IP Camera for Home

[Zoom7000]

I’ve just moved in to a new flat and have a bit of a problem with a blind spot. Whenever anyone knocks on the door, we are unable to see who is. The entrance is a communal entrance with a double glazed door that then splits into a small communal space with 2 fireproof doors. (Solid wood doors, no view windows or peep holes) I can’t see through the windows in the front room because they come further out to the front of the house than the door entrance, hence the blind spot. I was thinking of putting up a camera so that we could see who is outside as well as security surveillance. Would the best option be an IP Camera? Obviously it would need to be “weatherproof” as it will be outside.

I don’t have a TV, VCR or DVD Player/Recorder, so I would need a solution that would fit a PC, and be able to record to a hard drive.

I’m thinking that the IP Camera solution would be best because the person living upstairs would also like the ability to view who is outside when someone knocks so presumably I can link it to a domain name.

Would anyone have any suggestions? I’m hoping for something cheap, but £100 is my absolute maximum although I’d rather not go that high.

[Ric_]

With £100 you will struggle to find a weatherproof IP camera. The Panasonic IP cameras are very good (and reasonably priced on Ebay) - I have a couple and the software that you get with them would probably do the job. For anything more sophisticated use Zoneminder. You could always build your own weather-proof enclosure.

Alternatively, a standard camera with a composite video connection would work and could be fed into a TV capture card.

[mark80]

Are you wanting this to stream or store?

Only reason i ask is of you are storing (assuming its not infra red detection) you will run out of space very quickly.

Mark

[tech_guy]

Check out CPC - they've advertised weatherproof cameras recently.

[Zoom7000]

Are you wanting this to stream or store?

Only reason i ask is of you are storing (assuming its not infra red detection) you will run out of space very quickly.

Mark

Yeah, I was worried about this too, therefore storing isn't my highest priority. We just need to be able to see as the number 1 priority.

[IanT]

Im sure Maplins did IP Cams......