Building home security setup

[copenhagen69]

I am going to be using 2-4 cameras and am pretty sure I am going with these:
LaView Premium IP LV-PD50208 2.8mm 1080P Indoor/ Outdoor Vandalproof Dome Network IP Camera (2-pack)

I already have a home server for media and all that, so my plan it to use a USB external hard drive for it ... if possible. Is it? If not, I will grab a cheap TB drive or a cheap SSD to solely handle the cameras.

My home server specs are:

• Intel Xeon E3-1225 v3 3.2GHz CPU
• 24GB DDR3 Memory
• 500GB 7200RPM HDD (OS DRIVE)
• 8TB Raid5 Storage (for all my media)
• DVD-ROM
• 280W Fixed PSU

Mainly I will view on my phone and hardly ever on the server. I do want to have the ability to store images/vids of anyone who actually comes in view of camera like the front door or back yard and driveway.

Anyone have these setups on their house?

 

[cadaveca]

I have an 8-channel 2TB NV LaView setup. They have pretty good support. Unit came with the controller, so I can't help you on setting up your own device; I can just say I am happy with the purchase.

 

[copenhagen69]

I have an 8-channel 2TB NV LaView setup. They have pretty good support. Unit came with the controller, so I can't help you on setting up your own device; I can just say I am happy with the purchase.

did you buy one of their NVRs or setup your own?

How is their app?

 

[cadaveca]

It's OK, does what I want. It could probably be better. I'm sure you can find a demo of it on YouTube so you know exactly what you are getting into. I did some business installs with this equipment at the purchaser's request, saw it useful for my home, and plopped down the cash, and haven't looked back. I think the NV could be a bit better on the cameras, as it barely reaches my sidewalk, and there's not much else I can say. Well, I can say that having the system got me a cheaper rate on my home insurance, but that might be something my provider gives only, not sure.

 

[Caring1]

If using your home computer, get a decent drive, probably WD Red, mounted internally or in an external drive.
Those things rewrite often unless they are huge.
There's plenty of free monitoring software available, you only need the cameras connected and detected.

 

[Solaris17]

you could spring for legit surveillance drives. They make purples specifically for security setups.

 

[copenhagen69]

It's OK, does what I want. It could probably be better. I'm sure you can find a demo of it on YouTube so you know exactly what you are getting into. I did some business installs with this equipment at the purchaser's request, saw it useful for my home, and plopped down the cash, and haven't looked back. I think the NV could be a bit better on the cameras, as it barely reaches my sidewalk, and there's not much else I can say. Well, I can say that having the system got me a cheaper rate on my home insurance, but that might be something my provider gives only, not sure.

Thanks for the info ... I think I will attach it to my server and have it on its own drive.

If using your home computer, get a decent drive, probably WD Red, mounted internally or in an external drive.
Those things rewrite often unless they are huge.
There's plenty of free monitoring software available, you only need the cameras connected and detected.

you could spring for legit surveillance drives. They make purples specifically for security setups.

Ya I was planning on getting a 1TB purple drive just for this on the server. or if I could connect a USB drive to it I will do it that way.

 

[Solaris17]

USB might be a good option, I just dont know what the setup would be like the only thing I would worry about via USB is the throughput speed might suffer. Which might cause issues recording and probably playing back video might take a bit to buffer.

 

[copenhagen69]

USB might be a good option, I just dont know what the setup would be like the only thing I would worry about via USB is the throughput speed might suffer. Which might cause issues recording and probably playing back video might take a bit to buffer.

Ya I was curious about that, but if I am only doing motion sense for maybe like 30 seconds or so at a time and not full 24/7. would it be a big issue?

 

[Solaris17]

Ya I was curious about that, but if I am only doing motion sense for maybe like 30 seconds or so at a time and not full 24/7. would it be a big issue?

Actually I think burst speed is what USB suffers at the most, I dont know 100% though if it would effect your scenario. I haven't actually ran any of my cam systems off USB.

 

[taz420nj]

I would never use USB for surveillance drives, but bandwidth wouldn't be the reason. A single 3MP IP cam running at 30fps uses about 15Mbps. USB 2.0's real-world sustained write speed is about 90Mbps, so you can theoretically put 5-6 cameras on it. I'd be more concerned about the drive getting unplugged/bumped/losing power/etc. And Purple FTW. They are optimized for the constant writing they will be doing on a surveillance system.

And as far as the cameras go, LaView is a rebranded Hikvision cam. They're good quality, but the rebrands like LaView, Swann, LTS, Orange, etc all have horrible support. You're usually stuck with whatever firmware they come with, bugs and all because the official Hikvision firmware won't work on them. It's better to just get the real deal Hikvision cams (just be careful of ebay sales, they sometimes have "international" or "multi-language" firmware. Look for US firmware)

 

[stinger608]

Dang, I have 6 camera's and the box...........The box is pretty damn slow though and was thinking of running it through a server as well. Like you @copenhagen69 , I'm wondering if my 15K server drives will do the trick, or do I need to purchase some kind of other dang drive?

here's plenty of free monitoring software available

Any suggestions on a good free/cheap monitoring software?

 

[Caring1]

Any suggestions on a good free/cheap monitoring software?

This one is web based and works, although you do have to be online.
https://www.ispyconnect.com/download.aspx
It's been a few years since I had cams set up and it seems most of the free stuff has been removed from online, Aver used to be alright but not sure if it's free now.