newbie looking for some advice

[breadshop]

I'm really hoping that "Cameraman" will respond here, since it seems he is a god here after all :) But I would love to hear from anyone who has experience or knowledge of the products below.

So, on with the show......... I am setting up for the first time a surveillance system in a garaged parking lot.

My goals with the project are:

decent quality images.... can make out faces, possibly even license plates.
remotely manageable / pc free
equipment should take as little space as possible
easy web access for the big boss

So.... here is what I am thinking about buying...

1 NVR qnap nvr-104p- http://www.qnap.com/pro_detail_feature.asp?p_id=114
4 ACTi cameras ACTi ACM-1231- http://www.a1securitycameras.com/ACTi-ACM-1231.html

We will have about 2megabits/s up speed available. What do you guys think about my plan? Am I at least on the right track to getting some decent images that are remotely manageable?

Got any suggestions for me?

Thanks for all the help guys! Looking forward to talking to the members on these boards.

Best,

Bob

[CameraMan]

1) There's no way in hell those cameras will give you license plate numbers, even from stationary vehicles.

2) More about the location: is the garage exposed to the elements? If so, what are those elements (ie what's your usual temperature and weather conditions)?

3) How about lighting?

4) How high are you mounting the cameras? How large of an area will each camera have to cover?

5) What is the distance from camera to switch?

6) How big is the garage? How many cars? How many floors?

7) Public access or private access?

[breadshop]

1) There's no way in hell those cameras will give you license plate numbers, even from stationary vehicles.

(Damn it!!!!) I thought 1.6 Megapixel would be good up to 10 meters!! I knew this **** seemed too simple. Got any suggestions

2) More about the location: is the garage exposed to the elements? If so, what are those elements (ie what's your usual temperature and weather conditions)?

The garage is indoors. No harsh elements. It will not freeze. Maybe gets as low as 5c. I am in a milder part of Sweden. We rarely get over 25c in the summer.

3) How about lighting?

Lighting is not tooooo bad. The lights go on as soon as it is dark. In the summer time, they are almost never on :) In the winter, on almost all the time :( I would say middle maybe middle to low lighting.

4) How high are you mounting the cameras?How large of an area will each camera have to cover?

I think we would mount the cameras about 3-4 meters from the ground. We have EXTREMELY high ceilings. Got a rule of thumb? we would love to cover the entrance closely which is about 15 feet wide where cars drive in and people enter through a "person" door which is cut in the "car" garage door. If we could get those coming in the door closely, and blanket the rest of the garage, I think we could have some useful footage.

5) What is the distance from camera to switch?

By Switch, you mean NVR? If so, maximum of 120 feet

6) How big is the garage? How many cars? How many floors?

The garage is two floors, with 1 garage door entrance. On foot or by car, there is one way in and one way out, Closed by a metal door. (pretty serious fire hazard, I know. We are working on that.) Maybe 50 cars total that all pay monthly for their specific parking spot.

7) Public access or private access?

Private access. If you are asking for legal reasons, I live in Sweden so Laws are quite different and so is the penalty! We don't have the large court settlements as the US does.


THANKS CAMERAMAN!!!! Appreciate your thoughts!

Bob

[CameraMan]

Okay. Do you think you will need vandal resistant cameras, or do you feel okay with cameras that aren't vandal resistant? If you had low ceilings or public access, I would only recommend vandal resistant cameras, but if you aren't worried about 1) high vehicles smashing the cameras, 2) vandals smashing the camera, or 3) moisture and humidity, then you can save lots of money by not purchasing cameras in weatherproof, vandal resistant cameras.

[breadshop]

Hey Cameraman.....

We are not extremely concerned with vandals smashing the cameras at this point. Some pretty low level criminals here. Smashing windows for bags that lay on a seat late at night. Homeless people getting in and making beds under the ramp etc. Small time. My boss is probably more concerned with people parking in his spot! I think 4 meters from the ground will be sufficient. We have some pretty valuable speakers at about the same height that have never been stolen.

Also, I think we can slide by on using an indoor camera. It really is pretty sheltered from environmental factors.

I guess lighting might be something more to consider! It is definitely NOT a brightly lit office or anything!

Our first priority is a more secure door, we are doing this now. Secondly, the big man wants "a quality surveillance system, something with useful images, easy to install and not too high end...a.k.a. Cheap"..... Pfffttt... Thanks boss! Kinda sounds like mission impossible to me!!!

[breadshop]

oh yeah.... And it can't take up any space!!! No desk or office available. Planning on putting the NVR in a small utility room with no monitor. Everything will be managed remotely.

[CameraMan]

Okay. Stick with the Qnap 104P- good choice, there- but change the cameras.

The camera facing the garage entrance needs to be WDR (wide dynamic range), or it will be blinded every time the door opens (read my explanation of WDR in this thread (http://forums.securityinfowatch.com/showthread.php?t=8409&highlight=wide+dynamic+range)). I recommend either the Panasonic WV-SF336 or the Vivotek IP7142, the cheapest WDR cameras that aren't horrible. the even have a small chance of catching license plates.

For the interior cameras, I would recommend the Axis M1113. They could probably catch license plate numbers if you get a clear, head-on shot.

Both these cameras are cheaper and far better than the ACM-1231.

Make sure you use a PoE switch, which is slightly more expensive but saves you a LOT of money on labor costs during the installation.

The entire job, including installation, should be in the neighborhood of $3000 USD... is that cheap enough?

[breadshop]

Thanks for the thread about WDR. Totally makes sense.

That was right where my ballpark number was!!! I appreciate your time and responses!!

You think 2Mb/s up can handle this traffic?

Bob

[CameraMan]

You think 2Mb/s up can handle this traffic?

Oh, absolutely.

[breadshop]

Thanks Cameraman!!! You have really helped me out!!! Hope you have a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!

Bob

[CameraMan]

Thanks Cameraman!!! You have really helped me out!!! Hope you have a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!

Bob

And to you and yours.

[SecTrainer]

And let it never be said that all the Internet is good for is serving up p0rn! (Although, come to think of it, I have NO idea what CameraMan has on his Facebook page! :eek::p)

[CameraMan]

(Although, come to think of it, I have NO idea what CameraMan has on his Facebook page! :eek::p)

Let's just say that, even for the Internet, it's pretty shocking.

[SecTrainer]

Let's just say that, even for the Internet, it's pretty shocking.

Somehow, I knew that - which is why I never dared to look. :rolleyes:

Good job on the newbie's question, CM!!