Looking for ideas and experience with Video Security Cameras on the Farm

[riptides]

Always include a fake camera where someone can see it.

 

[newbury]

Its obvious to me that I am going to have to really spend some time understanding the technology out there and its limitations that might be a problem for me.

There are enough inexpensive cameras out there that you should be able to select something inexpensive quickly, get a few out there and then analyze for the big bucks.
I'm partial to Wyze and have 30 to 40 active at any one time covering 3 geographically separate properties and a bunch of "special" use situations.
Special use includes set up for dog watching, FEL camera, trailer backup cam, monitoring the laundry.
I've had Reolink and several other brands but Wyze has been the best supported for the $$.

 

[ning]

If you have a distance that's too far for basic ethernet (100m max), you can consider a fiber repeater; you can either use it to connect a wifi access point and then use wifi cameras or use it to directly connect (possibly through a hub/switch) hardwired cameras.

I have one that's specifically intended to extend USB a long ways - similar to this: Amazon.com
Mine came as a pair for that price, one for each end of the fiber.
They make ethernet extenders that are pretty much the same.
On my land it goes about 200m.

Downside of it is that it does require fiber, which you'll probably want to put in a conduit for protection (direct burial fiber gets expensive really fast and IMO doesn't provide enough protection).
I got 200m of 4-strand singlemode fiber with pulling eye at both ends, terminated at both ends (ie, connectors ready to go) for $380 a few years ago. I only needed one fiber, but figured having more than one was good in case one was damaged during installation, and more than one fiber wasn't much more expensive than just one.

One thing to consider is that wifi cameras are detectable in general; people will know there's wifi out in the forest - whether or not that's good is up to you - some people may consider that enough of a warning that they're under surveillance and leave, but others may decide to look for the cameras.

 

[plowhog]

There is another important consideration. Chinese manufactured cameras are quite popular, such as reolink, amcrest, dahua, hikvision, empiretech, etc. But they also have a potential security risk. Actually many cameras do, but probably best to say especially Chinese cameras.

Years ago there was significant security penetrations done by Hikvision cameras. I believe the US government still has them on a banned list and not allowed for any governmental use.

I have a recently purchased Dahua camera. I installed it and it promptly asked permission to download and run the camera configuration program. I am security conscious, so I clicked "no" to not allow that program to download. What I found thereafter was the best camera features (intrusion, tripwire) are not possible to use unless you let the companion program download and run. Catch-22. That camera program is a .exe file that is capable of doing drastic damage if malware is included. So I have a fancy camera with fancy features but I can't use any of them unless I possibly expose my network to hackers.

I did some research on technical forums to better learn of the safety or risk of this program. I found one quite skilled individual who had found extensive malware in the program the camera wants to download. Such as a trojan or viruses. He is not the only one to report this but this individual seemed especially skilled to evaluate threats.

I began commenting with this individual on the tech forum, and found many others quickly joining in to assure everyone of the program's safety. As the suspicious type, I believe those "others" providing assurances actually or secretly work for the manufacturer. I do believe the individual who found the malware. Not only am I not allowing my camera to download the needed program but I am considering isolating it even further away from my other devices. So many bad things can happen if your security gets penetrated that it is worth staying away from risky things. Like many chinese cameras.

It's a difficult world to navigate with so many bad actors out there. Can't offer many solutions-- just altering folks to potential risks.

 

[riptides]

Dahau is a banned manufacturer in the USA.

 

[plowhog]

Dahau is a banned manufacturer in the USA.

Well here is one of many vendors that sells Dahua in the USA. Was this a total ban or just government ban?

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/buy/dahua-ip-cameras/ci/57439

 

[ponytug]

Well here is one of many vendors that sells Dahua in the USA. Was this a total ban or just government ban?

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/buy/dahua-ip-cameras/ci/57439

@riptides is on the money: Deemed an "unacceptable risk to national security" by the FCC, along with Hikivision, Huawei, ZTE, and Hytera.

FCC Explains Why They Plan To Ban Dahua And Hikvision

This 1-minute video recap shows how the FCC explained why they voted unanimously for a plan to ban NDAA-covered companies including Dahua and Hikvision.

ipvm.com

I would not endorse any camera that requires cloud storage of your images, especially if those images are stored outside of the US, e.g. China.

I think that your (@plowhog's) comments about not allowing the camera to download software is a great one. I would also take the time to lock your cameras IP address, and communication to and from just your computer(s), and / or your dedicated host offsite. Cameras have a well deserved reputation for leaking data, information, and just plain image export. This may require an significant upgrade to your home router, but in terms of security, it will be, I think, necessary, as networked cameras are effectively an open door to the outside world.

Cellular communication cameras have the advantage of a more secure communication link, but check where the data is being stored, and where the company is headquartered and manufacturing. Details matter for security on this issue.

All the best,

Peter

 

[5030]

The best night vision I have is my ATN night vision scope on my Savage 22-250 rifle. Deadly on yotes and anything else in the dark of night. I have the one that the government wanted to ban but were not successful or if they were, I never got notified. It's wicked. It not only gives you the sight picture but it calculates bullet drop and windage as well and it's Bluetooth so anyone nearby can watch the action as well. It's usually one and done. Out here it's never a bi-ped issue it's always a quadra ped issue. All we have are outside LED security lights that are dusk to dawn and that's it. One thing I've never been at all **** about is trespasser though with the way things are going today, I probably should be. We have a lot of Mexican migrant workers here during planting and harvest because we are surrounded by truck farms but all the migrants are very respectful and friendly and not a problem at all. It's the not locals that are the issue here. They come out here, get loaded and do stupid stuff. Last year I had one drive through my fence on the east side of the house and right into the creek where the state police found him passed out and his insurance company had to pay for the fence he drove through plus reimburse me for crop loss.

 

[Thall303]

How close to your home does someone need to be before you open fire?

 

[thepumpguysc]

Lol..^..
I had a customer that was picking up a pump one Saturday & wanted to know
“how late” is to late.??
I said, u better get here before the sun goes down, cuz I start shooting after that..
He made it in plenty of time..

 

[riptides]

Cloud stores are oversold and over marketed. There is enough technology available today at agreeable price points to where storage should never leave your property. I am talking terabytes available under 100 bucks. Unheard of 5 years ago, dreamed of 10 years ago. LOL.

 

[jmc]

Cloud stores are oversold and over marketed. There is enough technology available today at agreeable price points to where storage should never leave your property. I am talking terabytes available under 100 bucks. Unheard of 5 years ago, dreamed of 10 years ago. LOL.

Makes sense. OTOH back then, burglars used to also steal the VCRs that recorded them!

 

[ponytug]

Makes sense. OTOH back then, burglars used to also steal the VCRs that recorded them!

Agreed! I always thought it was less than prudent to put the VCR in the closet with the alarm panel, behind the alarm keypad. That always seemed to me like a neon arrow pointing out where the goodies were, and yet many folks did that.

Which is why I think that it is prudent to hide/fortify the locations (plural!) of that type of equipment. For example, the controller/computer/primary storage in one place, and backup storage elsewhere. There are some pretty nice "digital safes" designed to hold running disks available, but do something smart to hide it, preferably somewhere surrounded by items that to a burglar have low value.

I think making life difficult for a quick smash and grab burglar is one thing, and is a very different security profile compared to someone who has a reason to target you personally. The latter is a much much bigger challenge, at least in my opinion.

All the best,

Peter

 

[ericm979]

I bought a cellular based camera recently. I picked a Reolink Go PT because it doesn't store the data on their servers ("in the cloud") unless you add that feature and pay for it. And it seemed to have good reviews. I've only had it set up for a few weeks but it seems to work well.

It needs to be pretty close to the trail/road or whatever you're monitoring for the person/vehicle identification to work. Like 30' or so.

Storing data on the camera instead of the cloud means that if thieves steal the camera they got the images too and you probably did not get a copy.

Even though the image storage is not in the cloud, the management of the device goes through their servers. It's kind of unavoidable with a camera for a remote property. For your situation I think you could use wifi cams (with range extenders as needed) connected to a recording device at your home on the property. Then both the management channel and the image storage are under your control. You'd also save the expense of SIM cards with their monthly access charges for each camera.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

Dahau is a banned manufacturer in the USA.

Really? THey sell in the US. THey also make most of the other brands that sell, like Qsee, Amcrest, etc....

 

[buckeyefarmer]

and meanwhile, I"m sure DJI is sending back all your drone footage....

 

[plowhog]

I was told earlier that Ring doorbell cameras store 100% of the video footage on their servers whether you subscribe to their cloud service or not. So, they keep videos of your property you may not know even exist.

Related, I was told there is history that Ring has turned such videos over to law enforcement for prosecution even if the person being prosecuted was the customer who originally bought the Ring doorbell. If that is true it is the ultimate "snitch" machine.

I don't know if that is an internet rumor or something valid, but it did come to me from several sources.

 

[riptides]

Really? THey sell in the US. THey also make most of the other brands that sell, like Qsee, Amcrest, etc....

Yes, by Executive Order and the National Defense Authorization Act , FTC, GSA, NSA, Pentagon, Treasury and Commerce all have info.

I think they are in the process of selling to Taiwan to escape sanctions. Don't follow that anymore.

 

[riptides]

and meanwhile, I"m sure DJI is sending back all your drone footage....

LOL.

So it is a really interesting subject. They have air gaps now. And they really don't transmit to China. They transmit to either Chinese owned or hacked locations. Barring that they hack globally and steal what they want, when they can.

Why set up an infrastructure when I can just "use" yours? LOL.

 

[oosik]

I thought about video surveillance when we first moved onto the property. My outer gate is a mile down my driveway. There is an entire pine forest between this gate and my house. At the very best - cost prohibitive.

We had MANY uninvited "guests" when we first moved here. My private ten acre lake was stocked with Rainbow trout. Many reaching 4 to 6 pounds.

Sooo..... as we were building the house - I kept my loaded 12 gauge close at hand. All the uninvited were met by me and my shotgun.

The reasons and excused were long and varied. The answer - plain and simple. The "word" spread quickly.

The County Sheriff visited after about two months. We got all our concerns/questions answered and he left satisfied.

Forty two years now and I've only had two uninvited guests after that first year. Not their fault. A mapping company in Seattle had my driveway listed as a county road. Took over a year to get that corrected.

Nuff said.........