Advice wanted - planning 1st install

D

dstopp

n3wb
Jul 13, 2017
9
2
First timer here and first post. I have been spending hours and hours reading and researching. Trying to select locations and camera's and looking for advice.

I am planning to spend around $1,500 including cabling, poe switches, and NVR. Generally speaking I don't want the cameras to stand out. I am thinking of using domes (small ones) but open to a small bullet style in locations that don't stand out. I was thinking of using cameras with black housings that have the vandal proof domes just so they don't look like as much like a camera from the sidewalk/street and people can't tell where they are pointing.

Google view of house


1st camera
Pic of driveway and front of garage, thinking of mounting a camera under the eave (like ceiling mount) at the peak pointing down looking out at the driveway (inside white box). Gives fixed view of driveway and mailbox (which is to the left of the white car as you are looking at it). Want to capture the driveway, mailbox, and person walking to front door (to the right). Considering Hikvision 2 MP Vandal-Resistant Network Dome Camera DS-2CD2122FWD-ISB using the 2.8mm lens (106 degree FOV). Any comments/suggestions on mounting location, camera selection, or limitation of field of view?


2nd camera (and 3rd camera)
Pic of walkway from driveway to front door. Considering Dahua 2MP 25x Starlight PTZ Network Camera SD52C225U-HNI under the eave in white box on the right near the front door. This has best view of the entire front yard and camera has autotracking functionality to get good face recognition of anyone coming to the front door from any direction. This is a very difficult installation as there is no good way to run the cable into the attic above the garage from this location. Since it wouldn't have a view of the actual front door I am considering installing another Thinking of another Hikvision 2 MP Vandal-Resistant Network Dome Camera DS-2CD2122FWD-ISB using 4mm lens (86 degree FOV) in the white box on the left pointing toward the front door, it would a good view of the front door and face of anyone leaving. Concern at dusk/night may be porch lights that are on both sides of the front door. An alternative approach would be to install the PTZ in this location rather than closer to the front door. The downside is the gutter downspout would block a portion of the view. Not sure if the autotracking would pick up somone walking from one side to the other. Any comments/suggestions on mounting location, camera selection, or limitation of field of view for this area?


Panoramic view from where the PTZ would actually be installed is below.


4th camera
Pic of the side yard that has North exposure. We are a corner lot, so this side faces the street. Thinking of mounting a camera like a ceiling mount under the eave (inside the white box). Want to have a view of the side yard and will have the only window in view. Plan to install another Hikvision 2 MP Vandal-Resistant Network Dome Camera DS-2CD2122FWD-ISB using the 2.8mm lens (106 degree FOV). Any comments/suggestions on mounting location, camera selection, or limitation of field of view?


5th camera
Pic of the back yard that has West exposure. Thinking of mounting a camera like a ceiling mount under the eave (inside the white box). Want to have a view of the back yard, deck, and all the windows and sliding door. Plan to install another Hikvision 2 MP Vandal-Resistant Network Dome Camera DS-2CD2122FWD-ISB using the 2.8mm lens (106 degree FOV). Any comments/suggestions on mounting location, camera selection, or limitation of field of view?


6th camera
Pic of the side yard that has South exposure. Thinking of mounting a camera like a ceiling mount under the eave (inside the white box) pointing to the back yard. Want to have a view of the side yard, walkway, the side door, and the trash cans (for fun if we have critters). Plan to install another Hikvision 2 MP Vandal-Resistant Network Dome Camera DS-2CD2122FWD-ISB using the 6mm lens (52 degree FOV). Any comments/suggestions on mounting location, camera selection, or limitation of field of view?
 
Domes have issue's outdoors, especially as they age. Reflections, water spots. Typically should be avoided outdoors.

You want to know who did it, not just what happened. Cams mounted higher than 8ft will only see tops of heads.

Cam at front door needs to be above front door, or just to the side, if you want a chance in the world of an ID.

2.8mm, other than at the front door, is almost useless for IDing purposes' outdoors.

This cam kills all the others at night time. Dahua Starlight Varifocal Turret (IPC-HDW5231R-Z)

Also see here: Dahua 2MP Starlight Lineup

Use this to decide on locations and ID'ing ability: Camera Calculator / Design Software keep PFF>100

Who cares if they see your cams or where they are pointing. Most people will never notice them.

You do realize the PTZ you have chosen is fairly BIG. Properly mounted and aimed fix cams will do much better.
 
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Thanks Loony2ns for your comments. Only reason I care if others see the cameras is because wifey doesn't want them being very noticeable. Happy wife, happy life!

So for the side and back yards is it practical to mount the camera's on side of the house and aim them along the side? Will this get good id between 12 feet and 40 feet away?

What do you think about alternative placement locations below for the side and back yard if I use the . Dahua Starlight Varifocal Turret (IPC-HDW5231R-Z)


 
"Only reason I care if others see the cameras is because wifey doesn't want them being very noticeable."

Use a spray can primer and then paint with color that matches the location and the cameras should blend in well to the house.
 
dstopp said:
I am planning to spend around $1,500 including cabling, poe switches, and NVR. Generally speaking I don't want the cameras to stand out. I am thinking of using domes (small ones) but open to a small bullet style in locations that don't stand out. I was thinking of using cameras with black housings that have the vandal proof domes just so they don't look like as much like a camera from the sidewalk/street and people can't tell where they are pointing.
Click to expand...
Use turrets like this Dahua Starlight Varifocal Turret (IPC-HDW5231R-Z) not domes.
Generally you don't want to mount your cams to high and a narrower field of view is more useful than trying to capture everything.

Here's an image of where I might put cameras:
dst.png
It's hard to cover a driveway with just 1 camera, but tree on the right makes it hard to get overlapping coverage unless you take off that lowest branch. If you do a single camera it would be better if it's lower. I put 3 dots on there, but I'd only use 1-2 cameras for your driveway.

By the front door I'd use a wedge style mini dome or a turret, centered right above the door or off to the left side. Search Results for Query: IPC-HDBW4231F-AS | IP Cam Talk
IPC-HDBW4231F-AS | Dahua Technology - Dahua Technology
To the right of the font door, you could put a camera where you marked it or closer to the wall of the house angled to the right or to the right of and in front of the brick arch (green dot).

For the side yard I'd probably put the cam somewhere between the chimney and door angled towards the street.

For yard coverage I'd say it depends on your objectives. It's safe to assume you'd like to cover entry points but if you want to keep an eye on kids playing in the yard a PTZ could make sense.

Test camera locations before you commit, mount it to a 2x4 or do something similar. Take it slow, you don't need to buy and install everything all at once. Keep walls out of the frame whenever you can, or you'll get a lot of IR reflection.
 
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Thanks a lot tangent. Those are some really good comments. My primary objective is to cover all entry points. I purchased a IPC-HDW5231R-Z and have been playing with it and testing it out over the past week or so by putting it on an attachment to a 2nd story window washing pole. It works great and has really helped in deciding locations. Overall driveway coverage is pretty good with one camera on the left side where you have the red dot.

For the side yard between the houses, rather than putting one between the door and chimney I decided (to make routing the cable easier) to put one in the same spot as the driveway camera but pointing back facing the opposite direction. The suggestion ofIPC-HDBW4231F-AS for the front door is a great idea.
 
dstopp said:
Thanks a lot tangent. Those are some really good comments. My primary objective is to cover all entry points. I purchased a IPC-HDW5231R-Z and have been playing with it and testing it out over the past week or so by putting it on an attachment to a 2nd story window washing pole. It works great and has really helped in deciding locations. Overall driveway coverage is pretty good with one camera on the left side where you have the red dot.

For the side yard between the houses, rather than putting one between the door and chimney I decided (to make routing the cable easier) to put one in the same spot as the driveway camera but pointing back facing the opposite direction. The suggestion ofIPC-HDBW4231F-AS for the front door is a great idea.
Click to expand...
I have that Same Dahua Camera For $109 and its 4MP!!!!!
 
Frank Barajas said:
I have that Same Dahua Camera For $109 and its 4MP!!!!!
Click to expand...

Please do feel free to post the model number.

note: if it is 4MP it is not the same camera, as the ones mentioned are Dahua Starlight cameras which are well regarded here for their night time performance.
 
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mat200 said:
Please do feel free to post the model number.

note: if it is 4MP it is not the same camera, as the ones mentioned are Dahua Starlight cameras which are well regarded here for their night time performance.
Click to expand...
The Dahua is OEM - ill post the Actual CAmera tomorrow
 

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dstopp said:
Thanks a lot tangent. Those are some really good comments. My primary objective is to cover all entry points. I purchased a IPC-HDW5231R-Z and have been playing with it and testing it out over the past week or so by putting it on an attachment to a 2nd story window washing pole. It works great and has really helped in deciding locations. Overall driveway coverage is pretty good with one camera on the left side where you have the red dot.

For the side yard between the houses, rather than putting one between the door and chimney I decided (to make routing the cable easier) to put one in the same spot as the driveway camera but pointing back facing the opposite direction. The suggestion ofIPC-HDBW4231F-AS for the front door is a great idea.
Click to expand...
The backyard / zombie cam(s) look like installing them low would be more challenging than most locations. Is the awning fixed or retractable? I'd save those locations for last, a PTZ is also a possibility.

On second thought, I think a second cam in front of the arch by the front door to the left would be better than one closer to the window. Tough call, looking at the actual cams is always more useful. If you want more advice, you could post screen caps from your test rig.

On the side yard your location may cover more of that side but I think someone's more likely to notice and evade the camera if their approach isn't covered.
 
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Hey @dstopp how is your install going? I am debating on some 6mm on the side of my house and wanted to know how that is going/ looks like

@tangent what software did you use to draw the camera coverage above in teal/ yellow?
 
bmwproboi05 said:
@tangent what software did you use to draw the camera coverage above in teal/ yellow?
Click to expand...
I just did it in GIMP a free image editor similar to photoshop. I made a few wedges in a CAD program at angles that corresponded to the FOV of some common fixed lenses / cameras exported as svg and pulled it into GIMP and filled them with color.

To make the image I just copy a "camera" and paste it in the document with the satellite or blueprint view as a new layer. Then I move, scale, and rotate as needed. Adjust layer opacity as I see fit and change the colors of the cameras if needed. rinse and repeat. Having the wedges prepared, it probably took 5 minutes to make that image.

I'm attaching a couple .psd photoshop files, one with the wedges and the other is an image like this that I made a while ago for someone else here. I've posted this before in .xcf format but psd will be a little more familiar and compatible with a few more programs.
 

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