Security Camera Systems - What do you use?

[Kamil]

Hello everyone, The school I work at has been looking into getting a small security camera system put in place and I have been given the task to research this topic but I have never looked into security cameras and have no idea what im looking for. I just know that it needs to be POE, record for 7 days at least and be expandable. We want to start with one camera and then expand over time.

 

It would be a bonus if the recorded footage could be accessed from off site. Also would like it to have motion detection.

 

This is what I have found after a quick google search.

 

Thanks a lot for any contributions

 

Kamil

[jthompson]

We have a mix of old and new. The new stuff is all Dahua IP cameras (bullets and domes) and a 32 channel Dahua NVR, accessible via a web interface. Some of our earlier IP cameras can be used with the Dahuaa NVR, but it doesn't support motion detection for some brands of cameras (even thought the cameras themselves do have that feature).

In terms of controlling levels of access and who can see which cameras, etc. it has plenty of that, and multiple NVRs can be linked together. The web interface for it requires a plugin to display feeds, which limits us to IE currently.

I've not used any other equivalent stuff, though, but that's what we have and it's been working well for a year or so now.

[synaesthesia]

We're using Hikvision gear, it's utterly awesome. Software is a little poo but frankly for the price we can't quibble too much. Quite a few local companies like it too.

[CHM-ITServices]

+1 for Hikvision! We use Luxriot to manage the cameras.

[steveg]

Hikvision and Luxriot here too. Less impressed with luxriot than I am with the Hikvision cameras, but it does the job.

[CHM-ITServices]

Hikvision and Luxriot here too. Less impressed with luxriot than I am with the Hikvision cameras, but it does the job.

 

I'd have to agree with you there. It can be good but i find it's not a big fan of change.

[Kenny_G]

+1 for Hikvision

[Boredguy]

We've started putting in Hikvision cameras for internal coverage and so far they have been fine and work happily with our free NVR software.

[Shadow_Walker]

I use hikvision for my house and would recommend it

[Helen25]

+1 for Hikvision - only issue I've got is we currently need more storage to get a full week's recording saved.

[Kamil]

+1 for Hikvision - only issue I've got is we currently need more storage to get a full week's recording saved.

 

How much storage would you recommend for 4 cameras, to keep footage from 7 days?

[Kamil]

Hikvision and Luxriot here too. Less impressed with luxriot than I am with the Hikvision cameras, but it does the job.

 

Do you run them across your network using a VLAN?

 

Do you get any bandwidth issues?

[MatthewL]

Hikvision here at home and cannot complain.

[Helen25]

@Kamil - We've got 10 Cameras and a 1TB drive which is currently recording about 5-6 days worth, it's not on network so I can't access remotely. Then I get called in if there's been an incident in holidays to record the evidence for police etc..

[Kamil]

@Kamil - We've got 10 Cameras and a 1TB drive which is currently recording about 5-6 days worth, it's not on network so I can't access remotely. Then I get called in if there's been an incident in holidays to record the evidence for police etc..

What resolution do your cameras record in?

[HTCPCP]

We have a HIKvision DVR (which has been fine) and some cheap unbranded cameras from a local store. The cameras, once we got them working are fine for the job, but were a to get working, requiring some having to be sent back, firmware updates on all of them.

[Helen25]

honest answer... haven't a clue!

[Max_Power]

Another +1 for HIKvision

 

We have 10 cameras recording using the free software they come with. Save a months worth of footage to a 6TB NAS. Quality of the footage is very good although they were a bit of a pain to get working in the first instance.

[PotNoodleTech]

Liiking at CCTV provision here too want to get away from old analogue system and expensive contractors.

 

Hikvision Cameras (and Trendnet) seem to be absolutely great been testing a couple. The hikvision DVR box on the other hand is not so impressive. Needs rebooting fairly frequently and the interface and camera software for the PC is archaic.

 

I really really like the Synolgy Surveillance Station software on their NAS boxes - the software, interface and features are amazing. It's a real shame they charge licences per camera if you want more than 2 cameras attached it ramps up the costs a lot if you need 16 or 32 cameras. SO basically it comes down to low cost & a bit crap (hikvision dvr) or higher cost but awesome (synology nas).

[steveg]

Do you run them across your network using a VLAN?

 

Do you get any bandwidth issues?

 

We are currently 1 large flat network, which they run across as well. We only have 6 ip cameras at the moment, all older cameras are wired direct to a recorder - as these fail we move them across to network cameras.

 

Haven't had any bandwidth issues at all - we have a fairly modern network, 10gig backbone including to servers and gig to desktop. I do plan to vlan it off this summer however, as with more cameras it may become an issue, and the network has grown considerably in the last 2 years.

 

The 6 cameras I have currently have 2.8tb of storage allocated. Just checked the archive, we have 52 days of footage available, all recorded in full hd. This means it is copying around 2.2gb an hour so not that much of a load.

 

Steve

[3s-gtech]

Currently costing the same project. Looking at a 96TB Hikvision NVR (64 channel) with dedicated PoE switches running across our spare fibre links (so no need to VLAN or share) back to it. Hikvision cameras too. This is to replace our old analogue system which has been good, but picture quality is poor and we're now using 4 DVRs to cover the current camera setup. Retention varies from 1 to 4 weeks depending on the unit, so hopefully 96TB with 64 1080p channels will do okay.

[Net-Ctrl]

We provide the MOBOTIX portfolio of IP-CCTV cameras and have a lot of EDU establishments using the system, it really is an impressive solution.

It doesn’t require the need for expensive NVR/DVR and high specification PC hardware, which is a great bonus.

 

There is no single point of failure, regardless of the environment as long as the camera has standard PoE to hand even in the event of the NAS/NVR or entire comms room losing power, the site will remain being monitored and all recordings will go direct to the on board SD card until power is restored and data transferred back to the main storage area.

 

There are no license fees, free software and software updates for life, meaning no maintenance contracts are needed for cleaning or lubricating moving parts, firmware updates can be applied when required at a suitable time. Some of the free software has the ability to object/people count and heat mapping on a single lens camera, which look brilliant.

 

We are often able to replace 4 or 5 analogue/IP cameras with a single Mobotix camera. We are able to adjust a single lens 360 degree camera type to monitor up to 4 different parts of the room, whilst still recording all of the room all of the time.

 

When looking at IP-CCTV, MOBOTIX is really worth looking into.

[PotNoodleTech]

When looking at IP-CCTV, MOBOTIX is really worth looking into.

 

Does look good! Also looks very expensive!!

[synaesthesia]

** Looking at a 96TB Hikvision NVR (64 channel) ** , so hopefully 96TB with 64 1080p channels will do okay.

 

Holy hard drives, Batman! 96TB!!!

That sounds utterly, utterly insane. Thinking about it it's hardly unrealistic any more, but I had to read that post 3 or 4 times to let it sink in.

96TB!

[Net-Ctrl]

Does look good! Also looks very expensive!!

 

Think the portfolio starts around the £300 per camera mark, so they are more expensive tha the likes of Hikvision and Dahua but if you look at cost over an entire project you will be able to save money by requiring less cameras, no support conracts to maintain, and due to no moving parts you shouldnt need to spend any money on them. They will just work.