Home security camera system discussion

[kirock7]

Nice system kirock7. I have a 2 1/2 story and running the cables was just not possible on the inside of the walls, so this system was the next best thing. I saw in the other thread about how people automatically suspect you installed cameras for cop watching or something illegal, I get the same treatment. I just tell them to call police and tell them your truck was broken into, they'll send someone to fill out a report, no fingerprints, no other effort. But tell them you have video, they get real interested real fast. I also have a great watchdog and the best alarm system I could find. And I have agreements with my neighbors, lethal force is permitted for protection of property, and we keep each other informed as to contractors and other non resident activity.

After working in TV/Video for over 32 years, this kind of setup was a no-brainer for me... and anyone who thinks badly of having security is a curmudgeon who is stuck in the past.
I have enough high tech and expensive gear for my home biz that I'll be danged if I'm worried about some low-brow making comments about "something illegal"... and I'll be doubly danged if I'm going to let my weapons be stolen without some way of attempting to help bring the perps to justice.
Believe it or not, I actually heard the head of the policeman's union in Houston say (in a news report a week or so ago) that "anyone with a camera surveillance system" was obviously doing something illegal. What an idiot! (The person he was referring to actually was a BG, but dig this... he had only one camera installed. Sheesh!)

Edit: BTW if anyone is interested I have a barely used four camera Geovision GV-600 PCI card for sale (BNC type - NO CAMERAS INCLUDED). Box, software, manual and cables) FTF to a CHL $150 or best offer. It does 30FPS but that's with only one camera of course since the frame rate is shared between cameras (the reason I upgraded).
I bought all four cameras from EPO http://www.epohouston.com/ on Fondren in Houston. The front door camera is a mini (lens on a circuit board) that I mounted in a small enclosure I found online and the other three are generic Sony 1/3" CCD's with infrared LEDs and 3.6 mm lens (made in Taiwan).

[tarkus]

Believe it or not, I actually heard the head of the policeman's union in Houston say (in a news report a week or so ago) that "anyone with a camera surveillance system" was obviously doing something illegal.

Maybe he was talking about video cameras in patrol cars.

[AggieC05]

I am looking at putting something small in at the condo I rent. I can't get in any attic space or ceiling space, but am not afraid of running cable under baseboards. I think for the moment I want to cover my front porch and back porch. Any ideas on a system on the cheap. I read the previous posts, but seems like direction on the software not much else. Anybody ever looked at any of the cameras at deal extreme? http://www.dealextrem.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Tireshred]

I've bought a lot of electroincs from DealExtreme and it's a hit or miss if they work, but their return program usually works. I still love my Wilife, not cheap ($250 for each camera), but very easy to install and reliable. Go to the Wilife website and look at the videos people send in, some amazing things.