where to buy what to buy ?

[elexes]

im looking at building a cctv system for use in a small shop (1000 square feet or so )my thoughts were to use a pc (maby 2 if it would improve clarity ) with a pci card with attached camera's .

the shop itself is only open 8-12 hrs per day and i was wondering about hardware suggestions / software suggestions

one set of camera's for the till systems ( 3 tills so 3 cam's if they dont know they are there that would be good.)

one set watching the rear door , store door , ( these would need to have nightvision also )

two camera's facing the front doors, then a number of fake camera's around the shop.

anyone got any suggestions where to buy all of this ?

i have pc's lying around thats why im going the pc rote instead of buying a stand alone system. remote access not essential due to lack of broadband in the aera. but would be accessing the pc via wireless connection to remove files.

if ive posted in the wrong section please move

[iStorm]

mmmmm, Pc's lying around.........And you want to use on of them for your cctv equipment to prevent theft? Why are these pc's lying round and not working? The main problem with useing a pc in my view is that from time to time your pc will crash, may need to go in for repair......You will have no Cctv protection while your pc is out of action! I have been installing cctv for many years and i wouldnt install anything but a dedicated DVR! I may get slated for this considering there are quality boards out there like Huperlab but its the pc thats my problem not the board! So far you have listed 7 camera's, You are going to need a 9 channel Dvr and if you had it networking you could still network with your work pc's but dont have to use the remote viewing option, maybe 3 smoke detector or p.i.r detector style covert camera's installed above the tills? Installed at night so the staff wouldnt see them being fitted!

Hope some of this help, Please feel free to visit the site, feel free to email me any question you may have.

[getanalarm]

I have to agree. PC based DVR's are resource hungry and can hang or crash. Best to go for a standalone DVR diesigned for the job.

[Eidolon]

The comments about the pc based systems are valid but I have found the stand alone dvr systems to be less user friendly. Pc based systems use basic windows and most people are familiar with them. As for stability - I have not found much difference between the two systems and pc systems are easier to fix. Dedicated systems can be expensive to repair. Also many do not have a date and time stamp on the images or record at less than 12 frames pr second - both making the images inadmissable in many courts.

As per the cameras being hidden - make sure that doesn't infringe the rights of your employees. You could end up on the wrong side of your security system and that would be embarrasing. My experience is that most people forget about the cameras after a day or so and habitual behavior takes over. I've seen till operators take money out of the till and put it in their shirts a day after I have put up cctv cameras. They realise what they have done pretty quick but then don't know how to get the money back into the till. Go figure.

As for using existing pc's. Many dvr cards will only work with specific motherboard chipsets so you need to check that first.

Hope this helps

Kevin

[getanalarm]

I am not sure what DVR's you have used in the past but a standalone DVR is no more difficult to use than a standard VCR and all have timestamps. In fact I would say it is easier! The reliability is also far superior than a any PC system running windows. A standalone DVR is designed to one thing, and not run spreadsheets or databases.

As for the fps. Even budget DVR's we supply from as little as £99.99 can record in realtime these days (25fps) and have timestamp, motion, etc.

Settings will depend on how long you wish to record for and the quality required but obviously 25fps will limit recording times. However a 250gb or 500gb HDD will offer over a week or recording at any one time. Under normal circumstances 6 - 12 fps is more than enough for most CTV applications.

[Eidolon]

Ok - you guys seem to be way ahead of what we have here in South Africa. Maybe one day we will catch up

[iStorm]

Yes it looks like South Africa is way behind the times.......

[getanalarm]

We actually sell a lot of DVR's and cameras to South Africa as our stuff is a lot cheaper in the UK.

[securityman]

I would say for Retail a DVR as I have fitted Shops with a Windows Base PC system and I have been back to these shops replacing them with a DVR as there staff and etc kept saying they would have the CCTV stop as it keep frezzing and the best Storie was I fitted an DVR into a Bank couple months ago after they were Robbed and all they took was there PC system as they knew that held all that days CCTV recording also with a DVR I have notced they much harder to remove if Fitted Correctly but i would Recomend an DVR for Retail as it much easier to get copies of CCTV tapes for any Reason and much better to add CCTV and even software addd to you till so on Camera Screen it shows the reviewers what was going throu that till.