Very Excited to Learn - A Noob looking for some answers

[Ozone 0]

I originally posted a thread but was in the wrong area. After a lot of research I have come to these conclusions:

 

I need a ZyXEL ES2108PWR 8-Port Layer 2 Managed Switch with PoE Support as well as another NIC card

I need some sort of software to manage the recordings. I plan on running it off of my computer.(Suggestions?)

I need some cameras(see below)

I need RJ-45 cables to run to the camera's. What is the cheapest way(but not sacrificing quality) to hook up the camera. Shouldnt need more than 100ft-150ft per camera.

 

What I am trying to do is be able to watch the cars that are parked outfront of my house. My brothers car has been keyed 3 times, the hoods of 2 of our cars have dents from people running up them, and people drive by the cars and egg them.

 

What I want is to try and capture the LP's of the cars that drive by the road while also being able to monitor the cars for any activity. I plan on doing this with 2 cameras, one on the telephone poll and one on top of a fence post(I will camouflage them so they aren't too obvious)

 

 

 

I am standing in the same position what I took the photos to give you an idea. The speed limit on the road is roughly 25mph(40km/h) and there is a raised cross walk right where I want to capture the license plates. This could be either good or bad.

 

The camera's I was looking at were the IPC-HFW3200S. Since none(that I know of) own this camera I guess I have to wait to see how great the quality is at night and even if it can capture a license plate at that speed/distance.

 

Any suggestions on alternatives to this camera which will be able to capture a license plate?

 

Lastly, if I add 5 or 6 camera's in total, will this hurt the quality of the other camera's because it is recorded to my computer? I should I consider investing in a NVR?

 

Thanks in advance for the help.

[buellwinkle 0]

License plates are one of the hardest things to capture and there are cameras specifically made for this purpose called LPR cameras. I have never tried one outside a trade show floor, so can't recomend one but the good ones are great at capturing plates and can cost $1,500 on up. Messoa was to supposed to release an IP camera to do this, but I have not seen it yet, the problem with attending trade shows, they show you stuff you can't get for a year, or maybe never.

 

The closest thing that may work is a camera with awesome WDR capabilities as you are working against two issues, at night, you have headlights and taillights that blow out the license plate area that is much dimmer, so you see a black spot where the plate is, the other is license plates are highly reflective, so if you shine a light, like an IR LED at the plate, it will reflect back to the camera and come out white. Speed ironically is not an issue because you have to capture the plates as close to perpindicular to the plate as possible, so no side shots of the car. If you can't see the plate with your eyes from where you want to mount the camera, you will not see it with the camera. The best I've personally used that will do that is the ACTi KCM-5611, about $800 street. Awesome 2MP camera, 18x zoom, autofocus, IR illuminator. Still, cheaper than a decent LPR camera. If you go with ACTi, they provide really good NVR software for recording for free (up to 16 cameras).

 

Most LPR cameras have long telephoto lenses as you don't want to capture much more than the license plate area and they are not intended to be camaera used to monitor an area, you will need a seperate camera for that and the Dahua you mention will do well for that. But if you stick with ACTi camera, the NVR software is free, if you mix brands, you are limited in what will work with Dahua.

 

Ethernet cable is cheap, you can get a 1,000' spool for about $60 for indoor grade, maybe $180 for burial grade. Then get a bag of rj45 connectors and a crimper and cable tester for $20 and you are set. Run the wires where you want, crimp on the connectors as needed. If you have crimp-a-phobia, you can buy pre-made cables from Monoprice.com here in So Cal, they sell up to 100' cables, pretty cheap, like $10-12 last time I looked. The problem is now you have to deal with the rj45 connector as you feed wires through walls, makes it harder and I would end breaking the springy thing on the back of the rj45, so I would end up crimping a new one on anyway.

[Kawboy12R 0]

I prefer snaking bare cables too, but if I make one I try and put antisnag covers on. My local electronics supplier sells these as well as the connectors. If not, black electrical tape helps with fishing them through, and ESPECIALLY with pulling them back out.

[thewireguys 3]

FYI unless you own the telephone poll you can't install a camera on it.

[Tilly 0]

Have to agree with the other boys sorry. I'd invest in an awesome car cover. Sure it's a pain in the butt. It may be cheaper in the long run though. Can be extremely hard to capture LPs in varous conditions during both the day and night. Not to mention expensive. If you like check out the following link. http://66.77.255.104/www.boschsecurity.us/en-us/Service/Training/licenseplate

Hope that may help a bit.

Regards

[buellwinkle 0]

FYI unless you own the telephone poll you can't install a camera on it.

 

Don't know about telephone poles as we have underground utilities, but we mount cameras to light poles owned by the utility company, had them come out to replace the light bulb and never said anything.

[Ozone 0]

Thanks for the responses everyone. What I think I will do is stick with buying a couple IPC-HFW3200S's. Also looking at some budget friendly ones to put around the yard. Looking at buying upwards of 4 or 5 camera's but looking to spend $100-$200 for each camera and the IPC-HFW3200S is on the higher side of that(still haven't received a quote yet)