Well.. the security cameras finally caught me...

[rawfuls]

I knew you'd click on that

Anyways, my dad is a bit of an extremist when it comes to "messing with" his backyard.. Anyways, there's been some random ba-dump-ba-dump (poo) around the backyard, and around the pool. He's been looking into a few security cameras for the backyard, as he likes to be alert, and there's been some random crap going around in the backyard.. Like our trashcans get moved to the other side of the yard (we have like 10 blue trashcans.. why? So when it rains, we have water to water the grass + plants. INGENIOUS), ghosts right?

So basically, my question is:

Does anyone own security cameras or looked into them? If so, what do you recommend?

We picked up a "expensive" $75 wireless 2.4GHz cheapo, thinking it was gonna work, ended up working flawlessly... When the camera was next to the receiver, we put it in the other room, ZAP, picture gone..

So I tried giving him (yeah, the son giving the dad a lecture) on how not go cheap on stuff you might really need.. Not sure if he's gonna make me go pick up a hardwired security kit from Fry's, or something, since I might be going on vacation with friends or something tomorrow, and won't be back til Sunday..

Who has a kit? I know someone has looked into these bastards.

We're on a tight budget! I'm not sure how much, but basically whatever YOU might spend on it... Wait... I'm sure Linc has a bunch of money, what I mean, is something that's good for the price, and under $200, unless it has 6 cameras to one station...

[lincpimp]

So someone is dropping a duece in the pool and moving your "grass water" around? (note, use your neighbor's hose to water the garden while he is at work, saves on your water bill).

Just sit out back with a 12gauge and pump a few rounds into the ground when you see it happen.

I picked up some cheap cameras from sams a while back, they were wired and b/w but they did have some sort of night vision and worked fine. Pretty sure it was about 200 bucks, and could handle up to 4 cameras, came with 2. Not sure if they were weatherproof, but a small plexi box would not be hard to fab up.

[rawfuls]

Yeah, my dads friend got a similar deal, about $250 for about 6 cameras and a bigass station.

froogle.com here I come..

[JThiessen]

I use an infrared game cam - they capture still shots. Work good - but you have to be able to get the card out to check the pics. I bought mine from Cabela's for about 180 or so....

[simplechamp]

+1 on the trail-cam. Especially because most newer versions can do stills, video capture, and infrared night shots. No need to wire anything up, just set it and forget it, come back every few days and swap the SD card. We have a couple of the Moultrie Game Spy i40 and they work great. Can be had for $150 or maybe less now.

[rabosi]

Your problem might be raccoons . Lil bastards take dumps in my yard (which is fenced) from time to time. They try the trash cans too but I have those chained up. Costco has some different kits form Lorex and Q-see. The cameras are typically weatherproof and infra-red but i don't have personal experience with any of them. I would go with wired over wireless personally.

[rawfuls]

Wow... Must be some big ass racoons :O

Anyways I think my dad is gonna wait til the costco packs go back on sale.. I sent him the link one day for a 6camera set for about 2-300 bucks, checked again and it's backto 4-500 bucks.... Soo yeah... =/

[shaunjohnson]

we got a fake camera and put a real one in it, that worked a treat!! knocked the grafiti artists for a 6 when the cops rocked up at their place

[JERRY2KONE]

Yea I would agree that Sam's & or COSCO are your best bets for a half decent kit. I have seen them at BestBuy are well, and tehy come in kits with 2, 4, 6, 8, or even 10 cameras. I have also seen them in pawn shops, but I would not purchase camera equipment second hand unless it was for like 25%of retail pricing.

[reno911]

Interesting thread.

My parents actually just placed a camera in there window to patrol their front yard from vandals. It works off a DVR. Has a AV out I believe, they picked it up at Cosco for 200 I believe. Nice unit, you can set the time of operation, and wether you want still or live capture. It has inferred and motion sensor, all that jazz. I thought it was kind of funny, since my dad was once the type to just stay up later on the weekends to chase kids down, just doesn't want to deal with toilet paper anymore I guess. Works out great for my mothers in home daycare, since my dad programmed it to take snapshots of anyone who walks up to the door during the day.

I would have to agree with shopping at Cosco, they usually will be able to explain everything as well.