Grayson Posted August 19, 2013 Posted August 19, 2013 Hi, After getting the ELK-M1 and ISY994i up and running I am ready to take the next step and install a home video surveillance system. I am mainly looking for outdoor cameras and would like the system to integrate with the ISY. Can anyone recommend a system or perhaps some do's and don'ts as I go forward? Thanks! John
oberkc Posted August 19, 2013 Posted August 19, 2013 In my mind, the answer depends on what you mean by "integrate" and how willing you are to spend time learning about something like the REST interface and researching commands for a given camera. If you are speaking of native insteon capability, I am unaware of any camera that can send, or respond to, insteon commands.
arw01 Posted August 19, 2013 Posted August 19, 2013 There are some threads on here about Foscam units that can respond to a http request that the ISY can send from the network module that is triggered by anything that causes a program to run on the ISY. Personally interested in this as well, but waiting on sub $200 1080P cameras that are worth buying and have all the features I want. Wonder why they are so expensive besides lack of competition, a point and shoot camera has massively more resolution, better optics, zoom etc. So why is a fixed IP camera so expensive. Alan
LeeG Posted August 19, 2013 Posted August 19, 2013 Volume. Number of point and shoot cameras sold versus number of surveillance cameras sold. One can buy PLMs in units of 1000 much cheaper per unit than an individual PLM.
Grayson Posted August 21, 2013 Author Posted August 21, 2013 Regarding integration, I have an extensive background in programming so learning the REST interface would be fine - although anything to jump start that would be helpful. I am really trying to achieve an integrated environment so that if a camera's motion sensor is triggered I can turn on outside or insight lights. I pretty sure most of the camera systems do email notifications probably don't need that. Thanks, John
Xathros Posted August 21, 2013 Posted August 21, 2013 Grayson- I am using Foscam cameras and using my ISY-994 with the network module to manage the PTZ positions and Record on motion options in the cams. With the Foscam cams, there is no way that I have found to trigger an ISY event based on motion detected in the camera. I believe there is a method using an external machine like a Raspberry Pi to monitor the video stream and issue a rest command to the ISY when motion is detected but I haven't pursued that. One thing that I have found is the camera motion detection is easily triggered by changes in light level. Mine trigger many times a day as clouds pass over and change the ambient light coming through various windows. It is for this reason that I haven't bothered with using the cams as motion detectors. Instead, I use my Insteon PIR motion detectors and other insteon device events to position the cams as needed and only enable record on motion when the ISY believes I need to record. (House in away mode and motion or control event detected) With the exception of one cam that failed recently, this is working quite well for me. -Xathros
arw01 Posted August 21, 2013 Posted August 21, 2013 The problem with the Insteon PIR's is they are not pet immune. So you either mount them where they never see pets on couches, etc, or you have to use your security system pet immune PIRs to get reliable motion events. I'm considering either using some 120 volt PIR with maybe micro modules, or interfacing real PIR's with a IO linc. Neither are great solutions, and are on my someday list. By the time you spend that much for 3-4-5 "zones" you are pretty far along on a wireless elk system! Alan
Xathros Posted August 21, 2013 Posted August 21, 2013 Alan- I share your concerns with the Insteon PIRs and have been looking at other PIR systems and methods to interface with the ISY as well. I have both a RaspPi and a CAI Webcontrol board with plenty of open inputs so I'm looking for inexpensive pet immune PIRs that I can easily wire to those inputs. I'm almost ready to just get an Elk system and be done with some of these issues. That said, I don't think the OP's camera would do any better at ignoring pet movement in addition to the other issues I mentioned with that method. -Xathros
arw01 Posted August 22, 2013 Posted August 22, 2013 AH, that would be very true. Maybe the motion software for linux would run on a Pi and could be configured, not sure I want to mess with that as it's not very easy for someone else in the house to understand and tweak should it go awry while traveling! What we need is a camera with high resolution, a built in pet immune pir, responds to ip commands, can send rest commands etc, and doesnt' require a cloud to do it all, AND doesn't break the bank. I've never found a good website that reviews security cameras, I want to see WHO is getting in the car at 4:am, not that they were wearing a black hoodie in the dark!
arw01 Posted August 22, 2013 Posted August 22, 2013 That and with strong IR emmitters to light up the dark corners of the driveway and cars with no visable light to the intruders. I suppose ability to track motion too if you would want it and some zoom capabilities with facial recognition so it zooms on that section of the perp instead of the waste of his coat or something like that. Alan
ravedog Posted July 21, 2015 Posted July 21, 2015 AH, that would be very true. Maybe the motion software for linux would run on a Pi and could be configured, not sure I want to mess with that as it's not very easy for someone else in the house to understand and tweak should it go awry while traveling! What we need is a camera with high resolution, a built in pet immune pir, responds to ip commands, can send rest commands etc, and doesnt' require a cloud to do it all, AND doesn't break the bank. I've never found a good website that reviews security cameras, I want to see WHO is getting in the car at 4:am, not that they were wearing a black hoodie in the dark! I have about 14 Hikvision IP cameras all running on synology's surveillance station. All are using EXIR emitters for night. Also a Bosch Dinion 8000 for my gate cam (needs no light). Even doing face capture at gate box and license plate capture as well. Having pretty good luck. The cameras are fairy cheap but beware: hard to find Hikvision from authorized US retailer. (No one on Amazon is)... have to determine whether you care about a warranty. The Synology system is pricey as they charge per camera license and a few interface quirks but if you spend the time getting your motion settings down (via camera or the box itself) it's fairly useful. Something to be said about surveillance: no matter how good the images it's mostly for deterrent. No cop in Vegas cares if your car gets broken into and will do anything with the footage. Violent crimes a different matter. I work for a TV station in Vegas and ironically we have aired footage of thrives at people's houses which led to ID of suspects more than any law enforcement ever would When identifying faces you need at least 110 pixels per inch and license plates at 85. Google network cam critic. That site is awesome for reviews. (The guy running just passed away, but still a great wealth of knowledge). Also try ccvtforums. Great info.
ISYhbsh01 Posted July 22, 2015 Posted July 22, 2015 The cameras are fairy cheap but beware: hard to find Hikvision from authorized US retailer. (No one on Amazon is)... have to determine whether you care about a warranty. Where did you get yours?
ravedog Posted July 22, 2015 Posted July 22, 2015 (edited) OK so this is how I looked at it. Most of the perimeter of the house is covered by a hikvision 4mm or 2.8 mm touretcam. Those run about $105 off of Amazon. One of the sellers that I bought it from offers their own warranty for two years and they are using American firmware. I figured that at that price if they work out of the box, they'll probably stay working for a while... exceeding the manufactures three-year warranty anyway. Some of the more specialty cameras I have are some mini domes and a covert camera for our gate access control box. The covert camera I bought from Nelly's and they offer a their own three-year warranty. Any other cameras I bought from B&H photo which is an authorized seller; however, their prices are a lot more and they offer a limited selection. When I started I bought a couple cameras from Amazon through a third-party that offered prime shipping so I could have a 30 day return policy. That give me 30 days to play with the camera, the interface, emotionally taxing, the image a day the image at night. Once I decided that the cameras are good I want to buy more. I think the reseller on Amazon was NetView. Like I said you have to be very careful with my hydration off Amazon because a lot of the resellers are selling Chinese versions of the cameras. Which means they have Chinese firmware probably even come in Chinese and you have absolutely no way to get service warranty or even a return on them. Edited July 22, 2015 by ravedog
ravedog Posted July 22, 2015 Posted July 22, 2015 If you really are going to go the IP camera route, you have to have a place it's going to record the footage, and you're left with a couple choices: you can get a dedicated NVR like from Hikvision, or you can get a dedicated PC running software like blue Iris which is very popular, or you can go with a solution that I have like the Synology. I will say this that it can add up quite fast between the cameras wiring all of them with the ethernet and running POE adapters or injectors, and then finding a box to record all the footage. I chose to go with this Synology as opposed to say a dedicated NVR because most of the dedicated NVRs I've looked at have awful interfaces: real rudimentary. As I stated in a previous post I would really have a look over the forums at CCTV forums and do a lot of lurking in lot a question asking.
EddieRock Posted February 14, 2016 Posted February 14, 2016 (edited) I have Hikvision cameras around my house and also use Milestone Systems XProtect Professional: https://www.milestonesys.com/our-products/xprotect-software-suite/xprotect-professional/ I absolutely love the Milestone system. Their phone app is amazing! Rewind and ff on the phone from anywhere in the world. I've caught 3 attempted breakins and one successful. All intruders were identified from the footage. Their software is actually free for up to 5 cameras but I've paid for more and I think I pay around $400 for 8 cameras for 8 years. That gives me unlimited storage and can go back as far as I configure it. I'd love to have either the ONVIF protocol, hikvision cameras and/or the Milestone system integrate with the ISY... (Hint Hint) EddieRock Edit: spelling Edited February 15, 2016 by EddieRock
elvisimprsntr Posted February 15, 2016 Posted February 15, 2016 (edited) I went the free route when setting up my NVR. 1. Existing wireless IP cameras - free 2. Repurposed 6 year old PC - free 3. Kubuntu Linux - free 4. ZoneMinder NVR software - free 5. Installation - free 6. Monthly fee - free 7. Number of cameras - unlimited 8. Remote access - free via web 9. Optional mobile apps - $6 (zmView and zmNinja) Edited February 15, 2016 by elvisimprsntr
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