An acquaintance of mine (too soon to say friend, but we have quite a lot in common) wants me to design and install a video surveillance system for his home and property. Ideally it would also include perimeter sensing/alarms and gated entry controls.

I told him he'd be WAY ahead to have the pros do it (money doesn't seem to be an object) but for his own reasons he'd rather make it a DIY project.

I need to get a LOT smarter on the topic and pointers from the pros and especially leads on where/how to learn more about it would be appreciated.

IP Cameras are the way to go, connected to/using an NVR (Network Video Recorder), or an dedicated PC running VMS (Video Management Software) for recording. The key to these systems is selecting the right cameras. For instance, as you'd obviously want to be able to use the cameras at night, the camera needs to have a night capable 'Starlight' sensor, which is WAY more important that resolution. Several years ago, when I looked into this, the cameras with the best (SONY) Starlight sensors were only 2MP. There will be areas where security lighting would typically used, however the may (likely?) be areas where you'd want cameras where there is no light at all. And though IR Illuminators exist, they tens to attract insects/spiders, which will either result in false motion sensing, or obscure the camera. You also might want LPR Cameras (License Plate Reader) in certain areas. The key is to be able to capture video that can identify a perpetrator if you need to.

Lot's to learn here --> https://ipcamtalk.com/

quote:

Originally posted by PHPaul:
An acquaintance of mine [who] wants me to design and install a video surveillance system for his home and property. Ideally it would also include perimeter sensing/alarms and gated entry controls.

You're looking at three different systems:

1. Video surveillance system
   
2. Alarm system
   
3. Gate entry controls

Depending upon what's selected for each, and their capabilities: Any two, or all three, may or may not be integrated so as to "talk" to one another to some degree or another.

quote:

Originally posted by PHPaul:
I told him he'd be WAY ahead to have the pros do it (money doesn't seem to be an object)...

That was wise counsel.

quote:

Originally posted by PHPaul:
... but for his own reasons he'd rather make it a DIY project.

Good luck. You have a very steep learning curve in front of you.

I don't have any guidance for you--particularly given the lack of any detail whatsoever. Having worked in I.T. for years, having installed and configured sophisticated LANs and WLANs, video surveillance, and alarm systems, even I would have to spend a lot of time with your acquaintance discussing just what he wants/expects, designing a solution, and acquiring the materials.

Then there are the tools, which I have already. (Except for the cable and wire burial, which I'd either rent or pay somebody to do [Ditch Witch and/or directional boring]).

Good points so far. And consider IR lighting, too. And since it is Maine (I would guess) make sure your systems work well in harsh winter weather.

quote:

Originally posted by ensigmatic:

quote:

Originally posted by PHPaul:
I told him he'd be WAY ahead to have the pros do it (money doesn't seem to be an object)...

That was wise counsel.

Indeed, and probably how you should proceed, at a minimum get a pro out to survey, give a quote and suggest what to put where and what will work together.

Heck find out if there is a security consultant that can give suggestions maybe will design it for a fee, you go an install for him.

Figuring out what camera works with which recorder, and will have access via some WiFi app, and light control, then gate control may be a chore.

If he has Android, then a system where the components work with Alexa, Ring and Blink for example work with these or do you need ifttt solutions to be developed etc...

Check out Lorex systems. I have 9 wired cameras on my property going to a DVR. Did it all myself.

I get alerts on my phone and watch and can access remotely to see what’s going on.

Can’t speak to gate systems.

For house alarm, I have simplisafe sensors…both motion and access at all entry points, inside sheds and out buildings.

quote:

Originally posted by nhracecraft:
Lot's to learn here --> https://ipcamtalk.com/

*snort*

What one will "learn" there is mostly "use Dahua or Hikvision IP cameras--or ipcamtalk's "own" re-branded cams, and Blue Iris on an MS-Win PC." God only knows what, if anything, they'd recommend for an alarm system.

Personally, I'd be more inclined to go with something like DW Spectrum for a system (N.B.: I've no experience with it), the IP cams of choice, and either a Honeywell/Ademco or DSC wired alarm system. Dunno about gate controls. Have never done those.

quote:

Originally posted by Patriot:
For house alarm, I have simplisafe sensors…both motion and access at all entry points, inside sheds and out buildings.

Wireless, right?

The crooks are wise to those, now. There's been a S. American (believed by LE) gang burgling higher-end homes nearby--stealing entire large safes and all. Step #1: Jam the wireless alarm systems.

Sometimes you just have to say no. This is one of those times.

I am responsible for security cameras and access control for a college with 9 campuses.

My current project is to upgrade the security camera system to include replacing all cameras older than 5 years, installing several new cameras to include dedicated facial recognition and LPR (license plate recognition) cameras.

The system has advanced analytics that will do several things.

It also has the capability to do weapons recognition, concealed weapons recognition, and contact tracing but we are not implementing these modules.

We will have over 1,000 cameras when complete.

Total cost to include the additional cabling is $3.5 million.

It is an awesome system but cost-prohibitive for residential use.

As mentioned, use good ip cameras but I recommend exterior cameras with IR capability instead of IR lighting. Also, a NVR-based system instead of PC-based, and POE network switches. Make sure POE switches have enough power for the IR cameras, if not, each camera will need a POE injector to increase the supplied power.

Also, cameras with motion detection zones.

The gated entry controls can be stand-alone unless he is wanting to tie them back into the security system for monitoring and remote access/control.

quote:

Originally posted by ensigmatic:


Wireless, right?

The crooks are wise to those, now. There's been a S. American (believed by LE) gang burgling higher-end homes nearby--stealing entire large safes and all. Step #1: Jam the wireless alarm systems.

Generation 3 has jamming detection and WiFi connectivity alerts.

Also they’d have to know I’m using simplisafe.

Finally, I don’t have a high end home….LOL

A complete system, taking in all the requirements can be quite comprehensive.


If you divide up the areas you would need to consider:

To determine optics:
1. Imagine every picture of every area you want to see.
2. Is the area far away, close, heavy movement, light or dark contrasting areas.
3. How much resolution is needed ~ facial recognition quality or just an overall recognition.
^^ This will aid in where to place cams, the type of lens, and settings considerations.
Optics is all light based science and anyone familiar with cameras in general understand the differences including focal area and focal length.

Generally an IP based camera is what is used more and more but CCTV can also deployed but the physical requirements can be different.
I would recommend IP based cams for a number of reasons, a major one would be power and data in one (flexible) cable. Performance is better as well generally.

Once you have the proper camera for the job in each location then you need to be able to get the signal to a central point.
This can be done with individual runs to the central area or with intermediate runs to POE switches then to back the central control area.
All pretty much based on standard network protocols.
Wired is the ONLY way to go and only a wireless connection in extreme scenarios.

With the proper cams selected and cables run to the control area then the signal needs to be accumulated to you can view as a whole or process as needed, such as recording, remote viewing etc.

This is done with an all-in-one device called an NVR or to a computer that runs Video Management Software (VMS).
In considering the requirements you will need to consider and project the storage space, which can be quite substantial as well as bandwidth consideration. Space requirements can vary depending on the compression level of the cam, time and resolution also how long you want to keep the recordings.

One site that I subscribe to for my IT business is IPVM.com.
They have substantial tools available in the proper selection and education of the proper cam.

https://calculator.ipvm.com/


I know everyone likes to start with the hardware first but especially in a project like this it is best to start with the infrastructure design and the actual components will fall in place.

A note on VMS (which is a key) ~ I use Video Insight (now a Panasonic product) but there are a number of others that are quite capable.
I stick with this one as learning every VMS is quite a task.
If I weren't already doing VI I might look at Milestone and Axis cameras.

Like I said there is a LOT to consider.

Good Luck

Good information so far and validates my concern that I could be (probably am...) in WAY over my head.

Today was just a "broach the idea" discussion. I have other work to do for him and I will have further discussions at that time. My first take-away from this is that Step One is to determine what he really wants/needs.

Thanks, and I'll be watching this thread for any further input.

Greater than any "learning curve" or physical hurdles of the property, your full concern should be on your liability, either real or imagined, by your "friend", when (not if) something goes wrong with anything you can be associated with the day morning after.

...not even with two, eleven foot poles.

Could someone Add more info on a security system that employs:

weapons recognition, concealed weapons recognition.

Thanks

How about a dog?

quote:

Originally posted by sigmonkey:
...not even with two, eleven foot poles.

I think I'm inclined to be with you on this one, sigmonkey.

Note to OP:

If you hire a "pro" and he suggests wireless alarm sensors, or wireless cameras for that matter, walk away quickly and find a better "pro"

Let's just take the gate because it's the simplest one.

Do you know if a knox box will be required?

How many openings per day do you expect?

What kind of backup will it have for the power going out?

How many people will be using it?

Does he want people to have separate codes to keep track of everyone's comings and goings?

How about temporary access codes for occasional users?

Who is going to maintain it? We had a system the people that installed it quit supporting. That had me ordering parts from Czechoslovakia about twice a year.

Who is going to run the electric?

Do you need permits?

quote:

Originally posted by abnmacv:
Could someone Add more info on a security system that employs:

weapons recognition, concealed weapons recognition.

Thanks

That's a tall order, especially for concealed weapons.

I like Blue Iris and some people use deepstack integrated into it for object/person detection. I don't know if it's skilled enough to detect objects people are carrying but you could look into it.

quote:

Originally posted by 229DAK:
How about a dog?

He has FOUR long haired German Shedders who are VERY loud. One of the four deigned to sniff me after I'd been there half an hour and had been properly introduced.

I'm thinking I'm going to pass on this opportunity. I see more problems than benefits on my end.