Home CCTV Novice

[Brett249]

Hi guys,

I have been thinking about installing a home CCTV system but have become a little overwhelmed with the amount of choice in cameras and recorders etc. As you can tell I'm a complete novice at CCTV. I only want 2-3 cameras at the moment but with option to upgrade in the future.

I need to know the basics like, is it better to use a TV monitor or computer for monitoring?

If you could explain what components are needed and what specs are decent? The equipment doesn't have to be top end specs.

Also, how would I intergrate a motion detector into it so that it records when movement is seen?

Thanks

 

[andicole0]

Hi guys,

I have been thinking about installing a home CCTV system but have become a little overwhelmed with the amount of choice in cameras and recorders etc. As you can tell I'm a complete novice at CCTV. I only want 2-3 cameras at the moment but with option to upgrade in the future.

I need to know the basics like, is it better to use a TV monitor or computer for monitoring?

If you could explain what components are needed and what specs are decent? The equipment doesn't have to be top end specs.

Also, how would I intergrate a motion detector into it so that it records when movement is seen?

Thanks

Take a look at Swann www.swann.com/uk/. Their web site is quite helpful and their stuff is available at a high street electronics/gadget shop. I'm looking at doing the same and was going to ask for recommendations. The Swann DVR system records on movement.

I haven't looked at any other systems yet so can't confirm this is a good one or not. I'd be interested in others comments.

Andi.

 

[Pabl0]

Depending on what quality and cost you want really dictates the equipment.

I have a HP microserver acting as a NAS so the cameras recording constantly to one drive, in full HD. I can also view the camera from any web browser or on the android app.

I use hikvision cameras as they have the software built in and means I don't need a standalone nvr. They also have software motion detection recording, best to have a look on YouTube.

For this set up you would need a NVR or microserver, and POE switch, camera and some cat5. Obvisuly after the initial outlay you'd only need to buy more cameras.

Example camera eBay no 151394193332.

 

[Vimes]

Hi guys,

I have been thinking about installing a home CCTV system but have become a little overwhelmed with the amount of choice in cameras and recorders etc. As you can tell I'm a complete novice at CCTV. I only want 2-3 cameras at the moment but with option to upgrade in the future.

I need to know the basics like, is it better to use a TV monitor or computer for monitoring?

If you could explain what components are needed and what specs are decent? The equipment doesn't have to be top end specs.

Also, how would I intergrate a motion detector into it so that it records when movement is seen?

Thanks

Go and read the humongous thread about CCTV over in GD. Read it completely and pay attention as the discussion moving over from analogue CCTV to HD. There are suppliers and camera models etc noted in the thread as well as several example images.

 

[Brett249]

Depending on what quality and cost you want really dictates the equipment.

I have a HP microserver acting as a NAS so the cameras recording constantly to one drive, in full HD. I can also view the camera from any web browser or on the android app.

I use hikvision cameras as they have the software built in and means I don't need a standalone nvr. They also have software motion detection recording, best to have a look on YouTube.

For this set up you would need a NVR or microserver, and POE switch, camera and some cat5. Obvisuly after the initial outlay you'd only need to buy more cameras.

Example camera eBay no 151394193332.

So how long does it take for your drive to fill up with footage?

 

[Pabl0]

I'm pretty sure its recording to one of the 2TB (1.6TB avail) drives in the NAS and looking now I can go back to the 24th of this month so just under 6 days of constant recording @ 1080p.

It over writes automatically so never stops recording.

Each 30 second clip is 262MB.

 

[Brett249]

Wow, that's a fair amount of video footage. I wasn't expecting it to store that much And I like how it over writes too. That was one of my worries.