security DVR

mentholated · 09-22-2008, 06:10 PM

I'm posting this here because for some reason I can't post in the hardware & software forum.

Ok, so about a week or two ago one of my cats, a black cat named spookey who stays outside most of the time was either hit by a car, stolen, or just decided to leave. We think he was stolen, because we put signs up outside of our house and they were all ripped down. So, I have a couple of little mini cameras, well suited to being hidden, that I'd like to put in my door when we put the signs back up. I thought about using tape and a VCR to record them, but who knows when these people will tear down the signs.. I'd like to record 24/7 (but not every single second.. you know how most security cameras won't record every second, but they'll take a few frames every so often so as to save space). I have two 750gb hard drives so that shouldn't be a problem. What I'm wondering is what hardware I need for my computer to do this and what software. Google isn't much help. I don't want to spend too much and I'd like to get this set up within a week or so. If we manage to get some evidence (preferably the same people on camera more ripping the signs down) we're going to involve the police in the matter. So, any takers?

**CingularDuality** · 09-22-2008, 06:40 PM

Thread approved and moved to Hardware/Software Forum.

**Dick Blonov** · 09-22-2008, 07:11 PM

Try this list

This how-to might do the trick.

DB

ScratchMonkey · 09-23-2008, 12:09 PM

I've seen a security camera setup at Costco.

A long time ago I looked into this and found a Linux package called Motion that would detect motion from cameras and record only frames with a programmable amount of change.

**CingularDuality** · 09-23-2008, 12:12 PM

This place has some good hardware: http://www.supercircuits.com/

**Bamboo** · 09-23-2008, 12:22 PM

Blonov is right on. You don't want to be recording the whole time. Just when there is something moving. Else you will spend all day watching through the recording that has eaten up your entire harddrive.

I checked my bookmarks and found these. Read the comments in the articles for even more suggestions of programs to look into.

Turn Your Webcam into a Motion-Sensing Security Camera with Yawcam

Turn your webcam into a security camera with Periscope

Record screencasts or webcam videos with Debut

WebCam Software

Studry wireless internet cam needed

How can i use my built in laptop webcam to protect my laptop from theft? (some of the software they suggest might work for what you need)

Home security with Twitter and a webcam

Makers and Making: Wireless Webcam For Homebrew Automation/Security Project.

Webcam - DIY security cam

Make a Birdfeeder Webcam - Make: Video Podcast

Jake's Solar Webcam -adding solar would be an awesome way to get a camera in a hard to spot spot

Fun with a webcam (scroll down and they talk about motion sensor control and also how to record in the dark)

**CingularDuality** · 09-23-2008, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bamboo

Blonov is right on. You don't want to be recording the whole time. Just when there is something moving. Else you will spend all day watching through the recording that has eaten up your entire harddrive.

I disagree. He already has the hard drives. Going through the last 10 hours of video (once he sees signs torn down) isn't that hard to do...

I would set up the hard drives to record the last 72 hours of video, which is not much at all if we're only talking about one camera...

**Bamboo** · 09-23-2008, 02:42 PM

But why waste the time/HD space when there are so many programs that let you checkmark a box so that it just records something moving?

**CingularDuality** · 09-23-2008, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bamboo

But why waste the time/HD space when there are so many programs that let you checkmark a box so that it just records something moving?

Because it's simply one more thing to fail. ESPECIALLY software based motion detectors.

KISS