Re: Compact cheap "surveilance" camera

[<usenet2006@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

In article <biRng.1374$H32.93@trndny06>,
steve.foley@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx says...
> <bitsyboffin@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
> > Yes, we're putting a self closing springeethingee on the combination
> > door, and double locking the ranch slider (and not giving out keys, so
> > it can't be opened at all unless an executive member is there).  That
> > should at least keep the place locked in the winter, it's not going to
> > set the alarm and turn the lights out though.
> >
> > In the summer it might be a different story, the door tends to get
> > propped open to keep the place cool during the day and people are there
> > later in the summer too, so probably more chance for people to think
> > "oh, somebody else will close it".
> >
> > Maybe alarm monitoring would work, but I just think it would be more
> > trouble (and expense) than it's worth, if the alarm company rings up at
> > 2am to say the alarm's not set, either they would have to drive 1/2 an
> > hour out there close up, and drive 1/2 an hour back, or one of us
> > would.
> >
> > My idea was simply to try and tell those who have left it open, to not
> > do it again, but to do that you have to figure out who it was that left
> > it open.  With 120 people it could have been, it's not as easy as
> > saying "was it you", and a blanket "don't leave the place unlocked"
> > just doesn't work (the members have been told, and told, and told
> > again, to no avail).
>
>
> I agree that alarm monitoring doesn't address the issue. The self locking
> door is a good start. There was also a suggestion for a $20 web cam with
> motion detector software. That is probably your best bet.
>
> I set one up and it worked pretty well. It records for 30 seconds every time
> it sees motion. The Camera cost me $20 and the software was under $40.
> Doesn't use too much hardware or disk space. It was set to automatically
> delete clips over 7 days old.


Could you give references to the specific hardware and software
you used?

Thanks.