Noob respectfully requesting advice/recommendations

[JamesSpoons 0]

Hi All

 

Necesity has encouraged me to get a CCTV system set up at home. I've got a backgorund in electronics and security but haven't ever dealt with residential CCTV systems. I know the basics and can work most things technical out but have a few questions for anyone with the patience to assist.

 

I wanted to fit a couple of covert internal cameras front and back, possibly inside the house too. I've seen this type of thing http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/DIY-Module-SPY-Camera-Wifi-IP-Wireless-Hidden-DVR-Night-Vision-Motion-Detection-/272558741832?hash=item3f75c45948:g:7t0AAOSwNuxXYmsE which record onto memory card but what I'd really like to do is have wifi cameras linked to a DVR as it will be difficult to hard wire anything in, recording onto an HDD. I'd also like the ability to get notifications when motion is detected and use an Ipad to view the footage live. If I did this are the wifi systems and each component generally secure? I'm assuming I can link the wifi cameras to the DVR to enable IP viewing? Or do wifi cameras link to your router, then you record that?

 

I'd also like to know if you can get separate IR lights to use in conjunction with an IR camera but have the light pointing at what I want, instead of what the camera is looking at i.e. offset.

 

I've had a good look around and I'm starting to think I might have to make a bespoke kind of system, or rip apart cameras and redesign them to fit my covert ideas. If anyone has some experience of this I'd appreciate this some ideas on what kit to use.

 

Thanks in advance.

[tomcctv 190]

Hi. Why if you have a background in electronics and security have you picked to install cheap crap.

 

Are you not bothered about decent footage ?? Pin hole for outside your home will just be a waste of time.

[JamesSpoons 0]

I haven't decided on anything, that's why I'm here. I also don't have an unlimited budget so I can't afford the best kit available. I also said I have a 'background' in electronics and security. I didn't say I was an expert or had any in depth knowledge of CCTV and current solutions. If I was I wouldn't be asking this forum for help, would I?

[51cent 8]

jimbo, as tom pointed out, you won't see much with a pinhole camera outside. One should be ok as a doorbell camera though. One of the problems with cheaper cameras is the software/firmware. It will frustrate the heck out of you. Axis and Hikvision are good brands.

 

WIFI cameras need to connect to the router then to the dvr. To be reliable, a dvr and cameras should be of the same brand, and you really won't know if different brands will work together until you try them.

Wifi is unreliable, there can be too much interference. One, maybe two cameras should function ok, but the more you use, the more problems you will have.And if you have other wifi devices on your router, the more potential problems you will have.

 

Nothing connected to the internet is totally secure! The best way to connect to your system is through a VPN, opefully your router supports it.

 

Why would you want to point an external ir light at what the camera won't see?

Good luck

[JamesSpoons 0]

Hi 51cent, thanks for all that, that's a great help. I just didn't know what the quality of that kind of camera would be. If it's bad then I won't bother, it just looked at a quick glance like it might fit neatly into something non-camera looking. I'd rather have good quality but can't really afford to massively splash out.

 

The reason for the IR light being different is just the physicality of my front door as it's a bit weird. I'd rather have them lit from the front with the camera to the side, instead of both being to one side.

 

Thanks again for your help, I'm still looking at various options. I wish I had run some more Cat5 cables under my floor as I only had it laid about 18 months ago. I think hardwiring the cameras in now would be a massive pain.