Cheap video surveillance?

exalted512

I'm looking for some cheap video surveillance on a closed circuit system. I noticed this small HF system is on sale for $70 and it has decent reviews and it at least got me thinking.

http://www.harborfreight.com/Color-Security-System-with-Two-Cameras-Flat-Panel-Monitor-60565.html?ccdenc=eyJjb2RlIjoiNTM0Nzc3MjAiLCJza3UiOiI2MDU2NSIsImlzIjoiNjkuOTkiLCJwcm9kdWN0X2lk%0D%0AIjoiOTY3MSJ9%0D%0A&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=0714b&utm_source=1031

How hard is it, if i were to buy that system, to record the video straight to a computer? Is there a way to do it just using Windows, or is there a free program out there I can download? Just want to have it for some type of video surveillance on our property since we're not living out there yet. I'm not even sure I want to spend the money on it yet. As far as the HF system goes, I'm not dead set on it or anything. In fact, I don't really need the screen and I don't really need 2 cameras. But it got good reviews for night vision and the video quality seems decent. So if someone know of a better quality camera that can easily be hooked up straight to a computer or even a VCR for less than $70 (I'm not spending more than that - and in fact, I'd rather it be cheaper), I'm all ears. It'll be sitting inside a window facing out.

Thanks!
-Cody

tonyb

How about wireless, something like this....

http://chicago.craigslist.org/nwc/ele/4301175080.html

Can go right to the 'puter or phone, take snap shots, has zoom, sends you an email when it detects motion.

exalted512

No internet and wireless stuff seems to be more expensive, hence why I liked the wired route.

Really, my main concern is just easily getting the video from the camera to the computer and recording it. I could do it old school with a VCR, but I dont think I have any vhs tapes...lol.
-Cody

maximillian

I picked up 6 used Trendnet TV-IP422WN cameras off Ebay for $50-$80 used. One of them had a bad motor (azimuth but no altitude pan) so I complained and Ebay refunded full price automatically. Still use it though. Then combined with a low end PC for DVR the system has been quite stable. Only issue so far is that it's not HD and the IR lights aren't that good. But for the price it is good for my purposes.

There's other IP camera DVR software out there, but the free Trendnet software is sufficient for me. It has an Android and iOS free app (android version a little poor), or you can VNC into the DVR computer.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wURt3Fm1-Bs

tonyb

Nice units except the OP doesn't want to spend a lot for this muffler.

The wireless one I posted champ, it's 100 bucks....doesn't get any cheaper than that for what you get.

To me anyway, the purpose of a security camera is to know wtf is going on the minute it's happening, not 8 hours later when I get home and the house is ransacked. I would have nice pictures of dudes with masks on though, or none at all if they spray painted the camera. But if you knew that as it happened, a response could be set in motion. Without notification, you can't do anything because you don't know anything.

exalted512

tonyb wrote: »

Nice units except the OP doesn't want to spend a lot for this muffler.

The wireless one I posted champ, it's 100 bucks....doesn't get any cheaper than that for what you get.

To me anyway, the purpose of a security camera is to know wtf is going on the minute it's happening, not 8 hours later when I get home and the house is ransacked. I would have nice pictures of dudes with masks on though, or none at all if they spray painted the camera. But if you knew that as it happened, a response could be set in motion. Without notification, you can't do anything because you don't know anything.

I agree completely, but I'm not paying $70+/month to get satellite internet in BFE, TX. We plan on moving out there in May, but for right now, I'm just looking to have something. This is really just temporary, which is why I want to keep the cost down. And if someone gets in, my entire setup is going to get stolen anyway...another reason why I want it cheap, there's no place to really hide it.

Really just looking for a cheap camera that works decently well as well as a cheap way to record the video straight from the camera to a laptop.
-Cody