Posted by Hi, I want to buy a security camera system (indoor) with about 4-8 cameras. This will be installed in my office, however I want all of the video uploaded on a hard drive at home (is that possible). My criteria is listed below…
4-8 Cameras
Wired or Wireless, doesn’t make a huge difference.
Secure remote viewing over the web
Two hard drives, one at my office downloading the video and another at my house downloading the video over the web.
Thanks
Here is one possible option for you. Install in your computer a DVR PCI card and connect the 4 cameras to it. The DVR PCI card you can buy from Amazon. They range from cheap ones at 30 bucks up to higher priced ones. Here is an article that discusses a bit about how they work:
http://www.teepeetech.com/security-software/motion-activated-webcam-security-software-vision-gs-pe-yawcam-and-others-14.html
So you have that setup right downloading the video to computer A let’s call it. Then what you can do is get one of those online backup data services and have it monitor the drive you are saving the video to. All of the video will be uploaded offsite. One such place I have heard of is called Carbonite. (http://www.carbonite.com/ )
Here is why you would need to do something like this. Your home PC has a good download speed. Let’s say you have broadband and get somewhere between 3 mb to 6 mb download speed. Your upload speed from your business probably won’t be very fast while copying the data over to your house. So, copy it out to the internet. Now, as I am writing this, I’m thinking that Carbonite may be one option but you have other options as well. There is one called an Internet hard drive. An internet hard drive is a hard drive that appears to be sitting in your computer but is not. It’s out on the internet stored at a server somewhere else. I used to use one service called X-Drive. The drive folder would appear in my windows explorer as just another drive. I could copy files there, etc. I think X-Drive has shut down and now was taken over by a place called Elephant drive. ( https://www.elephantdrive.com/ )
So here’s the idea for you. You setup this internet drive in your computer, you record your video onto it and then you can view it in both places, work and your office. The best part about that too is if your house has something happen to it or your office, you’ve got that copy out there on the internet.
That might be your best option. If it is too slow, then save the files locally and then have that elephant drive back it up remote and you can still watch it at home.
For the cameras, check out the clarity of the cameras before you buy them. Smaller lenses don’t let in as much light and have more problems at night. They sell good cameras at Amazon for around $100 / camera and they give some decent images:
http://www.teepeetech.com/home-security-systems/night-vision-security-cameras-outdoor-security-cameras-25.html
Best of luck
Hello,
I bought the QSee system from Costco which has a 19" LCD monitor and DVR built in.
if you load them to a web site it might be possible.when you buy the cameras you can find out from sellers
go to http://www.techcctv.com or give them a call, they helped me with my system
For enough money, you could get that set up today, but it would be a bit complex coordinating the video being stored at two locations, simultaneously to two DVR’s. Might be easier to record to one location, and periodically upload from one to the other. Also not sure how much storage you need (i.e. for how long), since that will make a difference, as will the number of cameras. Our company provides remote video services via broadband, but we do not store long term: we only store a certain number of motion activated clips (each 15-seconds long). Are you trying to watch employees working, monitor cash registers, or keep track of people coming and going? The way you plan to use the system will determine the best application, and help you narrow in on the right solution. Our solution may not get it done, but it has the advantage of being incorporated into our alarm systems with more reliability and a host of interactive features:
1) 100% cellular monitoring – no phone line required, and none to cut!
2) Remote arm/disarm capability
3) Special apps for iPhone, Blackberry, Android
4) Email & text notifications on anything happening at home: doors opening, etc.
5) Video services – live viewing from any web connection (including phone) and motion-activated clips
You would know each time any door opens, if you want – and you control the notifications.