Basil 0 Posted March 21, 2005 I'm in the UK and would like to monitor frontage of house day and night, approx 30 feet from house and upto 40 foot max across, want to mount the camera up under eaves of house, just run power into loft. I would prefer to use a wired camera linked to a wireless transmitter... the Mrs is sick of cables everywhere !!! Basically can anyone recommend a sensibly priced solution please, I looking to record the images on a PC, so also would like some pointers on video capture and associated software. Have been looking at various options and am now confused, there is a street light about 50 foot away. Thanks in advance. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
VST_Man 1 Posted March 21, 2005 read old posts on this forum to get a feel for the equpiment and install tips. Wireless shoudl be your last resort. Properly installed cables...you can't see them so your Wife may need a professional install? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rory 0 Posted March 21, 2005 read old posts on this forum to get a feel for the equpiment and install tips. Wireless shoudl be your last resort. Properly installed cables...you can't see them so your Wife may need a professional install? doubly co-signed Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
baywatch 1 Posted March 22, 2005 If you are taking the camera cables straight into the loft from eaves mounted cameras most of your cabling will be in the attic. Why don't you consider a low end 4 camera dvr situated in the attic or maybe a cupboard that goes up to the ceiling, many houses have this. You could then install a modulator to distibute the picture to your existing TVs over the existing aerial system. Result no new cabling in the house. I understand that this may not be exactly suitable in your circumstances but as long as you don't want to review the dvr every day its an easy solution. Don't go for cameras with nuilt in I.R lights as spiders can make them usless in the night. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
VST_Man 1 Posted March 22, 2005 i disagree with the spider comment. ir and non-ir camera's are all prone to the spider, bird, and all sorts of other "cleaning" issues. What you need to plan is a good cleaning capabitity for yourself when you install the camera's. ie. putting a camera on a 50 foot pole provides a great view but is a pain to clean with a spider spins it's web. I always try to place the camera's where they can be cleaned with a 7ft. ladder. anything higher is going to cause you heartache. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Basil 0 Posted March 22, 2005 Many thanks for the advice to read to the older posts, I had already had a quick look... most informative, also what started to get me thinking more about what I was going to do. I was looking at http://www.rfconcepts.co.uk/GV250.htm and http://www.rfconcepts.co.uk/waterproof_ir_camera.htm... But now confused... conflicting info about low light and IR camera... aaahhhh. Which would be best for me... cheap and simple but useable please. Must admit I hadn't considered periodic cleaning of the lens etc... thanks for the heads up. Not keen on ladders etc. either... but I can probably manage a wee bit of cleaning... Cheers for any and all help Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
baywatch 1 Posted March 22, 2005 The problem with the cameras with the built in I.R. lights is that the slightest spiders web (that is invisible in the day) reflects the I,R back & you get a white out. The image is still perfect in the day light. If you have seperate I.R lights then the spiders web on the front of the light does not have any effect. RF Concepts is a good company to deal with. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Basil 0 Posted March 22, 2005 Thanks for the info re cameras with IR built in, scratch that idea... now to find a suitable camera and separate IR device.... Has anyone got any recommendations of stuff available in uk, please ? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kaysadeya 0 Posted March 23, 2005 (edited) Thanks for the info re cameras with IR built in, scratch that idea... now to find a suitable camera and separate IR device.... Has anyone got any recommendations of stuff available in uk, please ? I don't know what's available in the UK, but you have lots of options for cameras. Probably for your purposes simple bullet cameras will do. If B&W cameras will do, you have lots of choices. However, if you want to use IR illuminators with color cameras, you'll have to be very careful to chose a camera *without* an IR filter. I even have one B&W board camera that must have an IR filter because it can't see IR-illuminated areas. You might also consider going on Ebay and checking out some used B&W cameras. I've seen a number of people in the UK selling them there. I've had very good luck with the surplus CCTV gear I've bought on Ebay. As for illuminators, your choices are either LED-based or halogen-based. If the area you need to illuminate is no more than 40 feet, you can probably get away with LED illuminators, which are less expensive and draw less power. Lot's of brand choices also. If you need to illuminate further, you'll probably need to step up to a halogen-based unit. Here in the states these units start at around $200 (e.g., a Vitek VT-IR1-110). Rory will tell you that Extreme illuminators are the best, but they're also very expensive and are probably overkill for most residential uses. For example, I have a 30-deg UF500 I've been playing with. It's great for illuminating an area about 90 feet away, but way overkill for anything closer. I just bought a few Vitek VT-IR1-110 illuminators for more medium-range use. I'll be experimenting with these units this week/weekend and will report the results. Edited March 23, 2005 by Guest Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rory 0 Posted March 23, 2005 Yep, Extreme IS expensive, though after using several other OEM IR Spot Lights, I only use the Extreme now, or nothing .. In the UK though, it would be Derwent, they make the IR for Extreme, they are all one company now actually. http://www.derwentcctv.com/home.asp They also have smaller IR LEDs and Bulbs also, such as the UF100, EX12, EX26LED. They are also well known for their Integrated IR Cameras (which come with seperate LED/Camera Design), as well as vandal proof domes, exlposion proof cameras, balistic cameras, and underwater cameras. Rory Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kaysadeya 0 Posted March 23, 2005 (edited) Yes, I was considering a couple UF100 units, but when you add the cost of the power supply and replacement bulbs, they aren't as cost-effective as the Vitek, which you can just plug into the wall and uses standard bulbs. Caveat: I haven't yet actually seen the results of the Viteks, so can't report on the results. Edited March 23, 2005 by Guest Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rory 0 Posted March 23, 2005 They are similar to the COP USA OEM ones I used before .... they generally work to maybe 40', spot, at least the 12V and 24VAC ones.. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kaysadeya 0 Posted March 23, 2005 These are halogen units -- similar in design to the UF100/500s. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rory 0 Posted March 23, 2005 ok, I was looking at the smaller units, Yep for sure let us know how they are this is the one I used from COP, http://www2.cop-usa.com/ebproductdetail.asp?id=332 I think it is a Hallogen Bulb also, as it has no LEDs.. Rory Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kaysadeya 0 Posted March 23, 2005 Just waiting for dark But it's also raining Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kaysadeya 0 Posted March 23, 2005 Yes, that's the stuff.. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kaysadeya 0 Posted March 23, 2005 My first impression on the Vitek is: underwhelmed. I expected much more punch. The strength is a bit better than the WizKid WZ12L units, which are about $50 less, but that's about it. I have to play around more with locations, so nothing conclusive yet. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
C7 in CA 0 Posted March 23, 2005 heres another for the books .. ma jeep .. Wa'happen to your bumper/tail light? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rory 0 Posted March 23, 2005 someone mashed it .. never got paid either ..changed the $300 light though!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kaysadeya 0 Posted March 23, 2005 So what's the decal say on the rear window? With the lighting, I can't tell.. But, seriously.. I'm loving my UF500 more and more! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rory 0 Posted March 23, 2005 BahamasSecurity.com ... darn I got to take that off, anyway probably selling it as the loan is killing me ...got to get a cheap jap diesel ..2001 and I still owe $27K!! Its got plenty of punch and power though, I kind of suped it up Go through brakes and tires every few months ...! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rory 0 Posted March 23, 2005 yeah,. well that is Over the internet, and in near pitch dark .. and the lettering is grey same as the jeep .. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kaysadeya 0 Posted March 23, 2005 I think everyone'll be impressed by my extreme UF500 / Samsung 721 shots. If I can capture them to post here (hint, hint..), Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kaysadeya 0 Posted March 23, 2005 What IR unit did you use on '3 Pool'? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
