Birdman Adam

Also a lot easier removed!

I'm looking for a suggestion on a real camera to replace my $50 'el-cheapo' ones. Right now I have the cheap ones outside, viewing my driveway. During the day, they get a red hue from sun glare (they do have sun-guards). At night it's a blackout, they can't see in the dark at all. Finally, the resolution sucks, as you will see in the pictures. I still haven't ever been able to focus them completely. There are normally no lights on in this area. Please don't laugh at my cheapy cameras A car driving away at dawn: Car pulling in during day. That red sun-glare I was talking about. A car driving in at night: Here's links to videos in case you want to get a better view: http://img186.imageshack.us/img186/6352/sunglareexample.mp4 http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/3662/daycarexample.mp4 http://img339.imageshack.us/img339/8247/nightcarexample.mp4 In the last picture, I want to be able to SEE that car. And everything else, for that matter. I need a camera that can handle a bright sun on a white driveway pad. I have read around, and it looks like the CNB VBM-24VF is the perfect match for me. True day/night, can actually see in dark, and has an IR-cut filter. The price is nice too, around $150 at online stores. One thing I need to know is if this camera can be used outdoors. What is the IP rating? Once I choose a camera, I will need a little guidance on cabling. Also, what online stores are good for ordering the camera, siamese cabling, and connectors. How is 'The Security Depot'? They look nice, and have stuff I will need, but they don't list prices online, which seems odd to me! Another site that I was wondering about was: supplycctv.com

Thanks for the suggestions! I'm thinking the nail/screw goes thru the hole in the center, between the two jackets, and into the wood or whatever. Do you think I could just do that with a nail only? Other than that, I think I am done with the questions now, will be buying my supplies soon. I'll be sure to post some install pics so other new people like me can read this and understand better how to do it. (Also so you guys can point out any mistakes I make!) BTW I now have Zoneminder set up to record full 640x480, the max size the card can pump out. Just had to edit some memory values in the memory config file for Xubuntu (Slim UI Ubuntu)!

Hey how do you guys fasten, for example, Siamese cabling to a wood stud. Can I just staple with a staple gun between the two jackets, or should I staple across the two (perpendicular)? Maye there's another way?

I am using an old VCR to modulate my security video to channel 3 on my houses TV signal network (CATV).

If your a linux kind of guy, I'd suggest Zoneminder. It's a free (although very professional) recording software that is very sleak, and can run on pretty much any PC. You can couple it with a capture card from Bluecherry. (Just google 'em). I'm using it as my surveillance server now and it has worked flawlessly for almost a year now. You can plug in any analog camera you want to the bluecherry card. Or, if you have IP cameras, Zoneminder can be easily told to capture from them over the LAN. http://www.cctvforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=22080 My first post in my thread above has some example images and videos that Zoneminder recorded. I have it set to record motion, which works quite well. Right now I'm using cheapy cameras, but will be getting better ones soon. (That's the reason the video is pretty low res)

Ah, OK, well that's good. That seems better to me, because its one less part to mess with!

Thanks for the first-hand input! I think I will go with leaving the 25 watt lights at either side of the garage on. That sounds like it will be plenty. So the VBM-24VF just has those screw-terminals, that's good. I thought I'd have to buy one of those pigtails and all. The crimp connectors shown on this site I'm looking at (supplycctv.com), are only two piece, the actual connector, and the 'ferrule'. I thought the crimp connectors usually had a little pin that you had to put on the center conductor as well?

Thanks for telling me that! I looked at the 'product descritpion': It says that the center conductor is solid copper, I would hope they aren't lying! Another question - Are BNC twist connectors fine? I did find a crimping tool in my tool box, so if BNC crimp connectors are better I would buy those. EDIT: How do I know what the power hookup is like on the VBM-24VF? Does it take one of those barrel-plugs? Or are there two terminals in there where I would insert the positive and negative wires?

I will be changing the record resolution in Zoneminder to 640x480, just haven't done it yet because I have to add a stick of RAM for that to work. If you saw the IR leds on my camera, you'd laugh - There are like 15 3mm IR LEDs in a circle around the lense. I really don't think it will make a difference. Now I do have an IR Illuminator like this, except about 2-3 times bigger: I could mount that next to the camera, and point it toward the driveway area. It does give off that faint red glow, but I don't think that will be a big deal. It's not that I can't get Siamese cable, just that I'm wondering if the price and product I have found online is a good price, and of at least average quality. Is $65 for 500 ft of black RG59 + 18/2 cable a good price? Also, the VBM-24VF for $146? I found it at supplycctv.com

Oh! Didn't realize that... Well now I can easily identify them - they all have a universal logo!

Well normally, there is no artificial light, except for the moonlight when it is out. There are 25 watt 'candle' lights on either side of the garage (next to the little tree). You can't see them because they are around the corner. Maybe I can convince my dad to leave them on at night (he's always going around turning off lights to save electricity!). Actually, maybe we can replace those with motion floods... About cable, I will definitely go with what you use, from what I have read it seems like the standard... I'll be sure to get it with no foil! Is this a fine place to get my stuff? [edit by mod-sorry no store links allowed] supplycctv.com

I have seen that red, green, blue symbol before... I can't think of the name! Is there any text on them other than the front?

Do you have an alarm system? If you don't, I would get one. Please don't fall for the ADT / CPI crap systems. Make sure you have motion detectors and glass break sensors. I would install it myself, and set system to call me. Also, you need at least one siren inside, and one outside. Hook up a stroke or two with the outdoor siren. Also, I would install PIR motion floodlights around the house to help out the cameras and deter the mailbox whackers. Put up some CCTV warning signs. Keep the .45 loaded.

Oh, I love those fake windows explorer pages! Every time I go to one, I laugh. When I went there I didn't get that though. Just their normal page, pretty snazzy.

If you were to use a resistor, it would need to be gigantic to bring down the voltage by 4 VAC for all your cameras. Plus, it would waste a LOT of power. Since we are talking AC, you can simply get a transformer to convert 28VAC down to 24VAC. I'm not sure where you'd find one with that specific conversion. Also, it must be rated to handle all the current your cameras will need. Alternatively, you could open up the transformer in your power supply and add more turns to the secondary (side where your cameras connect to). This would bring down the voltage for your cameras.

That is a good point. I would look at the power rating of the PTZ to determine how power it will draw. Also, if you are running IR lights, you'll want to check power consumption.

Bluecherry has great cards for use in Linux. I just got a PV-143 and it worked perfectly with my server in the basement. They even have a live-cd based on xubuntu with zoneminder you can install, if you want to go the easy way. It's already been set up to work with the specific card you buy. The card will also work with windows, but only 2 of the four inputs will work. It comes with a CD with windows drivers as well. Connection is easy, juat plug into PCI slot, and install watchdog cable. If you get a card with more than 4 inputs, it comes with extra cable breakout plugs.

In my experience, Cat5 is the way to go: -One pair for video. You must use baluns for this. -One or two pairs for power. (probably 2 for a PTZ). -This leaves you 1 or two pairs for your communication. Plus, by using Cat5, you will be 'future-proof' (if you ever put in IP cameras). Cat5 is also usually cheaper than rg6 or rg59 siamese cable. Even when you factor in the extra cost of the baluns.

These pictures are beautiful...

Loss from the barrel you posted should be negligible.

You get something like this: It's a PCI card that goes into your computer. The software will recognize it. You would connect your motion detector to an input, and a relay to an output to turn on music or sirens. You could switch on anything with the right relay. Then in the software you would set it to do this logically: If input1 goes on, turn on output1. In other words, when PIR motion is ON, turn ON siren.

I'll bet they didn't report anything because THEY were the ones whacking mailboxes!

Buy 2 mailboxes: Make a hole so you can easily switch them out... Leave the 'normal' one in during the day. Pour concrete in the other, set it out every night after mail comes. Did this when I had problems like this a few years ago. The idiots would drive down street and whack it with a bat from the car (while driving by). When they tried to hit the concrete mailbox, the bat bounced back and hit their car. Never had them back...

I'm not sure I'd classify it as a 'hack', per say. I mean all he did was log into the central website and set accounts to be disabled?