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View Full Version : going to build a home video security system on the cheap.



phyzik
09-06-2010, 08:44 PM
So, its been over 15 years since my house has been broken into.... The thing is, yesterday my neighbor came over and said their house had been ransacked that afternoon, right around 3pm....

They had left the house around 2:30pm and came back around 4pm...

The scary thing was that we where home and didnt hear or see a thing. We have reason to believe it was the guys that live on the other side of my neighbors house but we have no proof except that the wooden fence between that house and our neighbors has 3 boards kicked in from their side. Trust me, I approached them asking if they saw anything and "casually" mentioned that someone is at my place almost all hours of the day and anyone that managed to get passed the dog would find nothing but a shotgun shell to the face. (there is someone at the house almost all hours of the day since we have roommates).

I already have an actual alarm system but I want something extra in case we all take off for vacation or some shit like that.... Im going to build a video security system.

So, Im trying to decide what system Im going to use.... So far, Im thinking about Logitechs Alert™ 750i Master System.... but thats subject to change...

Anyway, I have several computers laying around that can be repurposed for this task and have several 2TB drives that can be used for recording... The connundrum is where to hide the system... It would be pointless to have a system like this if they steal the system as well as everything else.... So Im trying to think of a good place to hide it.

I've been thinking of sticking it up in the crawl space (its literally a crawl space, you have to crawl on your belly to access it) and access it via VNC (no monitor up there obviously) whenever necessary but Im woried about cooling, dust and the occasional rodent....

Do any of you guys know of a computer case that would be up to the task or maybe even a "covert" computer case disguised as something else that wouldnt be stolen, like an 8-track player or an old VCR? Something like that.....

PM5K
09-06-2010, 08:54 PM
You don't need to hide it, lol.

Frenzy
09-06-2010, 09:40 PM
How about having the recordings stored online.

phyzik
09-06-2010, 10:59 PM
You don't need to hide it, lol.

True, the camera's would probably deter them before they do anything, still.... the computers I have "laying around" aren't exactly junkers. Im talking 2 Dell Optiplex 960's that are maybe 2 years old as well as 3 Dell Precision T5500 workstations that where used by engineers not 9 monts ago.

I've said in previous posts, I work at Southwest Research Institute.... There are LOTS of government paid contracts. these engineers using AutoCAD, Autodesk, Pro/E and MathCAD go through these things almost monthly... They always want the bleeding edge. We sit on these types of computers for months and they almost never repurpose them.

Having said that, I keep them in my possession just in case they ever do want them back... so no, none of you can have one. :lol

Still, they are worth some money, especially the T5500 workstations that have Nvida Quadro FX 4800 cards that are worth at least $1500 a piece (go ahead and check on newegg)... Im talking the video card alone BTW.

P.S. Just an FYI before people start getting up in arms.... the contracts are government, yes, but the company itself pays for the computers.... Its not a division of the government.

phyzik
09-06-2010, 11:02 PM
How about having the recordings stored online.

As far as storing online, I'd want something reliable and trustfull that I know wont go down. The only source I could trust to use would be through my companies VPN to our shared network drives.... which wouldnt be a problem.... except that our VPN agent times out after 8 hours and requires a manual logon after each disconnect.

PM5K
09-07-2010, 02:52 AM
I just don't understand why you don't need to secure those systems now, but why you will in the future?