Re: video security system- Should I save to a dedicated PVR or to a PC. What about remote viewing etc.

["Fred" <mbunnell@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

And don't forget physical security for the DVR/PC/Recording Device!  A
perfect video of someone's face as they break in doesn't help if he steals
the computer it's recorded on. . .


"Lucas Tam" <REMOVEnntp@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:Xns9627C00543A5Dnntprogerscom@xxxxxxxxxxxx
> "David Jensen" <DJNews1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in
> news:3ZZ1e.7655$z.6814@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx:
>
>> Which is best for video with minimal to moderate hassle, on the low to
>> middle of the price spectrum, and bang for the buck (value)
>> perspective?   A Network/Internet camera (one with a built in web
>> server, not a USB webcam) or the traditional cameras that are not
>> networked.  My observations are that the decent network cameras are
>> still quite expensive while you can buy all sorts of video security
>> cameras on eBay for < $100.  It seems like much of the time that I try
>> to view a camera on-line it seems to not work at all or not work well,
>> causing me to question their reliability.  Also, in reading product
>> reviews on Amazon.com and other sites, I see that a lot of people seem
>> to have trouble with the initial configuration of such products thru
>> firewalls and such.  I'm also not sure if the video quality is
>> generally as good as a traditional camera or not.  Nonetheless, it
>> seems like it would be nice to not have to route thru a PC and still
>> make yourself directly available on the net.
>>
>> What is the best hardware to record the video?  You can buy 4-camera
>> video capture cards with software on eBay for $20 - 50.  You can buy a
>> dedicated DVR to do the same for several hundred dollars.  If one has
>> a late model PC with a large hard drive and fast processor, is there a
>> good reason not to use it for video surveillance?  Does the software
>> that's out there work good or is it bug and hassle prone?  What are
>> the pros and cons and issues here.
>>
>> There is also a $100 device on eBay titled  "IP Network web camera
>> video server 9100A, DVR, AXIS"  that looks impressive and supposedly
>> turns regular cameras into a network based system.  It can be viewed
>> at
>> http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=48634&item=
> 57636
>> 15610&rd=1. I wonder if that would work well.
>
>
> Do you need full motion video capture? Or will stills do?
>
> You can purchase a decent video server for ~300 - 400.00 USD. Hook your
> cameras to the video server and archive the stills to a FTP Server or
> File Servfer.
>
> Video servers convert analog CCTV camera pictures into JPEG/MJPEG or a
> variety of other formats. Video servers can produce a better quality
> picture than IP cameras since the lenses and quality of CCTV cameras
> tend to be better than 90% of the IP cameras out there. Not to mention,
> CCTV cameras are MUCH cheaper.
>
> There are several brands of video servers out there. I can't really tell
> you which is the best one, since each have their own feature set that
> you might find useful. One useful feature you might want to look for is
> compactflash slot on the video server - this allows the server to
> archive a backup copy of the still onto a local card... in case the
> remote server is down. I've seen one or two video servers with this
> feature.
>
> BTW, you asked why not use an old PC? Since this is for security you
> probably want high availability. Unless your old PC an provide quick
> recovery, ease of use, etc, it's better off buying a dedicated recording
> device.
>
> You really don't want to find out the next day after the school has been
> broken into that the PC you set up has crashed : )
>
> Oh, might want to add a UPS to the recording device too!
>
> --
> Lucas Tam (REMOVEnntp@xxxxxxxxxx)
> Please delete "REMOVE" from the e-mail address when replying.
> http://members.ebay.com/aboutme/coolspot18/