IP cameras

Forums › LAN (ethernet/Wifi/routers/Bluetooth) › IP cameras

cjmack

167 posts

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#130732 25-Sep-2013 23:21

Hi,

Looking at setting up some IP cameras at home, but not too sure about what to get.

I am looking for some indoor cameras that run on wired LAN only, and NOT a PoE device. I also want to record them all on my ubuntu server. (I believe a program called zoneminder can do this). I also only want it to save the last X number of days, and automatically remove any older content.

The final thing that I want to do, is be able to view the cameras via my android remotely. I'm not worried if I access them via the server, or if I login directly to each camera. (Although a central system would be the ideal method)

Thanks in advance for any thoughts or help.

billgates

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#902753 25-Sep-2013 23:33

What is wrong with a PoE capable camera? I sell the Dahua IPC-HFW2100 with a 2 year warranty for $250 incl GST. You can power it with DC power but PoE is better in every way. Also works with ZoneMinder on Linux as I have a customer who runs it that way.

Do whatever you want to do man.

michaelmurfy

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#902755 25-Sep-2013 23:47

Depending on how many cameras you need to control you could go to a low power solution using a Raspberry Pi + Zoneminder (or Motion) along with an external hard drive, it runs quite well. I've successfully used Zoneminder on a Raspberry Pi and combined with the mobile optimised skin it works quite well using a mobile browser.

I've only used Zoneminder with USB based cameras, or used older PC hardware with a capture card, the Zoneminder Wiki has what you're needing to get started, PoE is exceptionally handy if it's an ethernet based installation but in reality all cameras come with options to power it via PoE or direct.

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cjmack

167 posts

Master Geek

#902757 25-Sep-2013 23:57

The reason I want to avoid PoE is that I have no infrastructure for it - no switches, inline power adapters etc. It is going to be just as easy to run a power pack. I may look at PoE in the long term future however.

I have a HDD in the server that is almost empty, that I am going to use for this. It has approx 990GB spare. I am looking at initially running two cameras, and up to 7 at the very most. All of the cameras I have been looking at have been around the $80 - $120 mark, but no idea what they are actually like.

jarledb

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#902770 26-Sep-2013 00:42

I like the Logitech Alert cameras. They have indoor and outdoor cameras and the signal is transmitted via your power cables.

http://www.logitech.com/en-nz/video-security-systems

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sbiddle

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#902789 26-Sep-2013 07:11

cjmack: The reason I want to avoid PoE is that I have no infrastructure for it - no switches, inline power adapters etc. It is going to be just as easy to run a power pack. I may look at PoE in the long term future however.

I have a HDD in the server that is almost empty, that I am going to use for this. It has approx 990GB spare. I am looking at initially running two cameras, and up to 7 at the very most. All of the cameras I have been looking at have been around the $80 - $120 mark, but no idea what they are actually like.

No idea what camera you're looking at but for that price point you're not going to get anything decent.

The key question if what the purpose of the cameras is and what spec you require.

Inphinity

2780 posts

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#902839 26-Sep-2013 08:34

cjmack: All of the cameras I have been looking at have been around the $80 - $120 mark, but no idea what they are actually like.

What on earth IP cameras are you looking at at that price?

What's your objective - security? What image quality do you expect? Do you want night vision or only day?

BinaryLimited

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#902895 26-Sep-2013 09:29

jarledb: I like the Logitech Alert cameras. They have indoor and outdoor cameras and the signal is transmitted via your power cables.

http://www.logitech.com/en-nz/video-security-systems

Logitech is great! Got the indoor's and outdoor's!

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richms

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#902914 26-Sep-2013 10:07

I have had a play with some incredibly cheap ones like that off DX (or was it ebay - cant recall) -

Anyway. on paper they do everything you need. In reality they will lockup, have poor image quality compared with a cheap cellphone and the wifi on them keeps making the accesspoint drop other devices - that could be an accesspoint issue however.

Richard rich.ms

qyiet

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#903005 26-Sep-2013 11:53

I have a couple of REALLY cheap dlink 930Ls spare. PM me if you want 'em, (think they were about 60 dollars a shot new..) but be aware the reason they are spare is I've replaced them with these: Ubquity Bullet Airvision Cameras Which are missing the IR and other features, but were 'good enough' for my purposes, and I really like the airvision2 software.

Warning: reality may differ from above post

sbiddle

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#903028 26-Sep-2013 12:24

BinaryLimited:
jarledb: I like the Logitech Alert cameras. They have indoor and outdoor cameras and the signal is transmitted via your power cables.

http://www.logitech.com/en-nz/video-security-systems

Logitech is great! Got the indoor's and outdoor's!

The quality is actually pretty average. You can buy far better professional gear such as Dahua for 1/2 the price.

bigal_nz

635 posts

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#903119 26-Sep-2013 14:41

sbiddle:
cjmack: The reason I want to avoid PoE is that I have no infrastructure for it - no switches, inline power adapters etc. It is going to be just as easy to run a power pack. I may look at PoE in the long term future however.

I have a HDD in the server that is almost empty, that I am going to use for this. It has approx 990GB spare. I am looking at initially running two cameras, and up to 7 at the very most. All of the cameras I have been looking at have been around the $80 - $120 mark, but no idea what they are actually like.

No idea what camera you're looking at but for that price point you're not going to get anything decent.

The key question if what the purpose of the cameras is and what spec you require.

+1 - for that price you are not going to get anything decent.

And if you want to be able to ID the face of a unknown person at night then its like +++1.

For example take a look about 2 pictures down on the Police website and compare the two low light black and white images .... one is next to useless - the other is from Mobotix.

https://www.facebook.com/Counties.Manukau.Police

bigal_nz

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#903121 26-Sep-2013 14:44

PPS: 80 pixels is generally accepted as the required number of pixels to ID a unknown face.

15 pixels for number plates.

I am assume your looking at home security setup?

webwat

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#904205 28-Sep-2013 16:19

Face ID is easier with a clearer photo, and especially if the camera has sufficient light for a clear pic. Saving video in HDTV format is designed for moving images and blurs everything if you try to print a single frame, so check your camera can do motionJPEG or a proprietary format suitable for single frames. Don't expect too much for your price point so black & white may give you better value in terms of night time clarity.

Time to find a new industry!

cjmack

167 posts

Master Geek

#904675 29-Sep-2013 18:16

Hey,

Thanks for all of the replies. Yes it will be for a security system. I just want a couple of cheap cameras to play around with, and once I have some more funds I will get something a bit decent. I was looking at the mydlink models of cameras, very cheap, but something to start with.

Anyone else on here also use zoneminder?