boat surveillance camera on the quay?

BartW

BartW

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www.amptec.be
On the boat I have a Volo G3 – Wifi Router,

Vololink.jpg


On the pontoon, opposite to the boat is a lamp post, just next to the electrical connection box
I’m considering fixing this wifi camera on that lamp post, and take power from the electric box
elorcamera.jpg


does anybody know if this could work, for remotely looking at the boat,
for security, and for monitoring how she behaves in really bad weather
or would I need to connect a PC permanently ?
 
I can't help on the tech details, but I know that when I wanted to do something similar, the marina told me that since it wasn't one of their cameras for their purposes, I would fall foul of privacy legislation and they could not allow it.

Was this a fob-off?
 
Piers said:
I would fall foul of privacy legislation and they could not allow it.

Was this a fob-off?
Click to expand...

Yes. Or rather, it may have been their genuine belief, but I don't think they're correct.

I don't know that specific camera, but if it's like most such devices then it will do the job. No separate computer required.

Pete
 
Bart
Technically I see no reason for it not to work if the camera is networked to the router and perhaps the router uses dynamic DNS (or a public ip address) so you can connect from the Internet

Legally? Dunno
I have 8 security cameras around my house (some of which capture people walking past my home) and was told that I only had to put up the usual "CCTV cameras in operation" type notices for them to be legally acceptable

Andy
 
We investigated mobile CCTV a little while ago. We were using A very clever bit of kit which recorded locally, allowed instant live GPS tracking and also had live 2 way audio.

The problem we came across was the limitation of mobile Internet when it came to accessing the equipment. With a normal Internet service the only thing your have to deal with is a dynamic IP address (one which keeps changing from time to time). This is very easy to overcome using a free DDNS re-route service.

With mobile Internet you end up having to use a 3rd party proxy server and these get incredibly busy to the point where you never know whether the lack of functionality is down to your equipment / install or the third party server. In the end we gave up.

If you wanted to use a marina WiFi then you would need their permission to set up port forwarding on the router. They may not be too happy about that as you would need administrator rights to the router.

As for the law, we haven't actually come across any cases where suitable footage has been ignored on the basis of filming a public space. We have had plenty of instances where customer's footage shot on pavements and roads has led to detection and / or conviction.

The trick is getting good enough footage. Most cameras as set far too wide and the pixels spread too thinly to be effective over distance.

Henry :)
 
I have 2 CCTV systems that I rent out to 2 different shops, one being a 12 camera system. They are covert systems & have been responsible for many many convictions. Connecting it up & using WI Fi that is not yours would probably need permission. IR cameras are not great for convictions as they turn black clothing white & eyes glow. Very difficult to get an exact likeness. Power would be required for the camera, batterries would not work as these would drain very quickly especially if you are using IR
 
BartW said:
does anybody know if this could work, for remotely looking at the boat,
for security, and for monitoring how she behaves in really bad weather
or would I need to connect a PC permanently ?
Click to expand...
No reason why it would not work. From the link you gave to the router I take it you have 3G connection so no problems with the marina wi-fi? As others have said using the marina power supply may be a problem and also making sure the camera is in such a position that it isn't going to go missing itself. Legally there should be no issue as it is not being used by the marina.

You wont need a PC to be connected on the boat but unless you have one at home connected and recording footage it is going to be fairly useless as a security aid. You are just going to log on one day and see something is amiss and have no footage at all.

http://www.y-cam.com/y-cam-bullet-black/
I have 2 of these in use at the moment one via 3G. The HD version is just under £300. It has built in recording and email alert alarms among other things. Works fine but with all CCTV there is no guarantee of getting the right footage.

Have you thought about putting cameras on the boat itself with a hidden DVR that can be connected to your wifi hub?
 
henryf said:
As for the law, we haven't actually come across any cases where suitable footage has been ignored on the basis of filming a public space. We have had plenty of instances where customer's footage shot on pavements and roads has led to detection and / or conviction.
Click to expand...

We had an incident in the village two years ago where we used to live, and the police came to see if I had any footage captured on our house external CCTV system. There was an excellent sequenece which caught the culprits in the road, but the Police said it coldn't be used because it was recording a public place rather than just my land area. They'd hoped the culptits had come onto our land which is why they'd come and asked.
 
CobraYellowfin said:
Legally? Dunno
I have 8 security cameras around my house (some of which capture people walking past my home) and was told that I only had to put up the usual "CCTV cameras in operation" type notices for them to be legally acceptable

Andy
Click to expand...

There is no law in the UK that regulates the use of home CCTV even if it does capture public spaces and there is no need for any signage at all, although some argue the sign itself is a deterrent.

Just don't aim a camera at your neighbours bedroom window:)

The Data Protection Act does not apply either.
 
Piers said:
but the Police said it coldn't be used because it was recording a public place rather than just my land area.
Click to expand...

Looks like we were typing at the same time.

In the case you state above the Police are totally and utterly wrong. I capture footage in public places every day at work that is intended for and used in court.
 
The police have also used footage from my cameras in court when a local car was broken into.
There were no questions about it covering parts of the street (I have a 'roaming' camera as part of my setup which wanders up and down the street)


Andy
 
We work with a local neighbourhood group who pool information between several domestic systems. They contacted the commissioner for data protection or some such body and I have seen the reply. If its a private installation then fill your boots. Each week they get detections and convictions particularly from our high powered B8 series cameras trained on the road / pavement.

In the vast majority of cases where police reject footage it's down to lack of detail.

If they rejected good footage purely on the basis of it being on the road / pavement they are wrong and I could even dig out the government letter to prove it!

Henry :)
 
ARA said:
I have 2 CCTV systems that I rent out to 2 different shops, one being a 12 camera system. They are covert systems & have been responsible for many many convictions. Connecting it up & using WI Fi that is not yours would probably need permission. IR cameras are not great for convictions as they turn black clothing white & eyes glow. Very difficult to get an exact likeness. Power would be required for the camera, batterries would not work as these would drain very quickly especially if you are using IR
Click to expand...

How can you have a covert CCTV system? You need a clear "CCTV in Use" sign.

Also, how do people deal with subject access requests?
 
Also, how do people deal with subject access requests?
Click to expand...

As my cameras are also connected (and paid for) by my business, I was worried a little about DPA and how it applied to my company (run from an office at home)
So... I have a strict 'chain of evidence' and make the local police sign for any copies of avi's etc I produce for them
By signing they agree to take care of them and not let them into the public domain
It may be over-the-top but I prefer to cover myself (not sure if I have but it makes me feel better :) )

Andy
 
st599 said:
How can you have a covert CCTV system? You need a clear "CCTV in Use" sign.

Also, how do people deal with subject access requests?
Click to expand...

1. Why do you think that you need a sign?
2. A covert CCTV system consists of cameras that you can see & some that you cannot. The scallywags clock the seen cameras & then work out where the "blind spots" are. Placing a covert camera in the blind spots produces some great results . Also they try and hide their little dear faces with the use of hoodies, so a seen camera up on the ceiling makes them look down....now guess where the covert camera is :D
 
The document that I get them to sign is basically an agreement for them to use it resposibly (i.e as evidence or for use in the course of their investigations etc) rather than plastering it all over youtube etc.


Not sure how it would stand up in court but I guess it's better then nothing :)


Andy
 
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