I have experimented on and off for over 20 years with video security systems outside my house, going all the way back to a low light camera recording on a VHS tape recorder.

I usually throw in the towel after a few months for one reason or another.

Since I now park 3-4 MB's outside each night, I decided to give it another try.

TOTAL EQUIPMENT COST: $90.

I had three basic requirements:

1. Have a system that recorded three full days of camera video before recording over from the beginning. That way if I was away for the weekend and something ill had happened to one of my cars, I could review the recorded video to see the culprits.

2. The quality of the recorded image, both day and at night, had to be sufficient that I could clearly see the face on a person near the cars and be able to make out a car make and model of vehicles on the street (past driveway).

3. Cost low enough that I did not have to explain it to wife.

Couldn't be happier with the results (so far). Not sure how long my made in China camera and DVR will last, but time will tell.

I do not have it set up to watch the video feed real time.

If I want to see the video, I pop the SD card out of the DVR and put it into my PC's SD card slot.

Got it all on Amazon Prime, under $90 delivered.

I mounted the camera on the roof of my garage, ran the cable down the backside of the garage, drilled a hole in the back wall, ran the cable through the hole, and mounted the DVR on the inside wall near the 110 v. outlet.

Here's the hardware list if you want to take a look:

Camera: VideoSecu CCTV Home Surveillance Outdoor IR Bullet Security Camera Color CCD Day Night 24 Infrared LEDs with Bonus Power Supply IR24W C2M

DVR: (digital video recorder) Mini Security DVR Micro Sd Card Recording
by eBoTrade-Tech

Memory for DVR: (I get 4 full days of recording, using motion sensing) SanDisk 32GB Mobile MicroSDHC Class 4 Flash Memory Card, Frustration-Free Packaging- SDSDQ-032G-AFFP

Cable: VideoSecu Video & Power 50 Feet BNC RCA Cable for Security Cameras 1JD

I should also mention I do have a light outside my garage. I use this one:
Lights of America 9027 Fluorex 27W Flood Light.

BTW, not including the driveway light, the camera and the DVR use a grand total of under 20 watts.

i have a q-see camera system with 9 cameras on it. 100ft night vision, motion recording capabilities, and clear enough to identify someone or a car. night quite clear enough to read a license plate at 100ft but you wont get that without a varifocal/ ptz setup or high def. i have about $700 into mine.

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have no worries.....President Obama swears "If you like your gun, you can keep it

got a link to this cheap yet good system?

Wasn't sure if the forum rules allowed...

Here is a link to the camera and the DVR and memory card and cable...

Amazon.com : VideoSecu CCTV Home Surveillance Outdoor IR Bullet Security Camera Color CCD Day Night 24 Infrared LEDs with Bonus Power Supply IR24W C2M : Camera & Photo

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00A0JMY8C/ref=oh_details_o01_s00_i03?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Amazon.com: SanDisk 32GB Mobile MicroSDHC Class 4 Flash Memory Card, Frustration-Free Packaging- SDSDQ-032G-AFFP: Electronics

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000P910OG/ref=oh_details_o01_s00_i01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Hey all.

My house sits at the end of the cove. I want to install a camera in my 2nd story window that can aim down the street, say 150 feet and be able to read license plates. Ideally, I would like wireless, with zoom, and can be accessed via app on iPhone. Storage would either stream to a hosted site or stay on the camera; maybe 3 days of storage?

Has anyone used anything like this?

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daw_two
Germantown, TN

Links:
Sold last car --- 05/2012 1984 300D Light Ivory, Red interior
No longer selling Cluster Needles Paint
No longer selling New Old Stock (NOS) parts

Past:
3/2008 1986 300SDL "Coda"
04/2010 1965 190D(c) "Ben"
& many more

I'd just as soon not use a hosted site, since I have no desire to help add to corporate surveillance networks and destroy people's anonymity and privacy in public.

There are cameras that can save directly to an SMB share on an existing computer, and are remotely accessible via web (password protected and SSL encrypted). No app needed, just go to the camera's URL on a phone or computer browser to view.

The real question is, why bother? Cameras are a remedy after the fact. If stuff is stolen, chances are that you're NOT getting it back, even if the camera footage results in an arrest and conviction. Get good insurance and/or a large dog.

I'm setting up an old laptop to record video from three wireless security cameras. I haven't settled on the brand of camera.

This may seem strange to you guys ,but i have a dash cam in my window ,connected to a 12 volts power pack pluged in to the mains supply . The memory card in the camera must be the size to cope with 12 hours viewing .The cost in all £25.And it as worked good for me over the last year.Can show you a picture of set up if interested .

What's even cheaper is to park some $50 cars on the front lawn, and take them apart partially. No one will bother you after that

Seriously though, sounds like a half decent setup.

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$60 OM617 Blank Exhaust Flanges
$110 OM606 Blank Exhaust Flanges
No merc at the moment

I have a camera that monitors my driveway while we are away (in fact we have two). No need for DVR - It send me 15sec video clip by email each time it senses movement (or sound). It is possible to view live video and with add-ons to record video. It does need a wifi signal.

The ones I have are Dlink DCS-933L . They have IR capability so work day and night. This model is not supposed to be used below 32F or above 104F.

These are sort of like a souped up baby monitor, but I have found them to work well. Currently our cameras are outdoors monitoring our crawl space - We have had nightly visitors trying to get in! (Racoon and Skunk)

These are inexpensive units - Check on Amazon. There are many other models some with SD card recording, some more suited for outdoors, some with remote pan/tilt etc.

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Graham
85 300D,72 350SL, 98 E320, Outback 2.5

Thanks, Graham. I ordered two of them.

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daw_two
Germantown, TN

Links:
Sold last car --- 05/2012 1984 300D Light Ivory, Red interior
No longer selling Cluster Needles Paint
No longer selling New Old Stock (NOS) parts

Past:
3/2008 1986 300SDL "Coda"
04/2010 1965 190D(c) "Ben"
& many more

Good luck with them!

A couple of things:
- they need a good wifi signal. When my cameras are low down outside basement walls, signal has a lot of stuff to pass through. I installed a small wifi repeater closer (Dlink too!) and now I don't have a problem.
- the software uses Java or Javascript or something. Chrome does not work with it. But so far IE and Firefox do. Before getting cameras to work, you may have to install the latest stuff. It will prompt you.
- for driveway monitoring, I had to aim camera low and limit sensing area (done in set-up). This to stop every passing car from triggering an email!
- At night, the IR only has a range of about 18ft, I think. It also doesn't work through glass window. But if a car drives in at night we do see the lights. (We see our snow removal plough come in when we are away in SC!)

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Graham
85 300D,72 350SL, 98 E320, Outback 2.5

Camera's hooked up this morning; easy install. The installation is so easy, I tried to make it harder.

I don't like that one camera is H/W Version A and the other one is Version B --- each uses a different setup program; sheesh! It was easy though to download both and run each one once.

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daw_two
Germantown, TN

Links:
Sold last car --- 05/2012 1984 300D Light Ivory, Red interior
No longer selling Cluster Needles Paint
No longer selling New Old Stock (NOS) parts

Past:
3/2008 1986 300SDL "Coda"
04/2010 1965 190D(c) "Ben"
& many more