Security Cameras

[Amo]

For those who have them on their farm, ranch, or business what do you have?  Been looking into them a little bit.  Honestly, I don't think I've had much of a problem other than gas theft 20 some years ago.  I put water in that barrel hoping to figure out who it was, but once the barrel was empty evidently they never came back.  So it's not a necessity but sometimes it's a necessity after something is gone.

Visited with a couple of vendors at farm shows.  They're going to work up some quotes for me.  Basically their cameras are $100-200.  The hardware to keep the recorded video, and installation.  With a couple of cameras, roughly $1000-1500.  Those types you can set up recognize your dog and not send you a notification that fido walked by.  Also fairly decent chances of having procutable video.  If you have it on tape, but it doesn't stand up in court it doesn't do you any good.  

Stopped at Scheels to today and looked at what they had.  They had security cameras , not just game cameras.  Camera prices were basically the same, but not as good of quality construction I felt.  Picture quality I somewhat question.  Without being side by side, it's hard to tell.  Subscription and the under $20 a month you got like 5 pictures a month, and you can't eliminate recognizing fido.  I don't want 5 pictures of fido and unlimited was like $175 a month.  The more expensive has tech support to help you set up person recognization, or anything else.  Not sure about the Scheels stuff.  I think Scheels option would be fine for say a calving camera scenario.  Not sure about security.  Especially if I'm not around and want notified that someone is on the place.  It'd probably work just fine to review if you go or broke into 

What are you using?  What did you try and didn't work?  Like I said, I feel very safe where I'm at.  Just don't want to be wishing that I should have had it and didn't. I don't like paying more than I need to, but you also get what you pay for.  TIA!

 

 

[iowaboy1965]

Sounds like you could be spending a lot of money for a what if scenario that has never happened but maybe once in 20 years. Some say even with video or pics law enforcement still won't do anything. I don't know. Guy I carpool with has 2 in his shop, one points at the front of the house and one at the back. They also have one or more at their cabin in Minnesota.  They can pan the view around and watch it snow live. I believe they bought them online and didn't spend anywhere near $1000. He is tighter than bark on a tree. If I remember I will ask him.

[AKwelder]

I use Reolink at the house and the shop. Mine are wired but they have WiFi versions.  Then need to set them up yourself but it isn’t to bad. There is no subscription fee.

[MTB98]

The odds are very low of getting video good enough to prosecute anyone. Odds go up if you can get a license plate of a vehicle. Cameras may act as a deterrent but I wouldn’t count on them to prevent any theft. 

[Lazy WP]

We have several Blink cameras. Very good quality pictures and instant notification if they are tripped. Cost from $40 on up. You do need WiFi though. The range is pretty decent. Maybe a couple hundred yards from the module. 

[Drysleeves]

Installed a Lorex system. Has movement initiated cameras and a DVR that self erases as data accumulates and memory gets full. WIFI capable and I once used it to download a memory stick of an "event" for the Sheriff.

[TroyDairy]

1. You get what you pay for.

2. Its nice and nay sayers be danged.  The sheriff has said cameras and lights with a dog stop 90% of property crime.  Lights lights lights.  They are normally crimes of opportunity.  See a camera they skip, hear a dog the run etc.

3. You get what you pay for...

4. Wired sure is better results for us.  Longer to put in but imho much more reliabe.

5. Costco, lorax brand kits are 100% the #1 in my area.  Professional types even buy them there and install for folks.  Got some around barn and parlor etc for about 7 years.  0 issues, pretty easy system to understand.  Dvr system.  I cant understand why youd pay a subscription in 2025.!

6. If nothing else you get a pic of the car/guy and can tool around your own neighborhood and find them and have a chat.  Warn others with detail on social of "this truck" has helped our neighborhood it seems.  

I'd recommend lorax again.

[TroyDairy]

1 hour ago, MTB98 said:

The odds are very low of getting video good enough to prosecute anyone. Odds go up if you can get a license plate of a vehicle. Cameras may act as a deterrent but I wouldn’t count on them to prevent any theft. 

LE and BP agents here will not agree.  You havnt seen newer cameras.  My lorax can identify car, plate and normally individual enough i know/dont know and can warn neighbors about

[MTB98]

6 minutes ago, TroyDairy said:

LE and BP agents here will not agree.  You havnt seen newer cameras.  My lorax can identify car, plate and normally individual enough i know/dont know and can warn neighbors about

If you get the license plate that will lead to a positive ID. Just a pic of a gray truck and a guy about 6’ tall with a beard and glasses probably isn’t going to do it. I had an issue with some theft from my roadside stand a few years ago. Video from a trail cam was clear of the vehicle and the driver but the sheriff said he needed a positive plate ID before making an arrest. Luckily (unlucky for him) he was a return thief and I had another trail cam set up that captured his plate number. I set up four so I had video from all directions. He spent over a year in house arrest after being convicted. 
If he was a one time thief he would not have been caught. 

[acem]

Cell phone trail cams are great for real time.

Motion detector lights are great.

Mean sounding Dog and fence is best.

Dad never would put up a  gate at our grain bin. Our diesel tank is there. When  I put up a gate it cutour fuel consumption by half. 

Gates and locks help keep an honest man honest. Most thieves are lazy, that's why they steal instead of work.

Nothing will stop a professional. He will set up a radio jammer to shut down your wifi, cell,  gps, etc, shut power off, and steal your expensive stuff without a trace. Unlikely on a farm but a friend had an almost new JD 7xxx stolen by pros. No trace and never found. 

[Lazy WP]

This is video from one of the cameras. Granted it was me pulling out of my shed, but you get the idea. You can pause the video and blow a frame up. 
 

 

[sandhiller]

I have a cheap Euphy from Walmart pointed at back door and back yard, no fee to look at what it sees on cell phone at any time. Also records video to play back. Gives a notification when it records something. Can be set for vehicle, person, dog, sound, etc

Cade got me one of them trail cams that sends to cell phone, cost $5 per month for 600 pics. Needs cell service, maybe works on wife. 

 

[Amo]

1 hour ago, sandhiller said:

I have a cheap Euphy from Walmart pointed at back door and back yard, no fee to look at what it sees on cell phone at any time. Also records video to play back. Gives a notification when it records something. Can be set for vehicle, person, dog, sound, etc

Cade got me one of them trail cams that sends to cell phone, cost $5 per month for 600 pics. Needs cell service, maybe works on wife. 

 

Works on the wife?  That's awesome!

[Amo]

https://www.defendcellcam.com/?tw_source=google&tw_adid=766902420909&tw_campaign=22453676101&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22453676101&gclid=CjwKCAiAybfLBhAjEiwAI0mBBs0lNRmrPYjNlWSH1Q6pMp7VWeSjo-t_8fXV2mM8zurF498vrPv8_BoCp24QAvD_BwE

 

That's what Scheels had yesterday.  

Ya, fences, dogs, lights,a sign saying smile l, fake cameras, stuff locked up is all good cheap preventatives.  All things I could and should improve on.  Thing is I'm not around this location 24/7 and it's fairly easy to know if I'm gone or not.  Ya, I'm looking at spending a lot in case of a very slim what if scenario.  

I'm not a technafobe, but I don't have the ambition to Google a problem and try to figure it out.  I get frustrated very fast when technology doesn't work how it's supposed to.  I'm not a person who likes to run every minute detail through a phone.  I like the idea of 30 days of recorded video that'll record over itself vs $5 a month for 5 pictures up to $175 a month unlimited. I like the idea of not being notified every time my dog or a leaf goes by a camera.  I like the idea of something being on a DVR where I can log into it vs having to search on the "cloud".  Granted the "DVR" is basically my personal cloud, but I got less people using my cloud, I control who has access to my cloud, and only I can screw up my cloud which could possibly happen.  Camera/picture quality, degree of coverage, and zoom ability (100' or so would be nice) are things I'm concerned about.  The individual camera cost is roughly the same from big box store or a professional.  Big box store has a price point to hit.  Sometimes I feel the professionals know where to look in their field of expertise and could possibly get better quality material for not much more.  Also most professional business appear to have the good stuff.  Conversely I'm cheap and don't like spending more than necessary either.  This spring I wanted to buy a cheap diesel pickup for a trailer pickup.  After looking I found that cheap diesel pickup and got what I paid for.  Hindsight kind of wishing I would have spent a little bit more, but didn't know what this year was going to be like financially.  

If I was looking at this for a cabin, remote abandoned old building site, etc I think a trail camera or something like linked above would be adequate.  I do believe you get what you pay for.  Just the odds of needing it vs getting broke into I somewhat question.  This truly justifying the cost.  An allergy I like to use insurance.  Some people love great coverage with a load of ductable and high premium so they're covered and can sleep at night.  No there's you insurance is a tax that they got to pay that they really get no good out of.  Generally I lean towards the second sentence but as over right now Mike gets telling me that if you're going to do it do it right.  Thanks for the input.

[Lazy WP]

So why did you ask? You might as well get a Brinks or an actual security guard for what you are wanting to do 

[Amo]

41 minutes ago, Lazy WP said:

So why did you ask? You might as well get a Brinks or an actual security guard for what you are wanting to do 

If you don't try to figure out the best option you can why try at all?

[ChrisNY]

I use Ring cameras and have been happy with them. I started with Ring just because someone gave me the first one. Once you start a platform it is tough to switch to other brands because you have to rip out cameras and change them. The picture is nice and clear day or night and recording is saved for 60 days.  I have cameras to cover all sides of house and shop and cameras in shop as well.  
The police just used footage off my cameras to help in search for a cattle rustler. 2 neighbors both had calves and heifers stolen in the night. Hopefully the footage will show at least what time a cattle trailer went by and the one camera looks right towards one barn they were stolen from. Even though it is on the next road you could still see headlights. The 2 pics I posted give you an idea on picture quality. 

[sandhiller]

3 hours ago, Amo said:

Works on the wife?  That's awesome!

LOL.......gotta fire my spell check😂

wifi......

[FoxrunFarms02]

My grandma has some rented farm land on a dead end road she owns. The road is on a bottom of a hill. The town ship doesn't allow a gate near the crossroad. We have a gate at the bottom the hill though .We had problems with people being noisy seeing where the road leads to, or high schoolers thinking it's a good party spot being hidden below the hill. There's a 6 foot drop off on each side of the road so it's funny meeting someone down there with a piece of equipment with no where to go or high school kids thinking they can go into into the ditch. We had a basic trail camera on the gate post that gets license plate numbers well. In the ditch on a fence post I made a fake camera out of a painted 2x4, an old flash light lense and an old short cb antenna that snapped off. With a security camera sign under it.  Since that, no one has been on camera. 

You can find dummy cameras really cheap that even have a blinking light. I worked at a farm who had one clear as day by a fuel barrel. My past employer had them around the shop also.

[TroyDairy]

10 hours ago, Amo said:

https://www.defendcellcam.com/?tw_source=google&tw_adid=766902420909&tw_campaign=22453676101&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22453676101&gclid=CjwKCAiAybfLBhAjEiwAI0mBBs0lNRmrPYjNlWSH1Q6pMp7VWeSjo-t_8fXV2mM8zurF498vrPv8_BoCp24QAvD_BwE

 

That's what Scheels had yesterday.  

Ya, fences, dogs, lights,a sign saying smile l, fake cameras, stuff locked up is all good cheap preventatives.  All things I could and should improve on.  Thing is I'm not around this location 24/7 and it's fairly easy to know if I'm gone or not.  Ya, I'm looking at spending a lot in case of a very slim what if scenario.  

I'm not a technafobe, but I don't have the ambition to Google a problem and try to figure it out.  I get frustrated very fast when technology doesn't work how it's supposed to.  I'm not a person who likes to run every minute detail through a phone.  I like the idea of 30 days of recorded video that'll record over itself vs $5 a month for 5 pictures up to $175 a month unlimited. I like the idea of not being notified every time my dog or a leaf goes by a camera.  I like the idea of something being on a DVR where I can log into it vs having to search on the "cloud".  Granted the "DVR" is basically my personal cloud, but I got less people using my cloud, I control who has access to my cloud, and only I can screw up my cloud which could possibly happen.  Camera/picture quality, degree of coverage, and zoom ability (100' or so would be nice) are things I'm concerned about.  The individual camera cost is roughly the same from big box store or a professional.  Big box store has a price point to hit.  Sometimes I feel the professionals know where to look in their field of expertise and could possibly get better quality material for not much more.  Also most professional business appear to have the good stuff.  Conversely I'm cheap and don't like spending more than necessary either.  This spring I wanted to buy a cheap diesel pickup for a trailer pickup.  After looking I found that cheap diesel pickup and got what I paid for.  Hindsight kind of wishing I would have spent a little bit more, but didn't know what this year was going to be like financially.  

If I was looking at this for a cabin, remote abandoned old building site, etc I think a trail camera or something like linked above would be adequate.  I do believe you get what you pay for.  Just the odds of needing it vs getting broke into I somewhat question.  This truly justifying the cost.  An allergy I like to use insurance.  Some people love great coverage with a load of ductable and high premium so they're covered and can sleep at night.  No there's you insurance is a tax that they got to pay that they really get no good out of.  Generally I lean towards the second sentence but as over right now Mike gets telling me that if you're going to do it do it right.  Thanks for the input.

Lorax dont need web.  Wont be real time but just got to "rewind"

[Bill in Winnipeg]

I have a cheap chinese setup - Jooan NVR that came with 4 wireless camera's.  They work good long as you're not going more than about 200 feet from camera to NVR.   I also added a couple of cheap wifi camera's from Wish for about $15 each, they work really well for the money, and support ONVIF so I was able to connect them to my NVR.  I get about 30 days of 24x7 recording.  Not bad considering I have <$300 total invested.  Video quality is reasonable - biggest downside is no smarts for notifications from the NVR, but I can set it up with the cheap Wish cameras.    Attaching sample images - the two outside ones are the cameras that came with it, the black and white indoor photo is from the cheap Wish. They all switch to black and white when it's low light.

[JaredT]

One main reason I won't do anything but wired cameras is because most of this tech comes from China. While you are watching your yard, so can they. They being anyone who can hack cheap Chinese tech or your wifi signal, both of which are above my paygrade, but easy for the techies of the world. Let's be honest, all tech, from cameras to autosteer gives up privacy. A local powerplant was hacked a few years ago through their own servers which were designed to allow oversight of the plant while not at the site, what a mess. I have nothing to hide, but I have nothing to share with the world either. Be careful with what you allow to be put out there, it can be used against you in ways you never thought of. 

[Amo]

29 minutes ago, JaredT said:

One main reason I won't do anything but wired cameras is because most of this tech comes from China. While you are watching your yard, so can they. They being anyone who can hack cheap Chinese tech or your wifi signal, both of which are above my paygrade, but easy for the techies of the world. Let's be honest, all tech, from cameras to autosteer gives up privacy. A local powerplant was hacked a few years ago through their own servers which were designed to allow oversight of the plant while not at the site, what a mess. I have nothing to hide, but I have nothing to share with the world either. Be careful with what you allow to be put out there, it can be used against you in ways you never thought of. 

Isn't all the tech from China?  Ya, an all enclosed system wired with a DVR would keep you off the cloud.  If you want real time notifications sent to your phone, your going to be screwed.  I may not want my neighbor to know what I have, but if Tom Seleck decided to hack in, I wouldn't care.  Not like I got social security or credit card numbers on the surveillance feed.  Have yo pay subscription somehow.

I'll admit the cheaper options seem to do an adequate job as far as clarity goes.  Need to lookup different brands mentioned as far as options for recording time, notifications, etc.  I do like ability to tell a system to ignore your dog, etc.  If you're around I guess you can ignore the redundant notifications.  Like the one I linked, you can have a 90 day trial.  Probably try that.  Just seems like most businesses have something that's hard wired, and that why I'm kinda skeptical about all of the big box store or Facebook advertisers selling the solar panel wifi versions.  Thanks for the information people.

[hardtail]

How about no lights and a big dog?

Could have a recording of a pump shotgun being racked off motion

[New Englander]

8 minutes ago, hardtail said:

How about no lights and a big dog?

Could have a recording of a pump shotgun being racked off motion

I like it. I have an old Mossberg that sounds loud even without my hearing aids.