wireless camera fir security

[xbeeman412]

We have 2 acres with a 7 foot chain link fence where We live and I am looking at putting in a 4 camera wireless security system.

Everyone that I have talked to at Frys electronics and Best Buy are not able to answer questions or tell me I cant record 4 cameras remotely by wireless.

With the vast experience on this forum I need to talk to those who have or use wireless cameras to find the best way to monitor the place and record all 4 cameras. Running a wired camera system is out of the question so it has to be wifi cameras.

Thanks for the help in advance.

[clownbear69]

Hey Charles

I don't know if this will be a solution for you but found this while looking for Xmas gifts on Amazon

http://www.amazon.com/Defender-Digital-Wireless-Security-Recording/dp/B003Y73Q3Y/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1387044467&sr=8-6&keywords=wireless+security+camera

[xbeeman412]

Yes its wifi but only 2 cameras and I need a 4 camera system with recording of at least 7 days on all cameras. There are many choices from what I find on the Google searches but was hoping for imput from those who have used or are using a similar system.

Thanks for the reply

[clownbear69]

Yeah the 2 GB SD cards wouldn't suffice the 7 days even on the max

[forfun]

have installed 2 of the wireless units with 4 cameras each but they all need 110 outlets for the camera just the signal is wireless still need power :groner:

[wv109323]

I don't have a monitoring system yet but I have looked into them. With the right system you can record with four wireless cameras. The system has to support four wireless cameras. Most of the big box stores don't sell four wireless systems due to expense and demand.
One of the problems with wireless systems is image quality(especially at night). The good wireless systems with good night image quality are expensive. I don't think you can properly monitor 2 acres at night. Usually wireless systems are limited to 20,30,40 feet at night and most generally in black and white. Some systems advertise 75 feet at night but those images are usually not usable.
The other problem is that if a burglar breaks into your house he is going to steal the recording/storage unit to remove all evidence. You can get around that by buying storage space on the internet and downloading video data. Or hid the recording device and monitor where the burglar can not find it. Hiding the monitor also limits your use of the system.
With a 7 foot fence and two acres I would just buy two mean dogs. The dogs are a bigger deterrent to criminals than a monitoring system. I have read many policemen say they have never seen a house robbed with a barking dog inside.
The other thing with monitoring systems if you do capture their image and can identify them the chances of recovering your stolen items is 50/50. If the robber is a drug informant the police may not purposely pursue him. An over-worked local police department may prioritize their time and your case may be at the bottom of the barrel and not given the needed attention to arrest and prosecute the criminals. Sad but true. Also if you do not have serial numbers, receipts.proof of purchase, or positive ID then the police really can't say it was your property in a court of law.
I hope this helps.

[xbeeman412]

I have a fair deterent to start with the 7 ft chain link fence and a electronic gate so My main concern is if I can capture viedio of unusual traffic in the are as we are at a dead end street. Being able to see suspect traffic on the street before might help prevent an occurrence.

This is going to be proactive on My part as so far in 20 years our rural area has been free of problems. Having the recording device hidden so as to not be seen or removed is no problem as there are multi buildings and conex boxes on the property. I don't think if We were hit the perp would take the time to search the entire complex for the camera. What I would expect to have happen would the cameras would be shot out if they could see them.

PS I have 110v all over the place

[dbosman]

This system has four cameras, with the capability to handle eight.

http://www.lorextechnology.com/Outdoor-wireless-security-camera-system,-outdoor-wireless-cameras/2138.p?gclid=CKWe1JWwsLsCFYVZ7AodsV0AaA

The number of channels is how many cameras can be monitored and recorded.
There are several gotchas involved in security monitoring. For wireless the big one is battery life. That can be helped by using software that records when changes occur instead of continuously. Solar panels can help. Another is unless you hide the cameras well, they may become targets. Weather resistance is a huge problem for outdoor cameras. Hiding them in something like a bird house can help but not eliminate that. The bird house roof can be designed for the ideal angle for solar panels too.

[popper]

There is a system for chain link that threads a cable along the fence, into an alarm box that will alarm & indicate the intrusion location. I'm thinking a disguised trail cam inside covering location of important stuff.

[AkMike]

Just get some "Smile You're on Candid Camera" signs and place them around. A few dummy cameras on tall poles will help.
The 4 camera system I got from Best Buy won't pick up a license plate number at 30'. That was a waste of time and money getting it.

[Down South]

I looked at a wireless camera system at Costco today. Of course the cameras have to have power but they broadcast wireless. According to what I read, the system would support 4 cameras but I don't remember the max distance. I "think" is was only 500 ft.

[MaryB]

Ask these guys http://foscam.us/

[6bg6ga]

You get what you pay for. Go to Best buy and buy junk. There are systems out there capable of doing what you want to do. Want to read a license plate at 50 yards? No problem, but be prepared to pay for it. Someone hit it on the head...cameras require power. Its going to be either VT, 24V, or 120 volt power. Batteries don't cut it. The wireless transmission replaces the co-ax to return the video signal. Want to do it differently? Laser will transmit the video and audio signal back to the head end and you can use a standard camera. Standard meaning a standard video camera.

What good is a camera without media storage? DVR? Burn it to a hard drive? Burn it to a CD? To a memory card?

Its got to be a day/night camera. Color in good light and switches to black and white at night. Best of both worlds.

[6bg6ga]

Ask these guys http://foscam.us/

There are far better products out there than this stuff. You can get this quality of junk at MCM electronics and the like.

Do yourself a favor and visit and honest to goodness A/V shop that does this type of work or simply visit a security company and tell them of your needs. They can suggest a system that will actually fill your needs. Keep in mind that quality will shoot up the cost of the end product.

[contender1]

If your main concern is being proactive in watching your area to hopefully prevent possible criminal activity, then have you considered wi-fi game cameras? Yes, they require serious power, but you can set them up & use solar power. You can also relax about them being outdoors.
I use game cameras on my property, and my house. Mine are not wi-fi as I didn't see the need. However, I did get excellent pics of the thug that kicked in my back door & robbed us.
Get good quality cameras, that use high capacity SD cards. Then set them for short video shots. The range may be advertised as more, but about 40 ft is a good range to expect good pics.
It's what I use.

[myg30]

For night time, make sure to ask if the infra red "Glows" at night. Makes it way to easy to spot the cam ... If they are looking for one. Motion detector type turns it on but wind blowing tree limbs, cats raccoons, possum may also trigger it.

Mike

[xbeeman412]

Thanks for all the information. Now I need to decide just how much $$$ I have to spend and look at least number of cameras I need.

Fixing to go to our 30 acres in Daigerfield Tx and see if We can bring a hog back. Cameras will have to wait tell the first of the year.

[btroj]

Well stated, it comes down to how secure you can afford to be.

[HATCH]

Before you spent any money on gear, you need to do a easy "site survey".
This is easy and doesn't normally require anything you don't already own.
If you have wifi already and a notebook then you will be set. You could use a smart phone or tablet instead of the notebook.
Go to everywhere you want to put a camera and see if you can connect to your wifi. If you can then you will be ok to put a wifi camera. If you can't then you are gonna have to figure out a way to get signal out to there.
You can use directional antenna's to help increase the signal

There are lots of options out there.
I use analog camera's at home and at work.
You get more bang for your buck with analog. The camera's are cheaper and the technology is older so you can get a really good camera for under 1/2 the cost of the same IP camera.

I know that in your situation that analog cameras will not work.

[xbeeman412]

Yes I have already made sure the wifi signal is strong where the cameras will be. That was one of the first things I did because if the wifi didn't work on the laptop wireless cameras wouldn't either.

[MaryB]

Foscam is a step above the MCM stuff and is a very large supplier of wifi cameras. Local security company used them at the casino where I worked when they were doing upgrades. And they are big in the astronomy community for observatory cameras in remote locations.

[6bg6ga]

Foscam is a step above the MCM stuff and is a very large supplier of wifi cameras. Local security company used them at the casino where I worked when they were doing upgrades. And they are big in the astronomy community for observatory cameras in remote locations.

Where I work when I am forced to do video I use a higher grade of camera. Believe me there is a difference between being able to read a car plate at 40 feet and at one block or more. Some of my clients take their security as seriously as their toys. When I do a 1mil audio home system it isn't anything for a client to pop for another 10-40 grand for some video that these little mom and pop security companies simply cannot deliver.

Have done both high end audio systems as well as the run of the mill football stadiums. When other companies come in as low bidders and install something that doesn't work I usually end up going in and correcting their faults and shortcomings. Have done my share of correcting video problems at casinos and I can tell you that I have not seen any promo equipment used in them. Its very simple to them buy cheap as cheap as they can and replace often.

What it amounts to is I have both the experience and knowledge when it comes to audio and video and that is why the company I work for ships me all over the lower 48 to fix other peoples screw ups. This is what buys my toys, loading equipment and guns. With all due respect I seriously doubt that you can match me for my experience,and knowledge, when it comes to the audio and video. Yes, I have spent hundreds of hours working at various casino's repairing their audio and video systems so I am experienced in the quality that these little security companies do. I can go into sites and tell you who did the system based on the quality of the work, terminations, and lack of documentation.

Like I said...you buy cheap and you get junk. Its better to spend a little more the first time than to go back thru a second time and do it right.

[tengaugetx]

Dangerfield is only about 40 miles from me. Good luck with the hogs

[xbeeman412]

Tengauge give Me a call

409-789-2839

I will be headed up tomorrow and would like to have a FTF if possible.

[MaryB]

27 years repairing electronics consumer to industrial... I have a wee bit of experience. Is the bottom of the line Foscam good? No but they do carry some stuff that works very well.

[6bg6ga]

27 years repairing electronics consumer to industrial... I have a wee bit of experience. Is the bottom of the line Foscam good? No but they do carry some stuff that works very well.

41 years

[pmer]

Maybe two of those 2 camera systems is the way to go. If you don't want to spend a ton of Dow.

At our shop we use Sony and de view brick cameras, about $300 ea.
Point, tilt, zoom cameras start at $1200.
IP cameras too. These are all hardwired for security.

Our high end dvr is a Linux based March at about $10,000. I think (not in sales) it's a 16 camera. Other good DVR names that I know of are : Verint, 3VR and Dedicated Micros.

I played with a Radio shack wireless camera at home once and its view doesn't compare but it reached about 300 feet. Sometimes one doesn't need or want the best to what they need to do either.