Recommend shop surveillance system

[PeterT]

I have been researching a decent priced (around $300 tops) security system. Many of them either on ebay, newegg, amazon seem to be similar.

I can run the wires myself, seems like the wireless cameras aren't all that dependable and wired is the best bet at the moment. I'd run the included cables in the kit, not sure if they are coax or cheap RGA wires. If i use the included camera cables, they have the power piggy backed wires. So I could use these or build my own. Any recommendations.
My shop is 50x100 and I planned on mounting 3 cameras on the underside of the overhang. I maybe could hide the DVR unit, but if someone where to bust in they could take that and there goes my video.

Any suggestions from any experts out there? Seems like the pros want $400-500 just to install a system that seems compariable to this one.

http://www.amazon.com/Amcrest-Analog-HDCVI-Security-System/dp/B00R3QLLA2/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1423697451&sr=8-6&keywords=4+channel+surveillance+system

 

[plow]

Call your local cop shop detective guy and see what they recommend. They have software that enhances the quality of video. They may be able to give you a direction.

 

[gregpack]

I've had good luck with QSEE at my two places. Costco runs rolling sales on various systems from them. Watch their website and if you are patient you will find some good deals. Don't get anything under 8 channel DVR. i prefer a 16 channel DVR. You will want to add more cameras once you install, and the 16 channel can give you the opportunity.

 

[Kaizen]

I have 2 computer cards in my pc (4 cams each) that save to a hard drive hidden in the basement. Its a 1terrabit external drive. Use the supplied wires.
Mount the camera's inconspicuously on the inside to catch faces when enter the shop. Mount a few outside as a theft deterrent. imo even the 200 dollar 150 foot night vision cameras wouldn't be good enough to get a face at more then 50 feet.
get the best quality recorder you can with the money and add camera's as you go. don't expect what you see on the tv shows. Sorry but at this price range you're limited.

 

[brycez28]

I now have 4 camera's around my garage. I bought the surveillance system from Menards. Night recordings aren't that great and my camera facing west (towards sunroom) is fuzzy in the afternoon with the sunlight hitting the camera. I bought network cable to backup the recording on my computer in the house, but haven't run it yet. It is also capable of being setup to watch a live feed from any computer or phone/tablet with internet.

Red rectangles are the cameras with the lines coming from them showing the line of site.

I have my cameras setup to record all the time, I'm thinking about changing them to only record movement so they would be easier to go back through and see what was going on.

 

[PeterT]

Thanks everyone for your input and advice.

 

[excavator]

I also like the QSEE systems. I have 9 camera's at my home setup and 12 at my business location. The QSEE system lets me record 24/7 but also logs any motion that can be played by bringing up the logs and picking them one at a time. I also installed a day night licence plate capture cam that works perfect to get the plate number from car. Even with headlights pointed at cam it gets pic. This cam has the Sony effio chip with on screen display programing and
6-60mm Vari-focal Lens

 

[Lx460]

Here's my suggestion...(in the pic)

Thieves aren't really scared by cameras. They are a good way to see your stuff getting stolen but rarely result in the thieves getting caught or your stuff returned.

 

[BeachBoy]

The goal of cameras is to deter wanna be thieves (why a lot of people install fake ones), but mainly to know who stole your stuff.

Most alarm systems are useless as the thieves can get in and out before any police arrives...

 

[excavator]

Today a camera is a MUST. It might take some time to get them but it works.
The licence plate camera is must have to make quick case when that information is provided at first response from police.
I had a murder take place at my business 2 years ago and all caught on my cameras. The detectives were able to sync my cams with all the other cams in other stores and business's with in 2 miles and follow the suspect on foot. There were plenty of pics of his face and he was on cell phone most of time. The detectives were able to track him with cell towers and he was in picked up next day held up in hotel. The county came and took my DVR system as evidence but gave me a check to upgrade my system

 

[Kamn]

If you are looking for a wireless system, I have been using Lorex with great success and it has pretty good night vision as well

 

[Falcon67]

>I have been researching a decent priced (around $300 tops)
Good luck ID'ing a face with those low resolution cameras. My experience with low cost camera/DVR systems is that you can see the theft, but will not be able to produce any kind of picture useful in ID's the perp.

 

[stang2007]

for ease of setup and their High quality video, Drop cams are awesome

http://amzn.com/B006P88VSE Two of these would be in your budget, only Rub is since the video is in the "cloud" you pay $ each year for hosting that video.

 

[BeachBoy]

Seems like a jungle in that field.

Dropcam and $ every year no thanks. Plus no outdoor.
Many have less than adequate resolution to see faces or plates.
Many are unknown brands with zero customer service and unknown future...

Very hard to find something decent.

 

[chicken12]

As others have said. For $300 you are going to be able to see the robbery but you will not be able to see the face especially at night. A decent single camera is going to cost you over $300 little alone a whole setup. A good friend is a local PD and he says that nearly every home robbery in our area has camera setup and when they look at it they go yup it was a robbery and there is no real good evidence to ID a suspect from it due to the poor quality. People think they can do some CSI type stuff to enhance the quality but that's just not possible.

If you are really interested in building something right start out small. Look for decent rated cameras that are at least 1MP in resolution and are wired Ethernet. Wireless is super easily to flood and then all your cameras are offline. As for DVRs there are a bunch of options out there. For simple to use I like the built in security camera software on the Synology NAS boxes. It comes with two camera licenses and supports almost every type of IP camera out there. I use a medium size synology here at the house with six Axis cameras off of it and it works great. Good luck.

 

[LWW]

The biggest problem with these low cost surveillance systems is usually not the DVR itself but the horrible cameras that come with it.

Any D1 capable DVR can get good quality video with good quality cameras. My $400 D1 DVR has completely legible video, but the cameras cost $350+ EACH!

If you buy an 8 channel DVR for $500 with 8 cameras included, how good do you think those cameras are?

Get a bare DVR or better yet an NVR and then save your money and buy good cameras. The cameras will make all the difference.

 

[Linkon]

The biggest problem with these low cost surveillance systems is usually not the DVR itself but the horrible cameras that come with it.

Any D1 capable DVR can get good quality video with good quality cameras. My $400 D1 DVR has completely legible video, but the cameras cost $350+ EACH!

If you buy an 8 channel DVR for $500 with 8 cameras included, how good do you think those cameras are?

Get a bare DVR or better yet an NVR and then save your money and buy good cameras. The cameras will make all the difference.

What is an NVR? Can you recommend some good outdoor cameras with night vision?

 

[bigby]

I got Night Owl, bought it real cheap, I can even use my smart phone to view the cameras.
The night pictures are not the greatest but it works.

 

[BeachBoy]

Anyone can suggest a good camera? Single one with good resolution... No budget.