MineHunter2012 0 Posted May 15, 2014 Hi Folks, I just stumbled across these forums while doing research on a new system, and I figured I would elicit the help of the people who do this type of thing all the time before I make some costly mistakes. My wife and I live full time in our RV, mostly up in the central Cascade Mountain Range of Washington state. We love the lifestyle and will be doing this for the foreseeable future. Unfortunately, my wife is also disabled, and I work full time down in the “lowlands.” This basically leaves her alone at the RV all day, with sometimes no one around for miles. While we are concerned about the furry creatures that allow us to camp in their backyard, we are more concerned with the two-legged kind, and that is why we are looking for a way for her to check from various angles before she goes outside, and/or if she hears something out of the ordinary. So, we thought a CCTV system would be a good way to go, but as I dug deeper into the research of a system the more my mind boggled at the available choices. I am hoping some of the experts on this board can help guide me to a system or starting point. Further, based on what I have read, internet-based and/or internet-centric systems seem to be the norm now. But unfortunately for us we rarely have access to reliable (and/or high-speed) internet service. Soooo, the following is a list of our must-have and desired (if any) features and functionalities of the system: Cameras: - Must Have: IP-Based Cameras w/POE (for ease of quick setup) - Must Have: Waterproof Cameras - Must Have: IR Illumination (integrated into camera - its pitch black at night) - Must Have: Medium to Wide FOV - Must Have: Two to Four Cameras Initially - Desired: 720P or 1080P Resolution DVR/NVR/Controller: - Must Have: Accessed by a LOCAL PC and Applicable Software - Must Have: Full Resolution, Real-Time Recording - Must Have: At Least A Few Days of Storage - Desired: Playback While Recording Playback: - Desired: HDMI Output to TV - Desired: Able to Interface to Local Wireless LAN for viewing on an iPAD (but using >no< internet connection.. that’s the rub) Other: - Ability to set up “movement zones” so that if something moves into that zone the system alerts the user somehow. - Future PTZ Camera Capability? - Due to the cost of receiving mobile internet service up in the mountains, there are NO plans to remote-view the system. We have WI-FI and also cell-based connectivity (MiFi) at times, but never an always-on, high-bandwidth pipe). Concept: Since we tend to move the RV every few weeks, we will need to easily setup and tear down the system - hence the POE connections. The cameras would be deployed around the RV for the maximum viewing by either ground mount (pre-made stands), tree mount (using straps and backing board), on the RV itself (using clamps). The cables would exit the RV and run to the cameras through an existing cable access hole at the rear of the RV. Wireless cameras have been considered, but since we would have to run power to them anyway, we might as well use POE. When all is setup, my wife can see outside before exiting, and determine if any threat is present. Further, we can tell if anyone did something to the RV while we are away. This type of setup would give my wife (and me) some piece of mind. Finally, while I would love to have HD-level cameras, we don’t intent to break the bank with this project, nor do we want to go through all the hassle and expense of setting up a system just to have crappy video either. So, we are trying to strike a balance between a quality picture and price if we can. If that means starting out with less, but with the capability of adding more in the future, that would be fine also. Thank you in advance for any help the fine people on this board can provide! Mark (-: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
