Re: Home cameras for outdoors?

[Robert Neville <dont@xxxxxxxxxx>]

"Jane_Galt" <Jane__Galt@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

>I'm new to this, but we need to get some decent quality reliable, but not
>real expensive surveillance cameras setup around the outside of our house,
>with a DVR that can record all channels.

Reliable isn't a problem, but you are not going to find inexpensive cameras or
DVR/Camera kits that have any kind of quality as far as picture goes. Basically
the kits that include 8 cameras and a DVR and sell for less than $1000 at Costco
or Sams will let you see motion and people shapes, but at any kind of distance
beyond 20 feet or so, especially outdoors, forget about facial recognition.

>With wireless systems, what powers the cameras? Do you have to keep changing
>batteries all the time, or do you run power to them?

No. Unless you are thinking of a game/trail camera. Security cameras are
wireless only in that you don't have to run a signal line to the camer. You do
need to run power, but that can come from any nearby source and doesn't have to
come from the DVR or PC.

>Are the wireless channels encrypted?

No.

>I was hoping to get outdoor cameras as part of a packaged system like that,
>but with PTZ - pan tilt zoom and night vision too, but don't see that
>offered. Most of what I see is just night vision.

Night vision in a package system is usually a dozen LEDs built into the camera
body. They're good for about a tight circle of light about 10-20' away from the
camera, but all they allow again is a general outline to be discerned. You
aren't going to get any kind of facial recognition.

>Does the PTZ stuff make it super expensive?

Yes. And the presence of PTZ has no bearing on the quality of the image.