Anyone have experience with wireless covert cameras? I need to do an install in a one bedroom apartment.

Yup, I've used lots of 2.4Ghz wireless hidden cameras. What are your questions? A one bedroom apartment should be a breeze.

securitymonster, I sent you a PM

I have helped a couple of my local customers set up wireless covert systems just for the hands on experience. Its really hit and miss, you never know whats going to cause interference till you have the equipment onsite. With a one bedroom apt. it shouldn't be to hard, I would try not to use 2.4 though, especially in an aparment complex. Microwaves, cell phones, cordless phones,90% of wireless computer equipment and thats just to name some of the stuff that uses 2.4ghz. Is your place a studio or 1 bedroom w/ kitchen and bathroom seperate? I have found that the lower fequency's are better for going through walls although the video isn't as good. Just make sure you get equipment that has a 30 hit and miss clause, meaning if it doesn't work you can return it and keep trying.

^
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-- What he said :wink:

While we are on the subject of covert cameras how about some recommendations on some wired type?

I guess what would be interesting is for people to post about which cameras they have used in different situations.

And it is a covert camera just a camera in disguise?

And a hidden camera is something that is introduced into the environment that is not easily noticed whereas a covert camera can be?

I prefer the GE line for their professional housings, they use their GE sentrol housings on most of them

The cameras themselves arent anything special, just fixed lens cameras, they are high lux so need BW if you need low light, but you can get 480TVL color Smoke Detector cameras, and also multi lens versions.

Ive also used Provideo and other OEMs, they are generally more sensitive for lower light apps, but look less professional, and dont have the High res in the smokes.

Here is my choice of covert cameras:
http://www.bahamassecurity.com/uploads/bsecureCCTV2.pdf

eyecu, besides wireless, you may also want to consider a unit like the memocam..it is a covert camera built into a PIR, with a built in SD Card.
just had a similiar application in an apartment, and it worked out great for them. follow this link
http://vdomain.com/products/memocam/images/memocamfamilyv7401271.pdf

Howard
SpyTown.com

Memocam can be really effective in the right environment & they have amegapixel version now.

How big and noticable is the memocam? How does the client watch it, is it video or picture? Howard, can you PM me with a price? The client has a one bedroom apartment. She suspects an apartment employee entering her apt. when she is gone and going through her stuff. The camera needs to be undetectable.

Alot of my customers pick these up:



They come in:

B/W Hardwired
B/W 2.4Ghz Wireless
Color Hardwired
Color 2.4Ghz Wireless

When I first got them in, I could barely tell where the camera was located!

From experience we stay well away from clocks.

Somebody must always set the time to their watch, whether the watch is correct or not,they can't help it.

A Memocam unit is the same size as a PIR.

You can wire it to a monitor if you desire or it records images onto a SD card which you take away & read on a computer.

these guys are also popular. Just like the memocam, its records off motion, has lots of user settings, and runs off batteries or wall plug.

I saw these on fleabay,what they like?

They work real good. They come in 64mb or 128mb models. You basically press record, set it on the bookshelf or wherever, and let it do its thing.

Specifications:
# 1/4 Color CMOS Camera with 64Mb Flash RAM
# 90 Degree FOV
# Covert 3.7mm Pinhole Lens
# 0.80 LUX
# 640x480 or 320x240 Recording Modes
# High/Medium/Standard Recording Quality
# Selectable Motion Detection Sensitivity
# Record speed range from 1 frame every 10 seconds, or as fast as 15 frames per second @320x240
# Records up to 8000 frames in 320x240 standard mode, or 2000+ frames in 640x480 HQ mode
# Time and Date Stamp
# Searchable Play-Back
# Playback via TV
# Uses four AA batteries (6 hour battery life), or use the provided AC Adapter.
# Can be mounted to a wall via the included tilt/ swivel bracket or just set on a desk or counter top.
# PAL or NTSC ready

Thanks Monster, think i'll get one.

Monster, I sent you a PM

eyecu, I didn't get a PM from you

Hey Monster its past your bed time!!!

Yeah, but at least I work till closing...... 8)

Sorry I have kids that can't drive themselves home, but I still put in 8 hrs.

What country do you live in.......j/p :P

8 hrs, darn, i gotta stop these 20 hour days .. yesterday it was 36 hours! :o

yea, we haven't decided what planet you come from yet! :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

the planet of no life and nuttin else to do :lol:

I am usually at work around 10 hrs a day but thats just work I get paid for. Trust me I have a 4 year old girl and my son is almost 1, so between them my wife and my house that I am still trying to finish...work is 20/7 and the other 4 hours is split for beer-smokes-eating and sleeping. :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

Rory is just using the Bermuda triangle time warp to put extra time in a day. Impressive control. How do you do it?

Any other small covert camera recommendations suitable for outdoor?

Day/Night in a little cam? How small with good quality?

Dynamic maybe? Dreaming maybe?

I carry tons of board and micro board cams, D/N, Exview and such that can be put into just about anything for covert. Fiber cams are also used alot for stealth surveillance. What did you have in mind Jasper?

Small weather resistant day/night cameras for people who want smaller exterior cameras that isn’t as noticeable. Just big enough to allow for a quality image during the day and in low light at night. Say something around .05 lux at night. An IR filter. Not looking for a hidden camera necessarily. Varifocal lenses would be nice, but not necessary.

Wide Dynamic would come in handy for back lighting situations. I have been looking at virtually nothing but regular sized cameras. I thought I would delve into the smaller cameras and see what type of quality they are able to achieve in a small form factor.

Just want to find out what is available as I know the smaller cameras have gotten quite a bit better over the past several years.

TIP - "generally" the smaller the camera the lower the quality and the less sensitive it will be eg. small mini Pinhole cameras - though normally it will suffice for investigative purposes.

They don't have to be like thos tiny, tiny cameras.

Probably something no bigger than those Mace cameras I see Kandicorp and Isaac I believe posting about. They seem go be a good size. I don't know how well they perform in low light though.

you mean the bullet cameras ..??

Yeah, like the Cam53IR, something no bigger than those, maybe smaller.

A good day/night, IR filter.

I guess a Wide Dynamic is out of the question in that size?

I have seen people advertise bullets as covert while I always thought covert were those tiny, tiny cameras.

Check out this stealth little guy and tell me what you think.
http://www.wateccameras.com/genwac/specs/gw300dh.htm

Yeah, I havent seen a bullet camera that can match a Full Box camera yet, the size, what is compacted into bullet cameras, you loose alot of room for other components ...

not bad, 1/2", but still only f:1.6 ...

i like the Provideo CVC-637EX when it was Exview, then they changed it to just Super HAD . not low light .. it is still high res, but i put it side by side with a box camera of the same specs and the difference is 1:2

Generally they just cant handle the various light conditions as well as box cameras, not all box cameras mind you, depends what you spend ..

Same goes for domes, but a Cheap bullet camera can beat a slightly more expensive Dome camera easily .. I just havent found a cheap dome that can match the quality of a cheap bullet ... dont know why .. maybe its because it s from different manufacturers .. as the Cheap Bullets and Domes are all OEM anyways.

That is a good size. .05 lux at f1.6. I would think you would need a f1.2. But maybe because of the 1/2" sensor maybe not?

Anything that size Day/Night?

Jasper what to do is ask for a board camera setup like that, then you can use any Dome housing you want .. or other housing .. WizKId sells the domes without the electronics for cheap .. I cant remember where I saw them, but there were board cameras like the ones in the Sanyo domes, 3 or 4 boards, and Varifocal lenses ...day night exview also .. maybe it was watech??

I was going to try one out mounted vertically. So a mount that offered more flexability would be nice.

Pivoting up and down is ok, but flexability is always nice.

you can always use a different housing, check out these:
http://www.vsscctv.com/Section.asp?CatID=1005&SubCatID=11
http://www.vsscctv.com/Section.asp?CatID=1005&SubCatID=11&offset=15
http://www.vsscctv.com/Section.asp?CatID=1005&SubCatID=11&offset=30

note: most of the smaller housings can only accomodate a fixed lens.

How about this?
http://www.ktlcctv.com/web/pdf/CFB2007EX.pdf

low res, and pretty big ..

Yeah. A little too big. Something between the other one you showed me and this one would be good.

Ideally a true Day/Night cam in a small size would be nice.

Hadn't thought about putting a board in an enclosure. I would probably screw that up first time out. Not to mention the selection of the enclosures.

I have to do more research. Everybody wants color during the day and BW low light sensitivity at night. Including me. :D

Thanks for your guys help. Keep em coming as you run across them.

what I think you want, doesnt exist yet ..

I sell alot of Genwac/Watec low light cams. Here is another inexpensive bullet
http://www.ktlcctv.com/web/pdf/CPC4010EX.pdf

They have a day night version with ir cut filter too. KT&C has alot of bullet and metal case board cams with exview's too.

:shock: :lol: :shock: :lol:

If it does it probably would cost too much anyway.

I'll keep looking around.

May as well go for a more superior box camera .. thats pretty ulgay :lol:

No, just no technology to match yet ...

It doesn't matter how ugly it is. It is the size that counts. :D

Small Day/Night with IR filter would be good.

Hey it has an ExView Chip. .01 BW, pretty good, 480TVL.

So you want something smaller then 1.5 inches in diameter? Mace's cam is bigger then that. I have a day night lipstick bullet but I am not sure how good it works, haven't sold alot because its white. I will hook you up tomorrow.

No. It can be thicker than that. :D Don't what it to stick out length wise.

That one didn't give the measurements. .01 in color. If that is for real that is impressive.

Something maybe no longer than 4 inches? I don't know. How long are those Pano 484's? They are 5 1/16 without a lens. edit: (The 484 is shorter, this was for the 480)

white is the best for most homes, what manufacturer is it?

Moshi moshi :D (Hello on phone)

Tasukete (Help) :wink:

Its one of those oem white box specials. I think Monster got one from me to try out. We will have to see what he thinks. I like to send demos on unfamiliar products so I can see if its worth mentioning. Here is a link to one of our customers websites who actually put together a spec sheet...kinda.
http://www.scdlink.com/shop/shopexd.asp?id=2053

Not a bad little camera guys! Its about 5" long, it looks smaller in the pic. The diameter is pretty small though!

Except its not a day night camera, its a Color Super HAD camera which doesnt say much. Provideo's CVC-637EX used to be much better than that as far as low lux, as it was a Color Exview, and they still lied and called it a Day Night camera, while it was not.