Need help from the experts - camera to monitor horse birth

Hello,

I'm trying to help the mother-in-law with a camera project. She is trying to set up a camera that will allow her to monitor a pregnant horse in its paddock so she can be available for the birth. The horse is due in no more than a couple weeks, and she hopes I can help her with procurement and an install by this weekend. Last minute request for sure, so any timely help here will be greatly appreciated. If you're reading this after mid-April 2015 then save yourself the effort of responding as the window will have closed.

I've never installed a security camera, but I have an IT/networking background and certainly understand the basics on how digital cameras work. I know very little in the way of CCTV terms and technology.

A single quality IP camera appears to be the easiest and most economical thing to deploy, but I'm open to suggestions otherwise. I've concluded that due to the assumption that an IP camera will be more plug and play than a traditional CCTV camera or set of CCTV cameras. I'm assuming DVR/NVR capabilities are optional with some or all IP cameras, and might be required with most or all CCTV cameras. Live streaming is her main priority.

The camera would be mounted about ten feet from the edge of the paddock. The paddock dimensions are about 40'x100' and the camera would be deployed near the mid-point of the long fence. The furthest point under supervision would therefore be about 80' from the camera. The picture needs to be good enough that she can determine if the horse is under distress or giving birth.

The camera will be mounted about 50' from her 802.11ac router. Ethernet can be run into the house to that router, but reliable WiFi would be preferable. Power can be run to the camera, but battery operated entirely wireless models are an enticing option.

She has a Macbook and iOS devices. No PC in the house. I could lend her a PC laptop if her OS proves a deal breaker.

Requirements:

• Outdoor
  WiFi/Ethernet connectivity (WiFi capable preferred)
  PTZ (~180 degree pan, 3x+ zoom?)
  IR night vision to approximately 80'
  No Internet access required for unit to function with local streaming
  Operates between 20-110 deg F
  App or modern browser is all that is required for live streaming and camera control

Nice to have:

• Anti-fog
  Audio
  Motion detection/alerting
  DVR/NVR compatible
  SD card compatible for local storage
  Remote Internet connectivity to live stream or play recorded content

Does such a product exist?

Can anyone point me towards a suitable fit, which ideally has some reputable reviews available?

If we've got unrealistic expectations on features and performance, what sacrifices might need to be made?

Am I forgetting any important considerations?

The numerous CCTV acronyms and tremendous similarities between camera model descriptions is frankly pretty overwhelming, even for someone that is quite tech savvy. I know when I'm out of my league due to inexperience, and more importantly, time constraints. Can you guys point me in the right direction?

Thanks in advance for any help!

budget?

Budget is flexible depending on meeting most/all requirements. She didn't blink before buying a $400 CCTV camera kit from Costco on a whim, but after looking at the Cloud storage and cabling requirements of the kit she purchased we collectively decided it should go back.

I was hoping to keep it in the $300-$500 range depending on presence of some DVR functionality.

Budget is flexible depending on meeting most/all requirements. She didn't blink before buying a $400 CCTV camera kit from Costco on a whim, but after looking at the Cloud storage and cabling requirements of the kit she purchased we collectively decided it should go back.

 

I was hoping to keep it in the $300-$500 range depending on presence of some DVR functionality.

Hikvision DS-2DE4582-AE http://www.hikvision.com/europe/Products_show.asp?id=9661

can be had for 500 from a US seller...google it, this website wont allow mentioning names...

only 4x optical zoom, but its nice because unlike the 12/20/30x high zoom cameras this one has a wide field of view when fully zoomed out so you can see the entire barn...

It has an sd card slot and you can record to it without an NVR..

Run a single ethenet cable to it and use a poe+ injector (this needs poe+ not standard poe)...

Thanks for the information! That looks like a nice camera, and a wide view would certainly be a nice feature.

After talking with her today it sounds like her intention is just to leave it up during the birth and then take it down. She also switched audio to be absolutely required versus nice to have. In fact she indicated audio might be more important than video. That means a lower end or indoor model might be a better fit. Heck, a baby monitor might be a good fit. Seems silly to pay a lot for a camera that will only be installed for a couple weeks.

She has a friend who uses a <$100 indoor model in a horse stall that records to SD card, does audio, and does pan/tilt (but no zoom). I understand that longer distance fidelity or usable night vision might be a higher end feature you won't find on a lower end camera, but is there a lower end model that could work in a pinch? Ideally one you could buy from a place that starts with A-M-A-Z-O...?

Thanks for the information! That looks like a nice camera, and a wide view would certainly be a nice feature.

 

After talking with her today it sounds like her intention is just to leave it up during the birth and then take it down. She also switched audio to be absolutely required versus nice to have. In fact she indicated audio might be more important than video. That means a lower end or indoor model might be a better fit. Heck, a baby monitor might be a good fit. Seems silly to pay a lot for a camera that will only be installed for a couple weeks.

 

She has a friend who uses a <$100 indoor model in a horse stall that records to SD card, does audio, and does pan/tilt (but no zoom). I understand that longer distance fidelity or usable night vision might be a higher end feature you won't find on a lower end camera, but is there a lower end model that could work in a pinch? Ideally one you could buy from a place that starts with A-M-A-Z-O...?

yes, if its just for a few months you can get away with a foscam...they have 3x optical zoom indoor models...I would never use that junk for a long term install, but for your case it may be the way to go...

Another alternative is a hikvision 2432 3mp cube, it fixed so no pan tilt..but you can digitally zoom in..good luck

The Foscam model looks like it would almost work, but the 8m limit to night vision would really impact how much of the paddock she could see at night. I'm assuming they don't advertise limits conservatively, so nothing would show up much further out than that.

Any idea how good the mic is on one of those? Is it likely to pick up animal noises that might be 50'-100' away?

If you need two or three Foscams to cover the whole paddock you're back to being much better off getting a single good camera in my opinion. Today is the drop dead date for ordering something to get it here with two day shipping. The higher good model you linked initially looks like it has jacks for audio, but you'd need to supply a mic separately. Did I get that right?

The Foscam model looks like it would almost work, but the 8m limit to night vision would really impact how much of the paddock she could see at night. I'm assuming they don't advertise limits conservatively, so nothing would show up much further out than that.

 

Any idea how good the mic is on one of those? Is it likely to pick up animal noises that might be 50'-100' away?

 

If you need two or three Foscams to cover the whole paddock you're back to being much better off getting a single good camera in my opinion. Today is the drop dead date for ordering something to get it here with two day shipping. The higher good model you linked initially looks like it has jacks for audio, but you'd need to supply a mic separately. Did I get that right?

you can add ir light...

yes you need to add your own mic...the hikvision will accept a line level and a mic level audio source...