Newbie, CCTV setup HELP PLEASE!

[kalsingh1]

Hello everyone,

This is my first post.
5 yrs ago I bought a Visuall CAM8 cctv kit. There are four cameras with s-video conectors (round with pins inside).
The cameras connect to a clever box, where you can control volume, date, name stamps, and sequence on each camera.

The box has 2 AV scart sockets and rca pin type (audio out, video out) connectors. It has RF in and out. Infra Red Remote transmitter to control devices such as VHS recorder.

I am using a VHS home video at the moment, but it runs out of tape very quickly, even on detection only mode.

I wish to connect connect it to a hard disk, where it just starts recording on detection mode only, and starts all over again automatically when hard disk is full. If possible I would like to connect to the cameras and controls over the internet.
I have a old P4 computer lying about, and am on a very low tight budget.
Can anyone help with suggestions or a hook up I can do with my present equipment please ? Kal

I can email a picture to anyone on request.

[ITT]

Hey Kalsingh,

Ive installed many cctv systems, and then one you are descibing is a bit tough to integrate to a pc based dvr or a regular dvr system. If you can send me as many photos as you can so I can see how they connect to the main unit and the inputs and out puts of the main unit as well. If you have a pc sitting around my advise would be to buy a dvr card from a cctv shop install it and it should come with the software as well. Install a 1 TB hrad drive so you have a fair bit of storage before it reaches the end of the storage and then starts rerecording over the begining recordings. And then connect your pc to the internet and set it up for remote viewing. All PC based DVR software has this ability. Then we would have to try and find a S-Video to BNC adapter to connect the cameras directly to the PC. Anyways first things first send me some pics and I will find ya waht you need.

Jason

[kalsingh1]

Hey ITT,

I was thinking, the box has av video and audio out for link up with monitor, maybe I can fool the pci card to think it is just one camera ?
Anyway I have posted some photo's, see what you think?

Lots of thanks

[kalsingh1]

Hey ITT,

Furthermore, can you reccommend a cheap pci card, that will capture and play back real life fps PAL. I do not have lots of money due to the credit crunch, cheaper the better. The ones on ebay retailing at £9.99 look real tempting, but I have seen one at a site called microdirect.co.uk, a product called SWAN CCTV PC DVR4 Net 4 for £42.50, even though it looks exactly like the cheaper ones in ebay. £42 would really be strectching my budget.

Thanks

[ITT]

Hey Kalsingh,

Ok I looked around I'm in Canada and what I have been using is a system by a company named Eyeonet. Here's one of the links of many I found that sell them.

Jumbo Computers

But you might want to search around the UK for some dealers there.
Secondly the higher the FPS then the more real time like video you will have. You will be able to connect the video out from your main unit to your PC card, and it probably will work. Problem is that all your video feeds will only be on one camera. And you will have to scroll all cameras. So your recordings will only show one active camera and it will only record that one channel. So if all 4 of your cameras are scrolling every 10 secs, thats what you will see when you go back to the recording. Here is another link to a svideo to BNC adapter that you can get if you want to connect all the cameras individually to the PC card to have 4 seperate channels.

S-Video to BNC Adapters and Cables

The only problem with that is if your cameras draw power from the same svideo plug. But let me know where you sent those pics I cant find them and I will take another look at them and see If I can figure out a solution.

Take it easy

Jay

[ITT]

Hey Kalsingh,

I was at one of our CCTV suppliers today and checked out a s-video adapter you can pick up and what it does is on the one end you can plug in your s-video camera to it and on the other end you have a power leg and a rca leg, which you get a power plug to plug in the power and a rca to BNC adapter for each camera then you will have a true 4 CCTV not just one scrolling. I will find a link for the adpater on the net and send it to you.

Jay

[kalsingh1]

Hey Jay,

I have tried to upload the photos again, I think you can see my photo attachment somewhere on here at the bottom. If not send me your email, and I can send them to you.

That adapter that seperates the S-Video into power and av sounds good. The cameras have built in microphones, will that be carried through too?

Kal