Home surveillance

Discussion:

Home surveillance

Shannon Skinner

2012-01-03 09:39:15 UTC

Due to some recent burglaries in our area, I've started doing some research
on home surveillance. Does anyone have any recommendations on software,
hardware or suppliers? I'm open to anything at this stage: Linux, Windows,
off-the-shelf hardware, etc.
_______________________________________________
NZLUG mailing list ***@linux.net.nz
http://www.linux.net.nz/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/nzlug

Bruce Clement

2012-01-03 09:50:40 UTC

Permalink

No direct experience, but have a look at these products

ZoneMinder http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ZoneMinder
http://www.zoneminder.com/ is a security video controller (GPL)

LinuxMCE http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LinuxMCE http://linuxmce.com/ is a
multimedia centre with some security features
http://linuxmce.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=117&Itemid=122

Post by Shannon Skinner
Due to some recent burglaries in our area, I've started doing some research
on home surveillance. Does anyone have any recommendations on software,
hardware or suppliers? I'm open to anything at this stage: Linux, Windows,
off-the-shelf hardware, etc.
_______________________________________________
http://www.linux.net.nz/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/nzlug

--
Bruce Clement

Home: http://www.clement.co.nz/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/Bruce_Clement
Directory: http://www.searchme.co.nz/

"Before attempting to create something new, it is vital to have a good
appreciation of everything that already exists in this field." Mikhail
Kalashnikov
_______________________________________________
NZLUG mailing list ***@linux.net.nz
http://www.linux.net.nz/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/nzlug

Cliff

2012-01-03 10:06:08 UTC

Permalink

The most effective burglar deterrent is a large dog, I've found. That
may or may not suit your needs. I'm only half joking.

Cheers,

Cliff

_______________________________________________
NZLUG mailing list ***@linux.net.nz
http://www.linux.net.nz/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/nzlug

Atom Smasher

2012-01-03 10:56:06 UTC

Permalink

Post by Cliff
The most effective burglar deterrent is a large dog, I've found. That
may or may not suit your needs. I'm only half joking.

==============

or a medium dog that looks aggressive, or a dog with a big bark. i've also
seen electronic things that "bark" when someone walks past the door, or
knocks on the door.

or window/door stickers...
http://www.alarmsticker.com/
http://www.defensedevices.com/alarm-stickers-warning.html
http://www.amazon.com/Security-Alarm-Stickers-System-Decals/dp/B002Z6WR6W
http://www.amazon.com/Defender-SP100-ST-Warning-Stickers-Protection/dp/B003NVMHM2
http://www.amazon.com/Burglar-Security-System-Static-Stickers/dp/B002M4MVG8

on those amazon links, scroll down to the "Also Viewed" section ;)

FWIW, i've got "SECURITY CAMERA" signs in front of my apartment. the place
got tagged once or twice per year before the signs were posted, and once
in four years since the signs went up. the signs are working :)

let's not forget these...
http://www.police.govt.nz/safety/home.neighbourhoodsupport.html
http://www.ns.org.nz/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neighborhood_watch
--
...atom

________________________
http://atom.smasher.org/
762A 3B98 A3C3 96C9 C6B7 582A B88D 52E4 D9F5 7808
-------------------------------------------------

"It may be true that the law cannot make a man love me,
but it can keep him from lynching me,
and I think that's pretty important."
-- Martin Luther King, Jr.

_______________________________________________
NZLUG mailing list ***@linux.net.nz
http://www.linux.net.nz/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/nzlug

Roger Searle

2012-01-03 10:21:04 UTC

Permalink

In a similar situation to you, have gone as far as installing an IP
Camera, a Foscam FI8905W purchased from Andrew of Guardtech Security:

http://www.guardtech.co.nz/wireless-ip-network-cameras

They are $205. And you can get dummy ones for $65 or there about, these
can have some interesting applications as they are externally identical
including battery powered flashing LED so they appear no different from
a real one. They are wireless (or ethernet) and just another IP device
on your network, configure in your browser and view live video.

Take a look at zoneminder - as I understand it there is a plug-in for
MythTV (which I run on my home network). I am short on details for you
as I am only just beginning to research myself. A brief viewing of the
wiki mentions the list of supported cameras is not exhaustive, it is not
does mention that particular camera as supported though a somewhat
similar one (with additional pan, tilt, zoom) is.

http://www.mythtv.org/wiki/MythZoneMinder

I have seen the windows programme ispy http://www.ispyconnect.com/
functioning well at a demo in the neighbourhood (also following
burglaries) and it worked very well in that location. I have it running
in a VM, it's a major CPU hog with various motion detection options
turned on, made somewhat somewhat more challenging due to a long
driveway, large distance to garage (where the camera is mounted),
numerous trees obscuring key views and also moving on windy days which
mucks up the automatic recording. However once I solve that, a car
arriving (for example) will trigger the recording of an avi file using
the camera buffer, so you see the car come into view, come up the drive,
and burglars/visitors get out of the car. The avi file is converted to
mp4 and optionally uploaded to your youtube account. This is all pretty
cool.

However I want to do it in linux. I'll be checking out Zone Minder once
I have time and will be very interested to see what other experiences
there are.

Happy new year to you all,
Roger

_______________________________________________
NZLUG mailing list ***@linux.net.nz
http://www.linux.net.nz/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/nzlug