CCTV system

[Wile E. Coyote]

Check out the security vulnerabilities on the Swann system's hardware!

 

Lots of people install domestic CCTV with lenses that are way too wide angle and expect to get a decent picture.  What they end up with is a general overview that is neither use nor ornament when it comes to even identifying whether a person captured on it is even male or female but they feel that they have the house "covered".

[s2rrr]

Two issues really with that one, is the intention to be able to fully identify the visitors or is the CCTV just a reasonable deterrent. Any decent scally will have the obligatory hoody on and it won't help much and will know where the cameras are. But for general gathering of info and the deterrent factor may be sufficient. The decision with CCTV is either have a lower quality set up or an all singing set up, either can be blocked so its a waste of money expecting a none covert system to be 100%  available and they know it. How many times have you seen videos of covered up gangs breaking in and then escaping, wonderful pictures of yoofs with hoods etc but it didn't stop them. The deterrents would be to make escape and approach/entry difficult and slow. The thorny plants, the open vistas, the discrete positioning of anything stealable, Everything necessary to increase the time they may have available, if they can't get in and out in less than 2-3 minutes they will probably not bother.  CCTV is only of real use if the thieves are able to be  in the property for a long time and have the comfort of that time then its marginal and awaiting a mistake with them exposing there faces etc, extremely loud internal sounders which are damaging to hearing seemed to be used at one time. Strong external doors and windows, remove openings where kids can be fed through, even venetian blinds are a bl**dy nuisance and noisey, overlapping security lights, noisey gravel paths even. A lot of seemingly daft things which can help. A combination of defence and advice from the police to security salesmen will let you draw up an action plan to make you and the Mrs feel better and more secure, sad you should need to do it but its a fact of life these days.

 

Bob

[s2rrr]

Programme on the box 11:45 to 12:15  daily on BBC 1 Break in Britain- The Crackdown. Gives loads of little tips without the need to get paranoid. I particularly liked the yesterdays tip of getting a thick dog chain attached to the wall and a large dogs food bowl, would you break in with the possibility of a large dog being in - possibly yes but one tip was to wherever possible try and make it appear that there is someone in or moving about. I have timed lights etc etc and when on holiday timed radios etc in addition. Never have a regular pattern of people being in or out, just a few changes makes it easier.

 

Hope that helps but worth a watch it may help.

 

Bob

[John K]

When my folks went to Oz for a few weeks, the old man setup a tape recorder to the security lights and lifted a dog barking from a BBC Radiophonics sound effects CD.

Not sure if it would fool a proper tea leaf, but to me it sounded like a demon dog was kicking off inside the house...

[s2rrr]

Whether it fooled anyway is irrelevant as along as it sowed the seeds of doubt is all that counts. The usual mail on the doorstep building up and milk bottles is a sure sign of no one being about.

 

Bob

[CraigHew]

I looked into and researched and then discounted the CCTV options.  What I've ended up doing is buying top-spec WIFI Ip cameras (Foscam F19821W) and buying a copy of Blue Iris software for my PC.  I also bought the Blue Iris android app for my blackberry.

 

I've got cameras covering what I need to look at and the blue iris programme is set to detect motion, send alerts via email or text, record to both my PC and cloud host (so no matter what you can still retrieve the pictures) etc etc.

 

Away from home the BI app lets me monitor, PTZ and review alerts over the web in real time. It even has 2 way audio in case I need to listen or speak to our "attack dog"

 

 

Works really well, the IP cameras are improving all the time. I'm stunned at the quality of movie capture in total pitch black via the IR lights on the camera.

 

 

All-in all its an extremely capable solution which doesn't burst the bank.....but each to their own....