Using a PC as a security camera

What would you need to set a PC as a security camera to cover an area 40ft square?

A computer and a Camera, and the software it comes with? Place the camera in a good positin, and get a large HDD...

Technically, all you need is an average computer and a logitech webcam. I believe they come with rudimentary security software, that allows you to record based on how much motion is being detected in the scene.

However, 40ft is a large area so you'll want to use a resolution of 640x480 and I'm not sure whether a webcam would be sufficient, especially as they don't usually feature an auto-focus.


If you're a bit more serious, then I'd suggest a proper network camera and a remote PC. You'll also need some sercurity software to go with it and I'm not use what's currently on the market.


You could always wait a few years for Mitsubishi to release VISS, but I'd be biased as I used to work on it. ;)

You can get software which detects motion in the picture which the camera is getting then records onto hd or whatever.......maybe a google could help.

i reckon a good quality digicam - on linux for stability and a 120 gig hard drive (goin cheap atm) will do u nicely

120 gig is a lot, and will record a load ! good few weeks id guess and 640x480 will be okish at high res

but still 40 ft is big :( big its the only cheap way i can think of doin it

Yeah it has to be a cheap system. This looked interesting though.

http://www.zoneminder.com/

there's a guy who did this, and then wrote some software so that his webcam could be viewed over the network from another pc... i'll find the link... ah here it is:

http://www.epiacenter.com/modules.ph...rticle&artid=9

also - i've got a dexxa webcam and the software it came with has built in motion detection - the camera was only £20 - you may be able to get one off ebay? qaulity of the cam is pretty naff though, only 320x200 i think - but it's compatible with logitiech, so you could probably use the software with a logitech cam too?