Gemologist
Premium
join:2001-11-15
USA
clubs: 
|  Network Camera Help Needed
I need some help picking out a network camera for some indoor security use. I am on a limited budget and need to keep the price below $200.00 US. Is there anything decent in this range? Audio would be a great benefit as well. I am at a total loss when it comes to these things so I don't even know where to start. I looked at them on Newegg already but no clue which ones are good and bad. I do know about cameras, but I also know they can look great on paper/specs but not produce usable images. Thanks in advance.
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"Photography is 50% being at the right place at the right time, 25% gut, 10% skill, 10% luck, 5% equipment" -JKS |
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Sir Raleigh
Premium,MVM
join:2001-07-31
Raleigh, NC
| Need a bit more information...
Do you actually need a network camera?
Are you going to send the video out over the web?
Would a USB camera work just as well?
Do you have a video capture or TV Tuner card?
Would a camera with composite output work?
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I used to know all this stuff! |
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Gemologist
Premium
join:2001-11-15
USA
clubs:
1 edit | reply to Gemologist
Yes, I think I need a network camera. No way to run a USB cable. There is a network cable accessible, but wireless would be preferred if have to use this route. I do have video in/out (vivo) on my Video card if that makes a difference. Don't think the composite would work since I need this to go to my PC for monitoring, or would it since I have VIVO on my card?
The other nice thing I noticed is with the Network camera I could log in from other places to view what was going on correct? Can this be done with the other camera types?
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"Photography is 50% being at the right place at the right time, 25% gut, 10% skill, 10% luck, 5% equipment" -JKS |
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Sir Raleigh
Premium,MVM
join:2001-07-31
Raleigh, NC
| reply to Gemologist
I'm running a couple of security cameras myself. One is a small bullet-type color camera looking out over the parking lot of my condo with a view of 90 degrees, and the other is my camcorder zoomed in to my car.
Each are composite and I had to run 2 cables to my computer. I had to run the cables on the outside of the building (the cameras are located on the second floor, the computer on the first) and then in through the window next to my computer.
I use motion-detecting software for the camcorder and only a viewer for the bullet-type camera.
Just a little background on my system before I tell you that I don't have any experience with network cameras.
Good luck on your setup, though.
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I used to know all this stuff! |
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Gemologist
Premium
join:2001-11-15
USA
clubs:
| reply to Gemologist
I am not sure what to do. I need something that can be hidden as well. I don't want anyone knowing the camera is there at first or it will defeat the purpose of getting one..lol. Any recommendations where to get a composite camera reasonable? And will it work with my VIVO?
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"Photography is 50% being at the right place at the right time, 25% gut, 10% skill, 10% luck, 5% equipment" -JKS |
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Greg_Z
Premium
join:2001-08-08
Springfield, IL
 ·Comcast
| said by Gemologist  :I need something that can be hidden as well. I don't want anyone knowing the camera is there at first or it will defeat the purpose of getting one..lol. That right there tells me that it is going to be used for illicit purposes, that can actually get you in trouble. If I was you, I would forget about it.
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One man's customer loyalty is another man's misguided arrogance. |
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Gemologist
Premium
join:2001-11-15
USA
clubs:
2 edits | said by Greg_Z :That right there tells me that it is going to be used for illicit purposes, that can actually get you in trouble. If I was you, I would forget about it. Actually you assumed wrong. I know my laws as I am ex-law enforcement, and I am doing nothing illicit. All people in the building we be informed of the fact that video surveillance will be active on the premises and signs will even be posted, they just don't need to know where, which is not against the law. It is also on property owned by me and is private property and not public property.
Frankly, I find it very offensive that you even accused me of anything without knowing anything.  I kinda thought that maybe the posters here would be a bit more mature then the rest of this site, but I guess there is one in every bunch.
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"Photography is 50% being at the right place at the right time, 25% gut, 10% skill, 10% luck, 5% equipment" -JKS |
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Greg_Z
Premium
join:2001-08-08
Springfield, IL
·Comcast
| Really does not matter if it is on private property, video taping someone on premise, there are people out there that will state that their rights are violated even though you have made them aware of the video taping.
Now back on subject, the equipment alone can cost you more then $200.00. Axis is about the best out there »www.axis.com/products/video/camera/ The 225FD is about the smallest out there, and can be placed on a ceiling or wall.
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One man's customer loyalty is another man's misguided arrogance. |
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Gemologist
Premium
join:2001-11-15
USA
clubs:
| said by Greg_Z :Really does not matter if it is on private property, video taping someone on premise, there are people out there that will state that their rights are violated even though you have made them aware of the video taping. I could careless what they scream, and are welcome to scream all they want. My State's laws do not protect them on private property as long as there are signs making people aware that the premises is being video surveillanced. The video taping will be done indoors as well, not even outside. So how about staying on topic and not worrying about the Laws, because no oofense meant, I know them far better then you do, after all I did go to school for it.
As for the Axis, they seem to be quite over priced for what you are getting to be honest. I don't need the best either. Heck, a good quality Web Cam would work good enough, but it is too far to run a USB cable.
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"Photography is 50% being at the right place at the right time, 25% gut, 10% skill, 10% luck, 5% equipment" -JKS |
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AJBMatrix
Mac Convert
join:2005-08-07
Athens, GA
| reply to Gemologist
»www.securityideas.com/viipmpcaw.html ---> Vivotek IP3132 Network Camera w/Audio
»www.securityideas.com/wirnetcampac.html ---> Panasonic Network Camera Package Deal.
If you really wanted to go wireless you would have to increase your budget much more.
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MacBook Pro 1.83 GHz; 1 GB RAM; 100 GB HD 7200 RPM; ATI x1600 w/ 256MB GDDR3; Built in iSight; FrontRow and the best feature ever...OSX! |
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Jason
Col. Panic
Premium
join:2001-01-24
38.2967 Lat
clubs:
1 edit | reply to Gemologist
»www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002G···n=172282
Looks promising..
Ive never run one of these, so I cant help you out too much..
This one looks cool tho, I might have to pick one up to play with it, Heheh..
Heres another cheap one, specs look okay, but no frills.
»www.dealtime.com/xPF-Trendware_TV_IP100
Google for IP Camera, you'll get a lot of hits.
-Jason
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Do you know what you are?
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..You are what you is. |
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Gemologist
Premium
join:2001-11-15
USA
clubs:
| reply to AJBMatrix
said by AJBMatrix :If you really wanted to go wireless you would have to increase your budget much more. Why? One camera you listed is $200 and the other $247.. Not sure why I have to increase budget. I have all the necessary routers and computers and even software already really. Just need a camera that will work decently. Thank for those links though, are they decent cameras?
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"Photography is 50% being at the right place at the right time, 25% gut, 10% skill, 10% luck, 5% equipment" -JKS |
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Gemologist
Premium
join:2001-11-15
USA
clubs:
| reply to Jason
Hmm.. that one does look promising. Even has pan & tilt capabilities. That would be really nice to have. Wonder how the image quality is? I don't need super fine details. As long as faces and actions are recognizable then it will work. Doesn't seem to say if it has audio or not?
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"Photography is 50% being at the right place at the right time, 25% gut, 10% skill, 10% luck, 5% equipment" -JKS |
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AJBMatrix
Mac Convert
join:2005-08-07
Athens, GA
1 edit | reply to Gemologist
I looked at the stats but just from experience there is a lot of lost data that comes from a wireless network of cameras. Since they are all trying to send Data at the same time it can be a lot for none Professional Routers to handle. We actually use them at our work and we had to replace the router because it kept crashing with all the information that was going through it. We have 7 cameras and a professional router that ran us about 600. So...that is what I meant.
Oh, and the cameras look to have really good stats. The cameras that we use at my work are panasonic and we have never had a problem with the camera.
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MacBook Pro 1.83 GHz; 1 GB RAM; 100 GB HD 7200 RPM; ATI x1600 w/ 256MB GDDR3; Built in iSight; FrontRow and the best feature ever...OSX! |
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AJBMatrix
Mac Convert
join:2005-08-07
Athens, GA | reply to Gemologist
The 247 for the first camera, software, and router then 192 per camera after that was a tilt and pan.
The 200 dollar one has audio. |
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Gemologist
Premium
join:2001-11-15
USA
clubs:
| reply to AJBMatrix
Cool..l So it will prolly be Panasonic then. I only need 1 camera, so data won't (shouldn't) be an issue, or would it? Worse case scenario would be a 2nd camera added later on possibly, but that is a big IF.
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"Photography is 50% being at the right place at the right time, 25% gut, 10% skill, 10% luck, 5% equipment" -JKS |
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Gemologist
Premium
join:2001-11-15
USA
clubs:
| reply to Gemologist
I did find these as well.. Any of these look like they would be decent?
»www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a···30188902
»www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a···30137002
»www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a···30137001
»www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a···30115111
This one looked interesting, 4x zoom (although digital) & P&T
»www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a···30137008
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"Photography is 50% being at the right place at the right time, 25% gut, 10% skill, 10% luck, 5% equipment" -JKS |
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AJBMatrix
Mac Convert
join:2005-08-07
Athens, GA
| reply to Gemologist
I would personally go with the TRENDnet TV-IP200 Internet Camera Server - Retail. It is the best camera for the lowest price. The others do the same thing or are lower quality. This would be the best choice in my opinion.
»www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a···30137001
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MacBook Pro 1.83 GHz; 1 GB RAM; 100 GB HD 7200 RPM; ATI x1600 w/ 256MB GDDR3; Built in iSight; FrontRow and the best feature ever...OSX! |
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Gemologist
Premium
join:2001-11-15
USA
clubs: | You think the TRENDnet is better then the Panasonic then? Or is the Panasonic still better? |
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AJBMatrix
Mac Convert
join:2005-08-07
Athens, GA
| I like Panasonic just because that is what I am used to. I really cannot say on the TrendNet other than from the stats that are given and how it compares to the Panasonic. If they have the same reliability that ours have had then I would say go for it. We have had ours for coming up on 2 years now without a single day of being down. They have worked wonders for everything from sending thieves to jail, firing people, witnessing fights, and witnessing really funny exploding grapejuice containers. The stats are the same so it really comes down to what they preform in real life.
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MacBook Pro 1.83 GHz; 1 GB RAM; 100 GB HD 7200 RPM; ATI x1600 w/ 256MB GDDR3; Built in iSight; FrontRow and the best feature ever...OSX! |
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