[Hidden-tech] Motion-detectors, camera suggestions, safety

[Shawn Gundersen, CTS]

There are plenty of inexpensive security cameras on the web with built 
in IR rings for night time.  The ones that work on standard coaxial 
cable will be the easiest to install.  There are lots of convertors, 
some that'll go right into your PC as a capture card, etc.  There are 
pricey options like multi-channel DVR's that'll keep flipping between 
cameras and others that'll do motion detection to save hard drive 
space.  The cheaper cameras have pretty abysmal resolution and once 
converted and compressed into a digital file, it is hard to resolve fine 
features - like faces -for the police to use as to capture the perp.

I think the greatest deterrent for a miscreant is fear of being caught, 
so a motion detecting flood light with a very visible security camera 
will scare off most of the burglars and firebugs out there.  The camera 
doesn't need to be real at that point.  There are plenty of products out 
there that look like cameras with a glowing red LED on them.  Most 
crooks aren't going to risk exposure to get close enough to see if they 
are real!

  Of course, if you have the video to put a face on one of these losers 
- all the better!

Shawn Gundersen, CTS
Principal Consultant
Norseman AV Technology Design
shawn at norsemanav.com
413-585-5745


On 12/30/2009 11:47 AM, nestor at fuzzy-math.com wrote:
>     ** Be sure to fill out the survey/skills inventory in the member's area.
>     ** If you did, we all thank you.
>
>
> check mout Unibrain for high quality digital cameras at reasonable
> prices.
>
> http://www.unibrain.com/Products/VisionImg/Fire_i_DC.htm
>
>
> On Dec 30, 2009, at 11:20 AM, Chris Hoogendyk wrote:
>
>    
>>    ** Be sure to fill out the survey/skills inventory in the member's
>> area.
>>    ** If you did, we all thank you.
>>
>>
>> Perhaps also of interest -- http://www.bensoftware.com/ss/
>>
>> I've played with that a bit, and it worked quite nicely. I could
>> access
>> the built in camera on a computer in a server room across campus. It
>> has
>> software capabilities for motion detection and can initiate capture
>> to a
>> remote server based on motion. Somewhere on their site I recall seeing
>> some references for digital security cameras that could tie into the
>> computer and thus be used by this software.
>>
>>
>> ---------------
>>
>> Chris Hoogendyk
>>
>> -
>>    O__  ---- Systems Administrator
>>   c/ /'_ --- Biology&  Geology Departments
>> (*) \(*) -- 140 Morrill Science Center
>> ~~~~~~~~~~ - University of Massachusetts, Amherst
>>
>> <hoogendyk at bio.umass.edu>
>>
>> ---------------
>>
>> Erdös 4
>>
>>
>>
>> nestor at fuzzy-math.com wrote:
>>      
>>> Why not combine the two and use motion-activated photo/video.  If you
>>> already have a canon camera, this can be accomplished via the
>>> alternate firmware package called CHDK.  With CHDK installed(does not
>>> replace your original firmware, and is easily uninstalled), you can
>>> load scripts which will detect motion and snap shots or videos.  You
>>> may want to consider IR illumination for "night vision"  which will
>>> not be visible to the intruder, or pair this with motion activated
>>> lighting. You also have the option of purchasing a camera suited to
>>> CCTV and security applications and hooking it to a vcr, DVR, or
>>> computer.  Some security DVRs have motion detection, but you could
>>> also record at a low framerate and get hours of footage out of a few
>>> gigs of storage.
>>>
>>>
>>> On Dec 30, 2009, at 10:01 AM, Owen Freeman-Daniels wrote:
>>>
>>>        
>>>> In light of the recent fires that have taken place in Northampton
>>>> that are suspected arson, there has been much chatter about the
>>>> installation of motion-detecting flood lights on the porches and
>>>> homes of Northampton residents. Another suggestion has been the use
>>>> of video cameras running during the night. Some are talking about
>>>> positioning them inside their homes looking outward, others are
>>>> talking about setting them up on their properties looking into the
>>>> street.
>>>>
>>>> Does anyone at Hidden-Tech have suggestions for a good video camera
>>>> useful for these types of purposes?  Outdoor ones might need some
>>>> durability to withstand the elements. I also have heard about a
>>>> video camera that only turns on when it detects motion-- I wonder
>>>> how well those work or if anyone has had experience with them.
>>>> Another matter to consider is the duration of a recording-- possibly
>>>> 6+ hours. Again, if anyone has any suggestions or experience with
>>>> observation video cameras, it would be greatly appreciated.
>>>> Owen Freeman-Daniels
>>>> Ward 3 Neighborhood Association
>>>>          
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