Home Sercurity Cameras / Melbourne

[Steve88]

Hey guys been looking into putting up a few cameras around the outside of my house. Maybe 3 in total. Quotes have been coming up between $2000- $3000. 

Has anyone run wireless cameras before or have any tips on what to buy?

I have a double story and access is a little tricky but possible as I already have an alarm system. 

I feel like it's a lot of money for a basic kind of thing. 

My other question is about Megapixel. Cameras I know but video I don't. Is 4mp reasonable ? 

Any advice would be great as it's a sad state in Melbourne at the moment and I want it for more of a deterant than anything 

Regards

Steve

[firstone]

My brother had trouble and put camera's up.

They spotted them and put masks on.

I use a remote hidden camera made for stock protection. It has wifi and motion detection and night vision. It sends a pic via email. I set up alert to my phone.

I'll dig out the details this evening if you like.

[StevepGT3]

Get a Dog.

[targa george]

Steve

I've been using Arlo wireless WiFi cameras for the past couple of years and couldn't be happier. Motion detection and night vision  capable. Alerts via email or txt message and highly configurable.  Obviously being WiFi, you need a WiFi network at home. No need to hack into walls and run cabling. The only drawback is you need to replace batteries in each camera about once a year at about $40 a pop. If you do put them outside, try and protect them from the elements by putting them under an eave or something. You can also buy a rubber protective sleeve for them for extra protection.

Try Harvey Norman and JB Hifi or even Officeworks. You're looking at about $300 for a starter pack of 2 cameras and its base station. If I'm wrong on price, I'm not too far off. Of course, you can add cameras to the system at about $100 a pop. A little bit of fiddling around in setting the system up configuration wise but nothing too difficult.

 

[Raven]

I have 16  Funlux dome camera,s around the house similar capabilities to what mentioned above accept run of mains power with battery back up ,,,,i phone compatible with email and Msg alerts , 2GB hard drive storage..easy to install yourself RCD connectors plug n play ,,,had them for 3 years no issues very high Res and pick up a lot of stuff like neighbors cats fighting ,post man ,kids on BMX bIkes ,dogs crapping on front law ,,daughters boyfriends   ....Have the WiFi ,, hard drive and monitor in the attic space so if needed I can go check on who,s dog has left a gift and witch boyfriend has been over for a quiki  ..From memory the whole package was around $1000 ...I look at it as more of a deterrent than a solution to criminals and it is handy being able to see who is coming and going if you are not home or away on trip..This combined with everything locked up Alarmed and making it as difficult as you can for the thieves is all you can do ,and if it makes the criminals think its all to hard and to go to some other home then it has done its job ,,also helps lower the home insurance a little too....

[Harvs11]

Get a Dog.

+1

they'll likely avoid the dog and go a few doors  up instead.

[Troy997.1]

Swan do a lot of DIY stuff http://www.swann.com/au/products/security-cameras

[thumperson]

I have the Ring set up after my recent experiences. I have three cameras and they are wifi and rechargeable. I can answer the front door bell from work which is nice and a little unnerving for the door knocker. The cameras have heat activated motion sensors and are pretty configuarable. I also use their web base storage for unlimited cameras ($150/yr). 

The biggest problem is my absolutely shizer internet bandwidth (thank you Optus) which hopefully gets fixed with NBN on the 12th of Never. If you have decent internet then they are pretty cool. They go off a bit so there is a bit of "boy cries wolf" danger but you can turn down the sensitivity. 

[Coastr]

All I can say is go for wired cameras if you can.  Ravens setup above sounds good.  And make sure you check everything is working regularly, very easy to have something go wrong and not be recording.  You can often get issues when the power goes off / on again and all the cameras are re-acquiring new network addresses and the like.

dont forget the big FO sensor lights - the new LED units are much less power hungry and can light up like daylight.  The infrared stuff works ok but not as well as lots of lumens.

Big barking dogs are also useful but convert a lot of pal into a lot of shit, all of which you have to move yourself.  The cost is also substantial. I have calculated with the running costs of my dog (which is scarcely useful as a guard dog, due to bark being seriously larger than bite) and I know I could register, insure and drive another car for the same amount.  Add up the food, vet bills, medication for fleas and worms, haircuts and pet nsurance and ... wow.  Cameras and fences are definitely cheaper.

 

still the problem remains that the simplest way of getting property is threatening the owners and until they hand over keys etc.  I guess big walls are the only way around that.   it's almost like we could get all these thieves and put them inside a wall with cameras facing in, instead of walling up our houses with cameras facing out.  

[LeeM]

  Get a small dog, They yap at a mouse farting 2 km's away! (from experience!) Hard wire the camera's with 9v battery backup too

 That didn't stop a 16 year old breaking into a mansion here last week, stealing the keys to a Cayenne and a bunch of expensive jewelry. They got him, yet it was obvious the house wasn't that secure which baffles me when it's obvious the home owners have done ok for themselves. In this day and age with very brazen thieves hunting in packs, you can't be too careful

 1800 high fences like we've got that surround the property (first deterrent, though I'm adding a little 'surprise' if they manage to get over which IS going to hurt) Lock everything all hours (they're getting brazen with home invasions now). Have a large easily accessible whackometer to defend yourself (if they're in your house, you have the right to protect your property. Go for the knee's first). If anyone breaks in here, they will be eating through a straw for the rest of their lives. Unless the ex kickboxer missus has a crack at them, then they'll probably be fed intravenously whilst in a coma for a few months!

Prevention is better than wishing you'd done all these things to protect you, your family and property

[grantmr]

(first deterrent, though I'm adding a little 'surprise' if they manage to get over which IS going to hurt)

Make sure that's legal though as you can be charged/sued for injuring people on your property.

I have a weapon in every room of my house.

[LeeM]

Make sure that's legal though as you can be charged/sued for injuring people on your property.

I have a weapon in every room of my house.

So do I.....the missus! I wouldn't want to be on the receiving end of one of her kicks

SA introduced a bill years ago about allowing you to protect own property. I'd do it regardless, and say their substantial cranial injuries were a result of them tripping over when I was chasing them

 

[Raven]

Better to be alive and in one piece to justify your actions to the law ,,,,as apposed to being in Hospital or six foot under.. 

[LeeM]

Better to be alive and in one piece to justify your actions to the law ,,,,as apposed to being in Hospital or six foot under.. 

True. I'd prefer not to duke it out personally, yet we won't hesitate to defend ourselves if the situation arises

[Raven]

I honestly do not think that a judge would lock you up for defending your life ,your families lives and your property ,,,,even if you did kill an intruder I honestly do not believe some one with no prior criminal history protecting themselves from home invaders would see prison time ,,,and if for some crazy reason you had the worst lawyer in history and did do jail time I honestly could do it with my head held high and feel no shame about my actions knowing I did the right thing and my family were safe...

I would also suspect the sentence would be a very short minimum one too ..  

[WOKA]

I install CCTV daily..

Wireless is good for - nothing.  You have to get power to the camera so you may as well run a proper video signal too.  

CAT6 Data cable is the best way.  Through the CAT6 cable you send power (to the camera) and receive footage back to the NVR (network video recorder)  The transmission is called POE - Power over ethernet.  The NVR recorder has a built in POE switch (4 channel / 8 Channel / how ever many camera channel you want channels). If you want 4 cameras, get an 8 channel recorder, just in case you want to add more cameras.  Installation is as easy or as hard as it is to get the CAT6 cable to the camera location.  The industry is heavily regulated and to get a decent system installed you must get it installed by an industry approved installer.  Police checked / licensed and associated.  Worst case scenario, If it comes to court and its deemed that the system wasn't installed in accordance the footage will be deemed as non allowed.  Stupid I know.

The reason for the regulation is also to 'protect telstra's infrastructure'..  They don't wan't just anyone hooking up such services to the interwebs and 'causing damage'.

Mega Pixel - liken it to a digital stills camera.  The bigger the megapixel - the bugger the image.  4MP is fine - its equal to an image size of 2592x1520.  Remembering that video is just typically 25 still frames per second stitched together to create motion.  The bigger the image, the better the detail and the better you can zoom in on said image.

Infra Red is getting better and better - newest is called EXIR - its one block rather than a ring of illuminaters around the camera.

Price - you get what you pay for..  SWANN as mentioned is for the home hobbyist really.  There are plenty of YUM CHA brands out there also.  Residential installation is a prick - hate it, access is difficult, it takes time.  

I just then finished a 4 camera quote for a home user - all up, installed and configured, setup on his smart phone, router configured etc came in at $2185.00 Ex GST - he's a repeat customer, he gets a bit of a discount..  I'll copy and paste the body below FYI

 

CCTV System supply and installation

 

MV-8704-P4 CCTV Network Video Recorder (NVR) with 4 camera support

4Ch Embedded standalone NVR

Up to 5 MP recording resolution

4 Chanel POE Switch built in

Continuous, motion and scheduled recordings

Timeline playback / Multi-channel playback

3TB Surveillance Class SATA Hard Drive (1 x Hard Drive bay)

Remote live view through Web browser    

1080p HDMI video output / VGA Output

Smart device access (iOS and Android)

2 Year RTB Parts and Labour Warranty

 

MV4223F-28 Digital Camera

4.1MP Colour Dome Camera with 2.8mm wide lens EXIR (Hi Def)                                                     x 4       

 

All camera cabling, connectors and accessories for complete

Onsite setup and installation / Modem Configuration & Smart Phone setup

 

Total price for above system                                                                                            $2185.00         Ex GST

[grantmr]

I had a bit of a quick goog and it seems you can fuck up their shit only if you're being directly threatened. If they're trespassing or running away it will be classed as criminal.

The law is number 10.4 on this page: http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/cth/consol_act/cca1995115/sch1.html

[StevepGT3]

I had a bit of a quick goog and it seems you can fuck up their shit only if you're being directly threatened. If they're trespassing or running away it will be classed as criminal.

The law is number 10.4 on this page: http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/cth/consol_act/cca1995115/sch1.html

It would therefore be best if they were unable to contradict your account of events.

[Niko]

Better to be alive and in one piece to justify your actions to the law ,,,,as apposed to being in Hospital or six foot under.. 

Better to be tried by 12 than carried by 6...

[Coastr]

I honestly do not think that a judge would lock you up for defending your life ,your families lives and your property ,,,,even if you did kill an intruder I honestly do not believe some one with no prior criminal history protecting themselves from home invaders would see prison time ,,,and if for some crazy reason you had the worst lawyer in history and did do jail time I honestly could do it with my head held high and feel no shame about my actions knowing I did the right thing and my family were safe...

I would also suspect the sentence would be a very short minimum one too ..  

you live in Australia not Florida.  There is no castle doctrine in this country.

I hate to be the bearer of bad news but you can get locked up big time for injuring or killing an intruder if the court or police deems you to use 'excessive' force.  It varies by state but it is all bad news for the property owner and good news for the invader.    There are no guidelines at what excessive force.

All became about because of a high court case of a farmer shooting and killing someone stealing his chickens.

i have a friend who lives in South Carolina, and not the good part.  He keeps a loaded 9mm in his top desk drawer.  He is well within his rights to shoot to kill any intruder he deems a trespasser on his property.  His property also includes his pickup.

Unsurprisingly he doesn't bother with cameras.

Not really wanting to live in a place like that, but at least the knowledge that home invaders might get badly hurt might slow them down a bit.  

 

[Niko]

If you are in fear for your life or someone elses life at the time, that is one criteria.

Also... that you should only use force that is in proportion to the force being used against you....

But as I said earlier, it is better to be judged by 12 than carried by 6, IMHO.

As a side..... Our house was being attacked a few years ago (for no particular reason except that I took them on after the first episode) over a period of time in the early hours of the morning by some morons in the area.   I had cameras installed which are good for day but also excellent for Night.   They are hard wired in.

I also have my fuse box padlocked with a recognised lock from the utilities, so power can't easily be turned off.

The cameras can be monitored from anywhere in the world.   The house is also alarmed, so if the alarm goes off I can have a look.

Great peace of mind now.   I realise hoodies can still be used but it is still a good deterrent.

I thoroughly recommend them.

[firstone]

Dunno about that. 2 years in prison waiting for a trial. Wife and kids distraught,  lost their provider and leader. Everything you put together ripped apart.

You could end up carried out of there by 6 after meeting his bros.

I have real dogs for an early alarm and deterrent. 

They do cost me decent money, and dog doo is out of hand to start with but I've taught them to go down the paddock.

My theory is to deter rather than defend.

 

 

[YellowDieselGolf]

slightly off topic, but I've got a raspberry pi hooked up to my garage door.  It sends me a tweet, email and/or sms when the door has been open for X seconds.

[LeeM]

I had a bit of a quick goog and it seems you can fuck up their shit only if you're being directly threatened. If they're trespassing or running away it will be classed as criminal.

The law is number 10.4 on this page: http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/cth/consol_act/cca1995115/sch1.html

In SA

http://www.lawhandbook.sa.gov.au/ch12s10s08.php

[symsy]

Are we in Australia, holy F..k remind me again why I dont wanna live in a city , traffic , traffic lights  , speed cameras , paid parking, APEX …cameras 

Shit if they break in in Byron its to chop a length of your hose to make their next bong

If you leave a few 20c coins in the ashtray they might grab them 

There was a story of a bus running around called the Black Pearl and a lot of surf boards/pushbikes going missing too. Bloody Johnny Depp has a lot to answer for making pirates cool.

I do have a quick release wheel on the Escort though for security and a gun strapped to the rollcage .. cos when the worlds gonna end .. and the EMF wave knocks out the power and the generators being discussed on another thread on this forum .. the Escort will roll , spare , distributor and all packed in the boot.

Go MAD MAX