Home Security Cameras

[Big Brute]

Hey everyone, I am going to be insatalling a home survaliance system, due to all the thefts going on around, and im wondering if anyone has? would like to know where to buy? wire or wireless? I want it to record on motion, have a small screen on coffee table to watch, and want to be compatable with iphone. Any one have any suggestions? Or where to go to look? I also know ADT come and install home security with survaliance, but i think u have to sign a contract and its about $35 a month. I think i can buy a decent system of around $500

[darkstar]

i started installing swann systems from costco at my work. 2 stores have expensive mace systems worth big money. the swann systems are alot less money and imo the same video quility at the end of the day. 3 years in still no problem with the swann so i really have no complaints. hard drive is a little small though, only records 1 week worth on a 8 camera system..but i could upgrade the HD if needed.

I wouldnt do wireless because of the cost of batteries. the swann will come with 50 feeet per camera i have spliced in a extra 100 with no problems(video or power).

you can have a small screen on the table.. no prob also hook to your 60" flat panel as well.

i would think you can watch from your iphone, just install the software and watch anywhere in the world. i use bb

good luck.. swann is easy easy to set up.

[Big Brute]

Never heard of swan. What kind of temperatures are they rated for

[Disme]

Wall Mart sells swan. I purchased mine there 2 years ago and have had zero problems even with 2 cams outside.

[lowrider]

Hmmm sounds like a cheap brand though? How much we're they

[darkstar]

Originally Posted by Big Brute

Never heard of swan. What kind of temperatures are they rated for

off hand im not sure. i know they are out door rated. i have 14 camera's outside between both stores. no problems 2 years in.

[Bister]

here is swann's website.

http://www.swann.com/region/canada/entry/ca

and Costco stuff.

http://www.costco.ca/surveillance-systems.html

[Big Brute]

There is so many to choose from. lol Shitty thing is if i go to Walmart to check them out no one there will be able to explain anything to me. I think i might be better to go to a security place, cause they will know their items they sell.

[Big Brute]

I would prefer wireless, cause i dont fell like running wires all over the place, but yes as mentioned the cost of batteries are crazy and i was told there is jammers people use on wireless cameras??

[Bister]

Originally Posted by Big Brute

There is so many to choose from. lol Shitty thing is if i go to Walmart to check them out no one there will be able to explain anything to me. I think i might be better to go to a security place, cause they will know their items they sell.

Yeah, kind of overwhelming when you first look at all the stuff. I guess narrow down what you need/want and go from there....like wired or wireless, number of camera's, viewing from your phone, etc and go from there....or do it the easy way and go to the experts.

I am sure you will get some suggestions here.

[Bister]

Originally Posted by Big Brute

I would prefer wireless, cause i dont fell like running wires all over the place, but yes as mentioned the cost of batteries are crazy and i was told there is jammers people use on wireless cameras??

Some of the wireless camera's actually plug in for power, they just use wireless to transmit back; so you would just have to run power from your closest source.

[Big Brute]

Originally Posted by Bister

Some of the wireless camera's actually plug in for power, they just use wireless to transmit back; so you would just have to run power from your closest source.

good to know

[Bister]

http://m.costco.ca/Lorex%C2%AE-9-in....100003076.html

I tried to cheap out and tried this one. These cameras plug in using a low voltage adapter. I returned it if that tells you anything. Worked not bad for a few days. Lol. Glad Costco has a good return policy. I just use a trail cam some instead.

[HONDABBQ]

My Mom had an ornery neighbor. She installed a system from Catch it on Camera. No issues except me having to explain things to her all the time. LOL.

[four_420_twenty]

the guy who hooked up my shaw showed me his app on his iphone to watch his security cameras from home. he always bugs his dog. he'll be watching where the phone is and he'll call it and the dog gos crazy running around the house. was very ammusing

[boakley]

Originally Posted by Big Brute

Hey everyone, I am going to be insatalling a home survaliance system, due to all the thefts going on around, and im wondering if anyone has? would like to know where to buy? wire or wireless? I want it to record on motion, have a small screen on coffee table to watch, and want to be compatable with iphone. Any one have any suggestions? Or where to go to look? I also know ADT come and install home security with survaliance, but i think u have to sign a contract and its about $35 a month. I think i can buy a decent system of around $500

i used to own a security company and would say Swann has been around a lot of years, consder them a home owners style system for the DIY type of guy. I see them used worldwide. They are based out of Australia


Good quality at a low price. Will give lots of years of servie and easy to install for the DIY guys out there. BEst use indoor or unheated attached areas. Winnipeg winters for outdoor use a little more than the Swann cameras can handle. Colder than almost every camera maker can handle until you get into the big $ ones.

Are there better quality? of course but for the price point you get a lot for what you pay for. They specialize in homeowner systems

In smaller areas (cottage/single houses, etc... ) wireless is a great option. Makes it harder for the bad guys to find out where the recording device is. Too often see in a grocery store the recorder monitor behind the counter bacasue their KIT or Installer only had 50' of cable included. Not much security when a perp can simple pop out the SD card or take the recorder with them.

A lot of cameras though will stop working at or around -20c. Those rated -10c are Ok in unheated attached structures out of the weather but if you want Swann cameras to work at -40c in a wind storm... well forget it.

I would have no problem using Swann... already do myself.

[mkehler]

Good info Boakley, thanks! I have a 8 channel Swann with 4 cameras, and am looking to add 2 more cameras to it (these will both be outside). Anything specific to look for that will endure a manitoba winter? Specific IP rating?

I was looking at a couple bullet cams from aartech. I don't need PTZ, fixed would work

http://www.aartech.ca/security-cameras/

[boakley]

Originally Posted by mkehler

Good info Boakley, thanks! I have a 8 channel Swann with 4 cameras, and am looking to add 2 more cameras to it (these will both be outside). Anything specific to look for that will endure a manitoba winter? Specific IP rating?

I was looking at a couple bullet cams from aartech. I don't need PTZ, fixed would work

http://www.aartech.ca/security-cameras/

honestly... little hope in hell you will find a camera that works well outdoor in our climate unless you want to drop some major money. Many say they do but I call BS on them.

instead suggest you buy a good quality camera and put it in a cold weather housing. These camera housings for outdoor use help keep out the weather and basically have a small draw heating system inside.

if you look at the cameras outside government buildings (law courts, jails, etc..) or some of the local club houses that we have around the city you will see these are outdoor heated housing. Plus if you can mount in a hard to get to area they make many that are big/bulk/obvious looking just what you need to keep the bad guys at bay. Get one with a flashing LED light on it if you want to draw attention to it. Nothing says stay away like flashing LED cameras, beware of Rotti signs and the old "Protected by S&W signs".