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

["Gene E. Bloch" <spamfree@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I would additionally suggest powering the equipment from a UPS
(Uninterruptible Power Supply), if you think there is a chance that
someone might also cut off AC power.

This could keep the data collection going for a few minutes, depending
on the chosen UPS and the load of the surveillance equipment.

Gino

On 3/29/2005, David Jensen managed to type:
> This is true.  This is another reason to at least upload some of the video
> or still images to a remote server.  Than there is basically nothing they
> can do to destroy the evidence unless they cut your phone line - which I ran
> underground and into the house instead of outside the house - to prevent
> this from happening.
>
> David Jensen
>
>
> "Fred" <mbunnell@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
> news:4Y02e.33054$mq2.10078@xxxxxxxxxxx
>> And don't forget physical security for the DVR/PC/Recording Device!  A
>> perfect video of someone's face as they break in doesn't help if he steals
>> the computer it's recorded on. . .
>>
>>
>> "Lucas Tam" <REMOVEnntp@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
>> news:Xns9627C00543A5Dnntprogerscom@xxxxxxxxxxxx
>>> "David Jensen" <DJNews1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in
>>> news:3ZZ1e.7655$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/

--
Gene E. Bloch (Gino)
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