outdoor hidden security camera system

[john walker's workshop]

i just got done cleaning up the third graffiti mess on my roll-up door in a month. i guess that's nothing compared to some areas. last couple of months have seen a dramatic increase in the little bastard's quest to turn a decent neighborhood into a ghetto. i've been thinking about installing cameras for a while, but i need some that are easily concealed, meaning small, that project a clear image, even in low light. i haven't seen much online. everything is too large and too obvious. can someone recommend a setup that won't take me to the poorhouse?

[HardDrive]

John, Frys Electronics down in Renton has all kinds of cameras for this kind of thing. Also, some of the high end web cameras for your computer have a 'security' mode, that only takes a picture when there is movement.

I might be by Fry's this afternoon, I'll let you know if there is something that fits the bill.

[911Rob]

Hey John, too bad buddy.

I once put up a sign video survelance and a dummy camera that I bought for $50. I got the cam at a store called Canadian Tire, but I'm sure you could find one somewhere. The camera looked very real with a fake cable and took an AA battery for a flashing red LED light.

Worked like a darn. The guy that bought the place from me left it there and its still working for him.

Might pair that up with one of those motion sensor spot lights; which I use at my residence today.

Thought for ya, best of luck!

[slodave]

I buy stuff from these guys, Supercuits.com
http://www.supercircuits.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=440
http://www.supercircuits.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=442

Dave

[911Rob]

(fake cam)
PS: if you can't find one, let me know, I'll gladly send you one or two down for your use?

[Racerbvd]

I'll check with one of my clients, he also owns company that uses bullet cams, with motion, but the coolest thing is he can check each location on his Blackberry He owns a few bars & a chain of Pizza places and it wotks for him.

[red-beard]

You might also consider putting a coating on the door, so that even if they paint it, the stuff will come off easily. This would be in addition to the other suggestions.

[Joeaksa]

Fry's has them and you see them on CraigsList from time to time.

[dewolf]

Clear teflon coating from a spray can, works a treat. You'll have a pool of paint at the bottom of the door to clean up though.

[john walker's workshop]

i guess a trip to fry's is in order. thanks, keep em coming. a bullet cam installed in a hole drilled in the door jamb would be cool. nobody would see it.

[john walker's workshop]

their website just shows rather large, obvious ones.

[Racerbvd]

Or just wait & shoot them, blood cleans up easier than paint

[Zeke]

I guess I'm wondering like some others why you want to conceal the camera. You want to ID these bastards and turn them in? I dunno if that's the best approach. Seems like the taggers are like cockroaches, you'll have a hard time nailing every one. They'll target you even more if they figure out where the snitch is. I guess I'd be more obvious with my deterrents, but you could always do both. You could even "move" them into a perfect shot by allowing one spot to be more ideal.

[john walker's workshop]

yup, ID them. they do so much tagging around here that they'll never know who turned them in. goes in spurts. last couple of months have been pretty bad. i busted one bunch 10 years ago and no reprisals. found some small ones on www.spyville.com/bullet-cameras.html

12 volt i assume, from an adapter, then what's the best way to monitor them. would be cool to use my computer monitor if it's not too expensive. the 7-11 style that records a frame every few seconds sucks. i'd like to have a 24 hour self refreshing recorder thing if there's anything like that out there.

[slodave]

24 hrs. of continuous recording is not really feasible. If you are looking for inexpensive, you will need to drop frames. If you want to use your computer, you will need to have a lot of free disk space, maybe even add another hard drive, dedicated to video. You will also need a video capture card - if the camera is a normal RCA or BNC adapter. Realistically, you will want a dedicated computer. Doable for under a $1000.-, but barely.

Dave

[john walker's workshop]

how about 12 hours? is there a VCR that takes 12 hour tapes without taking 5 second frames?

[dad911]

Rather than continuous record, you can use a motion sensor to turn on and off.

[Joe Bob]

Put up a wire mesh or chain link fence in front of the roll up. Only dumbfuchs try to rattle can a chain link fence....reminds of an old joke.....

[slodave]

This one records to a SDRAM card or flash drive. Don;t know if you can bump up the cards and get more time. It seems to allow continuous recording with motion sensing.
http://www.supercircuits.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=4352

[Evans, Marv]

I just bought a set up from Costco for $480 plus tax & shipping - I think it came out to be around $510. It came with a DVR & 4 cameras: 3 bullet (1 with infrared & maybe audio, 2 regular), and a dome camera with infrared & audio. The DVR can be adjusted to different frame rates to record over various periods of time & can be set to erase every 24 hours & other optional times. Since I just received it, I don't remember exactly all of the specs. I'm going to use it to monitor a construction site. They have a bunch of different setups for different prices. I noticed a set of 3 wireless cameras in a store the other day for $145.
Possibilities.