tweak'e

sure...when they make them in miniature size and only cost a few hundred dollars instead of a few thousand dollars. actually i like the idea of the digital none-IP cameras. get around some of the electrical interference you can get.

ffdshow can decode most avi files. otherwise try videoLAN as it tends to handle broken or odd video a bit better than most windows codecs do.

sounds like you need a full DVR. however to have it running when not driving, tend to run into a couple of problems. one is room on the hardrive and the biggest is draining the battery. you would need to run it off a 2nd battery. not hard to do, just need space for extra battery. you could try to have it just turn on to record an event (eg activate by motion sensor) but by the time the DVR fires up it would be all over. watchman EDR i think is not a bad system for that. unfortunately its not really good for your main use.

bit of a newbie to cctv. just picked up a avermedia eb1304 mobile DVR. looking to tweak the elcheapo cameras a bit.

depends on what sort of use you are after. full DVR, record everything all the time (ie mobile watchman) or a crash camera which only records when there is an event. i have a DVR so i can't comment to much on crash cameras. wide angle cameras don't pick up the number plates unless very very close. frame rate counts. at speed you only have such a short window of opportunity to catch an image while they are in range. 4fps recording is very hit/miss. need at least 10-15fps. with only two cameras, especially if they are both dash mounted as with most crash cameras, they cover very little area. you might get front coverage but little rear and certainly no side coverage. which makes it all pointless if someone hits you in the rear or on the side and does a runner. in my experience with a hit and run, unless you can still drive and chase them the odds are fairly small you will read a plate well enough to pass onto the cops. ideally you need front/rear and side cameras with decent fps.

hi i have a mobile DVR and currently useing a CCD reversing camera for rear video. its a no name cheapy. big problem at night is the vechile lights often upset it. need to be able to see number plates usually at around 5-10m. is it worth putting a strong IR spotlight or is it a case of get a better camera or lens?