internet capable camera system

[dw1]

Before I get into filling my pole barn with all my "Stuff" I am going to put some kind of CCTV/Security system in, my only problem is this property is about a mile from my house (I do not live there), it will have electric but I am looking at the most economical way to monitor my premises. Any Ideas? DSL, mobile hotspot? not sure how many GB's it will eat up? My next project will be to either completely remodel the 115 Y.O farm house or tear it down and build a new house there, so then I will end up moving there, it just might be several years. What would be the cheapest way to monitor my PB? what would be a decent 8 camera/recording system

 

[KenB]

Insurance companies like "police-directed" alarm systems. Suggest you look into a security company in your area that will monitor your property's sensors for you and alert local responders in case of intrusion, fire, flood, etc. Also, keep a regular video audit of your building and its contents. This will help to verify your claim, should you need to file one.

Ken

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Can u get internet in the barn?

If not, u might try a wireless P2P(point to point) system that can link the 2 buildings if u have a pretty good line of sight...

I use Ubiquiti Networks equipment when i need to do a P2P link...

www.ubnt.com

Now as far as cameras go, u could get analog cameras and an internet capable DVR or u could get network cameras that are POE powered and can record to an NVR. With the latter, not only can u view recorded video on the NVR over the internet but u could also directly view the camera via camera's built-in web server...

The features u get really depends on how much youre willing to spend.

A network camera system can get crazy expensive fast!

I just installed a system for a winery(18 cameras) and an NVR and the cams were about $500/ each and the DVR was about $6k!!!

 

[dw1]

I checked last night online with several local ISP's, I can get internet into the barn. DSL connection would be the cheapest ($20.00) a month, but I am not sure if it could handle what I want to do? A basic cable modem, I think $34.00 was the slowest DL speed and $40.00 with a faster. I will eventually move down there and will have a cable modem/internet connection, but just trying to keep costs down there right now. Someone also suggested to create a "Mobile Hotspot" there? but I am not sure about cost or data usage? I was just curious if anyone has run into this situation before?
Thanks for the info!

 

[dw1]

Insurance companies like "police-directed" alarm systems. Suggest you look into a security company in your area that will monitor your property's sensors for you and alert local responders in case of intrusion, fire, flood, etc. Also, keep a regular video audit of your building and its contents. This will help to verify your claim, should you need to file one.

Ken

Tell me about it Ken, I went round and round with my insurance lady about insuring this (Vacant) / (non occupied) property. I was covered by my umbrella (Until) I built my PB, that changed everything, she had to move me from my State Farm Coverage to a higher risk!! until I do something with the house. The house is somewhat uninhabitable (bathroom works) house is pretty much gutted, and apparently its been that way a long time, structurally OK. My first choice is to tear it down, waiting on sewers.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

I checked last night online with several local ISP's, I can get internet into the barn. DSL connection would be the cheapest ($20.00) a month, but I am not sure if it could handle what I want to do? A basic cable modem, I think $34.00 was the slowest DL speed and $40.00 with a faster. I will eventually move down there and will have a cable modem/internet connection, but just trying to keep costs down there right now. Someone also suggested to create a "Mobile Hotspot" there? but I am not sure about cost or data usage? I was just curious if anyone has run into this situation before?
Thanks for the info!

What speeds are we talking here?

And i wouldnt use a mobile hotspot unless a) youre prepared for a very large bill and b) u can get LTE coverage!

 

[MattN03]

Where in KY are you? If you're in Lexington, I can put you in touch with a coworker who installs alarms on the side (he did the alarm job full time years ago). I will be in the exact same boat (5 acres .5 miles from my current house with plans to build a shop before the house). He said we could install a Honeywell system for $600-$700 or cheaper depending on features, pay a $20/month monitoring to Honeywell, and have it communicate via cell signal with a built in module of some sort. This would keep you from having a dedicated phone or internet line just for an alarm system.

Here is the company he buys all the components from.

 

[MattN03]

Sorry, posting from my cell, so the link wasn't cooperating.

http://adiglobal.us/Pages/default.aspx

Also, he said this system could be relocated to the house once it's built, and then using an extra zone, still monitor the shop + the house. The main color touch control panel is the biggest expense, so you could do the house sensors relatively inexpensive from what he said.

 

[dw1]

What speeds are we talking here?

And i wouldnt use a mobile hotspot unless a) youre prepared for a very large bill and b) u can get LTE coverage!

Cable Modem - Through ATT

3Mbps= $29.99
12Mbps-$39.99
It says I can get DSL service for $19.99 I am not sure about it though?
I was just wanting to install an 8 camera system with about 500GB/1TB harddrive to record, I want to be able to pull this up on my phone if needed or get texts alerting motion. My long term plans are to tear this house down, (I have all utilites off to the house, except water) I put a 200 amp underground service on the barn with its own meter, so I will have a minimum utility (Meter charge) I was just looking for the cheapest way to do the security monitoring.
Thanks

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Cable Modem - Through ATT

3Mbps= $29.99
12Mbps-$39.99
It says I can get DSL service for $19.99 I am not sure about it though?
I was just wanting to install an 8 camera system with about 500GB/1TB harddrive to record, I want to be able to pull this up on my phone if needed or get texts alerting motion. My long term plans are to tear this house down, (I have all utilites off to the house, except water) I put a 200 amp underground service on the barn with its own meter, so I will have a minimum utility (Meter charge) I was just looking for the cheapest way to do the security monitoring.
Thanks

Cable modem through ATT? Huh?
I didnt know ATT offered cable internet service...And Ive been in the industry for a loonngg time. If its ATT its gonna be DSL. If its a cable company then its gonna be cable internet.

I would go with 12mbps. That should be plenty to watch cameras. 3Mbps could work but could get choppy if overloaded!

 

[dw1]

Oops, my bad, I do not have ATT at my house, dont know anything about them cable or internet wise. I have Time Warner Cable / modem at my house.

ATT just started TV/Internet service in our area, actually they are at this address, but not where I live a mile away.

 

[jonjon1]

Night owl zues, have internet service brought in {just the basic cable service plan, find the cheapest available...} if you want a live feed...

If you just want to record it and maybe have it call you incase of a breach, then just get a phone line put in for $15 a month and then set the cams up for reord but install an alarm and call box to alert you...


You would be surprised at how much of a deterrent just having visible cams and signs saying "this area is monitored by 24 hour video surveillance" and also "ALARM" signage goes a long way. But also having a proper alarm system, LOUD and FLASHY, I install 5 150db horns, red, lue, and clear, strobes on all the corners as well as spotlights all around the building {install the spots behind the cameras, for some reason the thieves will look right up at them when they kick on, I set them to kick on 20-30 seconds after the alarm}...

If money is an object, I would just do a cellular alert panel {not sure how much they cost right now, the last one I bought was expensive but it was also a long time ago, they had to come down since then...} and a basic night owl system with some good horns and lighting, and DO NOT FORGET the signs...

A lot of people have different ideas on security, I once had a gentleman tell me, he has never bought an alarm system just signs and faux cameras, and he was in business for 30 years, so he estimates he saved about $25K and he has never had an item missing, lol...

I belive in having camaras and alerts that work, but advertising it also...

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Oops, my bad, I do not have ATT at my house, dont know anything about them cable or internet wise. I have Time Warner Cable / modem at my house.

ATT just started TV/Internet service in our area, actually they are at this address, but not where I live a mile away.

I have ATT Uverse. Its great!

 

[dw1]

OK, so everything ATT has is a DSL line?, just different speeds? learn something every day!! I looked at the Zeus Cameras , does anyone know if there is any kind of alarm "relay output" on the back of the dvr where I could turn some lights via a relay, if I could do this, I would probably bypass the DSL/Internet connection right now.

 

[Beemer533]

I wouldn't really worry about the bandwidth for what you are doing; just use a low res secondary feed to take a look or monitor the PB system every now and then. The system will record at full resolution to the NVR/DVR locally.

If something happens you can just download the full resolution video.

I list the equipment I use and have installed in several locations here in post #28;
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=259609&page=2

 

[brucer]

i ordered this off ebay the other day...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/161521729928?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

I also ordered 4 more cameras just like the ones in the kit, and I already have a cheap tilt/pan Wanscam 720p camera I'm already using... I'll have two extra cameras just in case, being they are made in china and coming from china, lol..

This is a network video recorder, the newest platform out and linux based, they are saying it is a cheap and very robust setup. You can remote in with your phone or web browser from anywhere, it has zone motion detection so you arent recording 24/7 whihc allows for a smaller hard drive....

you have to add your own usb hard drive, and I'm also ordering two 4channel power supplies, 1 to power the wifi cameras on my house and the second psu to power the wifi cameras on and inside my detached garage.. I will also have two maybe 3 battery backups on the system including my router and cable modem.. that way if thieves cut the power the system will still work for a while..


I'm sure the instructions will be in chinlish, and near useless but the setup isnt that hard from the videos I've watched on youtube.. heres a video of the super mini nvr basic setup

The other systems I was looking at was from swann, zmodo from best buy, and another one was from a web based outfit called securitycameraking.com and nellyssecurity.com


I think many of the nvrs currently out are actually the same linux based platform with custom tweaks to the ui, and most more than likely made in china..

The super mini nvr is basically a stand alone computer in itself, add external har drive,mouse and monitor or televison..

The best and most expensive are hikvision and dahua.. I cant afford them, so the system i'm getting will have to do...


Also anyone I talked to in security in my area told me dont rely on the IR lighting of the camera, if you want clear videos and photos add seperate lighting to the areas your covering with the cameras..

 

[ishiboo]

OK, so everything ATT has is a DSL line?, just different speeds? learn something every day!! I looked at the Zeus Cameras , does anyone know if there is any kind of alarm "relay output" on the back of the dvr where I could turn some lights via a relay, if I could do this, I would probably bypass the DSL/Internet connection right now.

No, AT&T also offers U-Verse to customers. This could arrive as fiber, or a specialized (and much faster) form of DSL.

My IP cameras have an alarm relay built into the cameras themselves. I use a computer with Insteon, combined with motion sensors and things. When someone pulls in the driveway, a Dakota motion alarm turns on the lights, notifies my on my phone via Prowl with a still photo from the driveway, etc. I have the option to click on the camera app then and view all the cameras on the property.

 

[dw1]

OK, thanks for all the help and suggestions, I am slowly looking at all of them, but..... I have Time Warner at my house, I downloaded a TW mobile hotspot app on my phone, the way the crow flies, there is a mobile hotspot .61 miles away, I can connect in their parking lot, but it drops off about 100 yards out. I inquired with Time Warner about a Mobile Hotspot, but she said the best she could do is a cable internet service for $14.99 but I supply the cable modem and router, $27.99 with their equipment/service. I guess I will put a 3/4" pvc pipe in the ditch with my 2" for my service for the internet ect. Hopefully I will get this in this weekend, still waiting on power company, they said 8 weeks or so to hook 200 amps service up for barn (Plus an undisclosed amount of $$) they wouldnt even ballpark a figure??
So I guess a business that has internet offers a mobile hotspot for customers?

Thanks Again!

 

[wyliesdiesels]

No, AT&T also offers U-Verse to customers. This could arrive as fiber, or a specialized (and much faster) form of DSL.

My IP cameras have an alarm relay built into the cameras themselves. I use a computer with Insteon, combined with motion sensors and things. When someone pulls in the driveway, a Dakota motion alarm turns on the lights, notifies my on my phone via Prowl with a still photo from the driveway, etc. I have the option to click on the camera app then and view all the cameras on the property.

NO, In most areas Uverse is delivered via vDSL. Very few areas have fiber to the curb. With Uverse capable speeds of 50mbps with 2 bonded copper lines, fiber really isnt necessary or worth it!

OK, thanks for all the help and suggestions, I am slowly looking at all of them, but..... I have Time Warner at my house, I downloaded a TW mobile hotspot app on my phone, the way the crow flies, there is a mobile hotspot .61 miles away, I can connect in their parking lot, but it drops off about 100 yards out. I inquired with Time Warner about a Mobile Hotspot, but she said the best she could do is a cable internet service for $14.99 but I supply the cable modem and router, $27.99 with their equipment/service. I guess I will put a 3/4" pvc pipe in the ditch with my 2" for my service for the internet ect. Hopefully I will get this in this weekend, still waiting on power company, they said 8 weeks or so to hook 200 amps service up for barn (Plus an undisclosed amount of $$) they wouldnt even ballpark a figure??
So I guess a business that has internet offers a mobile hotspot for customers?

Thanks Again!

Yup Comcast does the same thing! For many of my customers its actually quite annoying because comcast will broadcast on all 3 non overlapping channels on 2.4ghz! Very very annoying and its a nuissance of the air waves!

Now do u get the signal anywhere on your property? If u do, u could do whats called a wireless bridge and use something like a UBNT Nano station to receive the signal, then via CAT5e deliver that internet connection to your garage...

 

[sickjuice]

Don't waste your money on another internet account.
1 mile is no problem for a wireless bridge

http://www.gnswireless.com/wireless_bridge_kits.htm

 

[bigfunwmu]

I see you talking download speeds for internet connections. If you want your video to get out from the cameras to the world, you need to look at UPLOAD speed, not download.

 

[dw1]

In most areas Uverse is delivered via VDSL. Very few areas have fiber to the curb. With Uverse capable speeds of 50mbps with 2 bonded copper lines, fiber really isnt necessary or worth it!



Yup Comcast does the same thing! For many of my customers its actually quite annoying because comcast will broadcast on all 3 non overlapping channels on 2.4ghz! Very very annoying and its a nuissance of the air waves!

Now do u get the signal anywhere on your property? If u do, u could do whats called a wireless bridge and use something like a UBNT Nano station to receive the signal, then via CAT5e deliver that internet connection to your garage...

I do not pick up any internet signal, even from the closest neighbor. If I can get the $14.95 internet special (I am sure + fees, taxes ect) I might go that route (I am not sure about the upload speed, I will have to check into that), it seems my insurance company is squalling again about it being vacant. I mentioned camera system/internet monitoring (by me of course)

 

[wyliesdiesels]

I see you talking download speeds for internet connections. If you want your video to get out from the cameras to the world, you need to look at UPLOAD speed, not download.

This is true however most ISPs dont give u much of a choice for upload speeds on their standard residential packages.... UVERSE is max 2Mbps and Comcast is 5Mbps....past that u have to order a custom package or a commercial account...

 

[Beemer533]

Again, I wouldn't worry too much about the bandwidth, up or down as you are going to be doing your remote monitoring with the secondary (low res) feed.

If something happens, go over to the shop and get the full res footage by burning a disc or downloading to USB locally...

 

[404]

I do not pick up any internet signal, even from the closest neighbor. If I can get the $14.95 internet special (I am sure + fees, taxes ect) I might go that route (I am not sure about the upload speed, I will have to check into that), it seems my insurance company is squalling again about it being vacant. I mentioned camera system/internet monitoring (by me of course)

If in KY is the problem hills between you and the other property?

Old DSL dishes up high with wifi amps on them pointed towards each other can be very effective. I hope in KY you do the whole shoot shove and shut up deal...

 

[dw1]

If in KY is the problem hills between you and the other property?

Old DSL dishes up high with wifi amps on them pointed towards each other can be very effective. I hope in KY you do the whole shoot shove and shut up deal...

No hills around here, pretty much flat, I do not pick up any signals from any of the neighbors, as stated about, I downloaded an app on my phone to see wifi hotspots, there is a couple close by, but I cant pick them up here.


I hope in KY you do the whole shoot shove and shut up deal... [/QUOTE]
I have no idea what you are talking about?

 

[UncleJoe]

I just had to do a camera system for a client. They had used a security company in the past but that company failed to be able to maintain the cameras in the very harsh industrial setting that these are in. I normally do IT security but the client said they would pay my rate so off I went.

I am using the Lorex 226 IP based camera. Cost about $399 for 2. It was very easy for me to configure and I think anyone that knows which end of the mouse to use to drive a nail could figure it out. The client can see all 12 cameras on their phone (one at a time due to screen size) and on the large 41 inch monitor in the home office 24 miles away thanks to the internet.

One issue we had at the site was that most of the cameras were 500 feet from the office where the internet connection was. For what it is worth this site is out in the sticks so we use Verizon cellular and a Cradlepoint router. My Ookla speed test shows 10 mb up and down. We have an unlimited data plan. Not too bad for being out in the sticks. To get the wifi signal over to the cameras I used an Ubiquiti UniFI AP Outdoor+ and using my tablet standing 500 feet away my speed test was still 10 mbps up and down. I was very impressed with this little long range wifi access point for $146. Anyone trying to get secure wifi to the shop should take a look.

This environment is so harsh that the previous installers cameras would be destroyed in 6 months and then he took 3 months to get around to replacing them. Our plan is to use these inexpensive cameras, which put out beautiful video and keep 2 spares on the shelf for quick replacement as needed. In a normal shop/garage/barn environment I think these would not need replacing very often if ever.

The other thing I like about these cameras is no video recorder. We just setup some 3 TB NAS drives and the cameras record to that and come with their own viewer software. I literally just installed these so I don't know how much data they will use but one of my other clients has 60 cameras and 100 tb of drive space. Now that is a lot of video. If I run tight on video storage space I can add more space or reduce the amount of time that the video is archived.

My guess for a homeowner would be that if you kept a week or two of video that would be enough.

I hope this information is helpful to someone.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

You would be surprised at how much of a deterrent just having visible cams and signs saying "this area is monitored by 24 hour video surveillance" and also "ALARM" signage goes a long way.

Didn't do a thing for my GF. Well dressed woman pulled in the drive, walked up to the side door, four cameras in plain sight, looked upward at one of them, primped her hair, and proceeded to kick the door in. Cleaned the place out. Video was very clear, and widely distributed in the ATL area. Woman was arrested during a B&E months later and about 50 miles away in a different county. Sharp investigators remembered the video and reviewed it and realized they had the same person. I think she got one year.

Charles