Concept idea: surveillance system

[JGrauman]

Thought about this one for a while. I have done lots of home and office surveillance installations, but never a mobile one. I don't have the time right now to do a proof of concept, but wanted to share incase someone else would like to. Let me know what you think

Items needed:
hotspot: either a tablet or hotspot with usb power source
wireless router in bridge mode
"always on" usb port
dvr:DVR
4 ir cameras:cameras
switched power source
optional second battery and inverter
optional monitor for DVR: Monitor

You could use wireless cameras for easier install, but you would have to deal with batteries in each camera.

Mount cameras on all four sides of your roof rack. The cameras I linked come with 60ft of wire, plus camera power supply. Run your wire to dvr location, probably best option is under front seat. The dvr I linked is not very big, I have one at my house. Run usb power supply to dvr location. Plug in a usb port to your tablet and turn on hotspot. I run my hotspot almost 24-7 in my work truck. Set up an old wireless router ($10 on craigslist or in your closet) in bridge mode and connect it to your hotspot. Now you have 4 wired internet ports in your truck. Plug in internet port to dvr. Dvr comes with 12v power supply as does the router so there will be some wiring splices needed if you did not want to use an inverter. I would run the power for the router and dvr on a switch straight from the battery. USB power could be fused from the battery. Once you get all this installed you can set up remote access to your dvr. You can use your tablet to log in and view all 4 cameras while in the truck or hardwire a small monitor. You can now access your cameras from your phone or any internet enabled computer from anywhere in the world.

Uses:
4 wheeling trips. You can install a hard drive in the DVR. While on, all your driving is recorded and stored on the DVR. When you get home, pull in the garage and connect your bridge to your home network, down load the DVR files and view your trip from every angle. (If you have unlimited data, you can just connect to the DVR from anywhere and download the files).

Sleeping in the back on a camping trip and hear a noise? you have an IR 360 degree view of your truck. keep your tablet next to you while you sleep and just press the unlock button, boom, theres that raccoon eating your breakfast in the cooler you left open.

Parking in a shady part of town? turn the motion detection on in the DVR settings and it will send you an email letting you know someone is walking by your truck.

Lots of different options on the DVR as well, I just linked a cheap one. You could get one with a usb external hard drive so offloading your recording would be a matter of unplugging your usb drive and plugging up to your computer.

 

[Gtranch14]

Security

Seems like it would be a good concept but may be a little costly between the hot spot, install fees and and any monthly fees that goes along with it. Security will always be a issue here in the US so you can't really go wrong here!!!

 

[Ariakas]

I may not really be cheaper, but might be easier.. You would not need the DVR since they will internal record. But the cameras are more expensive. I paid around $90 for mine when Sams ran a sale.

I use one of these as a baby monitor. They have a built in Micro SD card and can be set up to record internally, as well as be accessed from anywhere if they are internet connected. They only require USB power to function so power should be easy. They also have several mount options including being removable from the little mount/stand for custom options

I doubt you would get internet for the web connection on the trails, but could still have them record on internal/replaceable memory, and with a cheap WiFi router you could use the local network connection on the trail to view the feeds via phone or tablet, and have it auto connect to your home system when you pull up in the driveway to download the data without having to remove the SD cards (Done via web interface). They even have two way audio when used with an App.

You would probably have to have a WiFi router that can connect to another WiFi network and may have to use weather proof housings if mounting on roof.

I bet if you mounted them hanging upside down from the roof inside, you could face one forward, and one back and get pretty good coverage (they are wide angle and have IR to get 0 lux video). You may even be able to get more distance with external IR LED banks.