Someone10101

I need some help in deciding what wireless indoor cameras will work best for me. I just order parts to build my linux based NVR and that should be arriving by next week. Newegg screwed up and sent me an openboxed motherboard and memory when I order new items. Luckily, their customers service is great. Anyhow, here's what I need from this wireless camera: 1. Video recording 24x7 through web pages remotely and 3rd party software on my NVR thats in my home. I'm guessing this is all dependent on the software and not hardware. 2. WPA2 support 3. HD/Megapixel would be nice, but not necessary. As long as I can get a clean shot and recognize the person MOVING face from about 20ft away on any given day...Ex..(s)he is walking up my driveway. 4. Decent night viewing. 5. Ability to record in 2 different mode would be nice: ex. recording in HD for clarity and also record in lower resolution for FPS. 6. Ability to notify me once it detects motion through cell or email(Hotmail & Gmail only) I think the most important two items would be ability to record 24x7(#1) and #3, ability to recognize the person face. Security cameras will be mounted indoor on a tripod pointing out through a window. Just trying to get the most out of $500 wireless indoor security camera. I've been looking and reading on Vivotek, Arecont, and Axis. I did buy a Panasonic BL-C230a, but didn't like the image quality from it and returned it and software through HTTP wasn't the best.

Problem w/ Mobotix is it's too expensive and becomes very attractive to thieves. Mount it higher up and then you don't get a nice facial shot, which is the OP original goal. Do what my neighbor does, install a motion sensor flood light in the fron yard along w/ a $500 camera. If you configure the motion sensor flood light just right, anyone stepping anywhere on your front property will set off the flood light even if they are moving very very slowly. What I use to do is just get a flood light that turns on at dusk and off at dawn. Combine that w/ a camera and most thieves will stay away from your home once they see the camera and flood lights.

Anyone ever tried getting Vivotek ST7501 to work with the latest version of SQL from Microsoft or PostgreSQL? ST7501 comes with MS SQL 2005 Express/PostgreSQL but I'm trying to get it to work w/ MS SQL 2008 R2 Express or PostgreSQL 9.x database server and having some difficulty. Software installs and works fine, but I just want to test out and try out the latest SQL software out there to see if there are any improvement in speed, searches, etc... Thanks! BTW, I got my Vivotek IP8332 in the mail about 2 weeks ago. Just waiting for my RMA for my new MB to arrive from Newegg after 2 weeks.

Thansk for the link! Nice clean enclosure and fanless too. Unfortunately, I hate embedded systems because the OS is written/customized specifically for that hardware and is dependent upon the manufacturer for update. Generic system using off the shelf product, I can get better and faster support from the community. I build systems for fun and for family/friends when ask too. Only then, do I spend days researching like I'm doing now for security cameras. I'll call around later today to some shop around me and see if they carry Vivotek camers to see if I can see it in person and try it out before I buy from the local shop.

Thanks! I didn't know that. Unfortunately, outside mount wasn't a viable option given that I'll be moving out in about 3 months. After the home I was renting got robbed, I'm out. Also, I wanted to get a Mobotix or Axis that had a 180 FOV, but putting that on a one story home....I don't expect a $1400+ camera to be around that long. If I do decide to mount the Vivoktek IP8332 outside at the new home, at least a $400 loss isn't as big of a lost compare to $1400+.

I would if I can find a place that sells Vivotek locally to support the small business people. I don't care too much about taxes since it's a business expense and I have to pay taxes on it sooner or later anyways. Going to Vivotek website and looking for dealers in the USA, all I saw was Vivoktek in Sunnyvale, CA, which is about 15min away from my home. I'm sure they'll have all the cameras I want setup if they have a showroom and I can demo most of the cameras and software before I buy, but rather buy from a small mom/pop shop then the manufacturer or in this case, buy.com. Yelp search pulls up all kinds of garbage...a lot of which is related to apartments advertising they have security cameras on site for the residents safety.

I saw a comment in this forum by someone about the Vivotek IP8332 and it being the best bang for the buck. I'm reading up on the docs on this camera now. Anything else out there that is equivalent to this camera for around the same price? Exacq software supports this software. This will be great once I get the camera to evaluate Exacq vs whatever software that comes w/ the Vivotek. Update: A search on buy.com shows 3 different version of this camera. http://www.buy.com/retail/usersearchresults.asp?querytype=home&qu=ip8332&qxt=home&display=col The way buy.com describe it, it makes it sounds like the camera is manufacture by 4XEM. Going to 4XEM website, it says they are distributor. I'll double check the user manual again, but I thought there was only one version of the IP8332.

Do you mean the camera must be compatible with the software and OS that is run on my NVR? I can run either Windows 7 32/64bit or any flavor of Linux OS 32/64 bit. I believe ZoneMinder and Exacq works on Linux. Exacq also works on Windows and offer a trial edition. As for wireless...yeap..I read many stories on the wireless. Unfortunately, I'm trying to avoid running CAT5E/6 cable all over the ground in the house. I'm renting and prefer not to drill holes into the wall to run the ethernet cable only to tear them out when I move. The one camera the will be wired will be power by PoE and run from the garage into my bedroom(about a 25ft cable).

You can always sell advertisement spaces to other companies such as the retailer/business who sells the cameras and not the manufacturer of the camera. Ex. Mobotix ABC stinks and cost hundred dollars more then Axis XYZ. Recommendation; Buy Axis XYZ. Business Advertisments: We sell Axis XYZ for only $99.95, but WAIT! Buy within the next 1hr and we'll throw in free overnight shipping! You get the idea.

Generate foot traffic to their website and start selling advertisment spaces. I would love to see some real live photos for comparisons instead of reading reviews. Kind of like a digital camera forum, but more so focusing only on image quality for security cameras.

I believe the enclosure for Arecont's cameras is this: http://arecontvision.com/index.php?section=product&subsection=product_details&product_id=22

I planning on building my own NVR system that I can tuck away up in the attic somewhere and have a few questions. The motherboard I plan on buying is this: http://www.intel.com/products/desktop/motherboards/db-D525MW/D525MW-overview.htm It's an Intel mini-ITX motherboard using an Atom D525 processor. Q1. When recording off of IP cameras, is there a high CPU usage, GPU usage, etc...? Q2. Do I need 3rd party software to record video(not sitll frame) from the IP camera to the NVR or does it record from the IP camera directly into a video file and treats the NVR as a file server only? Q3. Will this motherboard and Atom D525 be able to handle 4 IP cameras? My plan was to install a 128GB SSD HDD and a 3.5" 3TB 5400RPM hard disk drive inside the system. I'm hoping I can get away w/ using a D525 processor. If there is a high taxation on the CPU and/or GPU, then I'll probably get a mini-ITX that has a socket 1156 and throw in a Intel i5 CPU or is that still not enough? I did look at some of the NAS or NVR systems that are offered by QNAP and they are also running an Atom D525 processor. So, I'm guessing I should be ok. Here's a link to one of QNAP NVR system showing it's using a dual core Atom processor. http://www.qnap.com/pro_detail_hardware.asp?p_id=158 Thanks!

No problem and I agree 100%. It takes time to research and find what works and what doesn't work. I've spent most of my day researching and making sure every component I buy for my NVR computer is compatible and reliable.

Hi, I'm looking into spending about $1500 on a single Tier 1(I'm guessing that's the highest) and need a camera that can do the followings: 1. Ability to access the camera remotely. I'm sure they all do since they are IP based, but just in case. 2. Ability to view the camera remotely. 3. Ability to record remotely videos(not just screenshots) at 30FPS. My internet upload is about 512kbps. So high quality w/ good compression is needed. 4. Ability to record locally at the same time as record remotely. 5. Nice to have, but not necessary - Ability to detect motion, alert me, and start streaming live video feed over the internet to me remotely so I can view it from my work computer. This will cutdown on bandwidth needed. No activities, updates occurs once every 1min,5min,10min,15min, etc, until it detects activies and start streaming every second until no more motion is detected for 1min afterward 6. VERY IMPORTANT - Ability to recognize the person face because whoever rob me is going to see his face all over the internet(Craigslists, FB, Youtube, etc...), at the mall, on flyers, w/ a $2K cash reward for providing me with address of the criminal. This way, the neighbors that don't know the person personally, will turn in the person too. 6. VERY IMPORTANT - Since I'm livinig in a rental, I would like the ability to take down my security system and move it to my next home that I rent. 5. MUST be able to record to a NAS or a small computer hidden away in the attic. NOTE: Wirelessly would be great and willing to shell out another $200 if the wireless feature justifies it. Signal from wireless AP will not be to big of a deal because I can add multiples WAP as repeaters to make sure the signal is strong enough to transmit from the camera to the NAS or hidden computer. Computer will most likely be an ATOM mini-ITX w/ passive cooling. Access to the computer will be done over a secure VNC or MS RDP. I looked at the Mobotix M12 and M24. My big concern on the M12 is that it lights up and make sounds based upon the youtube video I watched on it. I'm afraid that if I installed this, it will look so cool and expensive, that some jerk will come by, jump up, and rip the thing off the wall of the house. I saw a vandal proof version of the M12 I believe, but that was about $3K and remember, I'm renting and can't do a nice permanent install. Budget is about $3K for two security camera, not including software, POE switches, wiring, etc... Thank You! P.S. Don't mind me if I sound harsh...home was robbed this past Feb 3 and still pissed off. Fortunately, most stuff that I lost can be replaced. I lost about 1hr of a family recording that money can never replaced because the tape was still inside my camcorder, which they stole.

Could you clarify what you mean by headless setups? Do you mean NVR systems that do not require an add-in card such as a GeoVision DVR cards? And lastly, if you don't mind, could you share the specs on your ATOM system? Ex. PSU wattage, brand, case, memory, etc... I'm debating on a very small box or a bigger box that can support up to 4 HDD total. Small Box: http://www.mini-box.com/M350-universal-mini-itx-enclosure using picoPSU power supply at 60W Pro: Very small; easier to hide Con: Room for two 2.5" HDD only. or something bigger like a Silverstone or Lian case that can handle a regular size ATX case. Pro: Easier to find replacement PSU; Room for 3.5" HDD that can hold 2TB+. Cons: Bigger case and much harder to hide. I'm still reading up the specs of the components to make sure 60W is sufficient when running both hard drive at full speed, CPU at 100%. I'm just afraid it may draw too much power and cause the powerbrick to heat up and become a fire hazard. Thanks!

Thank You! for your comments. Been very helpful. I was actually trying to see if I can boot off a 32GB SDHC card and free up the other SATA port for a RAID 1 setup. And yes, my mini-ITX will be running FileZilla FTP server. Since FTP access is all done internally on the LAN only, I'm not too concern about transmitting my username/password in cleartext. Guess I'll start ordering parts by this weekend to build my NVR/File Server. I'll take screenshots and document my work in case anyone else is interested in it.

Ok...did a speed test and got 2.16Mb/s. Unfortunately, I don't know if thats Comcast speed boost that just kicking in for the first 10MB or is that constant. And since I'll be moving in about 2-4 months, I wasn't sure if I'll have cable or dsl service at my new place. DSL around her only offer 768Kb/s tops on upstream. Best case scenario, I have cable modem service at the new place; worst case, DSL only. D12 looks interesting. Just need to figure out how to mount it temporary as it look like I'll have to drill holes into the wall of my rental property. Now, how do I find a certified Mobotix dealer in the Bay Area, if they exist.

Doesn't have to be 30fps, but just not too slow where by I don't see anything if the person run by the security camera and all I capture is 1 or 2 picture of the person only.

Has anyone ever tried using the Eye-Fi (http://www.amazon.com/Eye-Fi-Explore-Wireless-Memory-EYE-FI-4EV/dp/B001U0O5QO/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&tag=gpse-20&qid=1297445848&sr=8-6) SDHC card, install it into a security camera that records stills and video and have the pictures and videos uploaded to a small computer that is store in a hidden place, like up in the attic? Why would you want to do this? Since a lot of those security cameras are restricted to a maximum of 16gb or 32gb SDHC card, transferring them over to a small computer means you can do continuos recording 24x7 at the highest resolution and FPS possible and be able to capture over 30 days or more base on your HDD size...which can be a 3TB drive. Computer wise...an Atom processor on a mini-ITX motherboard. Thanks!

I'm not exactly sure what you would call this device and that's probably why I'm having a hard time googling it. What I want is the ability to hear when the door rings or someone knocking on my front door from my computer and cellphone while not at home. Ex. 1. Person walks up to front door and rings door bell and/or knock on front door. 2. Sensor picks up the noise at the door or door bell ringer. 3. This device sends a notification to my cell or computer instantly saying someone is at the door. 4. I can use my computer's mic or cellphone and talk to it and the speakers at my front door will relay my voice as if I'm standing right inside my house next to the door. Preference is to do this all via IP and standalone without the next for a computer to be on 24/7. I thought about using something like Skype and sticking a microphone right on the door and I log into Skype on my cell/computer from a different locations and I can talk back and forth, but this requires a laptop being on 24/7 and another 3rd party software to notify me once sound is detected. Any help would be appreciated! Thanks!

I'm reading the review and it sounds like the Mobotix T24 requires the person at the front door to ring the door bell before you get an email notifications or phone call on your cell. Q1. Anyone know if the Mobotix is able to detect motion and automatically call and email me without the need for the person to push the button on the T24? Q2. Can the phone call be done over Skype to a Android phone running Skype or must the call originate from a land line to a cell phone only? Q3. Can it record simultaneously onto a NAS drive and remotely onto a desktop PC I have at work? Q4. Can it record the audio conversation between me and the person at the front door with the need for the person at the front door having to push a button to initiate the recording? I just downloaded the owner manual and will read through it tonight when I have more time. Thanks in advance!

Thanks, but this still look like it requires something on the outside. Sorry, I wasn't clear at the start. Video isn't important(nice but not needed) since I have about 7 types of Nanny hidden camera all over the home in addition to cameras on the outside. I want to fake it to make it sound like someone is actually at the door asking "What do you want?" (Yeah, no longer Mr. Nice Guy after my home got robbed.). I understand the sound quality is heavily dependent on the speakers to make it sound as real as possible and thats the goal. I want to be able trick anyone that comes to my front door and hear my voice would think I'm just on the other side of the door and not talking back through some intercom. Direct wiring is not necessary since the volume from the doorbell or knock on the door will be much louder then anything else at home especially if the MIC is tape right up to the front door or door bell chime. It will be like sticking your up ear up to the device that generate the door bell sound when someone rings it or pressing your ear against the front door when someone knock...probably make you death. I'll definitely read up on Mobotix product line. Thanks everyone!

Thanks and I'll read up on it. I was looking more for something that will be completely transparent/hidden from the person who's at my front door. I want to pretend like I'm home, when I'm really not at home because the person(s) that will come and rob you will ring your doorbell to check and see if anyone responds. The link looks like it's something that needs to be added to the outside of the front door, which I'm trying to avoid.

Hi, I'm looking to get some quotes for a security system for my retail store. What I need right now is an alarm system and security cameras, to monitor and record activities in the store remotely. I'm currently looking at a Geovision system for surveillance. Please provide me with your name, number, and website(if you have one) and I'll give you a call. Thanks!

Thanks! He's located in Riverside, CA, but does he do installation or have someone he contracts out to do installation in N. Cal? Elk Grove is right next to California's state capital Sacramento. Thanks!