Home security cameras.... anyone have a system setup?

G

General Lee

New member
I want to install a camera system to record outdoors, to view the front of my home and possibly the back. Mainly the front though. I know you get what you pay for but I'm on a budget with this thing. I've seen cheap systems, and expensive ones, just not sure what would be the best way to go.



Can anyone recommend a decent sytem that they have and what works for them?



It has to be able to record. Thanks for any help.
 
Wish I could be of more help with this as we *really* like our home CCTV system. But ours doesn't record, was installed as part of our security system, and was pretty overpriced.



Still- a few tips:



Get the best you can afford. Consider IR illuminators if your outside areas aren't well lighted. Get more than one camera- cover what needs covered. Get more than one viewing station, you'll never be in the right room when you need to see what's going on out there. We have about 8 viewing stations and I wouldn't mind more.



More like what you're considering, I got a recording CCTV system installed at a local mausoleum (long story). This was a couple of years ago and my memory is prety foggy, but anyhow...They used a control lunit to work with two cameras and hard-drive type recorder instead of tape, and IMO that's the way to go. Since you'll hardly ever actually *look* at the recording, you want the least hassles possible. You record a lot, only view it when something needs looked at, and that takes a lot of time if you're using tape. Plus the hard drive setup works better with multiple cameras. Plus, it has resolution quality that's been accepted as courtroom evidence ;) These systems also work with the multiple cameras in a split-screen type of way. This was an indoor system, and IIRC it cost $2-3K. Call a few security companies and get quotes. The one I got for the mausoleum was the same basic system everyone was selling, but I was able to get it for a fraction of the cost that some guys were asking.



But this stuff isn't cheap...a guy I know has an "inexpensive" system in his house and I thought it was pretty crappy.
 
Accumulator said:
More like what you're considering, I got a recording CCTV system installed at a local mausoleum (long story).
Click to expand...





I'd love to hear about that one some time!
 
I've been looking into the stuff available at smarthome.com. Just not sure exaclty "what" I want. These systems get pretty pricey when you start adding the kool features.



mausoleum ? maybe to keep unused bottles of polishes, waxes, etc.
 
Heh heh, it was a real mausoleum; this was back when I was Board Pres of the Cemetery Association, I took care of all the security-related concerns. There were vandalism issues that needed resolved.



I have the SmartHome catalog somewhere, but I've never checked out their camera systems. Just remember that their catalog makes it all sound *so* easy and fool-proof. Every system I know of that was installed by pros took a fair bit of tweaking to get right (hint hint).
 
Accumulator said:
Wish I could be of more help with this as we *really* like our home CCTV system. But ours doesn't record, was installed as part of our security system, and was pretty overpriced.



Still- a few tips:



Get the best you can afford. Consider IR illuminators if your outside areas aren't well lighted. Get more than one camera- cover what needs covered. Get more than one viewing station, you'll never be in the right room when you need to see what's going on out there. We have about 8 viewing stations and I wouldn't mind more.



More like what you're considering, I got a recording CCTV system installed at a local mausoleum (long story). This was a couple of years ago and my memory is prety foggy, but anyhow...They used a control lunit to work with two cameras and hard-drive type recorder instead of tape, and IMO that's the way to go. Since you'll hardly ever actually *look* at the recording, you want the least hassles possible. You record a lot, only view it when something needs looked at, and that takes a lot of time if you're using tape. Plus the hard drive setup works better with multiple cameras. Plus, it has resolution quality that's been accepted as courtroom evidence ;) These systems also work with the multiple cameras in a split-screen type of way. This was an indoor system, and IIRC it cost $2-3K. Call a few security companies and get quotes. The one I got for the mausoleum was the same basic system everyone was selling, but I was able to get it for a fraction of the cost that some guys were asking.



But this stuff isn't cheap...a guy I know has an "inexpensive" system in his house and I thought it was pretty crappy.
Click to expand...



I definitely would like a hard-drive type recorder. I have been looking around on-line, alot of products out there and not having much knowledge in this stuff doesn't help :confused:



I was going to try and install it myself, but I think I will go with a company that does installations.
 
Accumulator said:
Heh heh, it was a real mausoleum; this was back when I was Board Pres of the Cemetery Association, I took care of all the security-related concerns. There were vandalism issues that needed resolved.



I have the SmartHome catalog somewhere, but I've never checked out their camera systems. Just remember that their catalog makes it all sound *so* easy and fool-proof. Every system I know of that was installed by pros took a fair bit of tweaking to get right (hint hint).
Click to expand...



LOL....I misread the post. I thought you had a masoleum on your property or something.



Looking at the Smarthome products, it does sound too easy. Makes me a little skeptical. I'm afraid of the price tag when I start to really add up the goodies. I really want a few outdoor PTZ cameras with a wireless monitor. Tweaking out systems would probably be the fun part for me. I'm into computers, home theater, electronics, techie stuff in general. I once spent 4 hours straight adjusting gray levels for my home theater. Only I was able to tell the difference. My family and friends think I have issues. Some people just don't understand.
 
SK2003TypeS- Yeah, you might enjoy tweaking the system. But I think you're smart to be suspicious about those "too good to be true" ease of set-up claims. Remember that it's all just ad-copy ;)



Wireless transfer huh? I'd sure check into what will/won't interfere with the signals...
 
Yes ! The infomercial type products these days are pretty amusing. I will proceed with caution.



Wireless will probably be tricky I'm sure. Even tricker with a "reasonable" budget. I'm a stickler for high picture quality too.



I do have a problem with buying and trying things for the sake of science from time to time. It doesn't help that I have a friend who is the "pioneer" type consumer with new technology. I tend to be the laggard. Which is why I gladly take his "old" stuff. Maybe I'll tell him to look into wireless security systems. :grinno:
 
Heh heh, yeah, I wouldn't want to be the guy breaking new ground with a system like that. When something goes wrong with our system, and now and then something does, it's nice to be able to just call somebody.
 
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