BML

I was looking into installing a CCTV system a few years ago but never took it into a proposal. My primary reason for having one installed is my absolute hatred of thieves that think they have the right to rob and create mayhem by robbery so my primary inclination is not to deter them but to capture sufficient high quality photographic information that will lead to their apprehension and to do that I would like to use discreet cameras which surely must exist. Any information must be held in a safe depositary and must be capable of being able to be reviewed on our TV. I suspect rather than know that I require a camera covering the front of our bungalow preferably opposite our bungalow where there is no power which I suspect means a WFI system because I would prefer not having to dig a trench for power. I will also require a camera to cover the back of the bungalow. As I'm not to be trusted with dealing with electricity recommendations of installers would be helpful.

Is it possible to send private messages to members of the forum?

Many thanks for the advice, "they come in resolution sizes 2-3-6- and 8mp … 8 megapixel being 4K." Would an electrician understand those terms? I suppose cheeky as it may be I'm looking for a proposal and would be prepared to pay for one.

You have helped in giving me a sense of direction during which I've already got lost by discovering that there appears no one in my area offering CCTV instillation services.

I just keyed, "nvr with iP cameras" into the Internet and what I saw interested me. Please don't take umbrage but it's no use telling me that I don't understand what I'm looking at or that giving a budget is the best place to start, I know that. Obviously I need professional advice that can create a proposal and cost it but I have no idea where in Oxfordshire I can find such a service although I recognise that it cost me. Maybe someone the forum might tell me.

So now I need some advice on actual systems and cost. I will look on the forum. Many thanks. Well, I just looked and the first thing I noticed were the words, "Analogue and Digital" and I'm stuffed.

So now I need some advice on actual systems and cost. I will look on the forum. Many thanks.

That makes me feel absolutely stupid because of course your absolutely right so many thanks. I'm a long retired HR Manager with no skills that could help me either find the appropriate kit or install it although I do use an electrician on a regular basis to add lighting so what next?

One at the front and one at the back of the bungalow.

I have no idea what the budget will be which Is why I came on the forum. Can phone cable be run underground as I suggested?

I have a bungalow sitting on a private service road the other side of which is a parking lock that I own so I should be all right there. I want a camera on the parking lot as it gives an open view of my bungalow covering everything.

Many thanks for your reply. I live in the County of Oxfordshire England. It looks as though I will have to dig a hole next to my bungalow close to an electrical contact, dig another one at our parking place twenty feet away and then find a builder with a device that will push a pipe between the two points above. So, now to start looking. At least an electrical contact there usable for electrically powered vehicles will add to the value of the property.

I recognise that CCTV may act as a deterrent and if that is the case then great but I'm just as interested in collecting information that will apprehend an unlawful entry to where I live and the best way for me to learn is to ask a few questions. Is it lawful to have a camera covering the front of where I live and park my car? Is there a camera or system that will capture an image in the dark? I doubt that I can afford a professional installation so what would a four camera system cost? What software and hardware does a CCTV computer require to capture camera images? Would anyone care to recommend a reasonable and not to expensive DIY CCTV system?

I want to install a security system but have been told that the camera's position can be exposed by the lights that emit from the LRDS. Is it true that they can be seen as a circle of pink lights and if so what can be done about it?

All right, all right I'm stuffed. This the reply from the consultant. "Unfortunately the way the Infra-red night vision works camera's can give off a slight red glow from the LEDs around the camera lens. Without these IR lights the cameras would be unable to operate in darkness and as this is a camera hardware feature it cannot be disabled." "Camera systems are designed to be as much a deterrent as recording devices, covert cameras are quite limited and few exist which would be suitable for outdoor use." As I said earlier, I'm not interested in deterring, I want to catch them and apart from sitting up all night with a shot gun there appears few options other than to let my dogs run free at night and I bet there's a law against that.

Knowing absolutely nothing about security devices or perimeter security I looked for a forum where I could ask a simple question and the response that I received was arrogant and insulting not a rant. I thank you for the advice that there is a reason why there almost no cctv cameras with 940nm IR because its weak and pointless in almost all cases. Now I would like to find out if there is any way to cover the requirement I have in mind. I do take offence when I receive the sort answers in the form that you offered. Good manners cost nothing. I did a more than quick Google search on the subject without finding the answer to my question other than the strange advice that to place notices where one sets up CCTV. I will now look for a security consultant who will offer a solution to my requirement which is to set up covert CCTV.

There is absolutely no point in behaving in an abusive and insulting manner. I asked what I thought was a technical question and I thought that a forum such as this was the place to find an answer. I fail to see how that makes me simply wrong and going about this in a silly way. Of course thieves operate during the day and of course they go by the property and scope it out first and of course I recognise that they can see a camera simply when there is no IR? As for stating, "You can mess around with external ir in 940 but you are wasting money time and effort." I'm obliged to say I have no idea what you mean. I would hope that there is such a thing as a CCTV camera that can be concealed by day and by night because that will give the forces of law and order a better chance of capturing a likeness and bringing the thieving scum who consider that they have the right to take what they like from who the wish to justice.

I believe that it is impossible to create absolute security and that a thief always exists that is capable of accessing a property. I don't believe that CCTV deters thieves and so I would like to ensure that they will be apprehended and a camera that exposes its presence is of no use to me because it is likely to be disabled. So, does a camera exist that does not expose its presence when it is dark?

I often go away for a week or so in my Motor Caravan and I want to set up a covert system to capturing the identity of anyone who enters my study when I am away from the house. When I started to look into this I did so by keying “Covert in house cameras” or in house spy cameras and quite a few interesting devices came up from smoke alarms with built in cameras to small digital clocks so I ordered one of the small clocks. It was not until I received the clock that I found I required an SSD card I think it is called so I went and bought one. Then I put the disc I was sent into my computer to download the operating system but it would not run so I sent the “Spy Camera” back. It was just as well that I did send it back because I then found that it had a restricted period of time that it could collect data of something like ten hours. Since then I have sent the following specification to a number of companies that sell these “Spy Cameras”. “I need a covert device that will record still photographs of anyone who enters my study. It will need to have sufficient power to carry out that task for at least two weeks. I do not want it connected to my computer which is switched off when I’m away.” I will not waste your time showing you the nonsensical replies that I received because none of them met the requirement that I set out but what I will do is to ask for advice from the Forum as to what I should aim for.

What is an MCBTI option?

The Axis P1204 also seems very expensive.

Looking at the Activated AC Adapter Hidden Camera Self-Recording Spy DVR - PRO Model with 8GB SD Card it appears to be far to expensive and the reviews are not good.

I have security lights at the back of my bungalow and at the end of the back garden which often trigger in the late evening and I would like to know what activates. The end of the back garden backs onto open country and is about sixty feet away. I think that I need a system that will switch on when activated by either the security light or the movement of wild life, foxes, hedgehogs and then capture movement and transmit the result to a computer. Does that make sense and if so what should I be looking for?

I have no idea what an IR Bean is.

I became interested in CCTV because the security lights at the end of my 60 foot back garden and outside my kitchen door kept activating. I was not bothered about the possibility that the lights were being activated by intruders because I doubt that they would waste their time on me and anyway I have a large shotgun. However, I was intrigued as to what was activation the lights thinking that it could be a Fox, a Cat or even a Hedgehog. I know nothing about CCTV although I do subscribe to the opinion that one normally gets what one is prepared to pay so I started to look at the postings in these forums and the more I read the less I understood. I noted that there are Digital systems and Analogue system and have no idea what the difference is. I note that companies like Maplin in England start selling systems at around the £300.00 and their advertising suggests that they can be set up by an amateur. I’m not certain if this is the correct forum to ask this question but if it’s not then perhaps a Moderator would be kind enough to move it. The sort of system I envisage would have two cameras pointing from the front of where I live which can be attached to the dwelling. One camera pointing to the area opposite my kitchen door which can be attached to the dwelling and two cameras covering the area at the end of my back garden 60 feet away. I would like instant access to what triggers a particular camera so I can enjoy discovering what wild life is moving about in the day time and night and I would like any activity to be recorded. I have no idea if the camera’s have to be connected by a wire link or if they transmit what they see. I do hope that this makes sense.