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5/13/2012 2:56:16 PM EDT
Apologies in advance if the awnser to this is already in the long tacked thread in the survival forum or in one of the tacked thread here, I'm making my way through those .... if there's a particular spot I should be looking let me know.


I'd like to set up a camera to monitor who's coming down my driveway mostly to watch package deliveries and door knockers during the day. This is a rental so I don't want to put in a full blown camera setup around all corners when I can't be drilling holes in walls and would need to strip it out when I leave. So for now I'd like to start with one, maybe two cameras just to keep an eye on the main entry to the yard and ignoring fence hoppers.


Here's what my yard looks like:




I have motion lights on the back door and on the front of the driveway and would like to start with one camera on one of the two red dots to watch who comes down the driveway and into the yard. It seems like under the eaves on the garage would be a prime spot, but it would have to be outdoor ready, wheras the dot in the house I could keep the camera inside and just point it out the window (I hope I could get a good picture through the window).

As far as the cameras go ... any suggestions on what to get? I'd like to be able to watch/record the video from the computer in my living room (mac) and have it send me an email with a still picture when motion is recorded.

I have power outlets at both locations (Can drill through the garage wall to provide power there) but I don't think I can get away with routing network cables. Definitely not from the garage, and probably not from the back windows into the computer area.

Are there wireless cameras that could pull this off or will I have to get creative with running cables? It would be great if I could get a good enough picture in daylight to recognize faces (of the neighbor kids for example).

Thanks
5/13/2012 3:16:58 PM EDT
[#1]
It occurs to me, looking at my sketch, that the garage may not be a good spot if I'm only going to put in one camera since someone pulling a van or high vehicle into the L part of the driveway could block the view from the camera to the door.
5/14/2012 12:46:15 PM EDT
[#2]
Quoted:
It occurs to me, looking at my sketch, that the garage may not be a good spot if I'm only going to put in one camera since someone pulling a van or high vehicle into the L part of the driveway could block the view from the camera to the door.


In true ARFCOM tradition, I'd get both.

The door camera will supply you with a face-shot.  The garage camera give you a good chance of getting a plate-shot.  

If you got robbed, you'd want both.
5/14/2012 1:58:33 PM EDT
[#3]
I have a door cam and a garage cam.  Some cameras have quite a large field of view, so if you mount the garage cam high, you will get good shots.



You won't be disappointed with this system:



http://www.amazon.com/CIB-R401W500G8795-Security-Surveillance-Eagleeyes/dp/B004U79JK6/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS?ie=UTF8&coliid=I2A5698R4FEWH4&colid=Q6PLVD3XS7UO
5/14/2012 2:04:22 PM EDT
[#4]
Quoted:
I have a door cam and a garage cam.  Some cameras have quite a large field of view, so if you mount the garage cam high, you will get good shots.

You won't be disappointed with this system:

http://www.amazon.com/CIB-R401W500G8795-Security-Surveillance-Eagleeyes/dp/B004U79JK6/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS?ie=UTF8&coliid=I2A5698R4FEWH4&colid=Q6PLVD3XS7UO


Thanks for the link.

I'm leaning to network cameras, probably a wifi one for the garage since I can't really run cable over there. I can get power in the garage from a nearby outlet though.

In the house I was thinking a wifi camera to, but it seems like the selection on those is pretty limited when you get to ones with higher quality images. I'd like be able to make out faces on the door camera. So I'm trying to think through how to get an ethernet cable up through the attic from the door to my computer area without making too many unrepairable holes in my rental house. If I can figure that out I'll get a POE network camera.

5/14/2012 2:36:49 PM EDT
[#5]
I'd go network.  A wifi camera (or one linked through a wireless bridge) is much more easily removable, and there will be far less cable-run hassle.

If you're only doing a cam or two, wifi is a decent alternative to wired.
5/14/2012 2:42:04 PM EDT
[#6]
Quoted:
I'd go network.  A wifi camera (or one linked through a wireless bridge) is much more easily removable, and there will be far less cable-run hassle.

If you're only doing a cam or two, wifi is a decent alternative to wired.


Thanks man. I think it'll be at most two cameras. Do you have any current top candidates for wifi cameras with the "HD" quality images?
5/14/2012 3:23:55 PM EDT
[#7]
Streaming HD video over wifi is hard to find at a reasonable price point.

That said, Dropcam just came out with a wifi HD cam... but there's a $10/mo charge.
5/14/2012 3:59:59 PM EDT
[#8]
Checking out their website now ...

Looks like a pretty slick setup, but it seems like even with their $10 a month plan and storing video on their servers i'd end up hitting my compcast bandwidth cap for the month. It looks like they sell the camera without the $10 "DVR" plan, but then it would be pretty much worthless since it wouldn't be recording video. Maybe you can run it into your own DVR software in that case.


Do you think the Acti TCM-4201 you review in the low cost netowork cams thread would survive living outside if it were protected by a 4' porch overhang and mounted high on the wall? It would be out of the elements but I wonder if it would survive the heat, humidity, and in the winter sub zero temps.  

5/14/2012 4:13:14 PM EDT
[#9]
Quoted:
Checking out their website now ...

Looks like a pretty slick setup, but it seems like even with their $10 a month plan and storing video on their servers i'd end up hitting my compcast bandwidth cap for the month. It looks like they sell the camera without the $10 "DVR" plan, but then it would be pretty much worthless since it wouldn't be recording video. Maybe you can run it into your own DVR software in that case.


Do you think the Acti TCM-4201 you review in the low cost netowork cams thread would survive living outside if it were protected by a 4' porch overhang and mounted high on the wall? It would be out of the elements but I wonder if it would survive the heat, humidity, and in the winter sub zero temps.  



It might survive.  I've mounted "non-outdoor" cameras in protected outdoor locations like that, and they actually held up pretty well.  Just keep them out of any direct or wind-blown rain.

For instance, one of these has been outside for almost two years with no problems.

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