Security Camera needed
November 28, 2005 8:41 AM Subscribe
Several laptops and projectors were stolen at my workplace this weekend so I'm looking for a simple security camera that will record on my PC when it detects motion. I have looked at x10.com but that seems much too complex and it seems to only be able to record to VCR. Anyone have experience with a cheap/easy solution?
Response by poster: it's not that x10 is complicated, just the requirements were too complex. it requires a vcr module for motion detection which is a must. i would rather it capture on the PC. i have no problem going the linux route if thats what it takes.
posted by toomuch at 9:03 AM on November 28, 2005
posted by toomuch at 9:03 AM on November 28, 2005
My first thought on reading this was, "What's to stop the next thief (hopefully there won't be one) from stealing the PC too?"
Maybe you should look at buying a relatively cheap box you can lock in a drawer and dedicate to running a camera? You'd need to drill ventillation / cable holes through the back of the desk and drawer, but at least if the box isn't visible, and the drawer is locked, 'crime of opportunity' thieves would be less likely to say, "Hey, you know, I think I'll take that desktop too."
Just a thought.
posted by planetthoughtful at 9:08 AM on November 28, 2005
Maybe you should look at buying a relatively cheap box you can lock in a drawer and dedicate to running a camera? You'd need to drill ventillation / cable holes through the back of the desk and drawer, but at least if the box isn't visible, and the drawer is locked, 'crime of opportunity' thieves would be less likely to say, "Hey, you know, I think I'll take that desktop too."
Just a thought.
posted by planetthoughtful at 9:08 AM on November 28, 2005
Here in the office we have about 12 Axis cameras and some windows-based software that records constantly, throwing away duplicate frames. I'm not sure if the
I wrote some perl script to do capture from a video capture card years ago and my experience was similar to the flaw in the Axis software - detecting differences in images is easier the better lit they are. We have to keep the lights on everywhere the cameras are here at work or else they think every image is different and drastically reduce the amount of time we can store.
posted by phearlez at 9:27 AM on November 28, 2005
I wrote some perl script to do capture from a video capture card years ago and my experience was similar to the flaw in the Axis software - detecting differences in images is easier the better lit they are. We have to keep the lights on everywhere the cameras are here at work or else they think every image is different and drastically reduce the amount of time we can store.
posted by phearlez at 9:27 AM on November 28, 2005
Seconding the Axis recommendation; there's also these Panasonic Network Cameras that we've had fun with around here before.
Like phearlez, I'm also not sure if the
posted by mendel at 9:51 AM on November 28, 2005
Like phearlez, I'm also not sure if the
posted by mendel at 9:51 AM on November 28, 2005
If you want to try ZoneMinder, there is a LiveCD that will do most of the installation for you. It's not the prettiest software with the default install (we did our own customizations), but it gets the job done fairly well.
Otherwise, look at some of the Windows software in conjunction with the Axis cameras.
posted by stovenator at 11:00 AM on November 28, 2005
Otherwise, look at some of the Windows software in conjunction with the Axis cameras.
posted by stovenator at 11:00 AM on November 28, 2005
I setup a series of Axis 206W cameras at my workplace, and the day I turned them on to record, we busted a guy who had been sleeping here for a week, and decided to break into our empty safe using our own oxy-acetelyne torch. The cameras paid for themselves instantaneously.
I'd third the Axis brand of cameras. if you go over two or three I'd recommend multiple access points (if you go wireless, which I did so I wouldn't have to run hundreds of foot of cable).
Lighting is absolutely an issue with these cameras. I haven't tried it but I would assume that they'd be sensitive to IR illuminators, so you could give that a shot. The visual quality does worsen as the light dims, so we leave our lights on in key areas. Also, if they are in arms reach be sure to have an additional camera covering that one (preferabbly both in view of each other). That way if one camera gets disabled, the other camera picks that person up.
posted by jackofsaxons at 11:09 AM on November 28, 2005
I'd third the Axis brand of cameras. if you go over two or three I'd recommend multiple access points (if you go wireless, which I did so I wouldn't have to run hundreds of foot of cable).
Lighting is absolutely an issue with these cameras. I haven't tried it but I would assume that they'd be sensitive to IR illuminators, so you could give that a shot. The visual quality does worsen as the light dims, so we leave our lights on in key areas. Also, if they are in arms reach be sure to have an additional camera covering that one (preferabbly both in view of each other). That way if one camera gets disabled, the other camera picks that person up.
posted by jackofsaxons at 11:09 AM on November 28, 2005
Response by poster: Thanks for all the responses. I am going with the Axis solution. phearlez and mendel: please let me know if you ever find out if the
posted by toomuch at 12:50 PM on November 28, 2005
posted by toomuch at 12:50 PM on November 28, 2005
Hahahah sorry, I got called away and the distracted - I was meaning to say that I wasn't sure if the aggregation software was included or discounted with camera purchase. Our IT head confirmed for me that it was not included with the cameras or in any kit he was aware of. Good luck.
posted by phearlez at 1:00 PM on November 28, 2005
posted by phearlez at 1:00 PM on November 28, 2005
GNAAA called away and THEN distracted. Jesus, if I'da known I was gonna need that brain cell I wouldn't have killed it with alcohol.
Kidding, of course - I still would have killed it.
posted by phearlez at 1:01 PM on November 28, 2005
Kidding, of course - I still would have killed it.
posted by phearlez at 1:01 PM on November 28, 2005
For the record, bog-standard $5 webcams do this easily, most software has pretty sophisticated motion detection controls, and settings to tell them how much to record under what circumstances. I vaguely recall the XP webcam server software I was playing with was $35 to register, but it might be more for business use. It had a downloadable trial.
Download a trial of some popular webcam server software, and take it for a spin. Webcams don't handle low light levels very well though.
posted by -harlequin- at 6:34 PM on November 28, 2005
Download a trial of some popular webcam server software, and take it for a spin. Webcams don't handle low light levels very well though.
posted by -harlequin- at 6:34 PM on November 28, 2005
This thread is closed to new comments.
Anyhow, we use Axis 207W wireless cameras that you can attach to your WiFi network, and stream video to any PC.
From there, it's using whatever DVR/capture/recording software you wish to record on motion detection. For us, we have a linux server running ZoneMinder. However, unless you're a Linux user, that's probably not the ease of use you're looking for. It has a fairly steep learning curve.
posted by stovenator at 8:52 AM on November 28, 2005