Home Security System

[Epik 0]

After two break-ins within the past year I figure it was time to look into a security system. I'm looking for a max of 4 cameras, starting with 2 and expand later. I'm more interesting in deterrence and being able to see the surrounding property rather than actually trying to ID someone (but that is always nice). From browsing around on here I've pulled this together for about $600.

 

2 Dome Cameras - VCM-24VF

DVR - Dahua ESDV-PROLINE-4 Security DVR

12v Power supply with 4 way splitter

Baluns (unless I can use a EV01P-VP-T)

Cat5e cable

 

Is there anything else I would need (besides tools) to make this work? I have no experience in electrical work and installing anything like this but it seems simple enough. Install cameras, baluns on each side of cat5e cable running to DVR.

 

Are there any other cheaper cameras I could use that are recommended? I'd like to keep it under $500 total.

[vector18 1]

Is there sufficient amount of light where your going to install the cameras? Those models you posted look like they are non IR. The DVR looks like it's fine, except I would prefer full D1 at 30fps rather than the 7fps that the

one you listed performs at. And lastly, if possible, run siamese cable rather than cat 5 with baluns. If you

use baluns, thats just one more thing that can go bad and you need somewhere to put the balun behind the

camera and sometimes do not have room for them.

[Soundy 1]

Is there sufficient amount of light where your going to install the cameras? Those models you posted look like they are non IR.

No, they're not IR - they don't need it. They're one of the best-performing low-light cameras around.

 

The DVR looks like it's fine, except I would prefer full D1 at 30fps rather than the 7fps that the one you listed performs at.

30fps is overrated and unnecessary in most cases. Most people won't even see a difference between 30 and 15fps, and unless you're in a casino trying to watch a dealer's hands, you won't miss anything at 7fps. This DVR is fine.

 

And lastly, if possible, run siamese cable rather than cat 5 with baluns. If you use baluns, thats just one more thing that can go bad and you need somewhere to put the balun

 

Please. Hundreds if not thousands of baluns installed now in the last five or six years, and I've maybe three fail in the field once they're in service.

 

you need somewhere to put the balun behind the camera and sometimes do not have room for them.

This is the only concern with the EV01P-VP-T - it won't fit inside the VCM's back-box. It also only has a male jack for the power connector, so you can't plug the power splitter into it.

 

Instead: if you're going to flush-mount the cameras, go with the EV01P-VP - it's a package with two baluns, one with a male plug for the camera end (which you're going to cut off for this camera anyway), one with a female plug to plug the power adapter into.

 

OR... if you're surface-mounting the cameras (using the back-boxes), get two EV01P-VPDs, which have both male and female plugs, to put at the head end and plug the power supply into... then for the camera end, find a pair of these:

 

Split out the camera end of the Cat5e, connect the video pair to this, and the power pairs directly to the camera's terminals. These baluns are a nice snug fit inside the VCM back-box, which helps keep the wiring in place while you assemble the camera into it.

 

It will look something like this (although with different colors IF you're using the EV01P baluns at the other end):

 

[vector18 1]

First of all, an excellent low light camera STILL needs some sort of light to work. If it's pitch dark or very dark,

they are not going to be acceptable. You will need IR's. That is why I asked if there is any sort of light source

rather than saying that those cameras do not have IR's and will not work at night. Please read what I write before

critiquing.

 

As far as FPS, that is your opinion if it's overrated or not. I am a perfectionist and if at all possible, if it means

just to spend a couple of dollars more, I would rather install something better quality for my customers. I'd

rather not have any issues that one day something happens and once looked into the matter, the question

arises 'why did you not give us realtime at 30fps?' At least I can honestly tell myself and my customers, I

installed the best thats out there and I did not cut corners and try to save money from buying a lesser of

a product. If you want to tell your customers, 7 or 15 fps is just as good, knock yourself out.

 

As far as baluns, again, I am a perfectionist, I don't know how you feel about yourself. But you just mentioned

that you had 3 fail in your 5 years of installing. For me, that is NOT acceptable. Can you guess how many

baluns failed on me? That's right, NONE! I do not use them. I have had colleagues complain about them

and not only are they another thing to purchase, but in my distributor, a box of Cat5e is more expensive than

Siamese cable! So, between the cat5 and 2 baluns, your cost is more money and more of a chance of something

going bad rather than just using Siamese. Anyone that disagrees with that, should hang up their tool belt and

get into another industry.

[Soundy 1]

in my distributor, a box of Cat5e is more expensive than

Siamese cable!

What are you comparing FT4 Siamese vs FT6 Cat5e or something? Retail Cat5e around here is cheaper than just plain RG59... Siamese is nearly twice the price. Given that the OP will probably be getting his cable from somewhere like Home Depot, rather than YOUR distributor, I expect he'll find the price point quite different than you're used to.

 

Can you guess how many

baluns failed on me? That's right, NONE!

And I suppose you've NEVER had a failed BNC or a bad crimp (and if you say no, I call bull$#!t).

 

Oh, and if cost is such a concern... how much extra does it cost to come back and pull new wire in if someone wants to upgrade to a megepixel camera?

 

BTW, Mr. Perfectionist, your line breaks make your posts very disjointed and painful to read.

[tomcctv 189]

a box of Cat5e is more expensive than

Siamese cable! So, between the cat5 and 2 baluns, your cost is more money

 

 

change your distributor. it should cost the same or less. but coax might seam cheaper.

 

lets take 4 cameras 100m away from dvr (same direction) thats 400m of coax ...... its only 100m of cat5.

 

plus you must be limited to the size of installs you do ???

 

 

FPS. ok if you want to set at 30fps for your customer thats your choice. but why put your customers through a big expence in extra hard drives. you or your customer cant see the differance from 15 to 30fps.

 

 

 

30fps or coax is not the only thing that make you or anyone else a perfectionist

[vector18 1]

I'm not sure what country you guys in, but where I'm from, Siamese is cheaper than cat5e. So how much does home depot charge for Siamese and how much for cat5e? Yes, I have had a bnc or two go bad, but was only due to an improper install by either another installer or a pre existing job that I took over or serviced.

 

Considering how reasonable DVR's have become these days, everyone of mY customers receive at least one terabyte and motion recording so do not lecture me about wasted hard drive size. Bottom line, you guys have your opinions and I have mine. I have 30 years experience and 10 work vehicles with a mechanic and helper in every truck. We do CCTV, burglar alarms, fire alarms, home audio video, and more. 90 percent of my customers are all well to do and have no problem paying my prices as long as they know I am not trying to save here and there and I use quality equipment.

 

And for your info, you can use megapixel cameras over coax for the person who brought that up!

[tomcctv 189]

I have 30 years experience

 

is that all.

 

 

everyone of mY customers receive at least one terabyte and motion recording so do not lecture me about wasted hard drive size

 

 

 

with 30 years you should know even on motion you are still using twice the hard drive space at 30fps. since you cant see any differance between 15 and 30 fps which ever way you want to put it your still wasting money

 

so what country are you in that makes cat5 so expensive ??

[shockwave199 0]

After two break-ins within the past year I figure it was time to look into a security system. I'm looking for a max of 4 cameras, starting with 2 and expand later. I'm more interesting in deterrence and being able to see the surrounding property rather than actually trying to ID someone (but that is always nice). From browsing around on here I've pulled this together for about $600.

 

2 Dome Cameras - VCM-24VF

DVR - Dahua ESDV-PROLINE-4 Security DVR

12v Power supply with 4 way splitter

Baluns (unless I can use a EV01P-VP-T)

Cat5e cable

 

Is there anything else I would need (besides tools) to make this work? I have no experience in electrical work and installing anything like this but it seems simple enough. Install cameras, baluns on each side of cat5e cable running to DVR.

 

Are there any other cheaper cameras I could use that are recommended? I'd like to keep it under $500 total.

Frankly I think the cnb's are over rated, but that's me.

 

If you've had two break ins within the past year, you have other issues to tackle before a camera system that might or might not deter another one, and probably won't help you solve anything if another robbery happens. You seem a bit ho-hum after being robbed twice. After being robbed twice, I think I'd want armed guards, attack dogs, and ptz cameras at every corner of the property. Not an overview where ID isn't important, as you put it. Is your home alarmed? Has the break ins occurred at certain windows or doors? Have those locations been addressed with new locking hardware? If you haven't, consider your process in these steps-

 

- Fix and/or replace all entrance points with new locking hardware, which can cost hundreds in itself, btw- for the good stuff.

 

- Install a decent home alarm system, with perhaps alarm sirens outside front and back. Most home wireless systems are a diy project and while they're not always perfect, it's WAY better than nothing at all.

 

- Proper exterior lights on all doorways and entrances that need it. Motion lights at any other points you feel need light. A good lighting scheme will help any cameras you install see better too.

 

Finally, a camera system. The one you put together is fine. If it were me, I'd get an eight channel system. I'd have cameras on entrances for ID, and however many needed for overviews of the property. Those overviews will benefit from exterior lighting. The wider the shot, the more you'll need light to help illuminate the area to actually see something other than darkness or low light noise.

 

It costs money to deter crime, but it's either spend it on that or lose it to being robbed. And since it's happened twice now, you are a mark. Do as much as you can to help stop it. Best of luck to you.

[vector18 1]

Well, I can see the difference between 15 and 30 fps so that's all that counts. Maybe you don't have an eye for it or you just really don't care if it's a slight difference or not. But I do care and I want the best. With motion and at least a terabyte, the majority of my set ups get one month. That is MORE than enough storage so we can end the hard drive topic right now. I will repeat myself, you have your opinion, I have mine. And my opinion has brought me plenty of success and a large amount of very pleased customers!

[vector18 1]

This is one of many topics I found on a quick search on google why 30 fps is recommended over 15fps.

 

http://neuron2.net/LVG/whichformat.html

[tomcctv 189]

This is one of many topics I found on a quick search on google why 30 fps is recommended over 15fps.

 

http://neuron2.net/LVG/whichformat.html

 

 

 

 

have you seen how old that artical is ???

 

cctv has changed alot since then

 

 

quote >> Using a higher resolution will provide more image detail, but the file will be very large. I recommend using 320x240 for several reasons:

[vector18 1]

Like I said, I found many topics why 30 would be better than 15. I never said and am not saying 15 is not

close to 30 or by human eye almost impossible to distinguish. I'm simply saying that 30fps is better than

15fps and for my own preference, I want better and so do my customers. Very simple. The OP asked

this forums opinion on which products he chose, and I stated that I personally would prefer 30fps at full D1 so there

is no chance at all in missing the slightest bit of detail on recorded video. All of a sudden people are telling me

that I'm wrong and that 15fps is more than enough, and 30fps per is going to eat up my hard drive. What they should have said is, "If your on a budget and looking to save money, you can stay with the 15fps dvr because

there is not much of a difference and you can record slightly longer, just in case you go out of the country for 2 months and need to play something back that was recorded 2 months ago."