Timestamp on security displays

[tomcctv 190]

it was claimed by the media that this covert video camera was a part of the hotel CCTV system. That obviously is not true. There was a monitor in the hotel lobby showing screens for the 16 camera hotel security system.

 

 

 

 

thats right ..... public CCTV will be displayed...... but covert for staff reasons would not be.

 

if you look at each footage at least 3 of the public footage has white time stamp ..... the 2 covert have yellow time stamp..... your just looking at two systems.

[janiegh 0]

it was claimed by the media that this covert video camera was a part of the hotel CCTV system. That obviously is not true. There was a monitor in the hotel lobby showing screens for the 16 camera hotel security system.

 

 

 

 

thats right ..... public CCTV will be displayed...... but covert for staff reasons would not be.

 

if you look at each footage at least 3 of the public footage has white time stamp ..... the 2 covert have yellow time stamp..... your just looking at two systems.

 

There was only one covert camera in the hotel that has been identified and it was focused on Van Der Sloot's door. It had nothing to do with monitoring of the hotel staff.

 

There may have been a second covert camera inside the room; but no one has ever provided video footage from that one.

[Numb-nuts 1]

Sociopath !

[fa chris 0]

Most people who know about this case have very strong opinions about it. And I was looking for some unbiased opinions.

 

Good assumption. And given the nature of our business, we're obviously cautious when people start asking how to tamper with equipment used to put away criminals.

 

I'll play the guessing though. Let's assume it is, in fact, a covert camera.

The covert camera is a custom job, no way of knowing the exact equipment inside of it. To take the cover off it's simply 4 screws, possibly 4 tamper resistant screws but doubtful. Why are you asking about this? Do you think someone tampered with it? I assume the box has since been removed? Do you have access to it?

 

What was the box mounted too? Does it look like conduit could be stubbed into the back of the box with wires running elsewhere? I can't tell if it's on a door header or what. A highly portable covert camera set up easily moved to focus on a single persons door would most likely have power and recording ability inside of it, which could be why there's such a large box.

 

If you want to speculate who put the camera there, if it was someone, like lets say the FBI, the camera would be a whole lot more covert than a 12x12 box mounted to a wall. If the hotel owns (or leases) the camera, even if it's not connected back to their main security system, it's still apart of their security system.

 

To speculate on the equipment used:

The camera in the picture you showed us is also named Camera 2. If there are two cameras in the box, it's probably connected to a small DVR instead of recording to SD cards.

 

I'd be very surprised if the thing was wireless.

 

We often use board cameras (for a randomly googled example, a board camera is something like this: http://www.huntcctv.com/p-bc-htc-2h6.asp ), which we mount in a small box with a hole in it, and tinted lexan covers the hole. The camera is mounted behind the lexan so it's protected. I don't do covert cameras, but we sometimes use this set up for gate pedestals with cameras, intercoms, card readers, etc. I should also note since it's such a deep box, a normal cctv camera might be mounted in it too.

 

To meet the requirements of highly portable, some type of power supply running off of batteries would need to be in the can powering the camera and the recording device. If there are no batteries, then it'd need to be plugged in somewhere, but I didn't see any cords (unless they're coming in through the back).

 

Anyone else want to give it a go? Could camera 2 be recording to an SD Card? Would an analog camera record it like that unless it's connected to a small DVR?

[janiegh 0]

Most people who know about this case have very strong opinions about it. And I was looking for some unbiased opinions.

 

Good assumption. And given the nature of our business, we're obviously cautious when people start asking how to tamper with equipment used to put away criminals.

 

I'll play the guessing though. Let's assume it is, in fact, a covert camera.

The covert camera is a custom job, no way of knowing the exact equipment inside of it. To take the cover off it's simply 4 screws, possibly 4 tamper resistant screws but doubtful. Why are you asking about this? Do you think someone tampered with it? I assume the box has since been removed? Do you have access to it?

 

What was the box mounted too? Does it look like conduit could be stubbed into the back of the box with wires running elsewhere? I can't tell if it's on a door header or what. A highly portable covert camera set up easily moved to focus on a single persons door would most likely have power and recording ability inside of it, which could be why there's such a large box.

 

If you want to speculate who put the camera there, if it was someone, like lets say the FBI, the camera would be a whole lot more covert than a 12x12 box mounted to a wall. If the hotel owns (or leases) the camera, even if it's not connected back to their main security system, it's still apart of their security system.

 

To speculate on the equipment used:

The camera in the picture you showed us is also named Camera 2. If there are two cameras in the box, it's probably connected to a small DVR instead of recording to SD cards.

 

I'd be very surprised if the thing was wireless.

 

We often use board cameras (for a randomly googled example, a board camera is something like this: http://www.huntcctv.com/p-bc-htc-2h6.asp ), which we mount in a small box with a hole in it, and tinted lexan covers the hole. The camera is mounted behind the lexan so it's protected. I don't do covert cameras, but we sometimes use this set up for gate pedestals with cameras, intercoms, card readers, etc. I should also note since it's such a deep box, a normal cctv camera might be mounted in it too.

 

To meet the requirements of highly portable, some type of power supply running off of batteries would need to be in the can powering the camera and the recording device. If there are no batteries, then it'd need to be plugged in somewhere, but I didn't see any cords (unless they're coming in through the back).

 

Anyone else want to give it a go? Could camera 2 be recording to an SD Card? Would an analog camera record it like that unless it's connected to a small DVR?

 

I don't have access to anything except photos and videos from media reports. And the book about the case.

 

There is a picture that shows the box hanging on a wall overhang outside the hotel room door. After looking at this again, I think the box is smaller than my original estimate. It may be more like 8x8 or 6x6. (I'll post this picture later today.)

 

My guess is that some outside party arranged with the hotel owner to install this camera. It may have been the journalist (or someone like him) who had been following JVS around the world trying to videotape him making a confession in the Holloway case. For that reason I think there probably was a second camera inside the hotel room at some point which was removed before the police arrived.

 

I also tend to think that the video from the covert camera outside the door may have been edited before it was given to police. Would that be possible if an SD card was used?

[tomcctv 190]

After looking at this again, I think the box is smaller than my original estimate. It may be more like 8x8 or 6x6. (I'll post this picture later today.)

 

 

 

like i said posts back its a 4x4 box.

 

 

I also tend to think that the video from the covert camera outside the door may have been edited before it was given to police. Would that be possible if an SD card was used?

 

 

 

i think a case as big as this the footage would have gone through its water mark and electronic signature tests.

 

 

your hungup on a SD system...... as you have seen there are two DVRs used hence the reason the box is still there.

 

 

 

everyone can guess till the cows come home about the guys case ..... and i think it belongs here than on a cctv forum http://www.godlikeproductions.com/forum1/message1093416/pg1

[janiegh 0]

This is a picture that shows the hotel room door. The white box with the covert camera in it is to the left of the door on the overhang. (Blue arrow points to the box.)

[fa chris 0]

have a floorplan layout by chance?

[janiegh 0]

have a floorplan layout by chance?

 

If you mean a floor plan of the hotel, no I don't have anything like that.

 

I'll attach a diagram of the hotel room. Note that the covert camera outside the door is marked.

 

I have a picture of the front of the hotel which might give an idea about how the rooms are arranged if you'd like to see that.

 

Another piece of information---This may have been planned as a short term surveillance, as little as 6 hours, probably not longer than 24 hours.

[tomcctv 190]

can i ask WHY you think this guy was setup ........... have you read the case file and FBI report. no women are safe with this guy.

 

your looking at this case ...... how about 5 years before ..... listen that 3 girls in his company who have died his killing goes back years.

 

 

if he does get off with this case and kills again ....... what are you all going to say sorry we where all wrong.

 

Good to see Alabama still has the death penalty. and they get him for the death of Natalee Holloway.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natalee_Holloway

[janiegh 0]

can i ask WHY you think this guy was setup ........... have you read the case file and FBI report. no women are safe with this guy.

 

your looking at this case ...... how about 5 years before ..... listen that 3 girls in his company who have died his killing goes back years.

 

 

if he does get off with this case and kills again ....... what are you all going to say sorry we where all wrong.

 

Good to see Alabama still has the death penalty. and they get him for the death of Natalee Holloway.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natalee_Holloway

 

I don't know where you are getting some of this information. I'm not posting on this board to discuss guilt or innocence in the case.

 

I'm just looking for some facts about the surveillance cameras.

 

Just personal curiosity. Nothing sinister.

[tomcctv 190]

I don't know where you are getting some of this information. I'm not posting on this board to discuss guilt or innocence in the case.

 

 

sorry by your questions i thought you was.

 

This is a good part of the reason why I didn't identify the case. Anyone who has heard about it from media reports assumes that he is guilty of all the terrible things he has been accused of. I think it's a lot more complicated than that.

 

This covert camera was placed specifically to monitor his door. Who put it there and why is a big question. Who retrieved the video from the camera and gave it to the police? Could the video have been altered before the police received it? Lots of questions.

 

 

but your questions have been answered. look at the reports two cctv systems in hotel 1 covert staff 1 for public viewing.

 

 

now the box you posted is a 4x4 with a wired covert. and i dont think that any law enforcement would have used any of the 4 cameras used without having the electronic signature checked first

[janiegh 0]

can i ask WHY you think this guy was setup ........... have you read the case file and FBI report. no women are safe with this guy.

 

your looking at this case ...... how about 5 years before ..... listen that 3 girls in his company who have died his killing goes back years.

 

 

if he does get off with this case and kills again ....... what are you all going to say sorry we where all wrong.

 

Good to see Alabama still has the death penalty. and they get him for the death of Natalee Holloway.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natalee_Holloway

 

You obviously know very little about the case.

[janiegh 0]

I've had some good responses to my questions from some members of this board. I appreciate that.

 

Here's a good link I found about how board cameras work:

 

http://www.spycamerasetc.com/faq.html

[fa chris 0]

Looking at the floor plan layout and the screen shot of the camera (Camera 2), it looks like a normally placed camera to monitor the hallway. Probably hard wired back to a DVR with 8/16/32/whatever other cameras used only for the hotel security staff to look for incidents after the fact, not to actively monitor everything.

 

The only odd part about this set up is it's not a standard camera but a board camera in a custom enclosure. It might be the typical way of doing things in South America, or it might just be a budget job as it'd be a very cheap set up.

 

This could be easily verified by walking around the hotel looking for similar enclosures in the corridors.

[janiegh 0]

Looking at the floor plan layout and the screen shot of the camera (Camera 2), it looks like a normally placed camera to monitor the hallway. Probably hard wired back to a DVR with 8/16/32/whatever other cameras used only for the hotel security staff to look for incidents after the fact, not to actively monitor everything.

 

The only odd part about this set up is it's not a standard camera but a board camera in a custom enclosure. It might be the typical way of doing things in South America, or it might just be a budget job as it'd be a very cheap set up.

 

This could be easily verified by walking around the hotel looking for similar enclosures in the corridors.

 

According to a DeTelegraaf article, this was the only camera of its kind in the hallways.

 

The diagram may be a bit deceptive as the hallway also goes to the left. You can see that in the photo that shows the box on the wall to the left of the door.

[chesterfield 0]

To play devils advocate here, but it may be the only "covert" camera that has been noted. Though isnt that the point of covert cameras? Not to be noted?

 

If this camera is part of a system designed to monitor employees within the building rather than general public, then there may well be many more of these type of cameras planted within other mundane looking boxes/objects around the place.

 

I can honestly say, I have no knowedge of this case, person etc at all. It does look from my point of view (somoene who has no idea about the case you are referring to) that you are looking for a conspiracy theory here, or ways in which this evidence, whatever it shows, can be discredited.

 

How do you know there isnt another camera in that light fitting pointing the other way down the corridor for example?

[Soundy 1]

How do you know there isnt another camera in that light fitting pointing the other way down the corridor for example?

Good point - we don't. We know if there were other cameras in the hotel room itself, for that matter. We only know about the ones we're told about by the articles and book.

 

For all we know, in fact, that box could be a decoy itself, to distract attention from another nearby covert camera.

[janiegh 0]

How do you know there isnt another camera in that light fitting pointing the other way down the corridor for example?

Good point - we don't. We know if there were other cameras in the hotel room itself, for that matter. We only know about the ones we're told about by the articles and book.

 

For all we know, in fact, that box could be a decoy itself, to distract attention from another nearby covert camera.

 

It's possible. But there was a regular 16 camera CCTV system installed in the hotel and a monitor at the front desk that showed all 16 screens at the same time.

 

Wouldn't this system cover all the hallways. Why would it be necessary to have a covert system in the hallways?

[tomcctv 190]

Wouldn't this system cover all the hallways. Why would it be necessary to have a covert system in the hallways?

 

 

 

thats the whole point of covert. no point in covert and then display it on a public monitor.

 

 

 

lots of hotels use covert cctv. covet does good things in hotels 1 watches and looks after the staff. people dont understand what the staff have to put up with in a hotel.

 

 

do you know how many room cleaners are attacked each day. and included in that are the sick guys that open the door to the cleaner with no cloths on.

 

we have done hotel work for most of our years and have see some odd stuff going on.

[Soundy 1]

How do you know there isnt another camera in that light fitting pointing the other way down the corridor for example?

Good point - we don't. We know if there were other cameras in the hotel room itself, for that matter. We only know about the ones we're told about by the articles and book.

 

For all we know, in fact, that box could be a decoy itself, to distract attention from another nearby covert camera.

 

It's possible. But there was a regular 16 camera CCTV system installed in the hotel and a monitor at the front desk that showed all 16 screens at the same time.

 

Wouldn't this system cover all the hallways. Why would it be necessary to have a covert system in the hallways?

It could have actually been a 16-channel system with only 16 displayed. There could have been an entirely separate system with a number of covert cameras. There could have been self-contained covert units installed as part of the investigation. Someone might have had their own "nanny-cam" installed for another purpose and caught some useful footage.

 

There simply is no way to know for sure beyond what the book and new articles tell us. There are infinite possibilities that may have been omitted, or may not have even been revealed to the authors. There may be lots of evidence that wasn't used in court because it wasn't necessary.

 

Too much speculation based on too few facts.

[janiegh 0]

If there was a system of covert cameras in the hotel, I assume that the video from those cameras would be recorded on a DVR someplace in the hotel. If one of the videos captured someone involved in criminal activity, I suppose it would be possible to isolate the footage that showed the criminal activity and to put those segments on a separate video.

 

Is this correct?

[tomcctv 190]

If there was a system of covert cameras in the hotel, I assume that the video from those cameras would be recorded on a DVR someplace in the hotel. If one of the videos captured someone involved in criminal activity, I suppose it would be possible to isolate the footage that showed the criminal activity and to put those segments on a separate video.

 

Is this correct?

 

 

 

i know its something you dont want to hear but there was TWO systems. it says that in the case files.

 

here is the video of each system. look at bottom corner. the text shows they are not from the same DVR.

 

[janiegh 0]

If there was a system of covert cameras in the hotel, I assume that the video from those cameras would be recorded on a DVR someplace in the hotel. If one of the videos captured someone involved in criminal activity, I suppose it would be possible to isolate the footage that showed the criminal activity and to put those segments on a separate video.

 

Is this correct?

 

 

 

i know its something you dont want to hear but there was TWO systems. it says that in the case files.

 

here is the video of each system. look at bottom corner. the text shows they are not from the same DVR.

 

 

I understand what you're saying. If there are 2 systems each system would have its own recorder.

 

So, on either one of the recorders, I assume it would be possible to isolate footage and make a separate video.