AirJunky
Well-known member
So I live in a community that shares a 300' waterfront lot among 50 home owners. We all have quite a few boats & various water toys that we all use & store on the property. We don't have any buildings on the property & only one power pole that has a light on top & the sprinkler system at the bottom.
About a week ago a neighbor came to me & told me that two of his kayaks are missing from the canoe/kayak racks. First thing I thought was "why are your kayaks sitting down there all winter long"??
Anyway, he suggests that we install a surveillance system down there. I happen to work for a security company & have already put some thought into this. He is a bartender & his idea is to go to Costco & buy their 4 camera DVR setup for $400. Well it's obvious to me that that isn't going to work sitting on the ground.... but his plan is to put it in a box & go down there & swap the memory stick every few hours or days.
So we had our HOA meeting last night (I know, sore spot). It went pretty well though. 90 minutes long, no big huge issues, and done. I propose my webcam/surveillance system plan...... briefly, it's a good quality camera mounted on top of the power pole (about 25' high) connected to a wifi bridge. Shoot the signal across the street to the closest neighbor's garage where it's connected to his broadband. Picture would be FTPed to a secure site.... maybe 1 per minute? Then viewable on the secure site where all the homeowners would have access to it via their own account, computer, smartphone, etc. We can store like 1 month's worth of pictures in case anyone needs to go thru it to find some problem.
It's not a real tough system & we can build it for well under $1000. I have access to some old DOT cameras the company upgraded from the side of the freeways. My labor is covered. The HOA already has a secure website. So the only expense is the wifi bridge, which is maybe $300. Plus a NEMA box, conduit, Romex, manlift rental, etc.
So this morning I get an email from one of the guys in the neighborhood. His biggest concern is that this webcam will allow people to watch his wife & daughter in their bikinis on the beach. I'm not sure he realizes that the only people who have access to this secure website with the webcam images on it are the SAME people who are sitting down on the beach staring at his wife & daughter already?!?
Trying to work up an email explaining this.
About a week ago a neighbor came to me & told me that two of his kayaks are missing from the canoe/kayak racks. First thing I thought was "why are your kayaks sitting down there all winter long"??
Anyway, he suggests that we install a surveillance system down there. I happen to work for a security company & have already put some thought into this. He is a bartender & his idea is to go to Costco & buy their 4 camera DVR setup for $400. Well it's obvious to me that that isn't going to work sitting on the ground.... but his plan is to put it in a box & go down there & swap the memory stick every few hours or days.
So we had our HOA meeting last night (I know, sore spot). It went pretty well though. 90 minutes long, no big huge issues, and done. I propose my webcam/surveillance system plan...... briefly, it's a good quality camera mounted on top of the power pole (about 25' high) connected to a wifi bridge. Shoot the signal across the street to the closest neighbor's garage where it's connected to his broadband. Picture would be FTPed to a secure site.... maybe 1 per minute? Then viewable on the secure site where all the homeowners would have access to it via their own account, computer, smartphone, etc. We can store like 1 month's worth of pictures in case anyone needs to go thru it to find some problem.
It's not a real tough system & we can build it for well under $1000. I have access to some old DOT cameras the company upgraded from the side of the freeways. My labor is covered. The HOA already has a secure website. So the only expense is the wifi bridge, which is maybe $300. Plus a NEMA box, conduit, Romex, manlift rental, etc.
So this morning I get an email from one of the guys in the neighborhood. His biggest concern is that this webcam will allow people to watch his wife & daughter in their bikinis on the beach. I'm not sure he realizes that the only people who have access to this secure website with the webcam images on it are the SAME people who are sitting down on the beach staring at his wife & daughter already?!?
Trying to work up an email explaining this.
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