Thread: Home CCTV kit

Originally Posted by WhiteD3

As a result of Break and enter and Break and enter......again I'm having a security system installed on the weekend. The bloke says CCTV is too expensive for him to do it as an addition to the system and suggested I buy a kit.

I'm looking at installing (probably) this Swann Security - Home & Business Security - DVR4-2600 4 Channel DVR with Smartphone Viewing & 4 x CCD Cameras


4 IR cameras, 2 weeks HDD recording, remote access via the net.

The security system will SMS me if there's an alarm event and if the above works as advertised I could have a quick peak on line into home and call the cops.

Any comments, suggestions guys?

Saw one of those systems on the telly the other night. Gang members were using it to monitor the drive and surrounds in the event of a raid by the cops. They did of course. The four screen split display seemed to work pretty well.

I don't know if they operate with a motion sensor or if they just keep recording constantly. The IR is good.

Seemed to do the trick quite well. One of the miscreants had the time to jump the back fence, into the arms of one of the other units waiting there for them

I have a complex camera system in my Bar, even the more expensive ones do not really record a brilliant picture.
Also cheap hard drives do crap them selves fairly often.

Its certainly a deterrant but can also make certain folk think you have a fortress there and are trying to get ready for raids etc as said above. You do not want folks crashing in thinking its a grow house.

At home I installed reed switches at all windows that open, doors and glass breakage sensors plus the usual movement detectors etc.
That way when I am home, I can switch to night mode and garage and all doors and windows are armed. Works a treat and its wirde directly to my phone.
Spiders in garage have set alarm off twice now.

swann isnt the flashest kit around but by no means the worst.

there is a really good guy at everton park, but for the life of me i cant remember his name, old fella, been doing it for donkeys years. does quite a few industrial places and his gear was near swann prices but way better...

getting enough definition for it to be useable is the problem with the cheaper mass produced units...

i can get swann gear wholesale so let me know what model you are chasing and i will see if i can inprove on it for you..

will see if i can get my mind to recover the old fellas data

A few things to consider.

Where are you going to put the cameras?

External – not a real problem as long as cabling isn’t readily accessible.

Internal – Careful what you record ! You don’t want others to be able to log in on the net (it’s not that secure) and see YOU or browse what goodies you might have worth seeing / determine whether you are home or not.

Where are you going to place the DVR? (The discs it records to).

Not much use if they break in, take your computer as well and its recorded to the computer !

There are some quality units out there. These are supposedly good but will be much more expensive.
Axis Communications - Leader in network cameras and other IP networking solutions

Swann is ok depending on what you want from the system if you want to get the police to act on the recording thats a different matter if not colour and good quality video they will not take it court so no good as far as evidence goes but good enough to look at over the net to check an alarm or see whos knocking on the door.

I install cctv and have 2 cameras at home both 600 tvlines I can read number plates 100m away but the cameras retail for around $400 ea and they were "cheap" compared to what we install at some clients

Originally Posted by incisor

i can get swann gear wholesale so let me know what model you are chasing and i will see if i can inprove on it for you..

Thanks Dave but no. As you can imagine I'm under some pressure to get this sorted NOW. They have these things in stock at DSE Springwood for $850 so I think that'll be my job this weekend.

Originally Posted by WhiteD3

The security system will SMS me if there's an alarm event and if the above works as advertised I could have a quick peak on line into home and call the cops.

Any comments, suggestions guys?

I know this will sound a little callous, but just dont expect to get a great response from the police if you call them yourself. The first couple of times, you might, but after that, their interest will wain, especially if it is 12 months down the track.

If you do call the police, the only number you can ring for an alarm is 131 444, or the main switchboard number. If you use 000 for a security alarm, and you are not home, you run the risk of prosecution. (I have this in writing from the police)

CCTV is a great idea, but just make sure that the quality is good enough that you can give the police a reasonable description, other than "there looks like someone is inside". Odds are good that by the time the patrols arrive, the offenders will be gone. But, with a reasonable description, they will have reasonable cause to stop & question (possibly search) someone in the vicinity that matches.

As has been mentioned, the location of the DVR is important. Putting it on the desk next to the computer, or in the cabinet with the DVD player probably isnt the best. It needs to be somewhere that the bad guys arn't going to find it in a hurry. This really means that it needs to be obscure, rather than locked up. Lets face it, if they can find it, they will take it with them....