It’s foaling season and I’m finding it stressful having to keep a very close eye on my mares during this time. I don’t want to have to keep disturbing them when they are already feeling uneasy; so I am looking for something that will give me round the clock observation and that will let me know when the foals are making an appearance.

Solution:

This long range system Horse Foaling Camera Kit comes with 2 antennae which together give you 200-300m range, ideal for putting out in the barn with the horses. The cameras themselves take not only high quality video, but audio as well. Perfect for when your foals are arriving and you need to be woken up during the night.

This kit is easy to install, as all you have to do is connect the camera to the transmitter which can be mounted on the outside of your barn for maximum transmission range. The second antenna connects into the receiver which you can then plug into your TV through normal AV connectors; these are the small round Red, Yellow and White sockets. You can also connect to a PC/Laptop, with a USB adapter and watch the footage on this instead.

The country have been preparing for the amount of people that will be visiting the city of London during the Olympics, in shape of surveillance cameras, thousands of troops and private security guards all working alongside the police.

CCTV Surveillance in the form of hidden wireless cameras have been installed as well as the normal CCTV that we are used to, making it almost impossible to know when you are being watched. The system has cost around £500,000 on what’s called the ‘Olympic Revamp’. Hiding away in secret underground passages somewhere below Piccadilly Circus the London CCTV team will be monitoring 47 screens 24/7 from 120 surveillance cameras.

Westminster has spent more on CCTV than almost any other local authority, having spent more than £10m in the past 10 years. According to Dan Brown, they haven’t increased the number of cameras but rather have improved them, gaining better quality images.

We, of course worry about our privacy and the amount we are watched by whoever may be in these hidden control rooms, but also how effective this surveillance system is and what it is used for exactly.

Brown explained in an article with the Guardian that they will be using the cameras to spot any form of crime or problem, especially during the Olympics, from robberies and suspicious “hostile reconnaissance” to sellers of fake merchandise and congestion. This is perhaps essential to the city’s overall well being during this busy time, where an estimated million extra people a day will be visiting Westminster – this is more than double the normal number.

Matthew Taylor from the Guardian is seen here testing the system by walking down Regent Street in central London.

I’ve just moved to a new neighborhood and am worried about leaving my car parked on the road at night. Is there a specific camera that I can use for making sure it is safe, that perhaps is good for night vision but can still record to a high quality?

Solution:

This Car Security camera and car 12v Adapter are the perfect combination to ensure that your car is secure, particularly at night. The camera is virtually invisible at night and will give off no red glows like IR cameras do – so no one will suspect they are being recorded! It’s a tiny high quality CCTV camera that is only 5.7cm long. With a 110° wide angle field of view you will be able to see anyone approaching your vehicle and the best thing about it is that it has motion detection, so it will start recording whenever anyone walks by. You also don’t have to worry about swapping SD cards out all of the time! The DVR will automatically overwrite the oldest footage on the memory card. This unit runs at 12 volts so it can be powered by a car cigarette lighter using the included adapter. This package has everything you need for an in car recording solution.

I would like to secretly record a meeting and need the most discreet way of doing this. I not only need to video record but would also like audio. 

Solution:

This new voice activated spy pen would be perfect for this scenario. It activates when a voice is heard up to 5 metres away and with 8GB storage it can record for 3 hours in VOX (Voice Activated) standby. The video and photos are time and date-stamped so would be possible to be used as evidence in court. When you’re finished, just twist the pen apart and pop the included USB cable between it and your computer to transfer the files. There is a switch next to the USB port that overrides the sound activation mode, allowing you to manually record footage or take snapshots, perfect for making copies of top secret documents.Just pop it into your breast pocket or in a nearby desk tidy and start your meeting.

Scientists from the Zoological Society of London and Oxford University have placed 16 cameras around Antarctica to research into the lives of Gentoo and King penguins during the harsh winter months.

Photo Courtesy Ben Collen/ ZSL

The British team is the first to attempt this research on a low budget using these cheap, spy cameras, this way of researching could lead the way for more cost-effective studies in the future.

The penguin ecologist from the Zoological Society of London who led the study, Dr Tom Hart, explained that these spy cameras were incredibly resilient despite the harsh conditions.
The population of the planet’s penguins is decreasing and so the need for more research is increasing. Being able to monitor the penguin populations helps researchers learn about their habitats including their arrival time, their breeding habits and the fledging of young chicks.

These hidden cameras were placed in a different spots overlooking the colonies in Antarctica, and capturing a number of images a day showing the movements of the penguins.

Most of the 16 cameras successfully captured images of the colony, however one was unfortunately covered in a snowdrift for five months, as you may notice from the video embedded below. Nonetheless, it continued to take photos and once spring came the snow melted and thus the camera carried on taking photos.

I am a mystery shopper and need something to record my shopping trips and the experience. Is there anything that is suitable for this, that perhaps has video and audio?

Solution:

The Mini Spy Camera with a High Res LCD recorder is the perfect product for a mystery shopper. All you do is thread the camera lens, which looks like a button, through a shirt buttonhole or cardigan, so that you can record what happens in front of you. There’s a little switch on the end of a lead which you can keep in your pocket, you press this to start recording and press it again to stop. The camera itself is of high resolution and has audio so you can record any conversations that occur throughout the experience. It also records straight onto an SD card, so can be transferred to your computer with ease.

Someone keeps ringing my doorbell and then running off. I would like to find out who is doing this and be able to see them ringing the bell.

Solution:

The best product for this situation is the Peephole Door Camera. This camera allows live viewing of your doorbell, and has a low light sensor & motion detection for automatic recording of everyone that comes to your door. It has a wide angle lens and records at a very high quality, so you’ll be sure to see the person behind the annoyance.