NVR/PC physical placement ideas help

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I did try to search through forum posts and the cliff notes about recommended physical location to place a NVR or PC, but with varying vague recommendations. From the garage, closets, buried in media cabinetry, attics, lofts while keeping in mind cool air flow, fan noise, etc.
The cliff notes gives great examples of camera locations, but zero on NVR locations.
I know each person has a different circumstance in regards to layout, electricity plugs, basement or not, etc.
My setup will be PC with Blue Iris in a lockable 24U ("U" meaning 1 unit which is every 3 screw holes in the cabinet bracket) metal cabinet along with poe switches, patch panels, patch cords, battery backup, etc., lag bolted to walls studs. The footprint would be larger than just hiding a NVR or PC under a bed.
My options of placement would be first, the attached garage due to the ease of running networking and misc cables and any fan associated fan noise.
Second option would be under the stairs (I have 2 story house) that I reconfigured as a doggy pen on the first floor adjoining living room. A little more challenging to run cable to this area but is possible. However, it would make some fan noise and more easily accessible to unwanted perps.
I guess the big question would be: statistically, if there is a home invasion or break in, is it done through breakage of front door, through window, or through attached garages?
What would be the recommendations of NVR/PC placement to make it more secure?
I am currently researching how to better secure an attached 2 car garage. Such as removing the grab handle that unlocks from the rail (coat hangars can easily pull them down from the outside) and other things.
 

alastairstevenson

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I am currently researching how to better secure an attached 2 car garage. Such as removing the grab handle that unlocks from the rail (coat hangars can easily pull them down from the outside) and other things.
Also the catch that keeps the door closed could potentially be pushed back with a thin tool, as used to be done with Yale-type locks using a credit card.
Would you add the garage volume to your home alarm coverage?

Be aware also - though maybe less so where you live - that because a garage is more exposed to the changing environment, there can be condensation when the temperature drops below the dew point.
 

mat200

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I guess the big question would be: statistically, if there is a home invasion or break in, is it done through breakage of front door, through window, or through attached garages?
What would be the recommendations of NVR/PC placement to make it more secure?
I am currently researching how to better secure an attached 2 car garage. Such as removing the grab handle that unlocks from the rail (coat hangars can easily pull them down from the outside) and other things.
Hi Holbs,

If you're worried about a home invasion, then perhaps setting up a second unit for redundant video storage would be good.

You can also setup a decoy dvr / nvr system in your media center - seems the media center is a popular target for thieves.
 
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I'll be following the advice about removing the plastic handle attached to the rope, tie wrapping the lock handle to the trolley mechanism, and also cutting the rope to length so it does not have the distance to reach the door itself.
Also, my 2 car garage is my wood working shop. No car. I'll be purchasing the door lock handle as well since I do not open it up daily.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002YXMBS/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1
(would upload a quickie pic...but do not know how. when i click on "image" it opens up an URL)
 
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Jose R.

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I went thru this problem and agonized over where to place the PC/UPS/Switches. My advice? Pick a place that's easy to get to from the attic if you're wiring thru one (you'll going back to that spot way more than you think) and, place it as centrally as possible. As for security, perhaps pick a place no one will check in a robbery. Following that criteria above, my setup is in the top shelf of my kitchen pantry. No one can reach that high anyway so it's useless for food storage and it happens to be dead center in the house where the attic has over 6 feet of clearance. I doubt anyone will be looking in there (unless very hungry) with the alarm going off and a tantalizing av center across the house...

My other choice was to use a kitchen cupboard for the setup but heat management would have been harder to deal with in that location in my case and I'm not that willing to start drilling holes in new cabinets...
 
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I had to make a quick decision as I wired my house for IP cameras and house data cabling over this past weekend.
I went with my 2 car attached garage for it's ease of running cables, close proximity to the outside phone/cable demarcation point, any noise from fans, and good ventilation. I have some things to do in the garage to make it more secure. I live in Northern Nevada where humidity is not a concern.
This is in a 21"wide x 24"tall x 24" deep all metal lockable cabinet sitting shoulder level at the bottom portion. I have no illusions about what a "secured" lockable cabinet means: a simple screwdriver could possibly bust past the hinges/plastic locking mechanism. But still :)

Jose... did you ventilate your pantry door panels? I've seen what happens when there is no ventilation for computer related equipment.
 

Jose R.

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Jose... did you ventilate your pantry door panels? I've seen what happens when there is no ventilation for computer related equipment.
So far, no issues. The BI PC is not breaking a sweat at all with only 4 cameras up and running. As I build out the system to the total of 16, we'll see. I can add a vent thru the front and/or side wall and add exhaust fans if it comes to that.
 
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