Logitech Digital Video Security System We’ve seen a number of PC-based home security systems in the past, but they all tend to share one common – and fundamental – flaw. The standard approach is to use motion-detection software running on a PC to tell the camera to record video footage of anyone that’s sniffing around your home or office without your permission. …
http://www.zoneminder.com/
It's free (although Linux instead of windows) - and supports sending out the alerts as videos as well as automatically sending them to a remote server.
I've used it with a load of 55GBP wireless cameras, and it's working quite nicely for the small company that's using it.
That must mean something different in the reg headquarters (the pub?) to the rest of the UK.
Apart from having the mains networking built in, there's nothing on offer here that couldn't be done much more cheaply.
Email alerts (or ftp uploads) aren't anything new, they've been around for ages.
IP Cameras cost less than the £199 wanted for each additional camera, and a standard usb plugged one would be even cheaper (but less useful).
The cheapest IP Camera on dabs is only just over £50, for just over £100 you can have one with pan/tilt and zoom.
The only thing you need in addition to that is the software to monitor them, unless the logitech software is really really special it doesn't justify the price they are charging for any of the kit.
Conclusion - logitech is massively over priced but does provide the convenience of a one stop shop, 20%.
@Simon Dax: Couldn't agree more...
@Mark_T: GeoVision? Pfft. Clearly you want to pay to upgrade next week then. And pay again to upgrade four weeks later. And pay again after that.. then there's the total lack of compatibility with any other products... avoid.
May I recommend i-Catcher Console? (http://www.icode.co.uk/icatcher/products/console.html) Very cheap and compatible with many manufacturers. They even have a CCTV shop to buy components and systems from.
-- Richard
I think the whole point about this kit is that you plug it in to the mains. You plug a USB dongle in to your computer and install some software and it just all works. There is no messing around with IP addresses (or rather no knowledge of IP addresses in needed). Also from what I have read else where, there is quite a bit of processing power in each camera over and above the normal IP cameras.
Totally over priced all the same but I guess you pay for convenience.
Aren't their wireless keyboards and mice preposterously unsecure?
Last I heard a hacking team had worked out their woeful wireless signal encryption, turned out it could be hacked in a fraction of a second.
...And we're meant to trust them with an extortionately priced camera security system!?
We'll see how long it takes before hacking team reports come in where such cams are being hacked into. Throw a towel over them when surfing the porn eh lads!
Why the need for a subscription (even if it is a free subscription) to some proprietary service to receive email alerts? My little Y-cam IP camera sends me motion detection email alerts directly through my ISP's mail server without any need for registration or subscription. It also doesn't need any special software on my PC, indeed it doesn't even need the PC to be on (great for saving power), because the motion detection and emailing is done right from the camera. It has its shortcomings, for example wireless networking with WPA2 security being unreliable, and lack of PoE (a moot point if you are using wireless), but for around £130 I'm quite happy.
It's cheap compared to some .. I know it's a bit more professional and it's what they are experts in, but Axis charge around £600 per camera for anything of decent quality. And they also have the ability to e-mail the footage (although if your a business that can afford such a system you can afford to lock the server running Axis Camera Station away so it can't be stolen)
I understand where Logitech's coming from - they're targeting folks who're NOT tech experts and who can't be bothered with setups, cabling, Linux, etc. These are people who have money, trust the Logitech brand, are comfortable with non-tech DIY... a large large market, IMO.
While I'm at it, another service targeting similar folks (though its free and webcam based) is HomeCamera (http://www.homecamera.com). No video streaming (only video clips), though that's set to change early 2009. Motion detection alerts (including videos) are sent direct to mobile phones, storage is all server based, sharing is easy, scheduling of recording is easy, yada yada yada. Covered by Technofile on Sky News a few months ago (the video should still be there somewhere...)
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