Opinions sought on a Maplin CCTV kit

[Trebuchet 0]

Hi everyone, I'm looking to put a couple of cctv cameras on the outside of my house, I think my best bet will be to put a DVR in my garage and mount some cameras externally, using a powerline adaptor to get a connection to my network in the house. Maplin sell a kit that looks right for my needs, but I've had variable results from Maplin kit over the years, some good and some not so good - has anyone got experience of this one?

 

http://www.maplin.co.uk/500gb-4-ch-h.264-network-dvr-with-2-x-ccd-cameras--mobile-access-517907

 

Really appreciate any feedback.

 

Thanks

Chris

[tomcctv 187]

Hi everyone, I'm looking to put a couple of cctv cameras on the outside of my house, I think my best bet will be to put a DVR in my garage and mount some cameras externally, using a powerline adaptor to get a connection to my network in the house. Maplin sell a kit that looks right for my needs, but I've had variable results from Maplin kit over the years, some good and some not so good - has anyone got experience of this one?

 

http://www.maplin.co.uk/500gb-4-ch-h.264-network-dvr-with-2-x-ccd-cameras--mobile-access-517907

 

Really appreciate any feedback.

 

Thanks

Chris

 

 

Hi. just type maplins into the seach on this site. total waste of money. and not good for using in the uk court system.

[Trebuchet 0]

Hi everyone, I'm looking to put a couple of cctv cameras on the outside of my house, I think my best bet will be to put a DVR in my garage and mount some cameras externally, using a powerline adaptor to get a connection to my network in the house. Maplin sell a kit that looks right for my needs, but I've had variable results from Maplin kit over the years, some good and some not so good - has anyone got experience of this one?

 

http://www.maplin.co.uk/500gb-4-ch-h.264-network-dvr-with-2-x-ccd-cameras--mobile-access-517907

 

Really appreciate any feedback.

 

Thanks

Chris

 

 

Hi. just type maplins into the seach on this site. total waste of money. and not good for using in the uk court system.

 

I did search for maplins and as you say there's some pretty crappy stuff out there, but my experience of them is that they do occasionally get some decent stuff in - which is why I asked about this particular kit. However, if it's no good what would you recommend for a simple system that can control up to 4 cameras, networked to a PC for viewing footage? I'd like night vision and outdoor cameras.

 

Really appreciate any advice.

 

Regards

Chris

[tomcctv 187]

hi it depends on your budget. but buying box systems just dont work. all cameras are cheap nasty . you are paying more for the cables (which are also very poor) and power unit.

 

were are you located.

[Trebuchet 0]

hi it depends on your budget. but buying box systems just dont work. all cameras are cheap nasty . you are paying more for the cables (which are also very poor) and power unit.

 

were are you located.

 

I'm in the UK, Tamworth to be more precise. I'm not really sure what my budget is, other than the usual 'as little as possible for as much as possible'

[tomcctv 187]

hi it depends on your budget. but buying box systems just dont work. all cameras are cheap nasty . you are paying more for the cables (which are also very poor) and power unit.

 

were are you located.

 

I'm in the UK, Tamworth to be more precise. I'm not really sure what my budget is, other than the usual 'as little as possible for as much as possible'

 

 

 

hi just pm you too websites.

[tesc_cctvpro 0]

Hmmm.... Just buy the Maplin if it's cheap.

 

If you haven't been asked how far you want see, whether you want to identify anything, need to record , etc, etc --- you will get the same result from that cheap system as you gonna get from any other system somebody recommends.

[tomcctv 187]

Hmmm.... Just buy the Maplin if it's cheap.

 

If you haven't been asked how far you want see, whether you want to identify anything, need to record , etc, etc --- you will get the same result from that cheap system as you gonna get from any other system somebody recommends.

 

 

 

 

would you sell your customers B grade stock.

 

 

you will get the same result from that cheap system as you gonna get from any other system somebody recommends.

 

 

what a silly comment. a recommended system or camera is a lot better way of buying than not knowing anything about the dvr or camera. saves buying twice dont you think.

[tesc_cctvpro 0]

Hmmm.... Just buy the Maplin if it's cheap.

 

If you haven't been asked how far you want see, whether you want to identify anything, need to record , etc, etc --- you will get the same result from that cheap system as you gonna get from any other system somebody recommends.

 

 

 

 

would you sell your customers B grade stock.

 

 

you will get the same result from that cheap system as you gonna get from any other system somebody recommends.

 

 

what a silly comment. a recommended system or camera is a lot better way of buying than not knowing anything about the dvr or camera. saves buying twice dont you think.

 

If I want to see 100ft to my gate at the end of the driveway and I want to know who is stopped there before I open it ------ and the recommended cameras aren't suitable for that ----- No I don't think it saves the effort of buying twice!

[tesc_cctvpro 0]

Hi everyone, I'm looking to put a couple of cctv cameras on the outside of my house, I think my best bet will be to put a DVR in my garage and mount some cameras externally, using a powerline adaptor to get a connection to my network in the house. Maplin sell a kit that looks right for my needs, but I've had variable results from Maplin kit over the years, some good and some not so good - has anyone got experience of this one?

 

http://www.maplin.co.uk/500gb-4-ch-h.264-network-dvr-with-2-x-ccd-cameras--mobile-access-517907

 

Really appreciate any feedback.

 

Thanks

Chris

 

 

Just one pointer --- A dvr is literally a server device. It has minimum and maximum operating temperatures and is susceptible to various influences from the ambient environment. Issues such as humidity and moisture content etc.

 

Our integrators always install them in server racks and cabinets like any other server - mostly you won't find that in a DIY install. Such installations are never within the parameters of warranty terms though.

 

But then i guess that is why we have dvr's running 5 years after installation!

[Trebuchet 0]

Hi everyone, I'm looking to put a couple of cctv cameras on the outside of my house, I think my best bet will be to put a DVR in my garage and mount some cameras externally, using a powerline adaptor to get a connection to my network in the house. Maplin sell a kit that looks right for my needs, but I've had variable results from Maplin kit over the years, some good and some not so good - has anyone got experience of this one?

 

http://www.maplin.co.uk/500gb-4-ch-h.264-network-dvr-with-2-x-ccd-cameras--mobile-access-517907

 

Really appreciate any feedback.

 

Thanks

Chris

 

 

Just one pointer --- A dvr is literally a server device. It has minimum and maximum operating temperatures and is susceptible to various influences from the ambient environment. Issues such as humidity and moisture content etc.

 

Our integrators always install them in server racks and cabinets like any other server - mostly you won't find that in a DIY install. Such installations are never within the parameters of warranty terms though.

 

But then i guess that is why we have dvr's running 5 years after installation!

 

 

Thanks, having given it a bit of thought I had come to that conclusion too, if I go to the trouble of fitting IP cameras I can just put a POE switch in the garage and connect it to the network in the house via some powerline kit.

 

Really appreciate all the suggestions though.

[Numb-nuts 1]

Maplin prices seem too good to be true don't they? Thats cos' they are!

Usually you get what you pay for but with Maplins you get far less than you bargained for.

Waste of time, waste of money and waste of breath. SORRY, hope I haven't burst any bubbles.

 

Get the Credit card out and invest a little more and you will be so pleased you did later on.

 

Find a local CCTV specialist on the internet and contact them for advice on each individual camera.

Take along a plan of the site {google Maps and Google Earth are extremely helpful with that)

Take a few measurements and add them to your map as references, The more preparation you do in planning, the better your system is likely to work for you. Happy surveillance...

 

PS if you do get IP cameras. steer clear of the Foscam and Foscam clones on ebay, you will NOT be happy with their performance

 

 

For a domestic system, I can recommend Vitamin d software as a surveillance interface for IP cameras. First camera license is free and it's both Mac and PC compatible and very simple to learn. If you like it you can go ahead and add a second and third and fourth camera etc but try it out with one camera first. If you don't like it nothing lost Do check their website for camera compatibility.

[Trebuchet 0]

Maplin prices seem too good to be true don't they? Thats cos' they are!

Usually you get what you pay for but with Maplins you get far less than you bargained for.

Waste of time, waste of money and waste of breath. SORRY, hope I haven't burst any bubbles.

 

Get the Credit card out and invest a little more and you will be so pleased you did later on.

 

Find a local CCTV specialist on the internet and contact them for advice on each individual camera.

Take along a plan of the site {google Maps and Google Earth are extremely helpful with that)

Take a few measurements and add them to your map as references, The more preparation you do in planning, the better your system is likely to work for you. Happy surveillance...

 

PS if you do get IP cameras. steer clear of the Foscam and Foscam clones on ebay, you will NOT be happy with their performance

 

 

For a domestic system, I can recommend Vitamin d software as a surveillance interface for IP cameras. First camera license is free and it's both Mac and PC compatible and very simple to learn. If you like it you can go ahead and add a second and third and fourth camera etc but try it out with one camera first. If you don't like it nothing lost Do check their website for camera compatibility.

 

 

Thanks for the advice. Vitamin - D does look good.

[Trebuchet 0]

Since I've gotten such good advice here I thought it only right that I'd give you an update on where I got to and what I've decided to do. I checked out Vitamin d, which seems very good, and as I had an old laptop running ubuntu I downloaded Zoneminder and (eventually) got that up and running. Both do what they do very well, and some trials with webcams have worked out fine. So, next I'll buy myself a decent outdoor IP camera, set it up using POE and take it from there. Depending on how many cams I want I might yet use either Vitamin d or Zoneminder, but at least I've now got some options.

 

Thanks everyone for your help.

[Aban-CCTV-Camera 0]

You'll be lucky to find a one camera dvr set for under £200, that is any good.

Regarding the use of, 'powerline adaptors’, in a garage.

Test it first as it might be on a different wiring loop meaning that the signal might not be very strong,

either up stairs or down. I recommend the use of cat5 wherever possible.