Audio-Video Home Surveillance

[Ed Psycho]

Hi folks,

We've got a problem with a neighbor who I contend is harassing my wife.
The police can't do anything, as it always boils down to her word
against his.

So, I'd like to install a basic surveillance system capable of recording
several days (up to maybe 7 or 10 days ideally) of audio and video so we
can catch this dude "in the act" and show it to the police.

Typically, however, the instances happen during the daytime, so a good
night picture would be nice, but not a show-stopper it we don't have it.
Besides, it's the audio that will make the difference for us.

My budget is about $200-300 firm.

The camera will be mounted outside and therefore should be rated for
outdoor use. I was looking at this camera, does anyone have any
experience with this product? Or could you recommend another?

http://www.specotech.com/cart/products/productDetails.asp?prodID=280

I have a motion-detection floodlight on the rear wall of the house, I
would mount the camera underneath or beside it. I can penetrate the
exterior wall for access to a nearby electrical outlet on the inside.

I have a junker computer, a PIII/500 I can devote entirely to the task
of recording audio and video. I can locate the computer on the inside
of the wall where the camera is mounted. I can add a larger hard drive
to the system. I can add a cheapo RCA input video card. I have an
in-home network.

I don't care if it is motion-activated or records 24/7 so long as I can
store several days of video AND audio, not necessarily the greatest
picture or anything but the picture will need to be recognizable and the
audio reasonably intelligible.

I would like to be able to export the video as some common format like
MPEG or something that can be played on most computers without
proprietary software.

Can someone recommend a software product for the purposes of recording?

Thanks!

Ed

 

[Frank Olson]

Hi folks,

We've got a problem with a neighbor who I contend is harassing my wife.
The police can't do anything, as it always boils down to her word
against his.

So, I'd like to install a basic surveillance system capable of recording
several days (up to maybe 7 or 10 days ideally) of audio and video so we
can catch this dude "in the act" and show it to the police.

Typically, however, the instances happen during the daytime, so a good
night picture would be nice, but not a show-stopper it we don't have it.
Besides, it's the audio that will make the difference for us.

My budget is about $200-300 firm.

The camera will be mounted outside and therefore should be rated for
outdoor use. I was looking at this camera, does anyone have any
experience with this product? Or could you recommend another?

http://www.specotech.com/cart/products/productDetails.asp?prodID=280

I have a motion-detection floodlight on the rear wall of the house, I
would mount the camera underneath or beside it. I can penetrate the
exterior wall for access to a nearby electrical outlet on the inside.

I have a junker computer, a PIII/500 I can devote entirely to the task
of recording audio and video. I can locate the computer on the inside
of the wall where the camera is mounted. I can add a larger hard drive
to the system. I can add a cheapo RCA input video card. I have an
in-home network.

I don't care if it is motion-activated or records 24/7 so long as I can
store several days of video AND audio, not necessarily the greatest
picture or anything but the picture will need to be recognizable and the
audio reasonably intelligible.

I would like to be able to export the video as some common format like
MPEG or something that can be played on most computers without
proprietary software.

Can someone recommend a software product for the purposes of recording?

Thanks!

Ed

Hi Ed:

A good video capture card and associated software is going to exceed your
"budget" from the "get-go". Then you have to consider the camera. Some
come "ready" to mount outside in special housings but if you need something
with good low light capability/better resolution, I can pretty well
guarantee you're going to exceed your budget again... Your 2-300 dollar
budget suits the computer "web cam" kits, most of which aren't capable of
doing what you want.

Frank Olson
http://www.yoursecuritysource.com

 

[Jon]

Hi folks,

We've got a problem with a neighbor who I contend is harassing my wife.
The police can't do anything, as it always boils down to her word
against his.

So, I'd like to install a basic surveillance system capable of recording
several days (up to maybe 7 or 10 days ideally) of audio and video so we
can catch this dude "in the act" and show it to the police.

Typically, however, the instances happen during the daytime, so a good
night picture would be nice, but not a show-stopper it we don't have it.
Besides, it's the audio that will make the difference for us.

My budget is about $200-300 firm.

The camera will be mounted outside and therefore should be rated for
outdoor use. I was looking at this camera, does anyone have any
experience with this product? Or could you recommend another?

http://www.specotech.com/cart/products/productDetails.asp?prodID=280

I have a motion-detection floodlight on the rear wall of the house, I
would mount the camera underneath or beside it. I can penetrate the
exterior wall for access to a nearby electrical outlet on the inside.

I have a junker computer, a PIII/500 I can devote entirely to the task
of recording audio and video. I can locate the computer on the inside
of the wall where the camera is mounted. I can add a larger hard drive
to the system. I can add a cheapo RCA input video card. I have an
in-home network.

I don't care if it is motion-activated or records 24/7 so long as I can
store several days of video AND audio, not necessarily the greatest
picture or anything but the picture will need to be recognizable and the
audio reasonably intelligible.

I would like to be able to export the video as some common format like
MPEG or something that can be played on most computers without
proprietary software.

Can someone recommend a software product for the purposes of recording?

Thanks!

Ed

Hi Ed,

Just get a cheap B/W outdoor bullet came like this one: Weldex
WDB-7007SS, spytown.com sells them for $85. Then download a copy of
uviewit from uviewit.com. for the motion detection and recording.

Jon

 

[Bob Worthy]

Hi Ed,

You may be setting yourself up for a legal problem when you start recording
audio. Falls under the same type of laws as "wire tapping", unless the party
being recorded is made aware that he/she is being recorded. You have heard
on the phone, for instance, "this call is recorded for quality assurance" or
that annoying little "beep" you hear every 15 seconds or so. These are types
of things that are making you aware that you are being recorded. At that
point you have the choice whether to speak or not. If you record someone
without their knowledge, don't be suprised if it bites you in the ass when
you proudly supply your recording as evidence. Secondly, your video may not
be able to be used as evidence either. Video is easily discredited in court
because it can be tamper with, spliced, diced, edited, put a monkeys head on
your neighbors body, etc. A defense attorney will tear it apart unless it is
water marked for authenticity. The software used must be propriatary as be
able to be downloaded to the court for viewing. Bill Gates never intented
for Windows to be a security program and can be challenged in a court of
law. Video may aid the PD, but don't depend on it for prosecution. Get a
restraining order and be done with it.

Bob4Secur

 

[Si Ballenger]

Hi folks,

We've got a problem with a neighbor who I contend is harassing my wife.
The police can't do anything, as it always boils down to her word
against his.

You could try a cheap cam like below connected to $50 walmart
vcr. If your wife is being harrassed, she can turn the vcr on
prior to her putting herself in the situation/area where she is
harrassed in. I don't see the need for the long duration
recording, motion detection and such when your wife is present at
the times the incidents are happening. If you want to catch
somebody doing property damage and such when nobody is around,
then the extra gizmos would be needed.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=47546
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=91202

 

[rory]

To record 7 days it will cost much more.
You can get a cheap bullet camera or a camera like you posted, but its
the system that costs the money, especially if you want to record
audio.

Even a time lapse VCR costs around $250 on the low end even now, and
its outdated almost.

As far as Audio recording, it probably depends on your state. Id check
the laws first so if you do get it, you could still use it in court.
If you want to use video in court, y ou'd need time lapse, not motion,
and good quality, from what I have heard from the US guys. Here
(bahamas) neither stands up in court anyway, it is simply used to
catch the criminal and then gain other evidence, or they fess up after
'proper' interogation

okay that said, you could plug the camera into a standard VCR, and out
to the TV, hit record when you want to start recording, but it will
only last as long as the Tape - e.g. 8 hours. Then you need to hit
record again or if your VCR has auto rewind and auto record it can do
it for you. If your home VCR has audio then it will record audio.

Also check out http://www.cctvforum.com if youd like some more
feedback, its dedicated to CCTV.

Rory

 

[rory]

To record 7 days it will cost much more.
You can get a cheap bullet camera or a camera like you posted, but its
the system that costs the money, especially if you want to record
audio.

Even a time lapse VCR costs around $250 on the low end even now, and
its outdated almost.

As far as Audio recording, it probably depends on your state. Id check
the laws first so if you do get it, you could still use it in court.
If you want to use video in court, y ou'd need time lapse, not motion,
and good quality, from what I have heard from the US guys. Here
(bahamas) neither stands up in court anyway, it is simply used to
catch the criminal and then gain other evidence, or they fess up after
'proper' interogation

okay that said, you could plug the camera into a standard VCR, and out
to the TV, hit record when you want to start recording, but it will
only last as long as the Tape - e.g. 8 hours. Then you need to hit
record again or if your VCR has auto rewind and auto record it can do
it for you. If your home VCR has audio then it will record audio.

Also check out http://www.cctvforum.com if youd like some more
feedback, its dedicated to CCTV.

Rory

 

[rory]

To record 7 days it will cost much more.
You can get a cheap bullet camera or a camera like you posted, but its
the system that costs the money, especially if you want to record
audio.

Even a time lapse VCR costs around $250 on the low end even now, and
its outdated almost.

As far as Audio recording, it probably depends on your state. Id check
the laws first so if you do get it, you could still use it in court.
If you want to use video in court, y ou'd need time lapse, not motion,
and good quality, from what I have heard from the US guys. Here
(bahamas) neither stands up in court anyway, it is simply used to
catch the criminal and then gain other evidence, or they fess up after
'proper' interogation

okay that said, you could plug the camera into a standard VCR, and out
to the TV, hit record when you want to start recording, but it will
only last as long as the Tape - e.g. 8 hours. Then you need to hit
record again or if your VCR has auto rewind and auto record it can do
it for you. If your home VCR has audio then it will record audio.

Also check out http://www.cctvforum.com if youd like some more
feedback, its dedicated to CCTV.

Rory

 

[Frank Olson]

or by a used time lapse vcr on ebay.... tons under $100..

The very *last* thing I would recommend anyone do is buy a used TL VCR on
eBay. You'd be throwing your money away.


--
Frank Olson
http://www.yoursecuritysource.com
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