T
Thumper
- Jan 1, 1970
- 0
I would like to set up a camera (or two) to record the (1) front door
and (2) back door of my suburban house. Here is what I have learned so
far. I hope this helps people trying to get a sense of how this all
works.
I have have a question at the end about saving video / image files to
the Internet.
a. Indoor or outdoor
------------------------------
Outdoor camera require a protective shell, which can cost $100 to $400
dollars. Also, they are more involved to set up as you have to drill
holes to get power and/or network LAN wires to the camera.
I'm not sure if I want an outdoor cam or if it will be easier to place
one at the window and have it peer outside. I guess an outdoor camera
might scare away burglars, so you want them to see it outside. On the
other hand, your friends might be freaked out by the outdoor cameras
and think you're in the mob.
The guy who owns this camera installed it inside his home at the
window. It looks pretty clear to me (in the daytime):
http://incoma.xs4all.nl:8082/view/index.shtml. (By the way, he uses
the Axis 207W network camera.)
b. Audio
-------------
Some camera have audio. Some don't. I don't see the need, unless you
want to have some kind of intercom system at your front door.
c. Nightvision and motion detection
---------------------------------------------------
Again, some cameras have the ability to record in low light (low lux),
which is a useful feature if one assumes many burglaries happen at
night. Some cameras can see further into the distance at night than
others.
Motion detection is usually a function of the computer software you
install with whatever camera you buy. You can define an area in the
view of the camera and if there is movement, the computer can record
or save a still photo. See section "e" for more info.
d. Connecting to computer
--------------------------------------
There are a few choices.
i. You can connect the camera to the computer using an Ethernet (LAN)
wire. In some cases, you can also get the electrical power to the
camera in this way (Power Over Ethernet, or PoE). This is probably the
best way to do it if you constructing your new home and can place
wires wherever you want.
ii. If you already have electrical power near the camera but no
Ethernet wire, it's likely better to just get a wireless Ethernet
camera (WiFi) and wirelessly connect it to your 802.11g wireless
network router.
iii. The easiest method for existing homes, however, appears to be
HomePlug Technology. Basically, you connect your camera to your
computer via your home's A-C power wiring. A USB adapter is plugged in
near and connected to your PC and your camera. Somehow, the video
signal moves through your wiring. Amazing. (Although I guess the video
signal moving through the air is amazing too, when you think about
it.) Logitech has a subsidiary called WiLife that sells stylish
cameras that connect to your computer like this.
e. Recording
------------------
Here is the key part. Some cameras like the Logitech WiLife simply
record to your computer hard drive. Which is okay as long as the
burglars don't steal your computer.
1. I'd like to know if there exists a software that would record still
images (frames) to my hard drive AND upload the images to my web
server (where I have 1 GB of space). That way, even if the burglars
take my computer, their image already be safely saved on my web
server, hundreds of miles away.
2. Related question: Can one mix and match software for any of the
major cameras (WiLife, Dlink, Lynksys, Axis, etc.).
and (2) back door of my suburban house. Here is what I have learned so
far. I hope this helps people trying to get a sense of how this all
works.
I have have a question at the end about saving video / image files to
the Internet.
a. Indoor or outdoor
------------------------------
Outdoor camera require a protective shell, which can cost $100 to $400
dollars. Also, they are more involved to set up as you have to drill
holes to get power and/or network LAN wires to the camera.
I'm not sure if I want an outdoor cam or if it will be easier to place
one at the window and have it peer outside. I guess an outdoor camera
might scare away burglars, so you want them to see it outside. On the
other hand, your friends might be freaked out by the outdoor cameras
and think you're in the mob.
The guy who owns this camera installed it inside his home at the
window. It looks pretty clear to me (in the daytime):
http://incoma.xs4all.nl:8082/view/index.shtml. (By the way, he uses
the Axis 207W network camera.)
b. Audio
-------------
Some camera have audio. Some don't. I don't see the need, unless you
want to have some kind of intercom system at your front door.
c. Nightvision and motion detection
---------------------------------------------------
Again, some cameras have the ability to record in low light (low lux),
which is a useful feature if one assumes many burglaries happen at
night. Some cameras can see further into the distance at night than
others.
Motion detection is usually a function of the computer software you
install with whatever camera you buy. You can define an area in the
view of the camera and if there is movement, the computer can record
or save a still photo. See section "e" for more info.
d. Connecting to computer
--------------------------------------
There are a few choices.
i. You can connect the camera to the computer using an Ethernet (LAN)
wire. In some cases, you can also get the electrical power to the
camera in this way (Power Over Ethernet, or PoE). This is probably the
best way to do it if you constructing your new home and can place
wires wherever you want.
ii. If you already have electrical power near the camera but no
Ethernet wire, it's likely better to just get a wireless Ethernet
camera (WiFi) and wirelessly connect it to your 802.11g wireless
network router.
iii. The easiest method for existing homes, however, appears to be
HomePlug Technology. Basically, you connect your camera to your
computer via your home's A-C power wiring. A USB adapter is plugged in
near and connected to your PC and your camera. Somehow, the video
signal moves through your wiring. Amazing. (Although I guess the video
signal moving through the air is amazing too, when you think about
it.) Logitech has a subsidiary called WiLife that sells stylish
cameras that connect to your computer like this.
e. Recording
------------------
Here is the key part. Some cameras like the Logitech WiLife simply
record to your computer hard drive. Which is okay as long as the
burglars don't steal your computer.
1. I'd like to know if there exists a software that would record still
images (frames) to my hard drive AND upload the images to my web
server (where I have 1 GB of space). That way, even if the burglars
take my computer, their image already be safely saved on my web
server, hundreds of miles away.
2. Related question: Can one mix and match software for any of the
major cameras (WiLife, Dlink, Lynksys, Axis, etc.).