Thread: Security Cam's

Quick question for you guys with security cams at your house. Wife approached me about installing one. While I don't really care for them much she wants one around. Not an extravagant deal, just a few cams.

With that said, I hope to get some suggestions as where to put the monitor in the house to view them?

Clearly I do not want something obtrusive. I was thinking in the kitchen above the fridge back in a corner. my lil buttercup reeled off about 5 locations and I bust out laughing.

In my opinion, a total waste of money. Unless you're going to hire someone to sit in front of the screen and monitor them 24/7, you're just jerking off.

No good if powered by the mains with no battery back-up. Most power supplies are easy accessed outside of properties. Easy for someone to unscrew your PSU and disconnect the power before breaking in.

I've run a security company in the Philippines for the last 15 years. Among other things, we do residential security. In 15 years, I've never seen a residential security camera do anything useful. Unless, perhaps, if you have a couple of highly visible cameras, non-functional, outside. They might give a bad guy second thoughts, presuming any of them were smart enough to know what they were, which they aren't.

Originally Posted by Davis Knowlton

In my opinion, a total waste of money. Unless you're going to hire someone to sit in front of the screen and monitor them 24/7, you're just jerking off.

I have 3 cameras in my house.

they are motion operated, I get l alerts from them to my phone. I can view them from my phone.

^And have they ever prevented anything? Or given you identification of the bad guys after the fact?

Originally Posted by Davis Knowlton

^And have they ever prevented anything? Or given you identification of the bad guys after the fact?

Never have had any "bad guys" show up so the answer would be NO.

I do know what my missus and pets get up to though !!

Originally Posted by JPPR2

Quick question for you guys with security cams at your house. Wife approached me about installing one. While I don't really care for them much she wants one around. Not an extravagant deal, just a few cams.

With that said, I hope to get some suggestions as where to put the monitor in the house to view them?

Clearly I do not want something obtrusive. I was thinking in the kitchen above the fridge back in a corner. my lil buttercup reeled off about 5 locations and I bust out laughing.

Why not just build a prison environment around the perimeter?

Lovely lifestyle that one needs to attach to.
Worry and paranoia.

Originally Posted by Fondles

Originally Posted by Davis Knowlton

^And have they ever prevented anything? Or given you identification of the bad guys after the fact?

Never have had any "bad guys" show up so the answer would be NO.

I do know what my missus and pets get up to though !!

Indeed...there is that.

Originally Posted by Davis Knowlton

I've run a security company in the Philippines for the last 15 years. Among other things, we do residential security. In 15 years, I've never seen a residential security camera do anything useful. Unless, perhaps, if you have a couple of highly visible cameras, non-functional, outside. They might give a bad guy second thoughts, presuming any of them were smart enough to know what they were, which they aren't.

On the flip side of that, I've had my motorcycle helmet nicked 3 times in the last few years from outside my condo. I always park the bike in front of a camera. So each time I've simply asked the security to check the last nights tape and find out who it was. Each time they have and each time I've got the helmet back + a few extra thousand for the trouble.

^Not saying security cams are all bad, I've just never seen them be of much use in private residences. We put them in, it's a new toy, they play with it for a week or so, and they fall into disuse.

Originally Posted by Davis Knowlton

if you have a couple of highly visible cameras, non-functional, outside.

Well that was my though as well

Originally Posted by Davis Knowlton

In my opinion, a total waste of money.

You will not get much of an argument from me

Originally Posted by Fondles

I can view them from my phone.

That was my 1st idea and the set has that option

Originally Posted by Davis Knowlton

Not saying security cams are all bad, I've just never seen them be of much use in private residences. We put them in, it's a new toy, they play with it for a week or so, and they fall into disuse.

I agree DK. They do have uses but I feel they are more for business then residential.

Originally Posted by thaimeme

Why not just build a prison environment around the perimeter?

Lovely lifestyle that one needs to attach to.
Worry and paranoia.

I do not see it as a prison environment. But I get your POV.

I personally hate all this Vid Shit. I have a colleague who has a looping vid cam in his car. He has cams at his house and he is also the same tool that does nothing but watch Youtube. Weird world

Anyway. May nix it with wife now that I have some further ammo. Not sure her want of this. I guess it would be more of seeing who is at the gate and activating it to let them in.

Been thinking of getting some cameras when make house later this year. Both inside and out. Being away to another country part of the year can (hopefully) be easy way to check if all ok with own eyes by use of phone/internet. Better to rely on reports from family that may not find interst in what i like to see :-)

I'll re-post this from my thread here, under the title: I Wish the Hell I had Hooked Up My Security Cameras.

Originally Posted by terp80

Well, at least I don't have to worry about having to give any Koi away. This morning, I was looking out the window as I was brushing my teeth, I did not see any Koi swimming around down in the fishpond like I normally do. I didn't think too much about it at the time. Later, when I went out to feed them their "breakfast," the smaller ones didn't come right up to me like they usually do. In fact, no Koi in sight. This was very unusual. Never happened before. So I looked all around the fishpond and didn't see any Koi. I thought maybe they were hiding under the bridge/walkway for some strange reason, so I took a broom handle and poked it around underneath it. This would have scattered them like crazy, but nothing. It finally hit me: all the Koi are gone without a trace! Nothing else seems to be missing. Some tools are still there as is my bicycle. Stuff that would be easy to take. What is weird is that the Koi are just small fry, and my total investment was only 570 baht! So why would anyone risk getting caught for that?! We have security at the gate and a "moat" and fence surrounding the moo baan. I was home the entire time and there is a motion detector light for the deck. Unfortunately, no CCTV cameras yet, although the house has been pre-wired. I am totally puzzled, at least as to any reasonable explanation. Animals could not have gotten all 18. Dogs wouldn't and cats couldn't. Plus, the large area under the bridge/walkway is a great place for them to hide. Aside from the supernatural (pee!), I am completely at a loss.

Any amateur sleuths out there can solve this one?

Originally Posted by JPPR2

Quick question for you guys with security cams at your house. Wife approached me about installing one. While I don't really care for them much she wants one around. Not an extravagant deal, just a few cams.

With that said, I hope to get some suggestions as where to put the monitor in the house to view them?

Clearly I do not want something obtrusive. I was thinking in the kitchen above the fridge back in a corner. my lil buttercup reeled off about 5 locations and I bust out laughing.

This breed of Thai dog will take care of any kemoy issues

^^
Brother-in-law back in England keeps koi carp at the back of his house. He noticed some new additions had gone missing along with some of older ones.

Turned out there was a heron that would snatch one or two early in the mornings.

So every time I went to Japan I would buy about a dozen wind-socks that have a koi carp design on them and send them to him. He used them to scare away any fish-eating birds. Plus he covered his pond with netting.

Originally Posted by Gazza

^^
Brother-in-law back in England keeps koi carp at the back of his house. He noticed some new additions had gone missing along with some of older ones.
Turned out there was a heron that would snatch one or two early in the mornings.
So every time I went to Japan I would buy about a dozen wind-socks that have a koi carp design on them and send them to him. He used them to scare away any fish-eating birds. Plus he covered his pond with netting.

Thanks Gazza. See my thread for an update. The Koi have "returned." They may have been spooked by heron early this morning. I'm not sure if they are all there. It seems that I may have to take precautions as you have suggested.

Originally Posted by thailazer

If you get one, make sure you run the recording drive off a UPS and keep it hidden from view otherwise the thieves will steal it too.

Hey Thailazer. Glad to see you are still around. I was thinking on same lines as you.

Originally Posted by Boon Mee

This breed of Thai dog will take care of any kemoy issues

I like those dogs. Wife and I are not sure we are going the pet route however. We plan on taking off for trips and I don't want a pet to make it complicated. Now maybe later when I am done just randomly taking off.

We will likely do the 3 Cam set up. 720p as I do not need 1080p. I like I can log in from my phone and they are motion. These will be relatively hidden except the one at the gate.

Anyone who says cameras don't work is wrong. I can tell you for a fact mine works perfect. I use small, standalone, battery operated, indoor/outdoor cameras with sim card and night vision. It means I get a photo on my phone instantly and can catch someone in the act 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. AA Batteries last for months. I have nailed many a thief to the wall as well as had some good laughs. Here are a few samples.


Polite and smiling neighbor insists she never, ever entered my land or taken two freshly cut bamboo poles sitting in her front yard. When confronted with photo evidence, her reaction was priceless. Such incidents have been so common that all neighbors with sticky fingers fear and hate me and don't dare come too close anymore. The thing is, if they would just ask me for what they wanted I'd have given it to them. Instead they think the best idea is to steal and lie. People like that aren't worthy of my friendship.


Noticed some papayas missing so setup a camera to find out why. What a pleasant surprise. The civets can have all they want.

^Hi Canopy, could you please tell me the make of your cameras? Are they sold in Thailand? Thanks, HM

Curiously, I haven't seen them for sale in Thailand. I buy from dhgate online. They offer free express courier shipping anywhere in Thailand. They don't bill your credit card until you receive the package and approve. Search for "trail camera mms" should get some good examples. My advice: select from the newest, highest end cameras. False alarms or unreliability on the cheapies aren't worth the savings. I've used Acorn and Scout Guard models with success.

^Thanks Canopy. Will check them out. Cheers, HM

Originally Posted by Davis Knowlton

Unless, perhaps, if you have a couple of highly visible cameras, non-functional, outside.

In my opinion the best application for these things.

Just buy heaps of camera shells and stick them all over the property and as a visual deterrent.