Liquid Cool

Hello Folks... I've been reading the site for about a week trying to familiarize myself with all of the lingo. I'm completely new to all of this, but I am interested in putting together a small camera system to monitor a couple of points at my house. I've had three break-in's to my car over the last year, and this last one the thieves happened to walk through the neighbors yard, and were caught on his antiquated BW system, but the VCR tape is so blurry I can't barely make anything out. First of all, I'm on a tight budget. So I'd like to start out with two cameras, but have the ability to add 2 later on. I'd basically like to get all of this done for $750, If I can... I'm under the assumption I need a DVR card, the two camera's, cabling, and a PC. The better of my pc's is AMD based, so If I could find a card that works with this one, I'd probably be ecstatic. If not, the Pentium I have should be suitable. Is there anything else I need? I've been seeing these Power Supply boxes. Not sure how there useful. If I didn't use one, would I have to wire up an outlet for each individual camera? As far as the areas to cover, I have a driveway I want to cover that is 16x30. It doesn't get very dark at night because of the local street lights. I was contemplating installing the camera(link below) in the overhanging eave, because in the front of the house, I'd like to be as discreet as possible. I couldn't find out much about the camera, like the filter Rory(Yes Rory, I read all of your posts) speaks about, or if it's BW at night. So I don't know if it's a true Color/BW at night, or if it's color 24/7. It doesn't say. Does anyone have any working knowledge of these cameras? I might add, my house is beige, and the camera also comes with a beige housing. Something I find very attractive. Although, for the money, if you guys feel this is junk, please tell me so and feel free to offer substitutes. Although, I'm concerned that if this camera doesn't work...How would I hide the camera?? [edit-link removed by mod] The second camera would be installed under my back porch in the corner facing a sliding glass door that would be 12' feet away. The whole area under the porch is 8'x14'. We have a fence and an arbor in the back yard, so it is very dark back in there, were always nervous someone could break in and take there time doing it. So we'd probably be needing a camera that can see in dark places. Would prefer color day/BW night, but if they're too expensive, we could go with BW night/day. The area isn't too large to cover, but I want to be able to see the area rather well, and make out faces if need be. There are so many cameras out there to choose from, after searching for a few days, I feel completely lost on the correct one for this area... The DVR card. I like the looks of the GE 600 series. I've read they can be used on an AMD computer? Although the price ranges vary tremendously on these. Any other brands out there. I know LeadTek makes one, and I saw a few on [edit-link removed by mod] Appreciate any help offered, and if you need further information to help, don't hesitate to ask. Best Regards, Liquid Cool

Here's a shot of the small server I built. I kept this one, but have built a couple for young kids to use as LAN servers at parties.

After a restful night sleep, I re-read the whole thread. Hermin, I like the idea of the two Rory mentioned..in white. For the front, I'm thinking about going with the CVC 637EX/W, I think this would work in another location I have when I add one more. Then under the back porch, I was going to go with the CVC 325WP. I think again, Rory made a good choice here. When I add the 4th, I'm going to go with the CVC 6805 EX, it would be for inside a courtyard. I'm going to add pictures today, so people can understand the areas I'm talking about. I'm an off the floor commodities trader, among other duties. So my pc's have to be 100% reliable. I use two systems here in the office. A small server, and a FX-55 AMD based 64 bit system. I will mention both are liquid cooled, and tuned to perfection. I can completely understand what you guys mean when you're mentioning reliability. I'm a tad anal in this area. I have a PX400 Soyo Dragon Platinum board and a 2.4C Intel chip lying around here as an old spare. I'm going to rummage through the workshop tonight and see if I can come up with a complete PC so I can slap together a dedicated system(DVR). Currently this afternoon, I'd like to get familiar with Hermin's I view cards, I've read a few thread's on these and like what I see, although. Haven't seen any .PDF files, or pictures of the cards as of yet. A google search, pulled up more junk than I cared to sift through, so still looking. Also trying to get down figuring out "exactly" what I need for cabling, and how I wire these up. I'm techinically and electronically savvy, but this area of electronics, as the title stated, I don't have any experience. Will be back with Pics a little later. Again guys, quite a bit more help than I expected here, and I'm extremely appreciative. Best, LC

Rory, You've been a big help. It's 2:15 AM here, so in the morning I'm going to have to re-read all of this...smile. Thanks for everything, and I'm sure we'll talk again. Also, when you get your site up to drop ship. I'd like to hear about it. Best, LC

You Are Fast. Do you think the 637 would work for my application, or should I step up to the 6805. I guess that would be the next question? Also, you can't sell to the US? Best, LC

[edit-link removed by mod] Here's the URL to the 637's on Spytown...they're saying they are. Could they be wrong then? Best, LC I can't believe your in the Bahamas...you lucky dog...

does the Iview run on an AMD platform? And did you see my ? on the 637? Best, LC P.S. Now I'm going to have to figure out how to wire all of this up. Plenty of time to read while I'm waiting for the parts to come in...

Good explanation of the DVR, understand what's going on with these a little better. I didn't realize once you start the program it takes over your whole computer. I have a 2.4ghz pentium lying around, with just about enough parts to put one together. Might go this route. LC

herminshs, I agree with your philosophy. $199 is not too much for a card, I consider that cheap compared to the GE's I was looking at. As far as the cameras go, I don't want to compromise that is why I searched and found this site. Otherwise, I would have picked up some cheap monitor and a few cheap cameras as a kit and got taken...from my perspective. I was looking around, then realized, I don't know what I'm doing here, I'm going to get help. You all have been extremely helpful. My car was just broken into last week, obviously the motivator to get off my duff. Best, LC

so let me get all of this straight.... I just looked at the 637EX...and frankly put, I like the size, it also comes in white. It says it has ExView. The article also says Day/Night Camera, but it does or does not have a fixed IR Cut Filter. What do you think? The price is "fantastico" Long day here too, rained so much I could have used Moses to part the waves in my basement. Spent most of the night with mop and bucket in hand. Best, LC ANY link to those cards would be appreciated, can't seem to find any.

If I'm reading on Spytown right the Speco is a ProVideo? That 7706 is a wallet buster, how about the CVC-6805EX? Best, LC

Back again...Looking at the Sony I mentioned in my first post...it's a dome?? So I could see how you'd get the impression I was interested in domes. Sorry. Taking a close look at that WizKid site, I sure like the WZ21 and WZ22. Those are nice. Best, LC

Thanks for the fast(and thorough) responses... First question to arise is why just the DVR? Can't do anything else on the pc? Why is this. I build custom PC's as a hobby, mostly liquid cooled units. They should be able to handle something like this easily. Although, I'll have to wait for answers on this one, because I'll admit, having seen a DVR....that's about it. I have 6 LCD's on my office wall, I can dedicate one if need be. Rory, do you have a link I could look at to get familiar with Eclipse products you mentioned. The card sounds good. The cameras, I'm still thinking on. Here's what troubles me. I live in a neighborhood(Urban America) on a lake, lots of walkers going by, I live on a corner, and I really don't want a dome camera on the front of my house. I'd like to have it not seen at all. I'm not sure how small these are, but real small like 3" would be too big for me. I have two vents up in the soffets, what about drilling hole in one of the vents and poking a bullet in up there? As far as the true day/night color/BW bullets...how much are they? Also, in the back area under the porch, I just have rafters to mount the camera too. I was thinking a bullet, or a small camera would fit in there pretty good, I'm not sure how I'd mount a dome. If I get what your saying about the quality of these camera's here, and from what I've read in other posts. If they don't have an IR Cut Filter, stay away, unless you want a cheapie? What about this Eclipse dome with no IR cut filter. You can get this same type in a bullet? Color day/BW night...high res? that sounds like what would workly nicely in perhaps both locations if I could shoot the camera out of the vent. Also for the measurements, I'm not sure what lenses I'd need...again new to this. Best, LC