CCTV system advice please.

[hanksey]

Not sure if anyone will be able to help on here but here goes.

We have a community garden project that we think we may have a problem with some residents.

The area is quite a large area, and we would like to be able to monitor it.

So here is what i think we need:

Recordable system with 2x cameras wireless with a range of up 40mtrs day and night vision.

We don't have much of a budget £300 roughly not sure if it will be enough, but any help or advise would be much appreciated.

[emmiller]

Hi
firstly you would need to contact the council and put up cctv signs to warn people that they are being recorded.
secondly you could shop around on fleabay and pick up all you need material wise.

martin

[hanksey]

Originally Posted by emmiller

Hi
firstly you would need to contact the council and put up cctv signs to warn people that they are being recorded.
secondly you could shop around on fleabay and pick up all you need material wise.

martin

Yeah we've gone through all the proper channels and have permission to put them up and all the neighbours have signed to say they accept the cameras being put up.

Was just hoping somebody could give me some ideas and what sort of cameras and equipment would be best.

[bazonix]

this is brilliant.... i get a phone call from a close friend last night who is experiencing problems with lads playing ball by his house.... wants 2 outdoor cameras and a dvr (digital video recorder) all for around £200.... (iv got all the toys!!)

i told him his budget is unrealistic for 2 weatherproof infra red cams and a dvr with a hard drive.... so i go shopping for:

2 camera CCTV system, internet viewable, realtime, 80gb on eBay, also, Other Security Equipment, Security Equipment, Consumer Electronics (end time 20-Jun-09 09:01:45 BST)

and:

CUTLSS-1640 4 Channel DVR 160GB HDD + 4 CMOS Camera KIT on eBay, also DVD VCD Players, DVD Players Monitors, In-Car Entertainment GPS, Cars, Parts Vehicles (end time 25-Jun-09 16:21:59 BST)

the examples above are just that, i chose them as they were closest to bham, but i wouldnt consider mail order for the dvr unless it was a better (ie more expensive) unit from a very well established outlet...

the camera's are generally very cheap to replace, its important to ensure weatherproof/tamper proof/led's/ccd/min 420 tvl for night view etc....

the dvr's generally motion/continually record but the smaller the hard drive, the smaller the recording window....

from experience, the dvr's can be unreliable.... u pay ur money sort of thing, so id ensure the place u purchase from is local.... with the budget in mind....

anyone can fit this system, biggest problem u will experience is cabling for obvious reasons, just get a good sturdy ladder and a helping hand, then drill wall's feed cabling to convenient location to where dvr and monitor will be and ensure u seal the holes with silicone etc...

biggest problem if u dont buy package together is the connections.... there are 2 main types: phono and bnc...

its just important that both camera and dvr share the same connector (it doesnt really matter as adaptors are available but nothing worse than getting all the kit and realising after)

nice one

edit: realised u need wireless cameras, no probs, but not very good:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Wireless-2-4Gh...0|293:1|294:50

most kits allow a wireless range of upto 20m (id halve that figure for reliable real time viewing)..... so 40m will be pushing it in all honesty.... id speak to a pro as im old fashioned in that my alarm and cctv has to be hard wired.... nothing but trouble with wireless for those as the camera/pir will also need its own power supply which can prove tricky outdoors....

[r4zb3rry]

Your budget is unrealistic for what you want the system to do.

Firstly hard-wired is the way to go, typically shotgun is your best bet as it carries a coaxial (picture) and a 2core for power. Cat 5 can also be used but you will then need cameras that accept this connection or baluns to convert the cat5 to BNC.

You can get wireless cameras but, they are cr*p and RF covertors for normal cameras can be approx £400 each for decent stuff.

You need to pay attention to the lenses that you purchase as well, you say you want to cover 40m, is that for both cameras? Is it 40m2 or 40m in length from the camera position?

Day/Night cameras can be bought in a sealed, IP rated housing with lens or all the pieces can be purchased seperately giving you more choice over the typr of housing, camera and lens.

Have a look at Videcon, Videcon PLC their equipment is used by a couple of national companies and may be too pricey for you but, at least it should give a good idea of what you need and you could even call them and ask for advice as to what is most suitable and then get cheaper alternatives...?

GL

R4z

[hanksey]

Thanks for the replys.

So hardwired it is not a problem just thought it would be easier wireless.

They both need to cover 40m in length.

So from reading through i need 2 cameras a decent dvr and leads and connections.

May sound a thick question but i really have no idea about this sort of system.

Do the cameras need a separate power supply or do they get there power from the coax.

[bazonix]

yep, camera's need seperate power supply, but the video (yellow) cable usually carries a power cable (red) so the psu is actually installed by the dvr so no probs with outdoor fitting.

nice one

[r4zb3rry]

Originally Posted by hanksey

Thanks for the replys.
Do the cameras need a separate power supply or do they get there power from the coax.

Seperate PSU, depending on system and what cameras/DVR used as to how it will be powered, as above for phono connections, BNC will need a totally seperate PSU aside from the DVR i.e. reason for using the shotgun as it incorporates a pair for power as well as the coaxial or picture.

R4z

[hornydragon]

Have a look here Home Automation, Lighting, Security, Heating & Cooling - AVForums.com lots of threads on CCTV. You also need to consider what to do with the footage i.e. you need to be able to get off the DVR it needs to be good enough to use for identifaction etc. The council will have a main CCTV contract why not get intouch with the people to organise/run the central cCTV and get them to do a site survey!

If you spend £300 on cams and a DVR do you have somewhere secure with power to house it? It has been known that people have big expensive cams fitted which 3 days later are unfitted!