Best IP LAN or Wireless camera

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Psilan

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#57079 2-Feb-2010 16:48

Anyone have any experience with these?
We had a few vandals (no breakins, have alarm) out the front of our property. We live near a University...

I want an IP camera, LAN or WIRELESS, but with good enough video to capture numberplates from about 10m through a clear window.

They all seem around the same price, $300ish with very similar specs. $300ish was my budget.
I want IP because the window is right next to my patch panel. No PC or server nearby. Wireless right next to it.

Thanks.

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#295477 2-Feb-2010 17:47

We have a couple of these around... good for the price.

http://www.cdlnz.com/index.htm...

$150ish + GST

XPD / Gavin

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Psilan

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#295485 2-Feb-2010 18:05

Very nice price.
Don't happen to have any sample pictures do you? Sounds like the software comes with it, correct?

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xpd

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#295497 2-Feb-2010 18:50

No pics sorry :(
Was looking for some when I posted that but appears we sold our ones with an office we let go.... gotta update my records :-p
Software does come with them, supports upto 16 cameras IIRC.

XPD / Gavin

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raytaylor

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#297729 10-Feb-2010 17:55

Um. Stay away from the cheap dlink ones if you come across them. The software that comes with them is horrible, and the cameras themselves arent that good.

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sbiddle

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#297745 10-Feb-2010 18:25

To be honest anything less than ~$700 for an IP camera is a waste of time. You'll typically get a terrible low quality 640x480 image.

If you want a cheaper solution you're far better off sticking with analogue gear, for the same money you'll get a far better picture.

Psilan

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#297748 10-Feb-2010 18:28

Hmm ok thanks for the input. Was trying to avoid wiring anything other than ethernet.
I might buy one from DSE and just take it back if it's not fit for the job.

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bigal_nz

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#297750 10-Feb-2010 18:36

sbiddle: To be honest anything less than ~$700 for an IP camera is a waste of time. You'll typically get a terrible low quality 640x480 image.

If you want a cheaper solution you're far better off sticking with analogue gear, for the same money you'll get a far better picture.

+1 for sbiddles comments. Sorry the cheap stuff wont do it.

I saw a megapixel IP cam with PTZ on ebay for $150 US. NOW that would do it!

Handle9

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#297808 10-Feb-2010 22:13

You're going to really struggle going through a glass window - reflections will be a major problem in certain light conditions. If you want something effective you'll need a dome for outside.

Also I presume that nightime is an issue? If so you'll need some form of IR illumination.

IMO you may be better off using a dummy dome with a sensor light - I know it seems low tech but all you're after is the impression that you're doing something rather than needing to do something.

Psilan

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#297811 10-Feb-2010 22:15

I don't want a visual warning. I have a house alarm that is clearly visible. I'm more interested in the vandals we have had over the school holidays down our street.

DSE are having a sale on a swann outdoor kit. 2 cameras and receiver for $189.

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bigal_nz

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#297812 10-Feb-2010 22:19

Psilan: I don't want a visual warning. I have a house alarm that is clearly visible. I'm more interested in the vandals we have had over the school holidays down our street.

DSE are having a sale on a swann outdoor kit. 2 cameras and receiver for $189.

Dude, I only say this to stop you wasting money, especially when a range like 10m is involved forget DSE crap.

Handle9

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#297813 10-Feb-2010 22:21

Psilan: I don't want a visual warning. I have a house alarm that is clearly visible. I'm more interested in the vandals we have had over the school holidays down our street.

DSE are having a sale on a swann outdoor kit. 2 cameras and receiver for $189.

If you can get a reliable license plate image with 380 lines at 10m good luck to you but I wouldn't hold your breath.

Also if it vandalism you are concerned about hopefully you are able to mount them in a location where they can't be easily accessed or have rocks thrown at them.

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sbiddle

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#297850 11-Feb-2010 07:26

The Swann stuff is absolute rubbish. If you've got $180 spare you may as well just tive it to me, I'll make better use of it! :-)

That $180 kit is also just 2 camera and a wireless receiver, it does not offer any recording feature. They are terrible cheap 380 line cameras.

kiwiscoota

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#298067 11-Feb-2010 18:49

A friend of mine has Swann cameras, so my comments are based on actual usage rather than theoretical.

The image quality is relatively poor, although not too bad in bright full sun they rate pathetic to woeful at night.

He has one camera focussed on an area lit at night by commercial High Pressure Sodium Lights, that seems to work reasonably although I doubt you could use the image to actually indentify someone in a legal situation, the other camera is focussed on an area lit by a couple of standard 150w flood lamps, the images from that, are no better than vague shadows.

Byrned

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#299421 16-Feb-2010 09:44

I'm curious if anyone is aware of what the legal aspects of security cameras are?

I remember reading something a while ago now where someone was trying to do something similar, but was told by the local council that they could only have cameras covering there own property, and could not record the street outside there property due to privacy constraints.

However I can't find any info on this and I'm starting to think it was my imagination! Anyone know??

raytaylor

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#299529 16-Feb-2010 16:52

Yea you can record anything you like from your own property with the camera aimed out onto city property as long as it doesnt cover another person's private property. Eg. you cant have a camera filming your back yard and have any overlap into another persons back yard within view as they consider it private.

Councils themselves have public cameras in the street.
And various lifestyle block communities near here have erected cameras filming any car that enters or leaves the area. These are not private estate type areas, but public streets and semi rural suburbs.

I think there is a condition that if people are being filmed, there is a sign that tells them security cameras are operating.

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