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Home webcam security

Have you ever tried to set up a home cctv system using a webcam? I'm trying and it's hard work!

There are webcams advertised on ebay as 'night vision'.
NIGHT VISION. You'd think this means infra red lights and infrared cameras, right? No, it means: it has white lights on it. That's not NIGHTVISION. That's like saying 'I got my nightvision tool with me' when you have a torch!

Any pointers for what to get? I have a wireless router and need motion detection and remote alarms (to mobile) and remote access. Thanks!

-gem- Fri 29/08/08 12:15

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abstract
Fri 29/08/08
12:16

hahaha! what a scam!

Ethel
Fri 29/08/08
12:19

I saw them do it on The Gadget Show - read the last page of this article, you may find it useful

http://gadgetshow.five.tv/jsp/5gsmain.jsp?lnk= 401&featureid=109&pageid=235&show=s4e8§ion =Features

another-view
Fri 29/08/08
12:48

Nothing wrong with that. It has vision in the night which is what was advertised. It's up to the buyer to check rather than assume the details.

Hymie
Fri 29/08/08
13:21

I would recommend a dedicated DVR for this, rather than using a PC, they are now available with internet/phone connectivity options. Most have motion detection software which can be used to activate/alarm the system.

With regards camera’s, most that are claimed to have night vision use some form of infrared illumination – but are normally very limited in range due to the power required to light a large area.

I have a home security cctv system using B&W cameras which are speced down to 0.003 Lux, which I reckon is around the sensitivity of the human eye. Although not of brilliant quality, the camera’s give acceptable image results under street light levels (avoiding the need for dedicated lighting).

-gem-
Fri 29/08/08
13:33

Question Author

thanks for the very helpful replies.

The description was intended to receive. The advertiser knows what is commonly meant by 'night vision' and how this will be interpreted: that is the measure. The duty does not fall on the buyer to make sure the seller was not using the very common expression in a novel way in order to deceive the buyer.
I have night vision personally, I use it half of the day, to illuminate the world around me. It's called: THE SUN.

-gem-
Fri 29/08/08
13:33

Question Author

*deceive

Hymie
Fri 29/08/08
17:33

In a similar vein, sometime back I saw adverts for 0 Lux camcorder’s. This interested me, since my cctv cameras were rated at 0.003 Lux, most camcorders need at least 1 Lux and 0 Lux is complete darkness.
Of course, the camcorder had a light attached to it.

scaniavabis
Fri 29/08/08
18:44

So next time you buy a cake in a box at Tesco it's up to you to check that it is a cake in the box and not a pair of shoes? What a load of rubbish.

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