So yesterday I was showing a Stratus to a lady and I noticed the wiper blades were missing. Someone had stolen the wiper blades over night on a car sitting on the front line, right by the road. Ok, it's just wiper blades... but then when I called the guys at the parts store so I could get new blades, I was talking to them and they made the comment about "Wait until they punch holes in your gas tank like they did to the guy on the corner a few months ago"...

I don't have huge amounts to spend right now but I feel I need some sort of IR camera to view the car lot. It's about 50 feet from the building to the cars and the entrance. There are lights out there but they are not incredibly bright. I need one, ultimately 2, wireless IR cameras that could hopefully record right to my HD on my computer in the building. Of course, I need decent resolution on these cameras otherwise, why bother?

Does anyone have any experience with this where they can recommend a system to me?

I ask why bother anyway? Sorry, but so you have a photo of someone doing something, does not fix the car.

I realize that but if someone vandalizes me, I can have them arrested if I get them doing it, correct? There is only one way in and out of the parking lot and a decent camera would give me a shot of them doing it and their car... hopefully their plate as well.

Odin, Sorry, I wrote a lengthy variety of solutions, I wasn't logged in, after logging in, It was all gone. I flat ran out of time, I rarely write that much, and losing it sucked out any energy I had left. I could PM my phone or something, won't have the time to re write it all over, Sorry, It should not have let me write all that, If not logged in??

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Originally Posted by Stratmando

Odin, Sorry, I wrote a lengthy varity of solutions, I wasn't logged in, after logging in, It was all gone. I flat ran out of time, I rarely write that much, and losing it sucked out any energy I had left. I could PM my phone or something, won't have the time to re write it all over, Sorry, It should not have let me write all that, If not logged in???

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Oh man... have I been there! Twice actually in the past week I wrote something only to have it disappear. Thanks for trying.

Sam's Club and similar warehouses have a good selection of systems, 4 camera, 8 camera. The first set I purchased included 2 outdoor cameras, an indoor camera, a 4"x6" monitor/receiver, a computer setup disk, excellent adjustable mounting brackets, and all wiring and fittings to set the system up--for about $ 250. Maybe you need something more professional depending on the size of your operation. All have capability of monitoring on mobile devices, recording, computer hookups, and IR. Some have an indoor camera and outdoor cameras, all wireless. They are fantastic devices in my humble opinion. Mine claim good reception for up to 100 feet but 50 feet (from the camera to the receiver) is more realistic to maintain reception at my location.
I have a simple system I have had for years that has worked flawlessly. Come with small monitors and can be hooked to a TV also. My old dinosaur TV's came in handy as monitors. I have one set of four cameras that are wired to 3 different TV's in different areas of the house. I don't have use for the mobile monitoring (you probably will). My neighbors who are contract security officers for the state dept. in Iraq keep an eye on their house from their laptop in Baghdad. My system has cost about $ 450 for the components I have so far and I am very satisfied with it. One very infrequent problem I have noticed is if a camera loses power (very short power company resets or whatever they are) and does not power back up, there is still a picture for that camera on the monitor- it holds the last image it saw. I think I am seeing a live shot but the camera is actually off. Cameras like mine need a power source nearby as I believe most do. So I try to have something that moves occasionally like the flags on my flag pole visible in the cameras view so I know it is a live shot. Of course the closer you can locate your cameras to where you want to be able to see detail, the better.

Hope all is well, Start with a car alarm system, you can have it sound the horn or siren, or have it transmit wirelessley to your house. I have a Wireless Door/window transmitter in My Van, and It Chimes 1 of 4 sounds from my house keypad. The Keypad inside has one sound for the Van, another for the Front Door, another sound for the Garage, and Another for the shed.
I wouln't worry about the Wipers.
Can you get wires to where the camera can see your vehicle?
If not, can you get power to the camera, worse case, have an extra battery for camera in the vehicle.
Could even use your antenna, so when vehicle is off, antenna relay connects camera transmitter, when vehicle is on, it connects to the radio, so you can listen to FM while driving, and would be automatic.
Unlimited what you can do. Can Help.
Need the above answers. Thanks

Oh, I guess I should have explained better. I'm an idiot.

I own a used car lot and I have an inventory of about 15 cars so car alarms would not be the answer in this case. I am looking into 2 camera systems... one for overlooking the lot and one for watching the entrance/exit. They should obviously have low light or night vision capabilities, be wireless, and hopefully record to my PC. I suppose I could get a DVR system rather than the PC.

And no, wipers aren't a big problem really... it's just the idea that someone would do that and then the guy from the autoparts store commenting on how someone punched holes in gas tanks of a used dealer down the road.

Digital Watchdog V-Max Flex is a good entry level NVR, It can record when motion is detected in any areas you choose for each camera, can be viewed remotely on Remote computers, and Phones. 4 channels may be all you need.around $300-$350. Camera would be separate, and could be any camera, Hardwired or wireless.
Optexamerica has a good long range wireless motion detectors.
http://www.optexamerica.com/security-products/rctd-20u

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Originally Posted by Fr_Chuck

I ask why bother anyway? sorry, but so you have a photo of someone doing something, does not fix the car.

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Yes by the time you see it, they would have already done their dirty work!

I clicked Quote on Tickles post, and It selected Agree? I DON't Agree.
If I know who screwed with my Vehicle(s), they would have a Problem.
Tickle, If you had a Nanny Cam, and it showed the Baby sitter abusing you child, Are you thinking they would be safe, being only a Picture/Video? I think this Sitter would also have a Problem. A Camera can be there when you can't?

I have to say... if it was only wiper blades or maybe someone tossing eggs then sure, why get a camera?

The whole issue is that there has apparently been an act of vandalism down the road at another car dealer... one that cost quite a bit of money. So right, if something like that happened here I would be able to see it after it was done but I would also be able to prosecute whoever did it. That is the point of the cameras.

By the reasoning of saying that you don't need them because it is after the fact, then I have to wonder why convenience stores have cameras in the event of a robbery... same basic idea.

I don't understand all of the "after the fact" discussion. Taping is just one option. With the proper equipment and monitoring you can see what is going on at your lot 24/7 in real time, regardless of where you are at any given time. So, there ia a possibility that you see the perps, call the police and they catch them in the act.

Good point. I hadn't even really thought about that part of it but it is a possibility.

Some folks have cameras in their houses monitoring their empty homes while they are at work, check the cameras and find burglars cleaning out TV etc from their living rooms. Just make sure that same camera doesn't catch you sneaking across the living room in your skivvies at 3 AM on the way for a midnight snack and broadcast it on the internet for all to see. Lol

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Originally Posted by Stratmando

I clicked Quote on Tickles post, and It selected Agree?, I DON't Agree.
If I know who screwed with my Vehicle(s), they would have a Problem.
Tickle, If you had a Nanny Cam, and it showed the Baby sitter abusing you child, Are you thinking they would be safe, being only a Picture/Video? I think this Sitter would also have a Problem. A Camera can be there when you can't?

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So what is your problem. In particular I was agreeing with Fr.chuck. So, you would have to direct your negitivity to him too.

We are not talking about baby cams, we are talking about used car lots.

Tickle, you say by the time they see it it, they will have already done their dirty work.
Odin, that DVR, and most will send Immediate Emails with Image.

Hi Strat, I went back and tried to see my post where I mentioned that I saw , but maybe I typed it all out and forget to post. Anyway, yes I agree with you.

Tickle, your fine, If I thought they didn't do any good, I am in the wrong business.