Home Security Cameras

[P1]

Originally Posted by GotE46M

Quick question, do you guys install these yourselves or have someone else do it?

I installed my own, but this is my third system. First one was 480p, second was 720p (still have the cameras) and the third and current install consists of 3MP cameras. I think it's fun learning something new, and can now help my friends if they ever need a security system.

Installing the drops is the most difficult and aggravating part of the install. Once the drops are in, the rest is just about mounting the cameras and setting them up to monitor correctly.

A friend of mine just bought a house, and he's hiring someone to pull cable for eight cameras. He'll do the rest himself. Looking at the quote he receive, they charged him between $125 and $175 per drop. This obviously depends how difficult the drop is.

[Inspired]

What do you mean by "drop?"

[zx10guy]

It's just infrastructure/cabling lingo for a location where a particular cable is going to be terminated on the host/device side.

[P1]

Originally Posted by Inspired

What do you mean by "drop?"

Originally Posted by zx10guy

It's just infrastructure/cabling lingo for a location where a particular cable is going to be terminated on the host/device side.

Sorry, should have probably clarified that. Reading my reply again, it seems like I might have overused the word "drop" one too many times.

[Inspired]

Do you guys do a clean install with wires inside the wall or wires running outside? Still looking for a contractor/electrician who is willing to do a clean install in the wall that is reasonable. All the contractors I have found want $3000-5000 to run a 4 camera PoE

[zx10guy]

All my cables are hidden in the walls. I don't want to speak for P1et but I would assume his are also.

[P1]

Originally Posted by zx10guy

All my cables are hidden in the walls. I don't want to speak for P1et but I would assume his are also.

They are indeed...

[GotE46M]

Originally Posted by Inspired

Do you guys do a clean install with wires inside the wall or wires running outside? Still looking for a contractor/electrician who is willing to do a clean install in the wall that is reasonable. All the contractors I have found want $3000-5000 to run a 4 camera PoE

Thats a pretty steep price might check into security/alarm installers instead of contractors

[deeLow]

Originally Posted by zx10guy

All my cables are hidden in the walls. I don't want to speak for P1et but I would assume his are also.

Ahh... The benefits of owning a ranch. I plan On just running everything through the attic. Sounds simple enough but I may be in over my head. We will see.

[zx10guy]

Originally Posted by deeLow

Ahh... The benefits of owning a ranch. I plan On just running everything through the attic. Sounds simple enough but I may be in over my head. We will see.

Definitely. My primary home where the cameras are installed is a two story house. I had the foresight to have the builder put in a 2" conduit that runs from the basement straight up to the attic. The picture I posted of the Hikvision 3332 is at the front of my house next to the garage. I have a conduit that runs from the basement along the garage wall. I pulled the cabling for this camera through the conduit and up into the attic space above the garage.

The other cameras I have on the outside around the back of the house required that I had the runs pulled before I had an area in my basement finished.

[zx10guy]

So I currently have a dilemma. I'm trying to figure out which camera to purchase to cover the front driveway area of my house. I've gone back and forth with some options but can't settle on a final choice.

Option one is to get the very good performing PTZ camera from Dahua, the SD59230S-HN. The pluses is the camera has very good zoom image quality with an optical zoom of 30x. Has very good night vision image quality. And the camera movements are very fast and responsive. The cons is the camera is big. I would have to mount it vertically under a soffit vent. The thing is going to stick out like a wart on my house. Also, the camera isn't compatible with my Hikvision NVR. So it'll necessitate another NVR solution.

Option 2 is to go with a different Dahua camera, SD42212SN-HN. It's smaller than option 1 but still has the cons I listed above.

Option 3 is to look into an ACTi B95. It's also very well reviewed as the Dahua 59230. It's the smallest of the PTZ cameras I'm considering. But it's pretty expensive and has the con of not being compatible with my NVR.

Option 4 is to stick with the Hikvision outside cameras I've been using but get the native English firmware version 2332 model...functionally the same as the 3332s I already own. The con is no PTZ functionality.

Decisions...decisions.

[P1]

Since my wife was out and about last night, I had a few hours to myself and decided to swap my cameras around. Much better now! Fully adjusted them, and although it was sometimes a bit of a pain, happy I did it.

[P1]

Originally Posted by zx10guy

So I currently have a dilemma. I'm trying to figure out which camera to purchase to cover the front driveway area of my house. I've gone back and forth with some options but can't settle on a final choice.

Option one is to get the very good performing PTZ camera from Dahua, the SD59230S-HN. The pluses is the camera has very good zoom image quality with an optical zoom of 30x. Has very good night vision image quality. And the camera movements are very fast and responsive. The cons is the camera is big. I would have to mount it vertically under a soffit vent. The thing is going to stick out like a wart on my house. Also, the camera isn't compatible with my Hikvision NVR. So it'll necessitate another NVR solution.

Option 2 is to go with a different Dahua camera, SD42212SN-HN. It's smaller than option 1 but still has the cons I listed above.

Option 3 is to look into an ACTi B95. It's also very well reviewed as the Dahua 59230. It's the smallest of the PTZ cameras I'm considering. But it's pretty expensive and has the con of not being compatible with my NVR.

Option 4 is to stick with the Hikvision outside cameras I've been using but get the native English firmware version 2332 model...functionally the same as the 3332s I already own. The con is no PTZ functionality.

Decisions...decisions.

Do you want a PTZ because it's a fun toy to play with, or you really need it to zoom in on certain things such as number plates on cars in your drive etc.? From what I'm reading, unless you actively monitor the cameras at all times such as in a casino, the PTZ "fun factor" will wear off after a while.

[zx10guy]

Originally Posted by P1et

Do you want a PTZ because it's a fun toy to play with, or you really need it to zoom in on certain things such as number plates on cars in your drive etc.? From what I'm reading, unless you actively monitor the cameras at all times such as in a casino, the PTZ "fun factor" will wear off after a while.

The fun factor is part of it. But I was thinking more for if I happen to be actively monitoring that camera, I would have the flexibility to move and zoom the camera in on specific areas of interest.

I understand Hikvision is supposed to come out with a camera similar to the Dahua 42212.

I'm also leaning towards an outdoor Hikvision camera with two way audio capability. More for the mic capability to record any audio but the ability to talk to whoever is at the front door could be something useful too.

[Inspired]

Are there any PTZ that isn't extremely large? If I can fit a PTZ outdoor then I can get away with just having 1 camera outdoor vs 2.

[zx10guy]

The ACTi B95 I mentioned above. Only catch is it's pretty pricey.

[Brady1984]

The market leader for professional grade IP cameras is Axis. The cameras can be pricey but the build quality, image quality, flexibility and feature set is unmatched. The Axis Camera Companion VMS is easy to use and works well for home installations.

[P1]

Originally Posted by Brady1984

The market leader for professional grade IP cameras is Axis. The cameras can be pricey but the build quality, image quality, flexibility and feature set is unmatched. The Axis Camera Companion VMS is easy to use and works well for home installations.

It's definitely expensive for what you get...

[Brady1984]

Originally Posted by P1et

It's definitely expensive for what you get...

You also get a lot of features with a Hyundai. It's just no BMW...,

[P1]

Originally Posted by Brady1984

You also get a lot of features with a Hyundai. It's just no BMW...,

Trust me, I looked at them. Not arguing with you mate.

[Kolyan2k]

I ended up buying 1 Dlink DSC-5222L. I figured I won't be able to monitor the car 24/7 anyway and with this being motorized I can view parking lot and living room with just 1 camera

[P1]

Originally Posted by Kolyan2k

I ended up buying 1 Dlink DSC-522L. I figured I won't be able to monitor the car 24/7 anyway and with this being motorized I can view parking lot and living room with just 1 camera

You got it up and running yet? Interested to see the image quality.