Fake Rock Thread!

[TheWaterbug]

I was going to post this in another thread, but IMNSHO this deserves its own thread. I need a fake rock for hiding a POE-powered-POE switch and perhaps a bunch of other adapters, cables, etc. out by my mailbox, and I am stunned at the price of these. The cheapest at Home Depot is $46, and that same rock at Lowe's is $39, but Lowe's might not have free ship-to-store.



Anyone find a better source for a good fake rock?

 

[looney2ns]

That's not a bad price. One that holds up won't be cheap.

 

[Mike A.]

Yeah, that's not bad as things go. They can get a lot more expensive. At least for ones that look decent. I used a couple long ago to hide things for a pond that I have but they weren't all that great. Looked kind of obviously fake next to real rocks. Probably better now but I'd still want to see what they looked like first.

 

[TheWaterbug]

The cheapest at Home Depot is $46, and that same rock at Lowe's is $39, but Lowe's might not have free ship-to-store.

Home Depot is now offering free ship-to-home, so I ordered one. Arrives in 9 days.

 

[Mike A.]

Curious to see what it looks like. Good idea for a camera hide.

 

[Mark_M]

Could I suggest searching eBay for used 'Rock Speakers' and gutting them out?

 

[TheWaterbug]

Not a bad idea! But I don't need more than one, and they typically come in pairs

 

[Mark_M]

Not a bad idea! But I don't need more than one, and they typically come in pairs

Two that's cheaper than one is a great deal...
Otherwise you've got one as a spare for when you break the first one .

 

[Mark_M]

but they weren't all that great. Looked kind of obviously fake next to real rocks.

But I don't need more than one.

Having many fake rocks might help to 'add' to the illusion.

In fact, you could use one of the rock speakers as a speaker! Now Blue Iris could play audio files out a speaker upon events.

 

[Mike A.]

That's a good idea. I started to say check Amazon Warehouse. They used to always have some of those rock speakers real cheap and you don't really care if they work. Think I paid like $5 for the set I got once. But the least expensive that I see now is $39. I'm going to have to watch those again with use for a cam in mind. They definitely don't look real but good enough for where I want to put one.

 

[TheWaterbug]

My fake rock has arrived! Yeah, it's sturdier than I would have guessed based on the photos, which is probably why it's $50. I stood on it (235#), and it felt fine. Here's a photo of it from my tiny new little Revotech camera that I might use to detect mailbox-opening:



There's plenty of room inside for me to cover whatever network stuff I want to stuff in there, and there's enough space around my mailbox post for it to fit.

 

[Mark_M]

My fake rock has arrived! Yeah, it's sturdier than I would have guessed based on the photos, which is probably why it's $50. I stood on it (235#), and it felt fine. Here's a photo of it from my tiny new little Revotech camera that I might use to detect mailbox-opening:

View attachment 115997

There's plenty of room inside for me to cover whatever network stuff I want to stuff in there, and there's enough space around my mailbox post for it to fit.

Ah, those mini cameras look familiar...
I got one for a birdhouse.

Is that a 1.8mm lens (180 fisheye?). 16:9 video output for a square image (round lol) is a bit weird...?

 

[TheWaterbug]

It's the "1.44mm fisheye 180°" lens, but let's keep the camera conversation on my other thread, and keep this one about rocks.

 

[TheWaterbug]

Here’s where it will live, once I get the conduit and cabling in place.

 

[Mike A.]

What all is going in it?

 

[TheWaterbug]

At least a small POE-powered POE switch, and maybe a POE extractor, 12V splitter, and a Shelly module, if my tiny camera idea doesn’t work.

 

[prsmith777]

On my down the road to do list is putting in a pair of LPR cams down by the street. I have no other option but to put them down there as the house is too far away from the street.

My plan has always been to put them in a fake rock so as to not attract attention and avoid theft/vandalism. I will need a larger rock to accomodate both cams.

I did find DekoRRa when searching for fake rocks. They have tons of options but their prices are higher than other. Lowes has a few on their website.

DekoRRa

 

[Mike A.]

Those things get real pricey. Over $100 for most.

 

[KenAllen15]

View attachment 116362
Here’s where it will live, once I get the conduit and cabling in place.

I know you said it's not a final install, but definitely bury the edges better, it looks super obviously fake to me there.

 

[Flintstone61]

Rub some dirt on it. Maybe in time, a little moss will start growing on it.