Anymouse

QNAP NVR's will operate as standalones but functionality is limited, there are many features you can't use without a client PC, and I believe the bandwidth input limit is much lower. So it does exist, but that probably wouldn't be what you're looking for. They do record whatever resolution is thrown at them, though, as far as I've been able to tell. They advertise "Up to 8 megapixel", but that's just a function of the highest resolution stream they've tested, not what the actual unit will record. I was confused about that at first but they clarified for me. Check out the Vivotek NVR's, they may be what you're after because they seem to be more geared toward a DVR 'replacement' in how they function, but I haven't looked into them in great detail because the only offer 4 or 8 channel models (I needed 16, so I went with QNAP). I also don't know if they record any higher than HD resolution.

1) Someone walking across your yard isn't something to panic about, but is nice to make sure it doesn't turn into something to panic about. 2) I fully share your nerdy appreciation for an overkill CCTV system. Events a while ago prompted me to go all out on a 16-channel IP/NVR system (still in progress) after running out to immediately buy a 4-channel DVR system and throwing that up for the short term. I'll still use it permanently so in total I'm going to have 20 cameras (and probably only need 4, hehe). It's a very fun project that I just so happen to have a decent excuse for, I love it! Not to mention, I'm learning a LOT about networking and some other things that are very useful for to me to know. 3) To be truly paranoid is to NEVER give out too many details on the internet nor to post any actual video from the system unless it's absolutely necessary (for troubleshotting, etc), and to make everything as "anymouse" as possible, no matter how BADLY you want to share with the whole world how cool every last thing is that you're doing, even if there's only a .003% chance that doing that would ever compromise even the mildest of security and surveillance needs. 4) I've caught some pretty cool things on mine too, I had never seen a bird catch up to and snag a bug mid-air before! 5) Great thread!

Thanks for the info! I'll try to clarify with QNAP as far as the NVR side of things, as I'm ordering a QNAP VS-4016 NVR. I don't have all of the cameras picked out yet (16 total) because the QNAP compatibility list is pretty extensive, but I know what a few of them will be. In fact, thewireguys, I'm about to PM you about some of those demo cameras you have for sale. Thanks again.

Something I'm unclear about is the compatibility of IP camera software with NVR software in general. Most cameras have functions that are the same or similar to some NVR's features (for example: resolution adjustment, digital zoom, PTZ control, remote monitoring, etc). Does the camera software get integrated into the NVR software, completely ignored by the NVR software, or some mess of in-between? I'd think that the NVR software is what will control everything and can ignore the camera software, but then can I use any of the camera's software features separately? How about the alarm input/outputs on some cameras? Can I control these through the NVR? I'd like to control window/door sensors and motion detectors through the NVR like you can with a typical DVR (just N.O. or N.C. switch inputs and outputs). I don't just want the cameras to record based on sensor triggers, I want sirens/lights to be set off based on sensor triggers. In my DVR I can control all this at once (4 in, 4 out). I guess my question is: Is there an equivalent function on an NVR? Nothing I've been able to find explains this. Thanks in advance

Thanks for the info. A 24 port switch sounds good. Some of those are pricey! I don't think I need the features of the really expensive ones. How's this? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833122177 It lists "PoE Budget: 195W". I'm guessing that means that it distributes any power to any port up to 195W? If that's the way it works then I could have 12W per camera available (16 cams), or 10W if i wanted to have some left over. At any rate, this seems to be more than adequate for most of the cameras I've looked at. (Edit: Then again, that can't be 100% correct because a single Cat5 couldn't handle the amperage if it were to put full power through 1 port. Clarification?) 12 hours backup isn't required, but we have lost power for a few days before, and a few times for several hours. It's for those 'several hour' times that I'd like to have uninterrupted service. It's not necessary, though. Once I get a pretty solid estimated power consumption figure for the whole system, I'll be able to tell if I can even reasonably do that. Probably not, heh. 15 minutes would give me a good buffer for the few-second-long power drops we have, though. At least that much is necessary. I apologize for asking so much in one post. I might break it down into a few specific threads later on.

Thanks for the advice. I have been intending to ask a lawyer about this, but haven't yet for a few reasons. I will relatively soon. Here's another (different) section of the code that may apply. (I only took the applicable statements from this one, the rest can be found in the link provided) While I appreciate everyone looking out for me and I do want this info to be here so that it may help others, I hope this topic doesn't totally destroy my original intent of the thread. :/

The "private place" restroom/locker room thing is spelled out in another section of the code, but that part doesn't apply to my situation.

Thanks for the input guys. I certainly don't want to break any laws (that's what I'm trying to help prevent, afterall). It's worth an even deeper look on my part because I know some of you have a good idea of what you're talking about. I'm in Maryland (US). Here's the code pertaining to video surveillance that I was very loosely paraphrasing in my previous post. It is relatively vague of course, because it's hard to write a different law for every specific situation, but I don't see how I'm breaking any of these (let me know if I'm mistaken)... And here is a definition of surreptitious (just to be thorough), which seems to be the key word in the Maryland code... I have no intent to be secretive about it, in fact the PTZ planned for the top of the house will stick out like a sore thumb, which I intend. Everywhere that it could see, it can be seen. As for the shopping center, I don't mean that I'm going to try to identify cars or people, just want a general goings-on of the place. I will be able to see into a few backyards, but they're also visible from the streets. I specifically won't look into any of the houses or even 'watch' people in their own backyard. As for the PTZ for the park, it will also be in plain view mounted onto a large tree I have. I will only pay any attention to it when anyone reports that certain situations look really suspicious, or if I see the same. The high-rez fixed camera pointed up the other way to the (dead-end) street will be a bit more hidden because it'll be close to the road, but I have permission from most of the neighbors up there to watch their properties, everyone I've talked to is actually thrilled that I am willing to have their houses in view. It'll just have a general view up the street, but it's main purpose is to capture license plates in case anything happens. It would have helped A LOT in a few situations in the past. I also have purposely visible signs all over my yard proclaiming that I have video surveillance up. If anyone is versed in law, please tell me if I am interpreting this all wrong. If I am, I can omit or modify the plans for those three cameras, but every other cam is focused onto somewhere in my property so there's no question there. Gotta get back to work now. Thanks again for all input.

Oh, yes I already looked into the legal side of things. What I want to do is fine as long as I'm not trying to "spy" on people and I'm only in looking into their yards (that's in a nutshell, without going into further detail or getting into all the legal terminology). No audio, though! Not even on my own property! Thanks for looking out! I forgot to ask about lenses, I meant to ask for recommendations there as well.

Thanks to the mod who moved this. There were too many choices of where to put it so I wasn't sure.

Hi everyone, great website. I, like many others, have had some theft/vandalism problems in my neighborhood and now that some b@stards got us and busted my cars' windows out and rummaged around to find nothing worth value (we're not stupid), I'm done playing around. Immediately after the break-ins I ran out and bought a cheap Chinese 4-channel DVR system and threw it up to hold me over while I researched enough to design and build a decent 'real' security system. I've been searching and reading for nearly the last month straight and have found some invaluable info from this website (thanks!), among others. I feel that I might understand enough now to ask some reasonable questions and ask for some reasonable input on what I've learned and decided on so far. My initial budget was $5k for the surveillance part of it but I quickly figured out that that's not sensible for a decent full IP/NVR setup, so my budget is considerably more flexible now, might just take a camera at a time for a little while after an initial 8. I'll be doing the full install myself. I must admit, I'm going way overkill, but this is as much of a fun project for me as it is for security (read: cool as all hell ), and there won't be many loopholes to exploit. So, I'd like some input on some cameras and a few other questions if you don't mind... I've decided on a QNAP VS-4016 Pro 16-channel NVR (w/4 2TB HD's in RAID 5) based on its standalone design, versatility, storage capacity, and lack of 'licensing' requirements: http://www.qnap.com/pro_detail_feature.asp?p_id=158 The list of supported cameras: http://www.qnap.com/NVR/CompatibilityX01.html I'll be using a monitor to view and control locally for now so I don't need a nice PC just yet. Any recommendations on switches for running up to 16 PoE cameras? Any recommendations on an UPS that'll power all of this for up to 12 hours? My requirements for the cameras are: All PoE (except for the two PTZ's if necessary) Can be new or used (x2) PTZ w/at least 20x optical zoom if VGA resolution, vandal proof IP66+ housing, night vision, up to $1250 (might need to be used?). One is for viewing the park about 1/10th mile away as there are possible shady dealings down there at night, and the other is for the top of the house to see wherever I want, including into the shopping center two streets over. Would like to get license plate #'s at the park. (x1) 5mp @ ~10fps, WDR, true day/night, varifocal lens, vandal proof and IP66+, relatively small form factor (I really like this one: http://www.arecontvision.com/index.php?section=product&subsection=product_details&product_id=10 ) This is to see up the street to get plate #s and because I like my neighbors too, and they appreciate it. (x1) Covert w/night vision (possible?), resolution or FOV not critical, only has to see faces at about 10 feet in a narrow passageway. (x1) 2MP @ 15fps, WDR, true day/night, IP65+, 90* FOV (x1) 1MP @ 25-30fps, WDR, true day night, IP65+, 45* FOV (this one will have a motion activated flood light so night time quality won't matter all the time, but I'd like the option to see 'decently' in the dark) (x4) VGA resolution, day/night, 75-90* FOV (nothing special, for small interior rooms. I want inexpensive, but not complete junk) (x6) Vivotek IP8332 seems to fit the bill perfectly for these last 6. I can see why these cameras are so popular, they are, hands down, THE best I've seen in the price range. Any recommendations or advice for the cameras? In addition, I'm keeping the 4-channel cheapo DVR and analog cameras for the attic, crawl space (bugcam), and two more small rooms, for a grand total of 20 cameras. Something I'm unclear about is the compatibility of the cameras' software with the NVR software. Most cameras have functions that are the same or similar to the NVR's features (for example: resolution adjustment, digital zoom, PTZ control, remote monitoring, etc). Is the camera software integrated into the NVR software, completely ignored by the NVR software, or some mess of in-between? I'd think that the NVR software is what will control everything and can ignore the camera software, but then can I use any of the camera's software features separately? How about the alarm input/outputs on some cameras? Can I control these through the NVR? I'd like to control window/door sensors and motion detectors through the NVR like you can with a typical DVR (just N.O. or N.C. switch inputs and outputs). I don't just want the cameras to record based on sensor triggers, I want sirens/lights to be set off based on sensor triggers. In my DVR I can control all this at once (4 in, 4 out). I guess my question is: Is there an equivalent function on an NVR? Nothing I've been able to find explains this. The QNAP NVR lists "Megapixel recording (up to 8-megapixel)". Does that mean that it will record anything that the camera will put out, up to an 8MP camera? IE: Say you have a theoretical 16 8MP cameras recording to the NVR and they are capable of 60fps @ 8MP, can the NVR take all that in? Obviously that would take up storage at an insane rate, but is that what they mean by "up to 8-megapixel", or... is that 8 megapixels in total divided among all 16 cameras? As in, if you had all of the theoretical 8MP cameras recording at a certain fps, it would only record .5MP each? Can someone explain what an IR cut filter does and what the difference is vs. a day and "night" camera without one? I will have a few IR floods if it makes a difference, I don't like how the bugs are attracted to my cheapo analogs' integrated IR LED's. Phew, thanks for reading.