Electronic Alarms and Home Security Devices - Need to watch

Hi all,

I recently bought my first house. It's in a good heighborhood, but my immediate neighbors are extremely problematic. And, no I don't just mean annoying. They all apparently are very well known to the local PD and I believe they all have rap sheets. Wonderful...

Today, one of them charged at me, broke one of my headlights and the PD was called. Unfortunately, we have no garage, not even a driveway (pretty much none of these houses do) and I'm afraid of further retaliation and damage. Long stories, not going to tell 'em.

I would like some kind of suveillance that records several hours at a time, but I can't go breaking the bank here. I simply want to watch my very small front yard and the street in front. What's available, and what can I do to get this all working.

Thanks,

Chris

My computer is in the basement and there is no window on the wall that faces the driveway of my rural property.
I drilled a hole in the LR floor beneath my picture window, which also happens to be immediately above my computer area, installed a long USB cable and mounted a web cam in the front window.
I can set it for motion sensing and have it take a pic if something comes into view, but I usually just open the cam window in my second monitor to look outside while I'm down here.
I bought a second webcam and as soon as I get a USB hub I'm going to try to open two webcam windows to expand my view.

I would like to find a piece of software that would allow multiple webcams in one window without spending big bucks.

Oh ya, with this set-up I was able to solve the mystery as to which dog was tearing up my garbage.

Chris, I would recommend a solution similar to Greg's, but I think adding more than 1 USB camera to a system can cause problems - let me know how that works out Greg.

I recommend the <a href="http://crowelec.com/crowjetusb.html">CrowJet USB</a> camera hub. I've heard some pretty good things about this system, however I have not had the chance to use or install one myself. They are not too pricey, ranging at about $500-600 for the hub, which comes with software. And, you can use just regular C-mount or dome cameras - doesn't have to be anything special. I use <a href="http://technovisioncctv.com/Products/TVCV-Dome.htm">Technovision's Dome Cameras</a> which are hi-res, low-cost cameras.

Technovision also has <a href="http://technovisioncctv.com/Products/dvr%27s.htm">DVR boards</a>, if you want to turn an old computer into a true DVR system - each board comes with software also. This might not be a bad idea, considering DVR boards start around $300 for a 4-channel (cameras), 30FPS play/record board. This board is just a PCI board that pops right in. Very easy to setup and use.

There are tons of other options out there. But one thing I would highly recommend is getting a hi-res camera of some sort - anything over 20 ft. or so, you're not going to have any detail unless it's hi-res.

Let me know if I can help.

I was wondering myself how running two USB-1 cams would work and bought a second one to try but untill now have left it in the box.
I have just installed it and am able to have both cams now up on an extended desktop on a second monitor, which is run by a Matrox G550 dual monitor card.
I also have a mini cam for my laptop and can try running three at the same time to see what happens.
My original cam is an Intel Pro Video with an ntsc (tv) input I picked up for $60.00 and the new one is a Logitech ball thingy I picked up for $20.00.
I made sure the second cam was a different brand than the first so as not to try to run two instances of the same software.
Right now the outdoor image on the Intel is far superior to the indoor image on the Logitech but SafeWatch is right in that the image on the better webcam is not clear enough to read a license plate.

I would like to upgrade my outdoor observation system without spending much money.
This is stricly a toy, and for the $500.00 plus ntsc cameras that the CrowJet costs, I would rather upgrade from my Fuji 2800 digi cam.

My wife works late so maybe I will get to put the second web cam in my front window later today if I get my chores done.

I need to get a USB hub to run two cams off the one cable I ran upstairs.
Do you think that an unpowered hub would work or do you think the video would be affected by not being powered?

I now have three USB webcams running, each using a different program.
Funny thing, the best image is from a tiny little $29.00 USB notebook cam.

This is what I am looking to improve upon.
I would like to find a single piece of software that will control multiple webcams.

Does this exist?

Is this what you were looking for Chris or something more elaborate?

Let me get back to you guys... Sorry, busy.

Chris