Cant find what I want.

[Meece 1,958]

I've got a cctv system, which covers the entrance doors but the monitor screen is in the house and not by the door.  i'd like a separate door cam with a screen on the inside of the door wall so we can view the outside of the door area before we open it to random callers. The door is in a 'recess so ideally the camera needs to be remotely mounted so that it views down the side of the outside wall. There are 7"  wall units like this available on ebay and amazon but the cam is mounted in a doorbell unit which will only give a view straight out in front of the recess  but won't give a view if someone is standing around the corner. I dont see anything like this available. Anyone got any ideas or pointers. 

[ChrisJones 7,975]

Does your system have the ability to be upgraded to install additional cameras and monitors? If so go for a smaller set of cameras and install as many as you need to cover the blind spots.

If not look at an additional stand-alone system where you can run the monitor by your door and have a separate feed that will cover blind spots.

There's always a way but it's the usual conundrum of cost and quality. I couldn't recommend an actual system as ours are upgraded fairly regularly to keep with regs but Costco here sell Avertx and Night Owl which are fairly decent and give you 8TB of hard drive recording space and the ability to stream with WiFi. WiFi is great until someone disables it which can be as easy as pulling the cord out.

Personally, I'd go with the highest resolution you can afford as it'll improve the quality of any evidence you may submit in the future and we all know how interested the police are in hearsay.

[Greyman 32,392]

Get one of those doorbell cameras, that ring your mobile when the bell goes, you can even speak to the person if your a 100 miles from home, I got caught on one myself recently even after I,d had a look round for cameras, I was,nt at it,just carrying out a practical joke on a mate, when his brother who I don't no came flying out the house ready for combat, infact I never even rung the bell but it had phoned them the minute I walked upto the door and sent them a video of me writing dick head in foot high letters on his front door 

[Meece 1,958]

2 hours ago, Greyman said:

Get one of those doorbell cameras, that ring your mobile when the bell goes, you can even speak to the person if your a 100 miles from home, I got caught on one myself recently even after I,d had a look round for cameras, I was,nt at it,just carrying out a practical joke on a mate, when his brother who I don't no came flying out the house ready for combat, infact I never even rung the bell but it had phoned them the minute I walked upto the door and sent them a video of me writing dick head in foot high letters on his front door 

I have had a look at what seems to be available and none of it fits what I  want. The problem with the door bell jobby is that the door is in a recess and as such you cant see the blind spot outside to the left or right. I want a monitor on the inside by the door but the camera set back a bit on the outside.

[j j m 6,626]

I've just got cameras fitted at different angles to cover all my premises and blind spots

[ChrisJones 7,975]

On 04/09/2018 at 12:02, Meece said:

I have had a look at what seems to be available and none of it fits what I  want. The problem with the door bell jobby is that the door is in a recess and as such you cant see the blind spot outside to the left or right. I want a monitor on the inside by the door but the camera set back a bit on the outside.

A camera on the doorbell facing a convex mirror that's set to cover your blind spots.

[Meece 1,958]

Good thinking  batman. I don't know where I'd get one or whether it would work in the dark bùt there is auto illumination out there so it should show the area..ideally it sort of needs the cam to be mounted above the door, lòking down so that I / we could see if there was more than oñe person out there. This is something that doesnt seem to be available as an off the peg item. Well not that I have found yet. The camera system that I have now covers the door area but the monitor for it is nowhere near the door so when you actually  open the door you dont know who or how many people are out there at thst moment. Its not an urgent thing that has to be done but something that I have noticed could be better. This area is not Beirut or some scum area. Its more likely to be a poppy seller or the jehovas. Although we do get an amount of misdirected delivery drivers at the wrong address. Better add an intercom to that.  "WHO ARE YOU !?  And what's your business here?  Show yourself " !

[j j m 6,626]

sounds a good idea

[ChrisJones 7,975]

16 hours ago, Meece said:

I don't know where I'd get one or whether it would work in the dark bùt there is auto illumination out there so it should show the area..ideally it sort of needs the cam to be mounted above the door, lòking down so that I / we could see if there was more than oñe person out there.

Apologies for the link as it's a Yank site. You get the idea though. I'm sure there are plenty of health and safety places that will stock convex mirrors for warehouses and retail establishments for the similar purpose.

The other option I thought of was closing off your recess with a decorative wrought iron gate, creating a type of two door mantrap effect. This way you could actually open the door and check without having to rely on a to dimensional camera feed. You could place the intercom on the gate and deal with people at a distance. That and upgrade your security lighting around the front of the property. Lighting is always underrated.

 

[Meece 1,958]

Thanks for both of these original thought ideas. It seems that there is a hole in the market for something like this. I don't quite understañd why a single camera remote door cam isn't a common item. After all opening a door to the outside is a potential problem even if it is harmless like being mentaly assaulted by the local religious nutter about theologian values. There are  loads of cctv systems out there available but they're all multi camera with a base recording unit. All of that isn't suitable for reasons of space  for mounting next to an entry door. There are loads of simple 7" door cam screens but all linked  to a door bell cam.  Both of those ideas of yours are simple cheap and workable thanks again for your input.  I found this........ https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Wide-Angle-Security-Curved-Convex-Road-Mirror-Traffic-Driveway-Safety-30cm-BN/263923588678?epid=1976542749&hash=item3d73125e46:g:HQEAAOSwAghaq4rq

[ChrisJones 7,975]

On 08/09/2018 at 01:29, Meece said:

There are  loads of cctv systems out there available but they're all multi camera with a base recording unit. All of that isn't suitable for reasons of space  for mounting next to an entry door.

True. Unfortunately, this is where costs come in. It's possible to hide the base unit in a loft and run the wiring to an auxiliary recorder to. You can also mount the monitor into the wall and cover it with a clear screen so it doesn't get knocked. All of that costs though and it will purely depend on your personal circumstances as to whether you'd install it or not as the cost is really the only limiting factor.

I went with an Australian Cattle Dog and a Glock 17. Great combinations for intruders.

 

 

[Meece 1,958]

 Yes this is how it is. I think that the mirror idea is the best and cheapest whilst being simple. The cheapest option would be to  mount a couple of transit type mirrors slightly out to view the angles. The reason that I am looking at these sort of things is that a friend of mine was home invaded !  Very rare over here but shocking and very dangerous if it does happen. He was woķen at 20 to 4 one morning by his dogs barking.  He didn't take any notice much as he thought that it was a  probably a fox winding them up. His Mrs got up and suddenly they were confronted by 3 men in their bedroom.  He is no shrinking violet and a struggle ensued. During this he was struck by a blow from a bar. Some money and jewlery was taken.  Probably arouñd 1500 pounds worth in total.  As a result of this I have installed cameras and beefed up door locks and added other precautions. This area has a very low crime rate and isn't exactly Beirut but odd things have happened and it is bad if you make up a small statistic. What I really wanted to do was to construct a gate on the stairs so that if someone gained access to the house they wouldn't be able to get up to us with ease. This would give warning and time to do something to protect ourselves but she will not allow me to do it. I understand the potential dangers that may affect us. We do have family stay with us including children. I dont want to live in a prison either, in case something that might happen but which hasnt happened in this area. if it ever did she might sing a different tune.

Edited September 10, 2018 by Meece

[ChrisJones 7,975]

That's the epitome of a rough evening!

I've worked for a security company in Las Vegas for the best part of the last decade. I can empathise with your situation. I do get asked for security tips from time to time and the basic answer revolves around situational awareness and not drawing attention to one's circumstances that put you on the criminal radar. It's not always that simple and it's difficult to formulate a one size fits all solution. Any security system is based on buying time until help arrives. Watching and replicating a demonstration on picking padlocks makes you wonder why you bother having them in the first place!

You'll know your personal circumstances better than anyone but if you do have money over a longer period of time I'd seriously consider beefing up your camera coverage where and if possible. Cameras don't act as much of deterrent but while a home invasion type scenario is on the extreme end of the property incursions stopping one is extremely difficult as British law has the law-abiding citizen on the wrong end by default. However, having the evidence to secure a conviction might allow you to get justice at some point and may even prevent some forms of trespass and burglary as you'll be able to record who comes and goes while you're out.

Mirrors will allow you to quickly scope out who might be hiding out of sight of your door camera but if someone removes the mirror you're back to square one whereas hidden cameras (more expensive) covering the blind spots and hooked into your HD recorder (more expensive) will allow you to see them and they'd be unaware of their presence. IR (moderate expense) and TI (more expensive) will allow you to see them even in situations where they'd dismantle your lighting. Discreet installation won't draw attention to the family and Mrs Meece won't bug you that she feels like she's living in a SuperMax prison.

You could consider beefing up the internal security by installing heavier doors but we've got field experience with this product (I carry one for hotel doors when I travel) and also this product which is both surprisingly cheap and useful tool to utilise against a forced entry. As said though, you're just buying time until help arrives or in my case until I can intervene myself. Living 40 miles from a police station carries its own pros and cons.