Options for a home security camera without wifi and other extras?
January 3, 2019 1:06 AM Subscribe
I'm trying to get a home security camera set up in my garage. I don't like basically any of the options currently out there because virtually all of them require wifi/internet access or are accessed via Bluetooth or other network activity.
All I want is a camera that will record and store high quality video and audio on an SD card from the time I press the "record" button to the time I push "stop" without trying to get online or send me notifications over the phone. What are my options?
All I want is a camera that will record and store high quality video and audio on an SD card from the time I press the "record" button to the time I push "stop" without trying to get online or send me notifications over the phone. What are my options?
It doesn't have the start stop functionality, but you could possibly look into game/wilderness cams. They will function well in low light and also have the ability to record only when there is movement. They are also quite subtle and easily affixed to different surfaces, while running only on batteries.
If this doesn't really serve your requirements it would be much harder, but still possible to do this with a raspberry pi and a camera module. As an added bonus if you run an ethernet cable to the camera it would be able to write to your home storage if you have one.
posted by koolkat at 1:29 AM on January 3, 2019 [2 favorites]
If this doesn't really serve your requirements it would be much harder, but still possible to do this with a raspberry pi and a camera module. As an added bonus if you run an ethernet cable to the camera it would be able to write to your home storage if you have one.
posted by koolkat at 1:29 AM on January 3, 2019 [2 favorites]
How often would you be checking? A SJCam which is knock off GoPro type camera fits your requirements and has nearly limitless mounting options. You can keep it plugged in for power, but if you're recording continuous video it will eventually run out of space within a day or two depending on your settings and SD card size.
posted by Karaage at 6:09 AM on January 3, 2019
posted by Karaage at 6:09 AM on January 3, 2019
You're describing a standard video camera. Press button to record. Press same button to stop recording. A GoPro or one of the cheap GoPro replicas would work for this as well as most any other personal camera with video capability.
posted by LoveHam at 6:30 AM on January 3, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by LoveHam at 6:30 AM on January 3, 2019 [2 favorites]
The other option, of course, is an analog security camera plugged in to either a non-networked DVR (they do exist, rare as they are; some networked ones will work without the network connection, too) or a literal video tape recorder.
The downside to this, of course, is that you have to run wires, but you don't have to work about batteries.
There is open source software that can turn any computer into a security camera DVR. You'll need a reasonably inexpensive video capture board if you use an analog video security camera. About $100 and your time could get it done if you have the spare computer with a decently sized hard disk already on hand.
posted by wierdo at 7:31 AM on January 3, 2019 [1 favorite]
The downside to this, of course, is that you have to run wires, but you don't have to work about batteries.
There is open source software that can turn any computer into a security camera DVR. You'll need a reasonably inexpensive video capture board if you use an analog video security camera. About $100 and your time could get it done if you have the spare computer with a decently sized hard disk already on hand.
posted by wierdo at 7:31 AM on January 3, 2019 [1 favorite]
Are you planning to physically touch the camera to start and stop or do you need a remote?
posted by soelo at 8:56 AM on January 3, 2019
posted by soelo at 8:56 AM on January 3, 2019
I would get a dashcam if you want automatic rollover (have the camera run continuously and overwrite the oldest material as the card fills), or a cheap GoPro clone if you don't. Both should run on a USB power supply, so it's easy to power indoors.
No solution I can think of (and I can think of a bunch of others, e.g. USB webcams and stuff connected to an old computer, Raspberry Pi Zeros, etc.) are going to be as simple as that.
If you need multiple cameras, then you are perhaps getting into DVR territory. You can get fairly inexpensive ones (with analog cameras) from Costco, last time I checked. They are designed to be optionally networked, but of course you can just... not connect them to your network. But I wouldn't bother unless you want a whole bunch of cameras and to have the recorder separate from the camera.
posted by Kadin2048 at 2:09 PM on January 3, 2019
No solution I can think of (and I can think of a bunch of others, e.g. USB webcams and stuff connected to an old computer, Raspberry Pi Zeros, etc.) are going to be as simple as that.
If you need multiple cameras, then you are perhaps getting into DVR territory. You can get fairly inexpensive ones (with analog cameras) from Costco, last time I checked. They are designed to be optionally networked, but of course you can just... not connect them to your network. But I wouldn't bother unless you want a whole bunch of cameras and to have the recorder separate from the camera.
posted by Kadin2048 at 2:09 PM on January 3, 2019
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- limited recording time (though 24 hours plus in a loop still possible)
- the wear limits on the sd card if permanently recording - you can get high endurance cards but still could need replacing annually
- the camera and memory card could be damaged/stolen in a break in which is why i think the majority of security cameras are remote from the recording/viewing device.
posted by JonB at 1:20 AM on January 3, 2019