Network security cameras

[dparm]

After last spring's shenanigans with my car getting vandalized, I've decided that it's time to invest in a security camera to watch my car. I'll be in an apartment this coming year so I'd like to set up a networked night-vision camera to record video to a hard drive.

Can anyone shed some light on these cameras and what to look for? I'd like something that has night-vision, and is networkable since I don't have a video capture card. Linksys and D-Link make some, but they don't have night-vision (to my knowledge).

Thanks in advance.

[jjbeef7]

Hello,
As a cctv installer, some night applications can be the most challenging. I usually do not promote black and white cameras, but sometimes they are appropriate for night applications. A color day/night camera would be the best options. Infared cameras are also good, but you will most likely be pointing the camera out the window and can get back reflection.
The lux is one of the most important factors you should consider if you are watching your car at night. The lower lux the better. The more tv lines the better quality picture and the price reflects these factors.
Look for a networked security camera that has software built into it and is ip addressable.
Good luck
Jay
http://www.security-nj.com

[Unregistered]

Are infrared sensors on night vision cameras visible?
Thanks

[dparm]

Not to the naked eye. They would simply appear as a clear, unlit LED.

[Unregistered]

How do you stop the releflection?

[abcdtomi]

From my experience a camera with a CCD censor is better for your application. such as this one:

http://www.dvrsecuritylab.com/home-security-systems/nc1600-ccd-network-ip-camera-internet-remote-cameras-cs-mount.html

However this camera is not design for outdoor and it does not have built in IR illuminators. you can buy separate housings and separate illiminators, I've seen packages that include housing with built-in illuminators, but the housing part is kinda crappy.

To be honest, with the money you will spent on a good network IP camera, it is better to setup a regular CCTV system. The highly compress video from network camera might not be useful for law enforcement identification. There are good quality CCTV DVRs (recorders) for fairly cheap, such as:

http://www.dvrsecuritylab.com/home-security-systems/avtech-avc-760-4-ch-channel-cctv-surveillance-security-dvr-recorder.html

And it also have network capabilities, so that you can still monitor via a computer within or outside of your local network. The drawback to this dvr is probably the motion detection algorithm, but they might have updated that already.

So get a recorder similar to this, and also a outdoor Infrared camera, such as:

http://www.dvrsecuritylab.com/home-security-systems/cctv-surveillance-security-camera-outdoor-ir-632ir.html

hope this helps.