10-22-2014, 03:34 AM
I bought the ~$300 DVR system at Costco and have been happy with it. If I had to do it again, I would buy the ~$600 HD version.
I used the camera to weed out the false alarms generated by my monitored alarm system. I put the DVR in the attic and used a computer UPS system ~$70 so that it would record without power for a short time. Almost all systems now can report movement via email and allow remote monitoring with phone apps. I was always the first to know when a gecko or moth was prowling my cameras.
During the one burglary I had, before I installed the cameras a couple of years ago, the power meter was pried off and the Internet connection was pulled out externally. My alarm system has a cell card and battery backup, so I did get a call. I would recommend having a camera facing your drive-up entrance and another covering the location of your utility hookups.
Now that I have moved here and work from home, this isn't as much of a concern anymore.
I used the camera to weed out the false alarms generated by my monitored alarm system. I put the DVR in the attic and used a computer UPS system ~$70 so that it would record without power for a short time. Almost all systems now can report movement via email and allow remote monitoring with phone apps. I was always the first to know when a gecko or moth was prowling my cameras.
During the one burglary I had, before I installed the cameras a couple of years ago, the power meter was pried off and the Internet connection was pulled out externally. My alarm system has a cell card and battery backup, so I did get a call. I would recommend having a camera facing your drive-up entrance and another covering the location of your utility hookups.
Now that I have moved here and work from home, this isn't as much of a concern anymore.