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

["David Jensen" <DJNews1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

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/
>
>