A suggestions for setting up a wireless security camera with a Mac?
I just moved into a new place. There are two dynamics that are encouraging me to set up a wireless security system.
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1. Large front windows that showcase quite a bit of expensive musical equipment and flat screens.
2. It’s impossible to see who’s at the front door before coming downstairs to answer.
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Any tips for an affordable solution that I can hook up to my Mac to monitor? Thanks!
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6 Answers
Although I’m not very familiar with them, there are a few apps for the Mac that allow you to quickly view the output of a connected webcam as a live video (particularly useful for the door) and it will continually take snapshots in the background every specified period (30 seconds? Useful for the front windows) saving them as images to your drive. This is particularly good, as a 24/7 running video would quickly become huge.
My thinking is basically, use a very long USB cable (as an extender, to which the webcam is plugged in) to attach the device. An iSight would look particularly cool as a security camera, if you can get hold of one. If it’s not an iSight, then make sure that a Mac OS X driver is available for it.
Not to mention, use a strong security cable to connect the Mac you use for security to the wall or floor (or at-least the external hard drive it’s saved on). The footage you gather is useless if you can’t get a burglary conviction because they took it with them. :)
If I remember the name of the app I’ll post it here.
Actually, I remember there being a very simple utility someplace that you could easily hook into an AppleScript. You could have the script take a snapshot every specified period and save it to a folder. This was ages ago though.
I just noticed you said wireless… I’m not sure about that. Maybe you should look into a professional security system of some sort? I’m sure some people must do home-based solutions that don’t cost too much.
You may want to consult the cops as well to determine what will be effective as a theft deterrent as well as for recovering stolen property. Granted it’s a different situation, but our local police turned down one resident’s property crime case (something shot through his front window) even though he had video of the perp’s vehicle.
when im in the shop tomorow i’ll check out what kind of system we use (we have a wireless webcam system), i’ll keep you updated
what about some drapes in front of the window?
SecuritySpy for mac will let you hook up a variety if cameras to your mac and monitor them continuously. Google it.
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