Gashog

OK...So...it does work that way! If you hook into the vid-in RCA plug and not the UHF connector. I checked all 5 cameras and two of them are OK. The others are so so, not good and crap.

I thought I was going to be able to test my new cameras by connecting them to a TV. Apparently, it doesn't work that way!

Someone asked for pics. Here they are. 4 have 8mm lenses and one has a 2.8mm. All f1:1.2 and Pentax.

I picked up a server today. I installed Ubuntu Server 11.10 and it's halfway through its memory check now. I was able to trade, even up, for a Dell PowerEdge 6000 with 2 scuzzy drives. One 20 Gig and one 300 Gig. I gave one of my HP workstations and some boxes of old junk. I need to source some coax and thermostat wire. Hopefully my cameras will arrive next week. Edit: pants on fire. It's a 600se.

Here is the rather long URL for the ELMO manual. The model number of the ones I will hopefully receive, all in one piece, is TSN400B not A. http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=tsn400a.pdf&source=web&cd=4&ved= 0CDkQFjAD&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.elmousa.com %2Ffiles%2FCCTV_archives%2FTSN400A%2FTSN400A. pdf&ei=em_qTqCsA4nW0QH9ub3aCQ&usg= AFQjCNFQzcph4nJMWu6faot7iWuG7YT4Rw&sig2= oOAxiQ18Iz1aomue3ibRew&cad=rja

Thanks everyone. I'm thinking 4 will be enough for now. Anything is better then what I have. The lenses on all the cameras are supposedly good for a 22x optical zoom. I hadn't thought about getting a close look at an intruders face. I was thinking more about the vehicle. Thanks for bringing that up. Yes. I'll do that. I wasn't able to find much info online specific to the model of cameras I just bought. What do you want for it? PM me. The IP Mega pixel cameras are very impressive indeed but I really can't afford the best right now. I need to upgrade my rusted out, rod knocking 1990 Bronco before I lay out $2500 for a good surveillance system, as much as I'd like to. I'm pretty confident that I can get it all working. I'm hoping that it's going to be easier then it looks!

Done. I won a lot of 5 Elmo TSN400B cameras with lenses. Including shipping, they were $6.80 each. Can't by fake ones for that, can you? I'll order a capture card once I chose. Anyone here sell Linux friendly hardware?

Ok. I'm ready to pull the trigger on some used analog cameras. Unless I'm missing something. I'll be ordering a capture card once I decide which box I'll be sticking it in. Any other suggestions? should I be looking at other options? I do like to tinker and this solution seems like it would fit my property nicely. One other thing. CCD. That's a charge coupled device right? My still cameras have those. I prefer them to the early CMOS sensors in the DSLRs I tried about 5 years ago. Wider DR and nicer color.

Thats kool. Thank you. I just discovered Bluecherry. They sell a 4 channel capture card and they have an Ubuntu friendly package to run it. So I should be looking at NTSC cameras, coax/BNC (which I have a tool box of paraphernalia for) and some 24v AC power supplies (which I may have one or two already) and a capture card and Linux box..... If I want to go this route? That actually sounds like it'd be easy to source anyway.

I want to install some cameras around my house, garage and barn. I have some valuable tools and heavy equipment and there are some desperate people who haven't found me yet. I know it's just a matter of time. I am looking at Zoneminder because I have been using Ubuntu for years on all my PCs and I'm used to cutting and pasting code in a terminal. I've never set up a server but it's something I've been meaning to dabble in for a long time. I haven't had a reason to do it until I decided to start building my CCTV system. I thought I was going to be able to buy a couple of old security cameras off eBay, run some cat 5 and plug them into something connected to my server and ta-daaa! Well, I'm finding out just how much I don't know about CCTV. 1. There are analog and digital cameras. The analog ones have a coax connector, composite or S-video out? The digital ones have some other type of connector/cable like cat 5 or something? 2. Video capture cards: Not the same as my Invidia card with video capture capability. Are there analog capture cards? I really don't even know what questions to ask here. 3. IP based: Obviously like Zoneminder is one of these. I like this because I could use my Android phone. Is there a way to hook up an analog CCTV system to work with an IP based system? 4. DVR. Digital camera (CMOS) with either a capture card or dedicated DVR. Seems like these systems are a good match for IP based systems. 5. Connecting everything together: I need to know what wiring I need to install and apparently that depends on what components I intend to use. I see that a lot of cameras use a 24v DC power supply. That makes sense with a battery backup in mind. Also, light gage wire. Can any of you help me by describing the different basic CCTV systems that I might consider for my application. I want a camera on or in my garage that can see my driveway. I have a motion sensor flood light on the corner of the garage with 2 100w bulbs. I'd like one in my attic looking out the window. There is a lit parking lot that I'd like to see. I'd like one somewhere around my barn. I have a 24 foot telephone pole between my house and my barn or the eves of the barn are 14 feet high. My server could be up on a shelf in my bedroom closet. Can anyone get me started? I don't know where to begin.

With my budget?!! Horay! I'm kidding I'm still informing myself. I'll have questions soon, I'm sure.

Yes, I'll work on it. I think I'll probably start with three cameras but I should start a new thread to discuss the details. I'll do that once I read up a little more but, basically, I'm looking at an old workstation with two drives running either Debian or Debian based Ubintu or Mint server OS. Thanks Edit: Ubuntu is what I meant.

My name is Ted. My goal is to source, install and setup a home CCTV system using ZoneMinder on a Debian server and used components. My budget is basically zero. I see that some members here sell used cameras and components on eBay. I have not looked at the classified section yet but I would be interested in purchasing my hardware here (meaning from members), once I know what I need. Thanks in advance.