Hello Smack,
Thank you for your clarification. It allows me to better understand
specifically what you?re looking for. I can provide you with at least
five resources for obtaining the type of equipment you want, but
before I do that, I?d like to address the privacy issues, and then I
will provide references for equipment.
===============================================================
PRIVACY LAWS
===============================================================
First of all, do understand that this is general information only and
is not meant to take the place of legal or other professional advice.
Please consider seeking the advice of an attorney in your town before
you purchase and/or use any surreptitious recording device of any
kind.
All right then, that said, you should understand that for the most
part, video surveillance, whether overt (open) or covert (hidden), is
allowed in all fifty states, with some exceptions having to do with
reasonable expectations of privacy. For instance, it is illegal to
covertly videotape someone in a bathroom, or locker room, or their
bedroom ? places where a person would reasonably expect a high level
of privacy. For your purpose, that shouldn?t be a problem, but do
keep it in mind.
Audio recording, however, is a different story. First of all, many
vendors will not sell you a covert video system that includes audio
capabilities because that is specifically prohibited under Federal
law, except to law enforcement personnel and other specified parties.
One vendor states, ?Covert use of video and audio together is reserved
for law enforcement personnel only. We do not carry any hidden cameras
that have audio capability. Audio is only available to law enforcement
agencies due to federal law - Title 18, Section 2512.? See here:
http://www.spyzoneusa.com/faq.php
If you?d like to read the actual section of the law referred to for
yourself, you can find it here:
http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/18/2512.html
In addition, even if you buy the components separately and assemble
such a system yourself (and don?t plan to sell it ? an important point
in the law), you might still run into trouble if you use it to record
a conversation and you live in a state where that is prohibited.
Basically, if you live in California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida,
Massachusetts, Montana, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, or the state of
Washington you may NOT secretly tape a conversation between you and
another person unless you have their permission to do so. Other
states only require that you have the permission of one party to the
conversation, i.e. yourself.
You can read about that more in detail on this page (scroll down about halfway):
http://www.spyzoneusa.com/faq.php
Be careful is the watchword here, and again, it would be best for you
to get some legal advice to make sure you understand your rights and
obligations under the law where you live. I?m sure you won?t want to
give any one any ammunition to come after you!
===============================================================
VIDEO SYSTEMS
===============================================================
I?ll list for you the systems I located that appear to be the best
suited for your purpose. There is quite a range of prices, so I have
tried to find a variety for you.
**********************
1.EXTRA EYES
**********************
http://extra-eyes.com/
This company has a very nice, relatively inexpensive system, the
?JCS-552/27A Navigator by First Alert - Waterproof Camera and 5"
Mobile Monitor System, ? which includes built-in sound. Since the
page is made with frames, I can?t paste the exact url, but look at the
menu on the side, click on ?Complete Systems,? then on ?Mobile
Systems? and scroll down the page to see the details. One drawback to
this system is that it doesn?t have a VCR for recording, but it does
have A/V output, so you could plug it into a separate recording
device. Click on ?Recording? to see a list of devices.
*Note: It?s also possible, given that this product is manufactured by
First Alert, that you might be able to buy a unit at a physical retail
location, which could be beneficial in allowing you to see it first.
I don?t know if it is, but here is a page that lists stores that
commonly carry First Alert products (though not always all products):
http://www.firstalert.com/company_profile/where_to_buy.htm
**********************
2. SPY CHEST
**********************
Car Camera ? Mobile Car Surveillance Cam:
http://www.spytechs.com/spy_cameras/car_camera.htm
Features of this system include:
--Photograph robbery with an emergency switch or remote control.
--Use the remote to activate the Mobile Cam.
--Use the motion sensor to automatically activate the Mobile Cam.
--Create photo documentation of vandalism, theft, and altercations.
--Ability to take and store up to 680 digital images.
--View playback on home TV and monitors.
--Record images on any VCR.
--Displays date and time.
--Ability to capture images at night or in very low light.
--Easy to adjust and install, plugs into cigarette lighter.
The drawback is that it?s not a true video system, but rather it takes
a series of still images at an adjustable rate of from 1-8 seconds.
With a storage capacity of 680 images, for example, and a rate of one
frame every 5 seconds, you could record for just under an hour. If
you went past that, the system is set up to start recording over the
top of the previously recorded images. The other shortcoming is the
lack of audio, which means you?d have to buy a separate device for
that (if legal), such as this pen recorder:
http://www.spytechs.com/listen_voice_equip/pen_recorder.htm
or this wireless microphone set:
http://www.spytechs.com/listen_voice_equip/wireless_mic.htm
Other listening devices are also available, here:
http://www.spytechs.com/listen_voice_equip/default.htm
And here is another camera ? this one with a built-in VCR:
http://www.spytechs.com/hidden_video/vcr_cam.htm
**********************
3. SPOOK TECH
**********************
http://affiliate.daytonanetworks.com/product.asp?productid=495
This system is very expensive, but also appears to offer most
completely what you say you?re looking for. However, it?s designed
for law enforcement personnel, and does include both video and audio
capabilities, so there might be a problem in ordering it. I did go as
far as I could in their checkout process without actually giving them
a credit card number, and was not stopped anywhere along the way and
asked for verification of law enforcement status, but it may be that
they would ask for verification before finalizing an order. The
parent company, Spook Tech, states they are owned by former Federal
agents. See the homepage, here: http://www.spooktech.com/ However,
the above site is owned by an affiliate, and from the best I can
determine without going through on an actual purchase, it does seem as
though anyone can buy this unit.
But if not, or even if you just don?t like it, or it?s too expensive,
this company has a number of other less expensive possible solutions
you might want to take a look at, including:
A selection of covert cameras, both wireless and wired:
http://affiliate.daytonanetworks.com/category.asp?catcode=7
Several models of video recorders (to be used with cameras):
http://affiliate.daytonanetworks.com/category.asp?catcode=25
**One thing to keep in mind: there?s a difference between wireless
cameras that transmit video (and sometimes audio) to a remote device
such as a computer or television for just watching, and a camera that
is used for recording video onto a recording device. That can also be
wireless, but just make sure that, for your purpose, you get a
RECORDING device (VCR) and a camera (with possibly a separate
microphone) or a complete video recording system. Also, you appear to
want ?covert? vs. ?remote? video. The terminology can be a little
confusing.
**********************
4. SPY ZONE USA
**********************
--Here is a page with a selection of four car/home video recording devices:
http://www.spyzoneusa.com/default.php?cPath=70_66 These range in
price from relatively inexpensive to several thousand dollars, but
take a look at all of them, as they each have some different features.
Actually, I was impressed with the least expensive unit, i.e. the
?CyberEye Digital Camera Security System,? which can be used in both
your car and your home, is small, easy to use, and you can activate it
remotely with an included key fob. The drawbacks are no audio, and
it?s not video, though you can set it to take still frames
automatically within 1 - 60 second intervals. It will store 47
frames.
But do look them all over, and also see the menu on the left hand side
of the page for more choices.
For audio recording you?d need to have a separate device, and there
are a number of them listed here:
http://www.spyzoneusa.com/default.php?cPath=6
**********************
5. PALM VID
**********************
This company sells a wide variety of video cameras and VCRs (if you
need one) for many purposes. Here?s their page of covert (hidden or
concealable) video cameras, some of which are very cleverly disguised:
http://www.palmvid.com/wirelesshiddencameras.htm
They state that all their cameras, wired or wireless, work with any
VCR, but you may still want to purchase a battery operated VCR if you
need to record video while you?re out in your car. The transmitters
have a limited range and may not be able to transmit back to a VCR in
a location such as your home. For example, here is a mobile VCR
designed to be installed in a vehicle:
http://www.palmvid.com/cgi-bin/shopzone30.exe/store/st_prod.html?p_prodid=265
********************
6. 123 CCTV
********************
This page describes a customizable complete system, including
everything you would need to set up a system to meet your specific
needs, except perhaps for a VCR, which is sold elsewhere on the site
under ?Accessories.? Very flexible system, includes a monitor, 1 or 2
tiny bullet cameras, and includes audio.
http://www.123cctv.com/cctv/surveillance-systems-1.html
*****************************************
One other thing to mention would be that, if you were interested in a
system that did not have either battery power, or a 12 volt adaptor
for using in a car, you might pick up a DC to AC power inverter that
would plug into your car?s cigarette lighter and then you plug the AC
plugs of the VCR and camera, etc. into it just like you?d plug them in
at home. Here are a couple of places to buy such inverters. Just
make sure you get one with enough power to do the job, probably not
less than 700 Watts continuous.
http://www.teptronics.com/powerinverters.html
http://www.dcacpowerinverters.com/12_volt_power_inverters.html
http://www.millionbuy.com/xanxpower1200.html
**********************
And finally, if none of the products listed suit you, here?s a page
with links to a great many sources selling video and other
surveillance items, one of which would hopefully have what you need:
http://www.antiterrorism.org/surveillance_equipment.html
*****************************************
I hope this information meets or exceeds your expectations. If not,
or if you don?t understand something, please use the ?Request
Clarification? feature to ask before rating and closing your question,
so I can be sure you?re happy with the information provided. Best of
luck to you ? and I hope that no more unpleasant incidents are in your
future so you will never need to prove what happened!
Regards,
Byrd-ga
Search terms used:
surveillance video car OR mobile
?mobile video surveillance?
car security ?video recording?
law ?covert audio?
mobile power inverters video equipment |
