Surveillance systems

Jstas

Anybody have any experience with them?

I have, shall we call it, a need.

I'm looking at a fairly highly rated wireless system from Lorex but I was wondering if anyone had any good or bad experience?

BTW, checked local laws. No ordinance about home surveillance systems so I'm good.

maximillian

Some states have "anti-wiretaping" laws that prevent ANY public or private audio recordings without the consent of all parties. Some courts have thrown such charges out and others are still being challenged. So you may want to disable any audio recording. Within the premises you can post a sign saying something along the lines as, "admittance to the premises means agreeing to be audio taped". Then you can audio record. It's silly, but people have been arrested on this nonsense.

Jstas

maximillian wrote: »

Some states have "anti-wiretaping" laws that prevent ANY public or private audio recordings without the consent of all parties. Some courts have thrown such charges out and others are still being challenged. So you may want to disable any audio recording. Within the premises you can post a sign saying something along the lines as, "admittance to the premises means agreeing to be audio taped". Then you can audio record. It's silly, but people have been arrested on this nonsense.

No.

I'm hiding the cameras in flood lamps. Going to remove the motion detectors and put the lights on switches. Hide the camera behind a sealed plexiglas shield in the motion detector sensor box and I have a suction cup microphone to put in one of the windows. Neighbors don't want to be recorded they shouldn't be threatening me for yelling at their crotchfruit that put about $1200 worth of damage in 3 vehicles with baseballs.

Besides, I already checked, no laws or ordinances against it. I thought I said that already?

sucks2beme

Sounds like those neighbors haven't improved with time.

mdaudioguy

Please consider sharing whatever happens on youtube.

Jstas

mdaudioguy wrote: »

Please consider sharing whatever happens on youtube.

No but I will share it with my local constabulary.

Jstas

sucks2beme wrote: »

Sounds like those neighbors haven't improved with time.

No. About a week and a half ago, smart mouth kids are playing ball again. Deliberately throw a baseball (leather cork and string) over the head of the other one and it bounces off of the GF's SUV and dents the liftgate. They did it right in front of me and acted like it was no big deal. I lost my mind and screamed my head off at them. Let an f-bomb slip and told them I'd call the cops next time I saw it. Foul-mouthed little kids cried about the bad man to mom and dad. One of them apparently recorded half the happening on a cellphone. That's supposed to scare me I guess. But now I'm the bad man with a $1200 bill in my hand and nobody else cares 'cause it ain't their car. So they are going to care real soon.

Neighbor today accosts me in my driveway while my father and I are unloading drywall. His kids weren't the problem. I don't know why he's upset. But he starts yelling at me for using naughty words in front of his kids. I agreed I shouldn't have and tried to apologize. He interrupts me and shouts at me with the pointing finger "The next time you use language like that in front of my kids, we're gonna have a problem!" I said "Whoa, dude..." Then he cuts me off again and says "There's no excuse for it! No F(&%^# excuse!" and storms off.

One, I'm flabbergasted that he's doing to me what he doesn't want me doing to not-his-kids in front of his kids. Two, he threatened me, in front of my own house, in front of a witness.

So I have consulted the township ordinance office, the code enforcement office, my insurance companies and the police concerning the incident. I have been instructed to record everything as soon as I see it. Especially since they have been told multiple times to knock it off. So tomorrow I will get pictures of all the damage to the Lightning, Lincoln and Escape as well as the house. I'll be purchasing a surveillance system as soon as my next paycheck shows up and the problem neighbors will not be acknowledged in the least.

I don't take kindly to threats like that and I'm not going to deal with a group of neighbors ganging up on me nor will I be a prisoner in my own house.

So IR cameras all around with a 75 foot range, 2TB DVR and when I find a suitable one, a disk array for archiving footage. High res cameras will capture all the stuff I want and likely the other not so legal activities and code violations that go on in the neighborhood. They want to make problems for me, they have no idea the level of problems they will have coming their way.

bruss

http://www.geovision.com.tw/english/index.asp

Willow

You lost your mind...and screamed?

Sorry you are having issues, what i find funy is that the father can swear in front of his kids but you can't?
Stupid kids they probably lied and told their father. Kids these days have no respect for OPP.

Syndil

Bought a surveillance system in response to the renters living next door. Have already called the police on what I suspect was them for someone paintballing our house. Didn't actually see it happen, but all the paintballs were from their side, so... Anyway, they've since moved out and the house is now empty, until the next set of renters moves in. I'll be ready for them. Got a Qsee surveillance system with 8 cameras from Costco. They had it for $300 off when I bought it, which brought the price down to $400, and the reviews were mostly positive. All the cameras are wired, however. I'd be leery of a wireless system. Cameras have to be plugged into a power source anyway, so it's not like you'll be saving holes from having to be drilled in the house. Also most of them run at 2.4GHz, which is already crowded with WiFi and everything else.

exalted512

Saw these were on sale at newegg today.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA10708H8030&Tpk=9SIA10708H8030&nm_mc=EMC-GD031312&cm_mmc=EMC-GD031312-_-index-_-Item-_-9SIA10708H8030

Jstas

bruss wrote: »

http://www.geovision.com.tw/english/index.asp

Yeah, I was looking at them but I can't get the options I want in a package I can afford. I'd have to piece it together from individual units and it's double the price of the Lorex for the same picture quality and functionality. I didn't look at their site though. I'll dig around there and see if there are more options.

Jstas

Syndil wrote: »

I'll be ready for them. Got a Qsee surveillance system with 8 cameras from Costco. They had it for $300 off when I bought it, which brought the price down to $400, and the reviews were mostly positive. All the cameras are wired, however. I'd be leery of a wireless system. Cameras have to be plugged into a power source anyway, so it's not like you'll be saving holes from having to be drilled in the house. Also most of them run at 2.4GHz, which is already crowded with WiFi and everything else.

I'm not worried about mounting or power. I have power in my attic. Neighbors thought that was dumb. But it's not.

Not worried about the wireless either. I have an older router that's not running on 2.4 GHz. It can but I can choose what bands and frequencies it broadcasts on. Wireless phones do but big whoop. Besides, the Lorex setup has a frequency cycler so it doesn't keep the cameras on the same frequencies all the time.

I want wireless because it allows me flexibility in placement 'cause I don't have to rig up 120 foot runs of signal wire with BNC connectors.

Jstas

exalted512 wrote: »

Saw these were on sale at newegg today.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA10708H8030&Tpk=9SIA10708H8030&nm_mc=EMC-GD031312&cm_mmc=EMC-GD031312-_-index-_-Item-_-9SIA10708H8030

Yet, those are cool and pretty much what I'm looking to do but the cameras in them are not very good. Reviews are poor. Plus, it needs DVR software on a system to record anything. I'd rather have a dedicated, purpose built DVR than yet another computer to manage.

Willow

Is there a way to recoup some of your investment through insurance? or is this straight from pocket?

exalted512

Jstas wrote: »

Yet, those are cool and pretty much what I'm looking to do but the cameras in them are not very good. Reviews are poor. Plus, it needs DVR software on a system to record anything. I'd rather have a dedicated, purpose built DVR than yet another computer to manage.

That's what I figured (about the DVR). I didn't do too much research on them since, well, it aint for me...haha. Just seemed like what you were wanting to do so I thought I'd pass it on.

Have you checked out logitech? Again, I haven't done much research on them, but I've seen some good reviews and know at least one person that uses them that had good results. (well, i say that...he had some packages stolen off his porch, got them on video, found out they were working on a house across the street, gave the police all kinds of information and they never did a thing)

They have videos on their website of a lady that caught guys breaking into her house, called the cops, and the cops showed up before they left...pretty sweet.

http://www.logitech.com/en-us/video-security-systems?tt=c
-Cody

exalted512

Willow wrote: »

Is there a way to recoup some of your investment through insurance? or is this straight from pocket?

With state farm, in texas (its going to differ from every company...in every state), you can get a small discount for having an un-monitored alarm system, but I don't think just having a video system would qualify.
-Cody

Jstas

Willow wrote: »

Is there a way to recoup some of your investment through insurance? or is this straight from pocket?

Nope. Only if it's monitored like an ADT or BRINKS system.

This is all me and I'm not really doing it for security as much as I am for my own protection and legal liability. They have already denied I ever spoke to any of them about their crotchfruit and the kids are lying and embellishing the truth to make me out to be worse than I am. If I have surveillance then I have proof of my actions or lack thereof and they can't try and do anything stupid.

Plus, both problem neighbors are involved in some less-than-legal activities from welfare fraud to drugs and my cameras will catch that too. So if I do end up having to show cops something, there will be periods where questionable activity will be witnessed by a cop and likely prompt investigations. Not that I really want to do that but if they insist on causing problems and threatening me then they really should have thought twice about it considering they have activities that they would really not want in the public view. Glass houses and all. Granted, I'm no saint myself. But in regards to what's going on, I'm not the problem.

However, car insurance said that if I have to make a claim on the car insurance and have video evidence of the brats doing the damage, they will cover my claim minus my deductible and then likely go after their car insurance to cover their costs. I'd have to take them to small-claims court to cover my deductible.

Jstas

exalted512 wrote: »

That's what I figured (about the DVR). I didn't do too much research on them since, well, it aint for me...haha. Just seemed like what you were wanting to do so I thought I'd pass it on.

Have you checked out logitech? Again, I haven't done much research on them, but I've seen some good reviews and know at least one person that uses them that had good results. (well, i say that...he had some packages stolen off his porch, got them on video, found out they were working on a house across the street, gave the police all kinds of information and they never did a thing)

They have videos on their website of a lady that caught guys breaking into her house, called the cops, and the cops showed up before they left...pretty sweet.

http://www.logitech.com/en-us/video-security-systems?tt=c
-Cody

Yeah, I saw them but, the cameras are like XBOX HUGE! and not exactly discreet. Also, they don't support the higher resolution compression schemes and the night vision capabilities get poor reviews. Also, no DVR. You need to connect them to a Windows PC. Also, you need their master system for them to work and for the $349 they want for the master system, I can get much better quality cameras and options from the Lorex systems.

Here, check them out: http://www.lorextechnology.com/

Also, the Qsee someone already mentioned is fairly inexpensive and gets OK reviews but when stacked up against it's equally inexpensive competition from Night OWL, they fall short as well.

The Lorex systems are the highest rated consumer level systems I've seen. To do considerably better, you have to get in to entry level professional/industrial grade stuff and drop well over a grand on a basic system. Plus, the Lorex systems will work with virtually any camera that will communicate with it, even the expensive pro ones. They are upgradable as well. Granted, they aren't perfect but most consumer level stuff is a compromise anyway.

But I really need high quality video for this. I can't have blurry images like you see in 7-Eleven security footage and stuff. I need to be able to clearly identify stuff. I also have a fairly large plot for an NJ suburb. It's 80 feet wide by 125 feet deep so I need at least a 50 ft range on the night vision and the higher the res the better.

exalted512

That's my biggest problem with outdoor security cameras. Most of them are big, not discreet, and look like ****.

These look nice though
http://lorexstore.lorextechnology.com/product.aspx?id=2137

It's a wired system, so not what you wanted. I'd like to get something like this along with 4 more indoor cameras. But I don't want the indoor cameras to look like indoor cameras. They have some that look like smoke detectors which I would much rather have.

But, I don't have the need for something like this like you do, so it's pretty far down on my **** to buy list.

(i know this doesn't really help you...I'm just thinking out loud...)
-Cody

mrbigbluelight

2 pieces of advice:

1. Stay cool
2. Remember that revenge is a dish best served cold.


Remember, too, that the "kids" may have you on cellphone video not being charming.
One way to counteract that, IMO, is to have a mountain of evidence of their misbehavior.
"Sure, Your Honor, I admit I spoke out of character to the 'children'. But only after numerous attempts at speaking with their parents".

And 'numerous' can be TWO attempts. Use your cellphone to record those attempts.

Another thought: get a couple of cheap surveillance cameras, too. Sacrificial lambs.
Place them in obvious places.
Make sure those cheapo-s are in the recording field of the REAL video cameras.
Catch the 'kids' taking them out.

Patience is a virtue. Everything comes to he who waits. :twisted:

Jstas

mrbigbluelight wrote: »

2 pieces of advice:

1. Stay cool
2. Remember that revenge is a dish best served cold.


Remember, too, that the "kids" may have you on cellphone video not being charming.
One way to counteract that, IMO, is to have a mountain of evidence of their misbehavior.
"Sure, Your Honor, I admit I spoke out of character to the 'children'. But only after numerous attempts at speaking with their parents".

And 'numerous' can be TWO attempts. Use your cellphone to record those attempts.

Another thought: get a couple of cheap surveillance cameras, too. Sacrificial lambs.
Place them in obvious places.
Make sure those cheapo-s are in the recording field of the REAL video cameras.
Catch the 'kids' taking them out.

Patience is a virtue. Everything comes to he who waits. :twisted:

Already spoke to the police concerning that "video". He said that if I did what I said and was just yelling at them from my property, it doesn't matter. There is nothing actionable there and it's protected by 1st amendment. On top of that, if this is the latest confrontation in a string of incidents, no cop would side with the parents unless I threatened or physically assaulted someone, which I haven't. Besides, I have damage. It's visible and I have pictures of that damage. With that evidence, the cops would not pursue any action against me, especially if the damage happened after I spoke to them. Then they can consider it trespassing and vandalism.

I have a mountain of evidence. I'll also have body work bills from getting that evidence fixed. Which is more evidence. Video cameras will provide more. Besides, if they are remote then the DVR will record them destroying a camera before they actually destroy it. Since my soffits are about 11 feet off the ground or higher, they will need a pretty tall ladder or something to throw at it. Then, that is vandalism and trespassing.

Drenis

Well I'll be watching this closely... good thread.

Wish you luck. I deal with this everyday...

disneyjoe7

Sorry nothing to add, but too long out of the loop so too speak. But wait when I left wireless was not, that's how long. Standing by to see the outcome of this thread....

dkg999

A couple of friends have installed the Logitech security cameras and have good things to say. Based on their feedback I have been looking at installing them. The mobile app is kind of cool.

devani

john,
hope you get to teach them a good lesson in near future....give us an update if you get one...

Jstas

dkg999 wrote: »

A couple of friends have installed the Logitech security cameras and have good things to say. Based on their feedback I have been looking at installing them. The mobile app is kind of cool.

Yeah, lots of ease of use stuff. A couple people here at work have it so they can check on their kids and/or pets when they aren't home. One guy has it so he can watch the trash men 'cause he swears they kick and dent his cans on purpose 'cause he's Asian and his trashmen hate Asians.

But it is pretty spiffy just not a high enough quality with a far enough range to cover the area I have to cover. For other people it might be a great, easy and inexpensive solution. I just need better.

Glowrdr

Not sure if this would help or not - but I happen to know someone selling a lot of cameras (100+). When Denny Hecker was being investigated for all of his wrongdoings at the dealerships, the court system mandated that every transaction / office / room was taped 24/7. My dad knows the guy that got all of the cameras from that escapade, so he's looking to get rid of them now.

If interested, I could find out more specifics (model and such). You would still be on the hook for the DVR and figuring out wiring, so I'm not sure if this would amount to any savings, but you might end up with a better camera then you would get in a package deal elsewhere. Let me know.

Polkersince85

Some of the X-10 stuff is not too bad for not a lot of money. Search Ebay. They have software and phone app controls, too.

SolidSqual

I would start putting all this in writing with dates. Get it done while the details are clear in case you have to prepare affidavits later. Also, I would look into small claims for the damage to your GF's car. It would cost you just filing fees if you are willing to go to court yourself. Small Claims would be a good opportunity for your neighbors to show their true colors. Any judge worth his salt will pull the truth out of the kids. Make sure you inform your insurance company that you are making a claim in court. You don't want to collect double.

mrbigbluelight

SolidSqual wrote: »

I would start putting all this in writing with dates.

That is extremely good advice.

Your word vs their word = tie.
Your word (with ANYTHING written down) vs their word = tilts in your favor.
Your word with written documents AND video and .... DING ! Fries are done !

Regarding your 'helpful' neighbor across the street: I'd be tempted to point a CHEAPO camera his way, too. Might be nice to have even a relatively poor resolution video that shows this guy outside when The Little Rascals next door get into some mischief with your property. Would be kind of cool, in an admittedly vindictive way, to ask him, "Hey, did you see the Crew messing with my stuff ?". When he says, "No", well .....
....