Bytemart

We had the following enquiry from a customer about a solution for monitoring his driveway whilst he was away on business:

“I would like to purchase a home security camera. Ideally the camera would have night vision, be wireless and have motion activated recording.

Can you please recommend me a system which is easy to install and reasonably affordable?”

“One thing I would say is that if you are looking for something to point outside at night, then the glass will pretty much render the infra-red useless as it reflects back on the lens and flares out.

If you are looking for something to monitor the outdoors, then I would go for the weatherproof camera (http://www.bytemart.co.uk/acatalog/weatherproof-network-cameras.html). Although this is wired, it can feed a video signal (TV) and also a network (so you can record onto PC). If your pc isn’t nearby, then a cheap wireless access point can be put by the window or area where the camera cable comes in, and then it turns it into a wireless unit. This is preferable as it means the signal isn’t interfered by outside atmospherics.

The range on the infra red with these is far superior (around 25-30 metres), and the construction is robust and weatherproof (metal housing), and of course it would be visible to any intruders.

Once you’ve setup the PC to record the images, you can also ask it to email any movements to a designated email account as a snapshot image, which would be peace of mind for you when you’re away too I’m sure, as well as record the movements as an AVI on the PC for viewing later. A sign on the gate saying you are recording round the clock will help too!

Hope that helps - let me know if you’d like any other information.”

webcamXP is a powerful webcams and ip cameras management and streaming software for private and professional use. it offers unique features and unequalled ease of use to let you broadcast and manage multiple video sources on the same computer. it is the perfect tool to secure your goods.

A customer brought this software to our attention this week and I’ve been having a look at how to integrate with Grandtec’s range of wifi cameras.

I have two Grandtec wifi cameras configured on my network, one overlooking the back garden and the other overlooking my car at the front of the house.

So, visit the webcamxp website http://www.webcamxp.com/ and download the application and the documentation.  Install the wlite125.exe file by following the instructions detailed in the documentation.

Connecting the camera

Right click in the main camera display area where you see the webcamxp logo and a message ‘No video source connected’, pick ‘Network Cameras’ > ‘Connect’. Choose Grandtec from the ‘Camera Brand’ dropdown. Then choose ‘Ip camera’ fron the ‘Camera Model’ list, click ‘Next’.

Type in the IP address of your camera, leave the Port set to 80, choose the ‘Cam Number’ (this relates to the number in the webcamxp application)

Tick the box requiring a password type in the username and password, (default is u:root - p:admin)

Choose the Max Frame Rate (10) and the Output Resoulution (648×480), click the ‘Test’ button to confirm the correct settings, once that’s configured properly click the ‘OK’ button.

Wait for a few seconds and your camera will connect, follow the same method for connecting any other cameras you have.

Here’s a screenshot of what to expect:-

We think that there is great flexibility and functionality with this application and encourage any comments and questions about this setup.

When setting up the Longse DVRs, it is important to remember that turning the power switch to “off”, will mean that you need to re-activate the motion detection state if you want to use it.

To check whether the motion detection state is activated, wave your hand in front of the unit and check the green light on the side of the unit. If it flashes, then that means it is writing an image/video to the memory card and you’re good to go.

We have taken delivery of a new product - a standalone Mini-DVR, that can be set to record stills or video when motion is detected, even in low-light conditions. All footage/images is stored to a 2GB SD card, or the feed can be recorded on separate AV equipment using the video out.

The unit also ships with an alarm siren, that can be used to sound when motion is detected.

We will be offering these for sale in the next week or so - so come back soon!

We have two exciting products on their way - an all-weather IP Network camera that works during day and night, and a stand-alone, portable DVR that records everything onto an SD card!

The new products will be available from the end of July.

After installing the Grand Multi Guard PCI card into your computer and restarting, XP should have detected the new hardware and prompted you for the drivers.

When this prompt appears, do not auto detect drivers, choose from another location.

• Insert the Grandtec CD and browse to D:\English\BT878 (assuming D: is your CD drive)
• Click on the BTPCIAV.INF file and continue.

This should install the drivers for the BT878 card.

Note: You may need to go to

• Control Panel -> System -> Hardware (tab) -> Device Manager
• Find the BT878 card (may have a green question mark)
• Right Click -> Uninstall
• Then Right Click on your computer name, (right at the top of the list) and choose ’scan for hardware changes’
• This should invoke the driver wizard again.

Lets hope this is of some help.

We received the following question from a potential buyer about the movement detection available on the Model 2 cameras that come with the WalkGuard Software -

“It mentions about an alarm that will sound when movement is detected…can you tell me where the alarm is heard? as this will be used for surveillance of a second home I would like to be notified when movement is picked up…I don?t mind having the camera on and connected 24/7 if the alarm can be heard from where I would be viewing. “

We replied……

“The WalkGuard software that the camera is supplied with allows you to set both email notification of any movement, and also an alarm sound that will sound on the PC that is monitoring the remote camera.”

On BBC news this morning, the editor of FQ Magazine (http://www.fqmagazine.co.uk/), took part in a feature on “Nanny Cams”. This focussed on the use of covert surveillance cameras for monitoring childcare staff whilst you are out and about.

We don’t advocate the use of surveillance in every situation - as fathers ourselves we recognise the importance of getting the right person who will be responsible for your child from the start, rather than monitoring them covertly to check they are doing things the way you would like.

However, a network camera in just one room of the house, that the nanny knows about, is a good way for you to check in now and again - and to just get a quick fix of that precious bundle whilst at work!

A customer has sent us a time-lapsed video of them mowing their lawn! It was recorded using the Grand Pan & Tilt WiFi Network Camera (S-W-PT2), and the supplied WalkGuard software.

Watch the video now - Windows Media