Multi Camera security system

I was recently thinking that it might be a good idea to install a multi camera security system. The type they have in prisons where you can see multiple rooms at one time.

Has anyone done this? If so, is there a product that you'd recommend? Thanks!!

 

Just make sure you get something that wasn't made in China

Warning As Millions Of Chinese-Made Cameras Can Be Hacked To Spy On Users: Report
Thousands Of Banned Chinese Surveillance Cameras Are Watching Over America
Bloomberg - Are you a robot?

 

Got a Samsung multi cam system...but no internet, bluetooth or lan connection to the outside world used. Been going strong for several years and have only had one camera die. Decent resolution and enough IR leds to give good nighttime images. Kind of a low-mid range setup.

 

I have had good luck with these folks, very helpful and educational. Security Camera Systems for Surveillance | CCTV & WiFi | Backstreet

 

1. ipcamtalk.com is your best resource. I'll suggest Blue Iris below, but the forum covers the ins and outs of all types of systems
   
   
2. Blue Iris is the best NVR software and can "talk" to any industry standard camera so you aren't locked into a proprietary brand. BI also easily integrates to free AI add ons that help to prevent false positives. BI can be purchased at a discount from ipcamtalk and they have a terrific wiki to show you how to identify and locate inexpensive computers that will support it. It also integrated to other systems like Home Assistant which can send alerts to your cell phone.
   
   
3. Run you cameras from a PoE switch that does not connect to the rest of your network, ET phone home cameras are now isolated from China. Your BI computer is dual homed to your home network and the PoE switch so the cameras can access it, and you can access the camera display web page from any computer on your network.
   
   
4. This setup will likely cost more than an "all in one" security camera system but is more secure, has better features like AI and Home Assistant integration. It's also WAY more expandable and can manage dozens of cameras if needed and your hardware is powerful enough.

In addition to ipcamtalk chack out "The Hookup" on YouTube he does a LOT of security camera videos and I used his AI installation guide to set up my Blue Iris system
https://www.youtube.com/c/TheHookUp

 

Ours is a home built unit I guess you'd say. I can view multi screen or select a certain camera. Everything is backed to a CD/DVD for a certain number of days. We don't use wireless cameras nor is anything connected to the innerwebs. I use high end trail cams throughout the property for extended areas. While the cameras have IR, we have flood lights that are on as well as several really good solar flood lights that are set up for motion detection in the outer area, so the house cameras give good images all the way out the drive.

 

I recommend Solar powered motion lights, a roving rottweiler and japanese barberry.
solar power will illuminate victim, romping rottweiler will either capture victim or run them into the thorny barberry.
either way, they will not be back. Oh and if they do come back the Lymes disease from the deer ticks should slow them down enough for the rotty to have a chew.

 

Being that China has infiltrated all of these cameras, maybe a home built unit is the way to go. I guess I could get a cheap old school Lenovo laptop or something and a bunch of cameras and wire them throughout the house. Just need a lot of long wire.

Is there a certain software that you use to see multiple camera screens?

Is there a certain type of camera that you use? Not sure if those cameras could be compromised as well. I guess if it's wired, and the laptop doesn't have an internet connection, there's no way that they could hack it.

I like backing stuff up to CD/DVD for a couple of days. Not sure how you go about doing that.

 

You have to run Torch and see the ports they call home on and close the ports. They don't even try to hide it, the IPs they use are in China, so an easy find.
I have BlueIris and also an all in one chinese box. BlueIris is very CPU dependent and the FPS has to be low if you are running multiple cams. The chinese 8 channel box has a TB drive and a main board the size of a deck of cards and does full 30 fps on my 6 cams without breaking a sweat. BlueIris is a much better program for ease of use and has a great GUI, but more and more I'm relying on the chinese box because I get much more resolution and a better frame rate.

 

How is something like Simply Safe?

 

Reason number 1 all wifi camera/security systems suck:


Reason number 2:


It also exposes your network to intrusion either via "ET Phone Home" from the device to the manufacturer, or the device itself is easily exploited.

 

It's definitely a good idea to think about home security, and a multi-camera system can be a great way to keep an eye on multiple rooms at once. While I don't have any personal experience with these types of systems, I'm sure there are plenty of products on the market to choose from. It might be worth doing some research and reading reviews from other homeowners who have installed similar systems. Also, keep in mind that a physical security system with a human element, like a security guard from a company such as Telohranitel, can also be a valuable addition to any home security plan. Here's a link to their website if you're interested: https://ohholding.com.ua/en/fizicheskaya-okhrana/telohranitel

 

@SelioDarvin Please introduce yourself in the New Member Introductions | Survival Monkey Forums thread.
Welcome aboard

 

The hard wired cameras glow in the dark looking at them with thermals.
The battery powered ones, not so much.
There you have it.