FlashEngineer

Well to be compliant to the wife, I opted to install all DOME type cameras, since they are more astetically pleasing and also less noticeable, plus the vandal proof thing. I saw the crazy ACTi video of a car driving over it, so that gives the thumbs up in my book. I use the ACTi's in the front and back since they are most visible to passing people. I don't have any HOA policy that I know of, so I'm just more worried about the reputation thing and what people think etc. I don't want them thinking they are pointed at them, which is kind of hard to tell on domes unless you come onto the property. My Dad's home has like 4-5 cameras all at the front as well, so I guess this is where I get my camera craziness from.

How many cameras is too many? I was only going to put 2 cameras in the back yard but now I might need 3, but I feel I'm putting too many up. Will this attract unwanted attention from thieves or neighbors?

Lots of replies.... " title="Applause" /> I've been reading up on lighting and security, it seems having a light on all night, may not deter crime as much as people think, more as a placebo. If anything, motion lights may work better. I ordered one of those IR lights you recommended, it's just too bad they are white, I would wanted something in black color, do you know if some other brands are worthwhile to buy as well? My plan now is to get IR illuminators for the back/front and rear yard, then put up some motion lights for those areas. The yard will have some landscape lighting, low lumens. I think this is a good idea? Anyone else have other opinions? Bad thing is, I have to replace the Dahua camera since it's useless at night unless there's white light.

So I've installed 4 so far, I have another one coming in, and I need one more soon before the weather gets too cold to put my last camera up. That's it for now, I'll put a few more in spring next year, maybe 2-3. I have so far: Dahua mini dome 3200CN or whatever Vivotek fd8134v ACTi kcm-7111 (best one so far out of all) Eyeonet/whatever IP5022 - not sure what real brand is this, maybe old dahua? (one with crappy IR if pointed extreme angle) I have another 7111 coming in. I need 1 more to face the gate coming into my backyard, wide angle again, at least 90 degree+ view, prefer no built in LED, but need night mode, not necessarily IR filter. Problem is, I'm at my limit, I can't really buy another ACTi, too expensive, but I don't want to buy another Dahua mini dome, it's hard to mount that thing and I don't want to frustrate myself again mounting it under my soffit, i rather get a real dome to have the flexible viewing angles so I can mount to wall... The only real choice around $300 is the vivotek fd8134v, but the angle sucks, 56 degrees is not enough, but I don't really want to mess around ordering lenses to retrofit, if there's a sure lens someone tried and works and gives 90 degree horizontal angle, I'll buy it, but I don't have time to look around and order 50 lenses from China or whereever. Can someone please help me, or I really have to either get the mini-dome or spend another $600 for ACTi or some sort

My house doesn't have mailbox, we have a "community" mailbox which is down the street. So it gives the laziness of the government to just delivery to one location for several houses I just don't like to bend my neck to look at the picture, it kind of looks weird... The only other thing I can do is position so the road is parallel to horizon and set my resolution the the highest on this camera which is greater than 1080 but then my FPS drops to 8fps. That view is good because it gives a 5:4 aspect, 2032x1920 Sucks on 8FPS though, I have at least 15FPS @ 1080

Yeah I can either give up street coverage for more my house but then I won't get a tight angle seeing the door, unless I'm not moving it right. I only have one in the front, I eventually want a street coverage cam and maybe some side cams to view the windows on left/right of the house, not sure if this is overkill though.

Don't think blue iris can do that?

What I mean is make the road level to horizon rather than the porch

Got my KCM-7111 installed, pretty good quality this camera, expensive but worth it for the front. I have couple options in capturing angles for this camera, later I will add more so I can change.. but does this angle look good or should I level the road to the bottom?

So I should get a 1/4" sensor then?

So best to have constant illumination with timer switches then? Forget any type of motion activated lights, weather floods or just fixtures? I know the camera's will have a hard time adjusting exposure time so I guess motion activated is out of the equation. Now if I place several external IR lights at the front door and garage, that should help with night vision.

So before I go ahead and start ripping my light fixtures outside my house, I'm wondering what is the best way of providing light for cameras/overall security? I have 3 main areas that will have lighting, which do have the builder's outside/porch light, whatever you call them... Main front door Rear garage area Backyard area/patio Right now my main priority is main and garage. Is it better to just setup a timer switch that will turn on the porch/garage light at sunset and turn off near sunrise? Or should I convert those lights to sensor lights (not 175w floods) Just same porch light with a sensor Or should I add additional floods as well What about IR illuminators, should I add one anyway since they aren't visible?

Yeah, that won't go well with the wife or neighbors, especially a good bullet, which is not tiny like those crappy ones you find in a bundle 4x at costco for $500. Honestly for a residential area, unless you're pointing at your home, bullets are just asking for trouble when people complain about privacy and camera's facing toward's them. I'm even a bit iffy on the red IR LED's.. I'm either getting some more of those mini dome from Dahua or some more ACTi 7111... it's just really too bad those vivotek FD8134v are such a crappy 56 degree horizontal view. Some say you can change the lens, not sure if it's hard or worth it to do so, I'm not even sure which lens to buy.

Found out the issue, I think... I think it was facing too close to the wall which has aluminum fascia (which where the cam was mounted on) So I think it reflected too much or something, not sure, but facing away it didn't have this issue anymore so basically if I care about night vision, I need to face this away. The L bracket is too much work, I have to drill into the brick wall and fish the cable out and I don't really want to drill a 3/4" hole in the fall weather 12 feet high up. Guess gotta buy more cameras.....

There is one for $40, problem is it sticks out a lot and doesn't look that great: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYhh6cAbbZo