Hello everyone!
We got an American Staffordshire Terrier specifically to protect our future home... but it turns out he would rather cuddle any intruder than raise an alarm when someone enters the property uninvited...
So, Plan B is needed!
(I hope the irony was clear—we knew right away that our buddy is a really sweet dog! ... :-) )
We have been considering some security cameras. Just for peace of mind. There have been several recent break-ins and car vandalism incidents among friends and family...
Does anyone have specific recommendations for security camera systems?
It should be as simple as possible and not cost a fortune. We were thinking about 4 outdoor cameras with night vision.
A friend got the predecessors (from 7 years ago) of a Goliath HDCVI set and is very happy with it. The whole set, including 4 outdoor cameras, plenty of cables, and a recorder, came to just under €300. Is that something worth considering?
It would then be a standalone system...
Is there anything like that available for a standard home network? Something that runs over Ethernet cables?
I’m curious about your recommendations.
We got an American Staffordshire Terrier specifically to protect our future home... but it turns out he would rather cuddle any intruder than raise an alarm when someone enters the property uninvited...
So, Plan B is needed!
(I hope the irony was clear—we knew right away that our buddy is a really sweet dog! ... :-) )
We have been considering some security cameras. Just for peace of mind. There have been several recent break-ins and car vandalism incidents among friends and family...
Does anyone have specific recommendations for security camera systems?
It should be as simple as possible and not cost a fortune. We were thinking about 4 outdoor cameras with night vision.
A friend got the predecessors (from 7 years ago) of a Goliath HDCVI set and is very happy with it. The whole set, including 4 outdoor cameras, plenty of cables, and a recorder, came to just under €300. Is that something worth considering?
It would then be a standalone system...
Is there anything like that available for a standard home network? Something that runs over Ethernet cables?
I’m curious about your recommendations.
In the evenings, we occasionally use our cameras just to check that everything is in order. Sometimes you notice that you've forgotten to put this or that away or something similar.
They also help to see who is at the front door ringing the bell, and so on.
A sense of security is the right term. As mentioned before, cameras can sometimes attract attention instead.
They also help to see who is at the front door ringing the bell, and so on.
A sense of security is the right term. As mentioned before, cameras can sometimes attract attention instead.
I am aware that there are quality differences between cameras. But that is the case with everything.
How about the legal aspect? Am I allowed to record the entire entrance area? Or could the mail carrier or someone similar raise objections? With the GDPR, this has likely become a bit more sensitive nowadays, hasn’t it?
How about the legal aspect? Am I allowed to record the entire entrance area? Or could the mail carrier or someone similar raise objections? With the GDPR, this has likely become a bit more sensitive nowadays, hasn’t it?
Rick has basically already listed all the important points.
In addition to the investment costs for the cameras, you also need to consider the storage medium, ideally a NAS, such as QNAP (which we use together with Hikvision cameras) or Synology.
Furthermore, if you take this seriously, you need to think about an external backup, because what good is it if burglars break in and take or destroy your NAS?
We have chosen Magenta Cloud for this and also store our data externally on Deutsche Telekom’s servers.
This backup needs to happen practically in real time when an alarm is triggered, otherwise you still have the problem of NAS theft. NAS devices offer a feature called snapshot technology for this purpose.
Regarding deterrence and cameras:
You need a proper concept, otherwise it won’t be effective:
1) Fence
2) Perimeter monitoring (for those who have no budget limits)
3) Cameras
4) Windows and doors
5) Burglar alarm system
6) Safe room (for those with an unlimited budget)
If cameras report unauthorized access through motion detection, immediate action can be taken, which makes cameras useful.
In addition to the investment costs for the cameras, you also need to consider the storage medium, ideally a NAS, such as QNAP (which we use together with Hikvision cameras) or Synology.
Furthermore, if you take this seriously, you need to think about an external backup, because what good is it if burglars break in and take or destroy your NAS?
We have chosen Magenta Cloud for this and also store our data externally on Deutsche Telekom’s servers.
This backup needs to happen practically in real time when an alarm is triggered, otherwise you still have the problem of NAS theft. NAS devices offer a feature called snapshot technology for this purpose.
Regarding deterrence and cameras:
You need a proper concept, otherwise it won’t be effective:
1) Fence
2) Perimeter monitoring (for those who have no budget limits)
3) Cameras
4) Windows and doors
5) Burglar alarm system
6) Safe room (for those with an unlimited budget)
If cameras report unauthorized access through motion detection, immediate action can be taken, which makes cameras useful.
So, if I monitor areas that are not accessible to the public (mail carriers, courier services, etc.), such as the garden area behind the house, the lawn beside the house, or the driveway to the garage/carport, do I still need a sign saying "Caution: Video Surveillance"?
The path to the front door for the mail carrier and others would then remain unmonitored!
In that case, it should be enough if our little lap cat is sitting up by the gallery windows ;-)
The path to the front door for the mail carrier and others would then remain unmonitored!
In that case, it should be enough if our little lap cat is sitting up by the gallery windows ;-)
You are misunderstanding this publicly. Everything on your property is not public.
You are allowed to monitor your driveway. The camera must only be adjusted so that it does not record beyond your property. This is basically possible with software in the camera. There have been some court rulings stating that this is not sufficient because it cannot be verified from the outside. In such cases, the camera must be equipped with a “privacy shield.”
No complainant, no judge. If you don’t have a very annoying neighbor, it usually isn’t an issue.
People must also theoretically be informed about video surveillance in the garden. For example, if you have only one entrance to the property, you put up a sign there. That way, you have fulfilled your obligation.
You are allowed to monitor your driveway. The camera must only be adjusted so that it does not record beyond your property. This is basically possible with software in the camera. There have been some court rulings stating that this is not sufficient because it cannot be verified from the outside. In such cases, the camera must be equipped with a “privacy shield.”
No complainant, no judge. If you don’t have a very annoying neighbor, it usually isn’t an issue.
People must also theoretically be informed about video surveillance in the garden. For example, if you have only one entrance to the property, you put up a sign there. That way, you have fulfilled your obligation.