[NBLUG/talk] theft deterrent / security system

[Steve S.]

On Mon, Nov 11, 2013 at 10:24 AM, jezra <jezra at jezra.net> wrote:

> I'm thinking the "shape" should be a home-made rustic birdhouse, or
> something else that blends into the surroundings. Currently, the
> property has a shed, a trailer, and a bunch of oak trees. If well
> disguised, the probability of the security system getting stolen would
> be dramatically reduced.

Yeah, I was going to say:  having your whole system (including the
recordings/evidence) stolen would be a possible problem (even a
"likely" problem... in the UNLIKELY event the robbers are even
semi-intelligent).  I presume you'd solar-power the thing, with
battery-array for nights?  Your set-up is getting bigger... harder to
hide.

I would *NOT* use a "game-cam" camera -- I bet some of these guys are
hunters, and would spot it in a cold second... and be glad to take the
extra profit !

Another possibility:  invest some in better lens(es) -- telephoto --
and set your system off a ways where it just won't be seen (telephoto
lenses WILL be bigger than normal; but not too huge, as the cam-sensor
will be pretty small).  Camo-gear to cover your set-up.  A solar-array
is harder to hide, though... buried power-line, so the array looks
like it's powering your trailer (mounting it on the trailer)?  I'm not
sure how big your solar-array would have to be, to power things
through (for example) a multi-day-storm where "daytime" only provides
a small part of its usual charge; looting is more-common after big
storms like that.  A flash-disk for storage would help with both size
and power issues.

A "fake" antenna/camera(s) could work (or at least help), with a big
sign saying "video monitored off-site".  Any chance of getting (or
faking) an "official logo/label" from one of your regional
telecomm's-providers, so it "looks like" you've had a "genuine"
(instead of DIY) installation?

Finally, as Steve suggests (err... the OTHER Steve (I am *also* a
"Steve S" -- an excellent name! ;-) ) , internet *might* be available,
with a bit of extra effort:  off-the-shelf wifi can be range-boosted
without too much cost, as a fairly-simple DIY project.  I've seen
claims of multi-KILOMETER range achieved from a simple 802.11g home
wifi router...  Maybe you and some neighboring property-owners could
collaborate in sharing a multi-hop configuration to the nearest
access-point?


- Steve S (but not "sjs")


-- 
"When I became a man I put away childish things, including the fear of
childishness and the desire to be very grown up."      -CS Lewis