need a simple, low cost system

[wally 0]

Can you make recommendations based on my existing hardware and usage?

 

Current Hardware:

2.8Ghz, 1Gb RAM, 200GB HD, WinXP (no vid capture card)

802.11G wireless router/network

Cable (3Mbps) Internet, dynamic IP

 

Usage Requirements:

In home survailance (indoor)

Descrete camera (hidden in closet or AC vent)

Day and night (medium to low light)

motion detection recording to Hard Drive

wireless connection to PC (via wifi router) preferred

low to med res is ok

low frame rate is ok (even 2-3 fps)

B/W or color

 

Optional:

Remote viewing via internet

smaller camera is better- lens can be seperate from any other hardware to help with installation

 

Thanks in advance for your help!

[Jasper 0]

Around how much are you willing to spend for this system?

We need a budget to work with before making any kind of suggestions.

That will determine more than anything what you would be able to put together.

You have the computer system this is powerful enough to be used for a DVR.

 

So, how simple and how low cost?

[CCTVmofo 0]

To begin with, I would refrain from using your current computer to do your Surveillance recording. The only time I recommend using DVR cards is when the customer has a dedicated PC. DVR cards are extremely processor intensive and the Hard Drive will be constantly running. This makes your computer suseptable to crashes. Should you try to do anything else while the computer is recording you will greatly increase the chance of a crash. On top of that, any applicatoin you run will move veeeeerrrrrrrrryyyyyyyyyyyy sssssssssllllllllllooooooooooowwwwwwwwwwwww.

 

I would recommend purchasing instead a cheap stand alone DVR. Speco sells a simplex model (simplex = recording or playback, cant do both at the same time) with an 80GB HDD for around $650.00. Model number = DVRx4/IP.

 

You will not get the nice GUI interface like you would with a PC based DVR solution, but you will get a far more reliable and stable system.

 

For the camera, I would recommend a simple board camera. The a really inexpensive and are a desent quality. You can find b/w models for around $50.00 and color around $80.00 from the more reputable security companies.

 

For your application i would say to go with either a flat pinhole lens or a conical pinhole. The conical is a little bit raised off the camera in a cone shape. This makes your life easier when mounting behind objects.

 

Please leave a post letting us know if you need any more help.