Security cameras at gates

Started by JohnC61 • 10 replies • 1626 views

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JohnC61 (Florida)
Posts: 16

Posted:

Our community has pole gates and they are constanly getting damaged. We would like to put up security cameras at the gates but are limited as to what system to use because theres no spot to store the dvr equitment and stuff. Is there cameras that possiably not need internet connection and just run off power and someo how they download all video to the cloud? Thanks

GenoS (Florida)
Posts: 4,276

Posted:

We've had the same problem off and on for the two years I've been in my HOA. The board here declined to consider cameras because of the cost involved (we have an unmanned guard house at the entrance). At night you need adequate lighting and cameras good enough to read plate numbers, both of which can be expensive. Simple webcams won't get the job done. I don't know about "the cloud" but there is equipment that works over cellular phone networks. You access it remotely over the internet. The setups I've seen, however, all have local DVR storage, so if there's a way to transmit and store the video in the cloud then that might work for you.

MelissaP1 (Alabama)
Posts: 13,836

Posted:

We have a store called the "Spy shop" which sells surveillance equipment. However, not sure how much video will help. Check with your local police on how they would handle the situation if they saw the tape. They may not be able to do as much as you think. It may be more for court purposes than anything else.

Former HOA President

KevinK7 (Florida)
Posts: 1,343

Posted:

You might be able to get a service with remote servers and access via the internet.

DouglasK1 (Florida)
Posts: 2,046

Posted:

We looked into cameras recently, and researched a lot of this. To store video in the "cloud", you'll need an internet connection of some sort. The two main choices are phone companies and cable companies. In either case you'd still need some kind of enclosure large enough to hold the cable/dsl modem which are typically at least 9x6x3 inches, plus the power block, which is around 3x3x2 inches. You'd need to supply power, the phone/cable company can run their line to the enclosure.

If you wanted to use power line networking, you'd still need this type of equipment, but it wouldn't have to be as close to the camera. I've not worked with this type of networking, but from what I've heard, it wouldn't be my first choice.

Cellular data could also be an option, but I imagine the amounts of data sent could lead to some pretty high monthly charges for the service.

Escaped former treasurer and director of a self managed association.

JH6 (Virginia)
Posts: 30

Posted:

There are security cameras, although I can't remember which brand, that have local storage; you can put in a 256GB SDXC card in, which can typically store about 2 days worth of recordings at 1080p. Furthermore, if you set the camera to record only when it sees motion or something like that, you may be able to get a considerable time frame recorded. The cameras aren't cheap though; I remember them being about $1500 to $2000 a piece all in, which an SD card and installation.

DonA2 (Arizona)
Posts: 170

Posted:

I might be investigating hiring a security company to stand guard at the gates overnight.

SteveM9 (Massachusetts)
Posts: 3,699

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By JohnC61 on 03/21/2016 1:33 PM
Our community has pole gates and they are constanly getting damaged. We would like to put up security cameras at the gates but are limited as to what system to use because theres no spot to store the dvr equitment and stuff. Is there cameras that possiably not need internet connection and just run off power and someo how they download all video to the cloud? Thanks

Well the cloud is the internet, so there is NO possibility of a camera NOT hooked up to the internet downloading video to the cloud. Its either hooked to the internet or it isnt.

There are camera that you can add a SDcard and it set it to record on motion, but you would need to quickly grab the card after someone crashes the gate or it will overwrite itself with new video.

LarryB13 (Arizona)
Posts: 4,099

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By SteveM9 on 03/23/2016 7:25 AM
Well the cloud is the internet

"The Cloud" is just somebody else's computer.

GenoS (Florida)
Posts: 4,276

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By LarryB13 on 03/23/2016 11:38 AM
"The Cloud" is just somebody else's computer.

Yep.

SteveM9 (Massachusetts)
Posts: 3,699

Posted:

I was trying to simplify the explanation of needing a network connection (internet) in order to connect to the cloud (someone else's computer)

Quote:

local storage; you can put in a 256GB SDXC card in, which can typically store about 2 days worth of recordings at 1080p. .......... cameras aren't cheap though; I remember them being about $1500 to $2000 a piece all in, which an SD card and installation.

I bought a foscam ipcamera that does this for $80 on amazon. I think they go by the name of Amcrest now. A 32gig SDcard is $9 bucks

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