Has anyone had experience putting CCTV cameras or intercoms into their HT builds ?? We want to be able to keep an eye on the kids when they are in the HT watching movies so we are putting in a camera that will be hooked to a monitor upstairs. I'd also like an intercom system included as well so the wifes not always yelling down the stairs.

I've looked around the internet quite a bit, but dont know any of the companies making this system to really evaluate their quality. Any input appreciated.

thanks

No experience but just some assumptions. You need to mount the camera in such a way that it can't see the screen or the light from the projector otherwise those bright light sources will overpower what is going on in the theater.

Think night vision set up?

I have no experience in parenting but it would seem that random unannounced drop in visits achieves the same result if they never know when you might drop in. Maybe we need to ask Dr. Drew but if you grow up under the constant observation of a camera it might lead to wanting to be a porn star when you grow up. There are emotional consequences.

I'm not sure having a camera in one room in the house, which they'll use about 4 hours a week qualifies as "constant observation".

Anyone with answers not related to parenting (LOL)

I don't have a camera in my theater but I do have 13 cameras around the house. I have a 15" lcd mounted high on the wall in the theater that we watch the kids on while we are watching a movie. I also have the lights set up to dim for 15 sec if the door bell is rung. We then check the front door camera to see if the person is pause worthy. A decent b&w camera would work fine in theater conditions to answer your question.

68, mind if I ask what type of cameras you bought ?? I'm looking at a setup from SVAT.

I have the Elan system for communications, door bell, audio and video distribution. I have a few Via! control panels that can be used as the display for the cameras but I have no idea how to patch it into the tvs nor do I have a clue how to get it to dim the lights. What system are you using 68?

Most of my cameras are wide angle b&w bullets. They do great in low light situations. I use channel modulators to insert the cameras to the tv system. I have an automation program that allows me to view them over the internet.

I want to put some cameras on the perimiter of my house ( low light cameras )... what type of wiring do I need to rough-in so I can add the cameras at a later date ?

what brand of camera do you use 68 ?

No experience but just some assumptions. You need to mount the camera in such a way that it can't see the screen or the light from the projector otherwise those bright light sources will overpower what is going on in the theater.

Think night vision set up?

I have no experience in parenting but it would seem that random unannounced drop in visits achieves the same result if they never know when you might drop in. Maybe we need to ask Dr. Drew but if you grow up under the constant observation of a camera it might lead to wanting to be a porn star when you grow up. There are emotional consequences.


I agree. Random drop ins are just as good, if not better than a camera. What worries you so much that you feel the need for this? If its a boyfriend/girlfriend thing, frequent drop ins eliminate any chance of something happening.

I just had cameras put up around the exterior of my house.
I will look up the brand and post it later (at work now).
They are bullet cameras, which in this case means a little smaller in diameter than a soda can, but a little longer.
They have infrared emitters around the lens for night viewing.

As far as pre-wiring for them, the wire the install team used consists of a dual wire. It carries power and video side-by-side (yes I know about the interfernce potential but its low power?). I am sure it is available from any of the cable type supply places, probably best deal is online. It takes quite a bit since you home-run everything. When you can't run it all through the attic it is often tucked under the house siding in a corner.

With proper aiming and allignment you should be able to avoid any washout from projector light.

Paul

I wish there was an AVS subforum on CCTV/IP cameras.

If anyone finds some good links, post them up.

I'm also looking for a camera and intercom solution.

badata2d, if you find something, or go with the SVAT, let us know. ;)

I'm hesitant to go with a proprietary system, as I'm currently stuck with a big hole in the drywall where an installed M&S intercom station was located. It was installed when the house was built, and now they're just eyesores scattered over the house.

For the intercom, I'll probably just have to bite the bullet. For video, i'll probably have it displayed online, and over the TV's. Gotta do some research. Seems it's either CCTV over coax to the TV's, or IP to the PC...wonder if there's a product that can do both (without a full home automation system).

I am begining my HT project in our new house. I prewired the house for an intercom and went with the M&S systems intercom. This allows Audio monitoring of any room so we can hear the kids playing at the moment anywhere in the house.

We have the house intercom/audio integrated into our Imac and with Iremote app for the Ipod/Iphone, we can control the streaming audio and apple TV feed through the house and intercom audio. Iremote uses the Iphone interface to control the audio, so you can see everything on the mac with the phone album covers and everything...Iremote uses the WiFi connection so no direct line of sight is required. This is all wired into the Intercom...

For video, its coming and I am waiting for the cost of this app to come down:
http://www.lextechlabs.com/2008/07/10/ira-iphone-surveillance-app-preview-video

We have an Ipod upstairs and down stairs, and me and the wife each have Iphones, all can control the system.

The plan is also to use the Insteon interface to the Iphone as well as we add the whole home control system. So in a nutshell eventually, it will ALL be done through the phone/pod.

Kirby

I want to put some cameras on the perimiter of my house ( low light cameras )... what type of wiring do I need to rough-in so I can add the cameras at a later date ?

what brand of camera do you use 68 ?

Most of mine are cheap channel plus cameras I got off of ebay. I plan on upgrading at some point but they do the job. I'll post a couple of pics for you. You want to run a siamesed cctv cable and cat5e. The reason for the cat5e is ip cameras are the future but still pricey at this time.

http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk225/68sting/front.jpg


http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk225/68sting/cap00023.jpg




http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk225/68sting/IntersectionShot8.jpg

I usually have my outside lights on but here's one with no lights on. You don't see the lines in the picture on the tv either. Just when you take a snap shot. I have the front door and driveway shots emailed to me everytime the door bell is rung.

http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk225/68sting/IntersectionShot2.jpg


There are dedicated cctv forums but here's where I go for answers.

http://www.cocoontech.com/index.php?showforum=14

For wireless intercoms they say the Reporters work great.