X10 Community Forum

📸Cameras & Camera Software => Legacy non Wi-Fi X10 Cameras => Camera General Discussion => Wired Cameras => Topic started by: Bobz on June 06, 2011, 06:13:27 PM

Title: Recommendations
Post by: Bobz on June 06, 2011, 06:13:27 PM
I need a wired cam (to avoid any wifi/cordless phone/ect... issues) a way to review what the cam has recorded. Also how to view on the internet 24/7.

I need to be able to check on my sons care.
Title: Re: Recommendations
Post by: Jeff M on June 06, 2011, 06:18:16 PM
Here is a link to a page on Amazon.com.  It shows both wireless and wired IP cameras, that can be viewed over the internet.  Even the wireless cameras have an ethernet connector so it can be connected directly to a network router.  I have a Chinese clone (much cheaper) of the wireless tilt/pan camera that works perfectly.  I can monitor my home while at work. 

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=ip+camera (http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=ip+camera)
Title: Re: Recommendations
Post by: Bobz on June 07, 2011, 08:50:34 PM
very cool thanks.
what about recording?
Title: Re: Recommendations
Post by: Jeff M on June 08, 2011, 11:06:54 AM
My camera will record one minute of video each time it senses motion, but I assume that you want to record video for longer periods of time.  It is up to the software that comes with the camera to provide recording features.  My suggestion is to read the descriptions and reviews of the IP Cameras on the Amazon site.  Sometimes the reviews provide better information on the camera functions than the product descriptions.  Also check out the manufacturers sites.
Title: Re: Recommendations
Post by: Deemar on June 08, 2011, 03:18:20 PM
For recording software use Zoneminder.
Title: Re: Recommendations
Post by: hawk1 on June 08, 2011, 03:28:49 PM
Be advised that the last time I checked Zoneminder was for Linux only.  If you have Linux thats the program you would use.  If your using Windows than there are a lot of programs that you could try.  Blue Iris is a favorite of mine, Vitamin D, among others.  Just google these to find them.
Title: Re: Recommendations
Post by: Jeff M on June 08, 2011, 05:03:04 PM
Vitamin D has a free edition that supports one camera.  I just installed it and have been playing with it for a little while.  From what I can see, it only records video clips if it senses movement.  You can set up rules to have it detect either objects or people moving, as well as detect specific movements (anywhere, into the scene, out of the scene, etc.).  I did not see an option to manually turn on recording.  It does not support pan/tilt cameras.  You can view them, but just not control the movement. 

Correction:  Vitamin D does record continuous video, and has options for how long the video is retained.  When you close Vitamin D, there is an agent that runs in the background which countinues to record video.  This one may work for you, and it's free for the single camera edition.
Title: Re: Recommendations
Post by: Deemar on June 09, 2011, 10:55:09 AM
Be advised that the last time I checked Zoneminder was for Linux only.  If you have Linux thats the program you would use.  If your using Windows than there are a lot of programs that you could try.  Blue Iris is a favorite of mine, Vitamin D, among others.  Just google these to find them.
Ya but I assume he's setting up a separate server for his video, why wouldn't you?
Title: Re: Recommendations
Post by: hawk1 on June 09, 2011, 11:11:22 AM
Basically because a lot of users here probably don't know how, much less know anything about Linux or Zoneminder.  That is why the forum has a Linux thread.  If they did know anything about this they would be posting in it instead of here.
Title: Re: Recommendations
Post by: Bobz on June 09, 2011, 08:54:39 PM
thanks guys.
have any idea how big of drive i'd need for 12 to 14 hrs of recording?
Title: Re: Recommendations
Post by: systemdm on June 09, 2011, 10:13:11 PM
Bobz,

Depends on quality and compression.  I usually allow 1GB for each hour with standard quality video.
I have a Foscam camera recording video on a windows system using this amount.
Title: Re: Recommendations
Post by: Bobz on June 10, 2011, 02:31:55 AM
ok thats not bad, does that include audio?
Title: Re: Recommendations
Post by: systemdm on June 10, 2011, 11:43:40 AM
No, but the audio shouldn't add that much more to it.
Title: Re: Recommendations
Post by: Bobz on June 10, 2011, 04:53:59 PM
does your Foscam camera have audio?
Title: Re: Recommendations
Post by: systemdm on June 10, 2011, 08:20:36 PM
Yes it does.  I haven't used it in a while, but the last I remember, it works ok.
Title: Re: Recommendations
Post by: Bobz on June 11, 2011, 03:55:14 AM
what model do you have?
Title: Re: Recommendations
Post by: systemdm on June 11, 2011, 04:30:57 PM
FI8918W

You can check out a video from it here. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6EvyapomRKI
Title: Re: Recommendations
Post by: Bobz on June 11, 2011, 10:40:50 PM
very cool systemdm
Title: Re: Recommendations
Post by: Bobz on June 13, 2011, 04:23:27 PM
BTW, what software are you using?
Title: Re: Recommendations
Post by: Jeff M on June 13, 2011, 04:42:07 PM
I use a Chinese clone of the Foscam pan/tilt camera.  No problems so far, and it cost approximately $62.  It has it's own software, but I did test it with Vitamin D and it works perfectly.  Here is the link to that camera:
http://www.dealextreme.com/p/standalone-ip-wireless-wifi-lan-camera-with-night-vision-and-pan-tilt-motors-26358 (http://www.dealextreme.com/p/standalone-ip-wireless-wifi-lan-camera-with-night-vision-and-pan-tilt-motors-26358) 
Title: Re: Recommendations
Post by: systemdm on June 13, 2011, 10:51:01 PM
I use the software it came with.  It also works great with Blue Iris.  I did read somewhere not to do the firmware upgrades from Foscam on the clones.  It may brick it.  Jeff may be able to verify this.
Title: Re: Recommendations
Post by: Jeff M on June 13, 2011, 11:54:33 PM
Some people have had success upgrading the firmware on the Foscam clones, others bought themselves a brick.  To me it is not worth the risk.  It does everything that I need it to do.  I tested it with Vitamin D and it works well, so I'm sure it will work with Blue Iris and the others.  If this is a critical application, then I would go with a real Foscam or one of the other brand name cameras.  You will get a real warranty and upgrades that work.   
Title: Re: Recommendations
Post by: Bobz on June 14, 2011, 08:23:36 PM
great guys, thank you for the help.