Security camera help

It looks like the most logical way to go is to buy a EE WiFi thingy which comes with 120gb /12 months of data loaded. And then simply add a IP camera

d8mok said:

That’s an interesting idea. So no WiFi or data needed?

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Garmin mini, £45 s/h, install free app on phone to review or save video off the cameras own sim card.

I've got one in the car, micro usb power cable and the app is all you need. Works by Bluetooth.
As far as I can tell, it records continuously.
Whenever I've been looking to review a 'driving event' the last 48hr seems to be all there.

d8mok said:

It looks like the most logical way to go is to buy a EE WiFi thingy which comes with 120gb /12 months of data loaded. And then simply add a IP camera

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A camera might need a bit more data than that if it's recording 24/7, but you can probably find something
Looks like the ee payg wifi is around a hundred quid

It’ll only be recording 6 hours a day for 5 days a week.

However I do need to find out if 120gb will be enough.

It’s purely to prevent / catch shoplifters rather than an overnight security.

If that 120 GB is per month, then I doubt it will be enough. The shop will be open 30 hrs/wk, so 120 hrs in 4 weeks. That's 1 GB of data per hour over a 4 week period and a bit less than 1 GB per hour over a calendar month (except February and occasionally a 30 day month). Try using an online video size calculator to work out video sizes per hour and you'll see what I mean.

It’s 120gb a year

I’ve not done the maths yet but might need another plan.

d8mok said:

It’s 120gb a year

I’ve not done the maths yet but might need another plan.

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Just take a still of each "customer" and follow up with a quick stock take

d8mok said:

It looks like the most logical way to go is to buy a EE WiFi thingy which comes with 120gb /12 months of data loaded. And then simply add a IP camera

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I'd just go with a true internet connection if you have to use them online. I used to use a 4G router at the office and it cost me more than just paying for a connection in the end and I often ran out of data, with Three network I got 15GB per month and with EE I got 50GB but I wasn't running CCTV so have no idea how much data that would have used. My Raspberry Pi setups probably don't use that much but the fancy HiLook camera probably does.

"Typically, IP cameras consume 3 to 389 GB of data per month. With Exact analysis, it reveals that every security camera generate data at a rate of between 100 MB and 13 GB per day, or 0.01 Mbit and 1.2 Mbit per second. Smaller-sized cameras, like video doorbells, are mostly more data-efficient when placed. The amount of How Much Data Does an IP Camera Use each month can be as low as 1 GB, depending on its settings."

My issue with installing a proper connection is that I’m on a short term lease (max 12 months) and I’m already 3 months in. Plus it’s a shop within a market hall where I can’t modify anything etc

We may stay long term if it starts to make money but who knows. I’m reluctant to spend much when I’ve no idea what the future holds but I wanna catch the shoplifters if possible

d8mok said:

it’s a shop within a market hall where I can’t modify anything etc

I wanna catch the shoplifters if possible

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You might be alright with a WiFi Router then, you could always try it with your phone as an access point first and see how much data it uses. Or just use it offline, check the video or stills later and forward them onto police and keep your eye out if you see same people again.

I dunno but you have a few options at least, I used mine offline for ages but once I got a dedicated internet connection I put them online as it made sense to then.