Remote home security systems?

   / Remote home security systems?
  • Thread Starter
#21  
Every time I decide to take the dive and invest in video surveillance, I find really mixed reviews of the hardware, software or both for the product I choose. I then waive off.

Tell me about it! But it's the way these review sites work. I think, like most people I expect, if a particular product has a high percentage of positive reviews that you can infer that the negative reviews might well be user error or simply represent a defective product. No manufacturer is perfect. I see this often where some criticism is obviously written by someone who doesn't understand what he/she's doing.

Of course the higher the potential investment the more leery I'm apt to be. When I went to look for a replacement for an X-10 system I ran into exactly what you're describing. Each alternate technology has its disciples and its detractors, some swearing one route is the only way to go while others chime in saying they've had nothing but nightmares with exactly the same thing. This little guy sums it up pretty well --> :confused:
 
   / Remote home security systems? #22  
I have a Sharx POE camera for my weather site and it doesn't need a computer at all it will FTP files or can save to a memory card in the camera,Or I have mine setup to save to a external hard drive plugged to the router. It will also email you if you like and has motion settings if you want to use them..

Every time I decide to take the dive and invest in video surveillance, I find really mixed reviews of the hardware, software or both for the product I choose. I then waive off. I really need this service, am handy, but not a certified MS OS practitioner.

Look at the reviews of Blue Iris in Amazon as an example. Some (like Country Geek) love it, some have real problems with it. It's tough for me to lay down a thousand or two for something I'll need full connectivity and lots of luck to implement if I'm like the 2/5ths of reviewers who are 1-2 star.

Amazon.com: Customer Reviews: Foscam Blue Iris Professional Surveillance Software - Up to 64 Cameras, SMS/Text Message Alerts, H.264 Encoding, Supports most major IP Camera brands and CCTV Systems

How do I get an POE camera set-up for indoor, outdoor that records events well and can restart on its own after power burbles?

Thanks, looking for help on this one.
 
   / Remote home security systems? #23  
Of course the higher the potential investment the more leery I'm apt to be.

That's the beauty of an IP Cam setup. You can start cheap and increase your capabilities as you get comfortable, instead of having to invest in a whole system all at once. That's what I did. Started off with a single Foscam camera with no monitoring software. The camera by itself can email you screen shots when it detects motion. You might find that's sufficient and can stop there.

I mainly got the Blue Iris software because I'm a bit of a geek and it was cheap with the purchase of a camera from Foscam, like $35 or so. So when I bought a few more cameras I gave it try and found it to be pretty good. Once I got used to having clips recorded and stored in a cloud folder and having a nice app to monitor and control it all from my phone, it was hard to go back.

Btw I looked at the Blue Iris reviews on Amazon. Most of the bad ones fell into several broad categories:

1. Complaints about the cameras, not the software. Ignore those.

2. Complaints that the software has to be activated, or trouble activating. I didn't experience this but it sure would be annoying if I did.

3. Complaints that customer service is lacking. Yes, that is a weakness. Support, such as it is, is a user-run forum. That's the way it goes with cheap software, no sub-$500 software is going to give free phone support, etc.

4. Complaints that it's too complicated. If you don't like doing software setup, pay attention to these. Though I don't know of any solution that is turn-key to setup. No matter what software you use you're going to have to configure the cameras, open ports on your router, set security etc. Foscam does offer an option to set up your cameras for you over the phone for an extra fee, I don't remember how much but it's under $100. Maybe they offer the same for Blue Iris, I don't know.

The main reason I recommend IP cameras (and they don't have to be Foscam though they seem to be the cheapest to buy) is because it can be as simple or as complex as you want it to be. Start small and simple, gradually add capabilities, and stop when you're happy with it, you don't have to buy a whole expensive package.
 
   / Remote home security systems? #24  
That's the beauty of an IP Cam setup. You can start cheap and increase your capabilities as you get comfortable, instead of having to invest in a whole system all at once. That's what I did. Started off with a single Foscam camera with no monitoring software. The camera by itself can email you screen shots when it detects motion. You might find that's sufficient and can stop there.

I mainly got the Blue Iris software because I'm a bit of a geek and it was cheap with the purchase of a camera from Foscam, like $35 or so. So when I bought a few more cameras I gave it try and found it to be pretty good. Once I got used to having clips recorded and stored in a cloud folder and having a nice app to monitor and control it all from my phone, it was hard to go back.

Btw I looked at the Blue Iris reviews on Amazon. Most of the bad ones fell into several broad categories:

1. Complaints about the cameras, not the software. Ignore those.

2. Complaints that the software has to be activated, or trouble activating. I didn't experience this but it sure would be annoying if I did.

3. Complaints that customer service is lacking. Yes, that is a weakness. Support, such as it is, is a user-run forum. That's the way it goes with cheap software, no sub-$500 software is going to give free phone support, etc.

4. Complaints that it's too complicated. If you don't like doing software setup, pay attention to these. Though I don't know of any solution that is turn-key to setup. No matter what software you use you're going to have to configure the cameras, open ports on your router, set security etc. Foscam does offer an option to set up your cameras for you over the phone for an extra fee, I don't remember how much but it's under $100. Maybe they offer the same for Blue Iris, I don't know.

The main reason I recommend IP cameras (and they don't have to be Foscam though they seem to be the cheapest to buy) is because it can be as simple or as complex as you want it to be. Start small and simple, gradually add capabilities, and stop when you're happy with it, you don't have to buy a whole expensive package.

Bumping this - for a quick question if you are around CG.....

Blue Iris seems popular, so I plan to use this software. While I have a strong tech background, I haven't messed around with these systems at all yet.

While I hope and somewhat expect compatibility, my question is:

Are there any Major gotchas with mixing and matching IP cameras with BlueIris ?

I read hex, and don't mind flipping settings, down to the bit level, so when I say Major I mean - It won't work, period.

For example, this camera:

IdeaNext HD 1920x1080P H.264 Wireless WiFi IP Camera Indoor/Outdoor Home Security Surveillance with P2P Infrared Night Vision Motion Detection IP67-Waterproof Buil-in 8G SD Card for PC Mac Smart Phone: Amazon.ca: Camera & Photo

I don't mind buying from them, but I haven't had a chance to sift through Foscam's camera offerings yet to see if they have:

.264
2Mpix +/-
12 vdc
Wifi
IP6x
Canadian availability

Best Wishes for the Holidays ! Rgds, D.
 
   / Remote home security systems? #26  

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