X10 Community Forum

📸Cameras & Camera Software => Legacy non Wi-Fi X10 Cameras => Camera General Discussion => Wired Cameras => Topic started by: ss200388 on September 26, 2006, 11:36:59 PM

Title: Need helps to choose the right security cameras or the system
Post by: ss200388 on September 26, 2006, 11:36:59 PM
Below are questions I sent to X10 support but got either no usful answers or answers doesn't meet any of my needs.  I have tried the wireless camera system but returned within 30 days due to the sensor couldn't trigger the receiver and the camera couldn't take any pictures.  Also, there were frequencies interrferrances problems when my tech tried to test outside.  Therefore, we are thinking switch to wired camera or others but cannot get any helps from X10 to make right decision as we cannot afford spending a lot of time to test X10's system continuously and returned with extra money.

I need to mount a camera at the left side of my house to watch any intruders or any motions into these area during the day the the might (with one low light around a small area of 2nd floor window) for about 60-80 feet fence area with about 6-10 feet from the camera.

One more camera at the left back to watch the intruders from the left back fence or from very far left back fence into backyard which is about 50-70 feet distance range from camera and shall be able to watch about 30-50 feet wide left back yard area with very dark and almost no light at the fartherest corner.

One camera at the front to watch the front yard/awn area, the walk way into the house, the front sidewalk, the driveway with about 35-60 feet wide area that can be from 10-50, 60 feet distance from where the camera may mount.

Above are my requirements and below are questions I sent to X-10 support.   Any helps will be highly appreciate as I am desperate now with the time been delayed by 3-4 months without the needed security cameras.


Will you provide me with details as how the wired security vedio can work.  How to install it, can we just take one of the exist outside wall light turn
into the location for security camera and sensor without any further wiring or how to make the wired camera work??  How to put camera work with sensor or else?   How can the central receiver records the activities from 3-4 different camera either at the same time or at different time?  Can the images record into laptop harddisk directly and whether this way will improve the recording (even by wireless ??)??  Can this wired camera take images/picutres at low to very dark light during the night and how about during the day??  How big is the angle the camera can turn (i.e. 45 degree or 90 degree or 180 degree???  I need one camera can turn at least 10 feet wide, 100 feet distance and two other camera can turn about 40-60 wides for about 30-60 feet distance).
 
Can any of your wirelss camera work at least for the front and back which may or may not as much interferrances from the wireless devices nearby????   if without the central receiver from your company but directly into laptop harddisk or CD Ram.
 
And what's the best combination system and the price I shall consider?

Thanks again for any helps, suggestions, inputs.
Title: Re: Need helps to choose the right security cameras or the system
Post by: Dew on September 27, 2006, 01:03:16 PM
SS200388...
Good luck getting answers to all your questions in this forum. I had similar questions and tried to conduct an on-line chat with X10 rep. After posting my questions, a rep responded asking for my phone number so he could call me immediately ... and he did. We had a 10 minute informative conversation where he provided all the information I needed. I suggest you consider that approach. This world of electronic media is terrific but sometimes when we need a lot of information with a variety of possibilities - a good old fashioned phone call is the best.

I understand that Radio Shack (The Source x Circuit City (in Canada)) also sells a number of wired and wireless products.

Goodluck.
Dew
Title: Re: Need helps to choose the right security cameras or the system
Post by: Tuicemen on September 27, 2006, 06:24:48 PM
I'll attempt to answer some questions but I suggest you read the wired cam section on the X10knowledge base(wired cams) (http://kbase.x10.com/wiki/Wired_Cameras) I run both wired and wireless cams I've mounted a wired cam to a ninja pan and tilt this actually covers the area that 3 cams would can see all of my back yard plus my neighbours back yards on both sides ;) lots are 50' deep from point of mounting if I centre the cam I can see all of my yard(depends alot on the mounting location)
in order to get a in deepth knowledge about how to hook up a system read all the info for the cams and software here (http://kbase.x10.com/wiki/Main_Page) ;)
Title: Re: Need helps to choose the right security cameras or the system
Post by: Dew on September 28, 2006, 04:19:40 PM
Tuicemen...
Thank you for your response. The links you provided provide considerable information for this novice and are greatly appreciated.

Cheers, :) :)
Title: Re: Need helps to choose the right security cameras or the system
Post by: Tuicemen on September 28, 2006, 05:00:58 PM
Glad it will help!
once you decide which way you want to go with the software check back in the forums under that section to see what others have to say about it before you purchase! ;) Others my be able to make some suggestions to add or delete from your order! ;)
Title: Re: Need helps to choose the right security cameras or the system
Post by: Dew on September 28, 2006, 05:17:45 PM
I run both wired and wireless cams I've mounted a wired cam to a ninja pan and tilt this actually covers the area that 3 cams would can see all of my back yard plus my neighbours back yards on both sides ;) lots are 50' deep from point of mounting if I centre the cam I can see all of my yard(depends alot on the mounting location)

Tuicemen... I understand you have good visability with your camera(s) during the day. What about at night? Are you using floodcam or other additional light systems with motion detectors to watch over your area at night?

I'm testing what I now understand is a nightwatch low light camera and the screen is not viewable at night even though is it pointed directly into a street light across the street. Does X10 have a night vision camera?

Thanks again for sharing your experience & knowledge.
Dew
Title: Re: Need helps to choose the right security cameras or the system
Post by: Tuicemen on September 28, 2006, 05:59:50 PM
I have a low light cam but they are useless My B&W low light doesn't even work inside in the day time without a light on I see nothing! I get better picture with my wide eye cam at night and it is color! ;) I have no floods and don't use the cams at night as the picture is poor!

Others have reported good luck with flood lights! But distance becomes a problem!
 I don't think X10 has a night vision cam but you can make one   (http://www.badacetechshow.com/nvc.htm) !Maybe convert a xcam the same way! ;)
Title: Re: Need helps to choose the right security cameras or the system
Post by: Dew on September 28, 2006, 07:32:58 PM
Does your wide eye come in a wired cam? I tried to get that information from customer support and was told X10 sells the same cameras in wireless as they do in a wired version. The link they gave me simply pointed at the wired cams but did not (do not) identify if any of the wired cams are considered "wide eye". Thanks again. You are a wealth of information.

Dew :) ;)
Title: Re: Need helps to choose the right security cameras or the system
Post by: Tuicemen on September 28, 2006, 08:12:50 PM
As far as I know you can't get the wide eye in a wired version that being said you may be able to modify an Anaconda wired cam  as the lens can be removed and replaced with another one. Others have done this taking the lens from  old web cams with some success! ;)
Have you looked at the sentinel cam? (http://kbase.x10.com/wiki/Sentinel) It is a little pricey but is a high end cam comes with wired or wireless capabilities with a starlight mode  44x zoom and pan&tilt built in! No I don't own one! :( :(
Title: Re: Need helps to choose the right security cameras or the system
Post by: ss200388 on September 28, 2006, 09:36:42 PM
Thanks to all of you.  I am still digesting and still cannot make the right decisions yet.   Any helps, inputs, suggestions are still highly appreciated.
Title: Re: Need helps to choose the right security cameras or the system
Post by: Dew on September 29, 2006, 11:51:55 AM
Tuicemen...thank you. You have been more than helpful.
Title: Re: Need helps to choose the right security cameras or the system
Post by: ss200388 on October 03, 2006, 11:25:23 PM
Thanks to all of you again for all the helps and the information.


I have questions from the replies below from nice Dew and Tuicemen::::

Dew ....      I have a low light cam but they are useless My B&W low light doesn't even work inside in the day time without a light on I see nothing! I get better picture with my wide eye cam at night and it is color!

****** So Dew do you conclude the low light cam doesn't work during the day??   According to Tuicemen below: the nightwatch low light (is low light cam the ****** same nightwatch cam or not ??)  screen is not viewable at night.  Therefore, shall I give up any hopes on both low night wired or wireless cam or the ****** night watch wired or wireless camera since it won't work during the day and the night??   Am I correct or I mis-understand something??  Since I
****** failed to install the wireless cam to work, I am hoping the wired low light or wired nightwatch cam but maybe I need to give up both of these cams
****** I am researching now????


I run bosth wired and wireless cams I've mounted a wired cam to a ninja pan and tilt this actually covers the area that 3 cams would can see all of my back yard plus my neighbours back yards on both sides  lots are 50' deep from point of mounting if I centre the cam I can see all of my yard(depends alot on the mounting location)

Tuicemen... I understand you have good visability with your camera(s) during the day. What about at night? Are you using floodcam or other additional light systems with motion detectors to watch over your area at night?

I'm testing what I now understand is a nightwatch low light camera and the screen is not viewable at night even though is it pointed directly into a street light across the street. Does X10 have a night vision camera?

******* What's the wired or wireless cam you used here to get nice images during the day at least based on feedback from Tuicemen above and how about ******* at the night and it does work to cover 50' deep??? 
******* Is this camera on all the time or triggered by any workable motion sensor to record the images/sounds into laptop or DVD/VHS recorder??   
******* (in fact, Dew seemed asking the same questions -- can you share your understandings from replies to you ??)

Thanks a lot !!!


SS200388
Title: Re: Need helps to choose the right security cameras or the system
Post by: Tuicemen on October 04, 2006, 01:28:42 PM
I don't use my cams At night
The low light cam as you have found doesn't even work inside during the day with out a light on Even then in my case the picture was poor!
All my color cams work better in low light that the B&W low light maybe mine is flawed! ::) ???
The Wide Eye cam seems to work best and picture is brightest probably because the lens is capturing more light from a wider viewing area!

When I first got my (wired)Cam Anywhere  color cam (8-10 years ago) I tested it at dark It did pick up the street light 80 feet away but my yard was black! I never tested with a flood light ::) ;)

I Have the cam set to timmers to take pics and save to hard disk.They can be activated with motion sensors.
  In fact if you have Active Home Pro  (which I do) with the iWitness,Smartmacro , Myhouse Oline &   On Alert plugins you can do most any thing even activate by security sensors, view over the web, send pics e-mail, program them to take video or snap still pics. ;) :D
If you wish to see a video of the sential cam   in operation during dark hours check this out: Link (http://www.x10sentinel.com/flash/starlight_mode/starlight_mode.html) warning it takes a while to load!
Also here is a Post (http://www.accessha.com/forums/showpost.php?p=3447&postcount=4) with pics from a low light Nightwatch Cam at different light conditions ;) :D