it's like, and if an accurate light source is needed. It's easily fixable with a trip to home depot and an extension cord.
2) If you're pointing your camera outside, you can run out of hard drive space fast. Motion activated cameras have various senstivity's built in - trash blowing by could set the thing off and cause it to record. For some of the camera's I use, I can eat a good 30 gigs in DVR space a day on one camera (I use 14). Granted, my camera's are the expensive industrial ones, YMMV here on space requirments. Just be aware s'all i'm sayin'.
tl;dr version: Get a wireless webcam, make sure your light source is good, plenty of HD space for recording. It should work well, good luck.
Well, it's a good thing I do security for a living - that way I can take a shit on the worst advice in this thread. The ADT sign trick is an old one, but for a serious professional burglar, it can pose as a partial deterent. Most won't hassle with it, simply because in a crowded area, there are easier pickings and you increase your risk - remember the goal is to get rich and stay out of jail with minimal risk.
What it won't stop are smash and grabbers (what Doc was a victim of), or coked out junkies needing some quick loot for their next fix. That's why you use a concept called security in depth. You start with a well lit perimeter of the house, then you have lockpick proof locks and modern secure windows, then you have a modern alarm system, then you have a video recording system, then you have insurance - whatever your M.O. is.
Also - Doc - if you can afford it, get a safe. If crime is a problem, you need one. Do not get a cheap 30 dollar safe from walmart. You need a heavy, 1 or 2 drawer safe you can bolt to the floor. Keep your most precious possesions in it, Christ, it sounds like you live in a de-militarized zone and need one. I know, money is an issue. Think of it as an investment. Statisticaly speaking, you run a much higher chance of being victimized again by a burglary since you've already been a target. I would also consider motion lighting in any dark areas - alley or porch.
You didn't actually read my post did you? You saw the ADT sign line and assumed I was recommending that he post one. What I said was that a sign being there doesn't tell a burgler anything. The poster before me seemed to think that the posting of a sign would announce what kind of system, along with it's layout to the world. That's something that only happens with movies. So how about an apology for the worst advice comment?
I guess I did misread that - I had interepted it as advice disuading from the actual sticker being present versus no sticker at all. Apologies then.
As for the problems I have with crime:
The funny/scary thing for these guys is what's happening around the time this stuff occurs. They broke into my house while I was out at the shooting range (with a Kimber 1911, for those that are curious). They spray-painted the car and made my friend and I miss a gun show while we waited 5 hours for the cops to show up. I'm hardly a gun nut or whatever, it's just a weird coincidence.
Not to poke or anything, but many safe's are not fireproof - no matter how thick and big it is. I've got classified safes that would take 10 man hours to crack - but if a fire breaks out, anything inside of it's pretty much toast (no pun intended). The trick I learned is to get a smaller safe (like the fireproof ones at walmart), and put those inside the bigger more secure safe. Kinda ridiculous, but it'll keep your documents from combusting. I store my back up tapes like this, works like a champ.
Edit: If ya do the wireless webcam thing, give us an update. I'm curious as to how well it works for you, and if you can catch those bastards.
I host a podcast about movies.
That's what I'm thinking.
Then we'll improvise, but what I'm thinking involves a snorkel, 5 pounds of ground meat, a small incision in the abdominal wall, and an aquarium pump. . .
I host a podcast about movies.