Question Looking for expert guide on setting up security cameras

[Tutoh1]

Hello,
I live in an apartment complex where two neighbours have been in a dispute. That is the short description of the situation.

I'm prepared to start looking into a covert security camera to watch the door where it all happens, but the information on how to begin is all over the place. There must be a thousand different apps that can turn an old phone into a security camera, but few will allow you to make the recording station an actual PC. There seems to be no information out there on how to attach a stronger wifi antenna to an existing camera. It does seem to be a lot easier to choose a camera with a 5V DC power source and then find a long-life 5V battery for it, since many Arduino hobbie systems require these.

I've tried existing wifi battery-operated systems like Imou and Arlo, but those devices are simply too large. I need something with a small profile camera, like 20mm in diameter at the very most. The wifi antenna is vital, but a 5V battery is less important.

Can anyone point to an expert guide on how to get started on this?

 

[punkncat]

Keep in mind that according to where you live, it may be illegal to do video surveillance without posting/making people aware that you are doing so. In a case like this and with this in mind, would probably consider something like a Ring doorbell, if yours will see anything.

 

[kanewolf]

Hello,
I live in an apartment complex where two neighbours have been in a dispute. That is the short description of the situation.

I'm prepared to start looking into a covert security camera to watch the door where it all happens, but the information on how to begin is all over the place. There must be a thousand different apps that can turn an old phone into a security camera, but few will allow you to make the recording station an actual PC. There seems to be no information out there on how to attach a stronger wifi antenna to an existing camera. It does seem to be a lot easier to choose a camera with a 5V DC power source and then find a long-life 5V battery for it, since many Arduino hobbie systems require these.

I've tried existing wifi battery-operated systems like Imou and Arlo, but those devices are simply too large. I need something with a small profile camera, like 20mm in diameter at the very most. The wifi antenna is vital, but a 5V battery is less important.

Can anyone point to an expert guide on how to get started on this?

You need to check on local legal prohibitions on "stealth" recording, especially of other people.

 

[USAFRet]

I live in an apartment complex where two neighbours have been in a dispute. That is the short description of the situation.

I'm prepared to start looking into a covert security camera to watch the door where it all happens

Just to reiterate the above, you really really need to know your local laws regarding "covert".
Are you the owner/manager of this space? Or just another resident?

Once you are past that, there are many good quality WiFi cameras, some of them solar powered.
Budget, mounting space, etc, etc.

But first..."covert".

 

[TerryLaze]

You don't attach a better wifi antenna to your camera, you use a second router as an access point or as an repeater. If you use an IP camera tool it should allow you to save wherever on the local network, or you can just browse to the ip address on your PC and record the stream.
If you need better wifi on the camera to send a better quality image you will have to find a usb wifi dongle that will work with your smartphone.
I think a usb-c to ethernet adapter will have better chances to just work without driver issues but this is just a guess.

 

[Tutoh1]

You need to check on local legal prohibitions on "stealth" recording, especially of other people.

Thank you, I'm aware of the legal dangers. The physical dangers outweigh them. Covert security cameras are the only thing that allows us to make a case that one neighbour has been violent and abusive towards the other, who is in absolute fear of his life. The friend of mine who lives next door to the victim is using one, but isn't very technically adept. He is recording evidence by filming his television with his phone, so there are no time and date stamps.

You don't attach a better wifi antenna to your camera, you use a second router as an access point or as an repeater. If you use an IP camera tool it should allow you to save wherever on the local network, or you can just browse to the ip address on your PC and record the stream.
If you need better wifi on the camera to send a better quality image you will have to find a usb wifi dongle that will work with your smartphone.
I think a usb-c to ethernet adapter will have better chances to just work without driver issues but this is just a guess.

Thank you, I saw these repeaters at the electronics store today so I might have to get them. "IP Camera tool" is a great keyword to get me started with.

 

[TerryLaze]

Covert security cameras are the only thing that allows us to make a case that one neighbour has been violent and abusive towards the other, who is in absolute fear of his life.

Well this is part of the problem, make sure that the curt allows video from illegal sources as evidence because normally they will not even look at it..

 

[punkncat]

make a case that one neighbour has been violent and abusive towards the other, who is in absolute fear of his life.

This individual should follow up with the authorities and perhaps consider a restraining order, etc. As has been pointed out, illegally obtained video isn't going to help and actually could end up benefitting the abuser.

The thing about cameras is that most people are "aware" of them at first and modify behavior. Before long it just becomes part of the background and people are far more likely not to pay attention to what they know (is there) and do themselves. IE, put up a regular camera and just set it to record motion.

 

[TerryLaze]

IE, put up a regular camera and just set it to record motion.

Also not allowed in most countries, the moment you record any person or even just anything outside the boundaries of your home, it's violating personal data laws.

 

[punkncat]

Also not allowed in most countries, the moment you record any person or even just anything outside the boundaries of your home, it's violating personal data laws.

In most cases it is legal to record someone in a public area with no expectation of privacy. It IS illegal in most places to do so covertly, as well as doing so within their private areas, such as inside the home through a window, etc.
Putting up a visible camera in a public area, such as the hall of this complex, would not be illegal (at least in the US and UK). I cannot speak to specific countries for certain without searching said.

 

[gggplaya]

Many states are also a 2 party consent state. Which means you need consent from both parties to record the conversation. If not, then it's actually a crime to do so on your part and you'll be charged with wiretapping. (doesn't matter that things are wireless these days). This of course, only applies where there is an expectation of privacy, a common area hallway conversation can still be considered private, unless they're shouting at each other and all the neighbors can hear.

That said, Wyze cams are super cheap, $30, and they sell sticky window mounts where you can mount it inside your window. Slap a microSD card in it and it'll have a several day record buffer.

 

[USAFRet]

Many states are also a 2 party consent state. Which means you need consent from both parties to record the conversation. If not, then it's actually a crime to do so on your part and you'll be charged with wiretapping. (doesn't matter that things are wireless these days). This of course, only applies where there is an expectation of privacy, a common area hallway conversation can still be considered private, unless they're shouting at each other and all the neighbors can hear.

That said, Wyze cams are super cheap, $30, and they sell sticky window mounts where you can mount it inside your window. Slap a microSD card in it and it'll have a several day record buffer.

And other places, there is a line between video and audio.
2 party consent is mostly related to audio. So a camera with no audio recording may, I repeat may, be OK.

And then there are the doorbell things. Pointed out across the neighborhood.

Bottom line here is....know the local laws.
"Covert" is unlikely to be on the good side of the law.

 

[punkncat]

Many states are also a 2 party consent state. Which means you need consent from both parties to record the conversation. If not, then it's actually a crime to do so on your part and you'll be charged with wiretapping. (doesn't matter that things are wireless these days). This of course, only applies where there is an expectation of privacy, a common area hallway conversation can still be considered private, unless they're shouting at each other and all the neighbors can hear.

That said, Wyze cams are super cheap, $30, and they sell sticky window mounts where you can mount it inside your window. Slap a microSD card in it and it'll have a several day record buffer.

2 party consent is in relation mostly to phone (and similar) communication where there is no way you would know simply by "paying attention". In a public venue a camera mounted on a wall or on a pole (and so forth) is conspicuous enough that you have a reasonable expectation that one would know it's there and be aware of the capacity for being recorded. That is also the reverse of the aspect concerning the covert aspect being asked about here. Basically, is it reasonable to think that while you were filling gas in your car (or any other public venue) that you easily could have looked and seen the cameras trained on you.

 

[Gam3r01]

2 party consent is in relation mostly to phone (and similar) communication where there is no way you would know simply by "paying attention". In a public venue a camera mounted on a wall or on a pole (and so forth) is conspicuous enough that you have a reasonable expectation that one would know it's there and be aware of the capacity for being recorded. That is also the reverse of the aspect concerning the covert aspect being asked about here. Basically, is it reasonable to think that while you were filling gas in your car (or any other public venue) that you easily could have looked and seen the cameras trained on you.

While that may be true, the issue here is the OP is not the owner of the property (apartment, as I understand it) and therefore is not a public place. The apartment is under private ownership and any recording done on premises have to have approval from the property owner (this is the reason why youll get chased out of stores, malls, etc if you have a camera out and recording).
Normally, nobody would care. But given the nature of the situation at hand, It wouldnt be hard to bring up and have the "evidence" thrown out.

 

[punkncat]

While that may be true, the issue here is the OP is not the owner of the property (apartment, as I understand it) and therefore is not a public place. The apartment is under private ownership and any recording done on premises have to have approval from the property owner (this is the reason why youll get chased out of stores, malls, etc if you have a camera out and recording).
Normally, nobody would care. But given the nature of the situation at hand, It wouldnt be hard to bring up and have the "evidence" thrown out.

Laws vary a bit by state. Video recording in a "common" (read as public) area is legal. In some cases recording audio at the same time is not, unless you post and or inform any person possibly surveilled.

 

[USAFRet]

the issue here is the OP is not the owner of the property (apartment, as I understand it) and therefore is not a public place.

Indeed.

I have a few security cameras on my house.
2 of them front facing and very very visible.
All my neighbors know about them. More than a couple of times, neighbors have requested video from "2 days ago at 0900...did it see anything?"
'Why yes...there was a weird truck, blah blah. Here are pics of the truck, license plate, driver. Video available upon request.'

Covert cameras on an apartment complex that you do not own, hoping to catch another resident doing something stupid?
I fail to see how that is not instantly thrown out of court.
Worse, YOU may end up on the wrong side of the court case.

 

[Tutoh1]

Hello, sorry that I neglected this thread. There's been some progress so I'll fill you in.

I've figured out how to use an opensource DVR program called iSpy to make your PC into a DVR system for IP cameras. To test, I used an iPhone 6 as a wireless IP camera using an app on it called Periscope HD. While there are many apps that claim to make your phone into an IP camera, Periscope HD is one that gives out an RTSP address on the WLAN network, which is easy to enter into iSpy as an IP Camera. So I was able to use this iPhone 6 as a covert wireless IP camera if it was connected to a 12000mah powerbank for a day, which I did not do.

I also tried out a $50AU TP-Link Wireless Range Extender for my apartment and it nearly tripled the range of my wifi-network at the cost of one powerpoint, so that was great.

In the end, I bought the same spy camera my neighbour and friend was using to watch the victim's and his own door. I believe his use of this camera is completely legitimate, since he can't really tell who the verbal abuse is directed at unless he is able to see outside his door. I helped him learn how to use the motion-capture recording so that he is able to search for incidents more easily, then put my own camera into storage since it isn't needed.

I'm sure covert cameras still help in some cases. In the Magistrate's court, you submit evidence or affidavits that are relevant to a bond or order being issued on someone, like a domestic violence order or good behaviour bond. As a witness on a covert camera, I might not be able to give evidence to leads to a arrest or criminal charge, but I can write an affidavit on what I saw. Someone else has to prove if it is untrue. Even if someone is angry that they were filmed, any questions regarding that affidavit are still relevant to the case of if a bond or order should be issued.