CCTV

[AL Pitman]

With all of the reported near to house visits , banging on walls ect in the Blue Mountains have any of you folks tried CCTV mounted to the eaves of your houses .
A multi camera system is available at quite a reasonable price now days and would come in handy for general home security as well . I think that the activity that you receive in these mountain areas would make CCTVa very probable prospect .

[Neil Frost]

G’day Al,

You are correct about the low price for CCTV systems nowadays. Twenty years ago they weren’t an option. Currently, I have no need for one, but they could be worthwhile!

You have raised an interesting point though. I sometimes see houses in remote bushland setting that have motion sensing PIR lights on all corners of the building and wonder what they know. There was a house at the end of the O’Connors’ road that looked like they were afraid of the dark, if you know what I mean. The only family that I am aware of who have done something similar to what you suggest were the Pendlebury family (Tree Ripper of Yellow Rock). They were Yowie aware! Consequently, they got a security firm to mount a 500 Watt IR illuminator on the roof line and had an IR camera record the half acre area. It was excessively active, though we did get eyeshine, at extremely long range and at the right height.

On the other hand, we found that Fatfoot was aware of and could recognise PIR floodlights (the reflector, I think) and would test the sensor’s perimeters. Ian and I watched one night with such an floodlight arrangement (with attached motor driven film camera) in the swamp, as it fired repeatedly but out of effective range. You only ever got one attempt because they quickly learn from your mistakes!

There were other incidents. A neurosurgeon that I know said that his dooligahl would hug the wall beneath his PIR lights to avoid setting them off. Mike Williams and I interviewed him (and his brother regarding a separate incident). He had opened his door in response to suspicious noises and was charged from behind.

With CCTV cameras, there are no reflectors from conventional IR or visible light illuminators, when off, to alert them. Any IR LED illumination, when on, however, could still be visible to them. Consequently, their is a possibility that they might be more passive, but I don’t really know for sure?

Neil

[NoPolys]

Al and Neil;

As good as IR illumination is, an alternative is perhaps to consider a low lux video camera if one were to think of installing cameras in high activity areas. The more zeros to the right of the decimal the better. Coupled to a multiplexer, this potentially could pick up moving body close up or at distance passively with all channels recorded at the same time. Money seems to be the biggest obstacle, lol

There is a US based company I've used where it's possible to spec out a system of one to several cameras with appropriate lenses for the desired task.

Just for the sake of illustration, this is a link to one of the cameras. Lenses, cables, recorders and other associated items would also have to be budgeted into the mix. Given a proper location a passive video system is a viable concept.

http://www.supercircuits.com/security-c ... pc164cex-2

Cheers

Nopolys

[AL Pitman]

Neil & Nopolys

It may be possible to set the cameras to operate via an intermittent timer system that can be varied eg : film for 3 minutes than off for 2 minutes , with a constantly changeable time initiated starting sequence so as not to have them run by a regular pattern or so that they are not triggered by motion and or thermal type sensors .

Obviously this would reduce the chance of a Doolighal developing a learned knowledge of the system and in addition no ir or other ultra sensible detection fields , again the required components are readily available from well recognised electronic outlets for a price that is quite achievable , with not a whole lot of skills required to hash a set up together .

I have visited friends in the Blue Mountains in the past and their locations as many do in that region would be well suited to this type of surveillance system it would be great to see this to fruition I hold some anticipation for this as a project .

[Ray Doherty]

We are starting to use them broken down into new housings with a movement activated static hard drive off a 12vt batter, putting three brand newies into the field next week, will last between 7-21 days

[AL Pitman]

I wish you all the luck Ray

But and I don't want to put a downer on your set up , is it possible that the Yowies could even sense the sensing device it would be good to set up 2 systems if finances would allow one being a timer initiated camera and the other via motion in close but not to near zones and compare the captured data .

Damn why is this so hard we are after all suppose to be the smartest creatures on the planet are we not lol !!
Somehow these hairy brethren keep matching or even bettering our wits .

One day one day I just know someone is going to come up with the goods !!!!!!!!

[Ray Doherty]

Hi Al

Well that's something we don't know. The cams are fully digital and the static HD, there no noise, no IR beams, nothing. I have built these a totally unique way in terms of the housing. I have two right and the materials and equipment to build 6. I had to sacrifice using car batteries for smaller ones. The car batts in testing lasted a month, the smaller ones which are 12vlt 7 Amp hours will last somewhere between 7-10 days. At least to change these out I can put 4 or 6 batteries in back pack instead of making multiple trips back and forth.

I will be putting three cams in the field next week. Each camera through hunting through ebay and around the world for parts has cost around $200-$300 each. The amazing thing what can be done with off the shelf technology as long as your creative. Even though this has taken us 6 months to get to this stage I have since learnt that there alot new, slightly expensive products that can change the game. Such as a GSM Video transmitting unit, live video via GSM to your home PC. They are $2200 each but are professional grade a friend of mine sells them. New 25 MHZ Marine flir which can be adapted for cars and static camera set up working off 12Vlt. Will only last 3 days with a 12vlt lithium Ion Battery $4K

The set ups we have made (and due to our last of gear getting stolen I wont post pictures despite them going into a new area) are the best the budget will allow to increase their field time I simply have to change the battery type. These Cams Al don't use zones but continually record the focal area but I take your point, being triggered by zone saves power, but I believe that its the power up and power down phase that may give it away, anyway, we will test it and see how it goes

Ray

[wellymon]

The set ups we have made (and due to our last of gear getting stolen I wont post pictures despite them going into a new area)

Ray

Maybe the hairy brethren stole them Ray...?
Good luck anyways, you guys have vast knowledge of these setups, much appreciated to all with your mastery.
Welly

[AL Pitman]

Excellant stuff Ray

Without continual experimentation and re experimentation we will not move forward in this pursuit , cudos to you for putting up the hard earned to make this happen Well done champ and again good luck , can't wait to see your findings .

[Neil Frost]

G'day Al and Nopolys,

I was very interested in the supercurcuits low light camera @ $US139.99. Seems excellent. However, after contacting the vendor, the total cost with 6 to 60mm varifocus iris $US89.95 and postage of $US108.66 came to $US338.60 or $AUD350. Maybe another time.

Neil

[NoPolys]

Neil:

I know it gets expensive quickly. I've tried to find a reasonable equivalent locally to no avail at even greater expense.

There are some great items available locally if you are looking for something more on the consumer side of the house, but the specialty items don't have the market to support ease of acquisition in my experience.

I have used Super Circuits in the past (but from points east of NSW) and have found them to be a great resource. Even if only for research to see what is available off the shelf then expand the specific searches to local sources.

As a last note, in times past I have spent other people's money to get box cameras rated to 4+ numbers to the right of the decimal point for lux sensitivity... it gets very expensive very quickly! With today's digital technology, some of the older analog challenges have been lessened, but you still need good glass and a good front end to get the video required.

Cheers

Nopolys

[donjoman]

A tip on buying from the US... use a forwarding company like ShipITo, you can often buy with free local shipping within US (but its normally surface so eg from Midwest to California will take a week) and then the ShipITo can take pictures (so you can verify what u r getting) then ship to your door within 1-2 days, at much much less for the overseas leg.

E.G I bought car parts (not small stuff, i'm talking rear bumper on a Volvo V70)... shipping from Volvo US direct to me was quoted at USD1000 odd, ShipITo was about USD240 (and that was 2 days by TNT from LA to HK my smash repairer's door). Smaller stuff, you will find is minimum USD25 odd, but you can also aggregate multiple items into a single package if you buy from multiple vendors in the States and ship as one lot.

If you repeatedly buy stuff from US, you can save ALOT.

http://calculator.shipito.com/en/#/

[Ray Doherty]

I will ad one thing to my previous post AL, find someone who can do a bang up job on the soldering and electronic wiring, I just blew two of my 3 set ups due to a short (certainly I am an electronics failure) so now we have a three week delay whilst I get them professionally made. When we used different cams it was a direct wire up from the battery to the Cams and DVRs, these new DVR need a voltage control because of how it fluctuates so now I am getting them made with an on off / switch and voltage control diode. Just waiting on the new DVRs and trying to find an electronics whiz who can repair the power supplies in the 4 I have buggered up. Talk about annoying. Still, I cannot wait to be these into the field, it allowed me to do more water proofing but as we will be coming into the Winter super moon and these are extreme low light cameras I cannot wait to see what we get back

[Tex]

That's a good idea AL
I was thinking of making one that works on 12 volt and is movement activated to put near my shed in Mudgee.
Has to be able to do night and day plus be able store a lot of data for long period. I don't get out there much.
Money is the issue though. It's hard to explain to the wife that I have to spend money on a equipment to chase yowies.

Kind regards Marke

[Goppy78]

I will ad one thing to my previous post AL, find someone who can do a bang up job on the soldering and electronic wiring, I just blew two of my 3 set ups due to a short (certainly I am an electronics failure) so now we have a three week delay whilst I get them professionally made. When we used different cams it was a direct wire up from the battery to the Cams and DVRs, these new DVR need a voltage control because of how it fluctuates so now I am getting them made with an on off / switch and voltage control diode. Just waiting on the new DVRs and trying to find an electronics whiz who can repair the power supplies in the 4 I have buggered up. Talk about annoying. Still, I cannot wait to be these into the field, it allowed me to do more water proofing but as we will be coming into the Winter super moon and these are extreme low light cameras I cannot wait to see what we get back

Just saw this post, and if you need any help with electronics or CCTV, let me know Ray, as I might be the type of wiz you need to repair, or make the set up your trying to achieve. Also I'm in Brisbane. PM and we can discuss further.