Security Cameras

[Farside]

I found onvif device manager on sourceforge

https://sourceforge.net/projects/onvifdm/files/latest/download

It connected to my cheapie cam and let me change the IP address.

Problem solved!

Excellent. I might give another cheapy a try.
I've got a cheapy (£35) IP cam out front and it's survived ~8 months of lashing rain and hot / cold cycles without any bother. I'd buy another one, but the seller on Amazon seems to have run out. I was all excited there when I spotted Hikvision HiWatch being cheaply priced, but it's only the analogue ones, the IP HiWatch cams are still more than I want to pay.

 

[lshigham]

I've just fitted a £50 iegeek ip camera off amazon, really happy with it. I did originally buy the 720p but sent it back as the picture wasn't great quality and the field of view small, spent the extra £10 for the 1080p it's much better.

 

[Cyberprog]

Excellent. I might give another cheapy a try.
I've got a cheapy (£35) IP cam out front and it's survived ~8 months of lashing rain and hot / cold cycles without any bother. I'd buy another one, but the seller on Amazon seems to have run out. I was all excited there when I spotted Hikvision HiWatch being cheaply priced, but it's only the analogue ones, the IP HiWatch cams are still more than I want to pay.

I bought a HiWatch DVR and camera at xmas - £175 for a 3tb 8 channel unit off Amazon, and the camera was about £70 iirc for a 4MP Vandal Dome. Very good quality - I've got it recording some 2mp vivotek cameras also, but they don't support motion detection which is annoying. POE out the back of the DVR also.

 

[Chillitt]

I found onvif device manager on sourceforge

https://sourceforge.net/projects/onvifdm/files/latest/download

It connected to my cheapie cam and let me change the IP address.

Problem solved!

Ive just caught up.. got the camera and a switch and the onvif and amazingly, it works! *I'm not very techy..) Is there a way to record, or do I need something else to do that?

 

[Farside]

Is there a way to record, or do I need something else to do that?

I'm currently using NetCam Studio (free version) to record when movement is sensed.
I'd tried I-Spy, which was ok, too.
Not really settled on a permanent recording solution yet, because once I have it all wired up and sorted out, there will likely be a better answer available. Free would be good, but most of the free stuff is clunky, and the really good stuff isn't cheap.

 

[Chillitt]

I'm currently using NetCam Studio (free version) to record when movement is sensed.
I'd tried I-Spy, which was ok, too.
Not really settled on a permanent recording solution yet, because once I have it all wired up and sorted out, there will likely be a better answer available. Free would be good, but most of the free stuff is clunky, and the really good stuff isn't cheap.

You've picked up on the important thing I didnt mention.

 

[Cyberprog]

I'm a techie. Buy a cheap DVR. You can faff round all day with open source software and PC components, but nothing's going to beat the ease of use and power utilisation of a custom designed ASIC in a complete package.

The HikVision HiWatch NVR's have my vote currently!

 

[Farside]

I'm a techie. Buy a cheap DVR. You can faff round all day with open source software and PC components, but nothing's going to beat the ease of use and power utilisation of a custom designed ASIC in a complete package.

The HikVision HiWatch NVR's have my vote currently!

I agree with that for one main reason.
I have a bucketful of decent ex-store cams that were the shiz in their day, and still knock out a fairly decent picture, but they're all analogue.
To run them I bought a cheap and cheerful Westshine NVR box and will use them internally, keeping the IP cams for outside views.
Surprisingly, it turns out the software supplied with the Westshine box isn't too bad and lives quite happily with the PC, forwarding via network cable the important bit to the PC screen or hard disk as wanted, for observation or recording (there's a recording option on the NVR itself, of course). It's effectively turned the old analogue cams into nearly IP cams. The analogue cams are being run on cat5e anyway, so can easily be upgraded later.

 

[Shox Dr]

Just checking in to see what the current recommended camera is. I require 2 to cover my fathers bungalow. One external, the other inside.

I’m not looking for covert. Just be able to connect directly to a router, no need for recording

 

[gaz1]

are you after a camera that connects direct to net system or after a cctv system that records yet also able to watch direct on your phone ? or via your net connection

 

[Shox Dr]

Thinking about it, it would make sense to have them capable of offsite (cloud) recording. Are Hikvision still the best

 

[scottmk1]

You could try cctv42, I've got a setup from them that is much better than screwfix offerings and the likes.

 

[gaz1]

your forgetting any cameras have a high net usage when uploading have you got the net connection for this to happen?

 

[Cyberprog]

HikVision stuff is very good - Hik also do a cheapo 4-port PoE recorder which will power the cameras also. Motion record, email alerts etc. are all included.

 

[brewdexta]

I had to buy some cameras recently. Both daughters came down with similar, but not identical health issues, my eldest suffered the worst and got larnygospasm. Both girls have allergies and touch of asthma but the trigger seemed to be a viral cough, but the root cause looks like being reflux brought on by coughing, which irritating their larynx. Very scary for the kids to begin with as effectively the larynx blocks the airway.

Anyway, to help with diagnosis and subsequent treatment, as most of the attacks happened at night, the wife wanted to film the girls at night so we can feed the info back to the consultant. As the treatment has lessened the impact and frequency, the girls are mainly sleeping through the attacks so the video helps to monitor what is happening.

So I had to turn my usual techie nerd mode off and just bite the bullet and get some. But I thought I may as well buy something that had a use after the medical issues have disappeared so bought a 4 camera PoE/DVR kit, this one. Seems OK for the money, easy to set up, only omission seems to be no NTP so just have to set the time up manually and check it hasn't drifted occasionally. The DVR may get NTP parameters through DHCP via the router but there is no indication of this and no manual settings for an NTP server. I haven't checked it with a packet sniffer or looked into it on-line, too busy on other stuff. The other potential issue is that the camera PoE seems to be proprietary, I'm sure there is probably a way around this, but without tinkering it would stop you putting a camera off another PoE switch or extender. I bet they sell their own PoE extenders for this, not an issue for me so not researched it, just a potential gotcha for others, other makes seem to do the same.

It looks like the kids are on the mend so I will probably re-purpose it after the weekend. I shall find out how good they are then.

Cheers
Andy

 

[Burdekin]

We have a Hive camera as we already have a Hive system setup; thermostat, motion and door sensors, plugs and light bulbs. My wife loves this stuff. The camera, motion and door sensors are a great idea. When a person or noise sets the camera off it texts a pic of the person who has set the camera off. The dog doesn't set it off so it can tell between me and the dog. When the other sensors go off they also text you a message. I get a good discount through work as I work for a company that Centrica is a major shareholder. The whole system is excellent; heating, lights and the security items all controlled easily through the one app.

 

[Cyberprog]

So I had to turn my usual techie nerd mode off and just bite the bullet and get some. But I thought I may as well buy something that had a use after the medical issues have disappeared so bought a 4 camera PoE/DVR kit, this one. Seems OK for the money, easy to set up, only omission seems to be no NTP so just have to set the time up manually and check it hasn't drifted occasionally. The DVR may get NTP parameters through DHCP via the router but there is no indication of this and no manual settings for an NTP server. I haven't checked it with a packet sniffer or looked into it on-line, too busy on other stuff. The other potential issue is that the camera PoE seems to be proprietary, I'm sure there is probably a way around this, but without tinkering it would stop you putting a camera off another PoE switch or extender. I bet they sell their own PoE extenders for this, not an issue for me so not researched it, just a potential gotcha for others, other makes seem to do the same.

The HiK stuff is much better and uses standards compliant PoE - I made sure of this before purchasing!

 

[Burdekin]

Aldi have these: https://www.aldi.co.uk/yale-indoor-camera/p/018069286565900

 

[brewdexta]

The HiK stuff is much better and uses standards compliant PoE - I made sure of this before purchasing!

Hindsight is a wonderful thing I was under pressure from the missus and bought it on my phone while commuting. The non standard PoE will not impair my use and they are cheaper so not that worried. I'll soon find out what their visual performance is like when used outside.....

 

[Cyberprog]

Yeah, I found that some of the higher security domes I bought were not as good as the lower security "turret" cameras. The IR reflected off the inside of the dome somewhat annoyingly. I would up moving them to a different location and buying more turret style ones.