[hackerspaces] Webcam setups, for security and community?

[Mars]

I'll say one last thing... Tech that changes and goes through fast generation changes(like surv. Equip) really enables 1-2(or older) year old tech to be found on the super cheap on eBay...  That's basically what HF sells IMHO... Although I love them for some stuff.

But how important is it this project?  I'd say webcams one the ubercheap and wired netcams from eBay... I got a bunch - well a few- of 2003 dlink net webcams and I think they have wee wittle net servers built in... Or at least some minimal http interface.  A little research and ya might find some ancient netcams that can be refirmwareloaded w some open Linux based stuffamagoo.

Dunno... Just thoughts.   

Sent from my iPhone

On Nov 4, 2011, at 12:07 PM, psytek at alphaonelabs.com wrote:

> http://www.harborfreight.com/4-channel-surveillance-dvr-with-4-cameras-and-mobile-monitoring-capabilities-68332.html
> 
> On Nov 4, 2011, at 9:42 AM, Ben Brown <ben at generik.ca> wrote:
> 
>> Our space is using two D-Link IP cameras monitoring both entrances out
>> in the hall. I had tried to get zoneminder to play ball (along with some
>> regular USB webcams) but no dice. For now we're using the DVR software
>> the cameras came with. Seems to work well enough, plus we have two weeks
>> of motion-detected video if we ever need it.
>> 
>> However you'll never beat the quality of a commercial surveillance
>> system... expensive as hell, but you do get what you pay for.
>> 
>> Ben
>> 
>> On 11/3/2011 1:07 PM, mars at redecho.org wrote:
>>> Forgive me if this topic has been beaten to death already: I am new to
>>> this list and have found it difficult to search through the archives.
>>> 
>>> I am affiliated with Air Light Time & Space here in Seattle. We want to
>>> set up some webcams, both as a security measure and as a way of promoting
>>> community engagement. We think that people will be more likely to "just
>>> stop by" if they can check in first and see what to expect.
>>> 
>>> Commercial security camera systems look complicated and expensive. We were
>>> thinking that we could get a bunch of cheap USB webcams and plug them into
>>> a cheap PC and run some free software on it. Of course none of us actually
>>> know how to do this, which is why I am asking for advice.
>>> 
>>> Have any of you set up such a system? Can you give me any pointers on
>>> hardware or software that I should look into? What is the state of Linux
>>> camera drivers - are there certain models which should be favored or
>>> avoided? Is there such a thing as a weatherproof USB webcam? How far can
>>> you stretch a USB connection? (It'd be cool to put a camera over the front
>>> door, but that's a good 80 feet from where the PC would live.)  Video
>>> would be great, but we would be happy with still frames.
>>> 
>>> Thanks for any pointers you can offer!
>>> 
>>> Mars Saxman @ ALTSpace
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