new to CCTV, Where do I start and What/where do I buy?

[picks 0]

I have had a little trouble recently with non-serious but annoying vandalism. I would like to set up 2 cameras to start but have the option of adding more (4 total) as needed. The first camera will be mounted on our porch about 10 feet from the door so I don't need an exceptional image. Any others will later be placed in the driveway or by the other doors. There will always be a porch light of some sort so no-light cameras are not needed but low-light probably would be.

 

I only need to save footage for 2 days max and would like to stick with a computer based system as I can put one together with spare parts and presumably save money. I would install XP and would need to record at least 2 simultaneous feeds but would like the option of recording at least 4 feeds at a later time. Frame rate would be fine at 5 fps. Internet streaming would be cool but not at all necessary.

 

I know most posts for what to buy say their budgets are $400-500 but due to only needing only 2 cameras upfront and hopefully using a current or parted together PC, can I start a system for < $200 (2 cameras and DVR card)? I am a fan of eBay but reading this forums' denial (understandably) of pirate/clone cards I don't want to buy something cheep and not be able to get help for it.

 

It looks like I can get DVR cards for $20-$100 on ebay, but what brands are worthwhile or what generic cards are acceptable, and with what software? It looks like most of the cards on ebay are no-name and allot do not have software but only drivers. Cameras on eBay are as low as $40 but usually do not have a brandname. What kind of cameras (or camera) should I look at?

 

I considered just using a wifi camera but at $100 for a single camera it just doesn't make sense in the long run.

 

Where do I start?

 

Thanks!

[eyeonutech 0]

Do a google search for eyemax 9030. they run under $150. It's a budget board, but they are decent.

 

It's a 4 channel 30 frame board (15 frames for 2 cameras at CIF resolution, 7 frames for 4 cameras at CIF resolution)

 

It has web access.

 

Number of days is dependent on your hard drive size. With 2 cameras you can get about 2 weeks on an 80 gig hard drive at 30fps motion only. 7 days on continuous record.

 

Make sure your motherboard has an intel chipset.

 

You can do a google search for 420 dome camera (or 420 bullet camera.) You can get them around $50 each for a 1/4" CCD. 1/3" CCD run about 50% more. Low lux (low light) and IR cams will cost a bit more.

 

Maybe someone else can chime in on the best camera selection.

[picks 0]

Do a google search for eyemax 9030. they run under $150. It's a budget board, but they are decent.

 

This board sounds like it has everything I need right now but I am not finding too much about it. What I have come across is some being referred to as Eyemax DVB or DVS 9030. Some images of the DVB show two cards (1 full card) while others show only a single card. I have never purchased this kind of equipment before- is there a reputable seller who still sells this? Looking on ebay I only came across one currently listed and none (that I found) previously listed.

 

It looks like it is pretty standard that the software comes with the hardware as they are specific to eachother- is this correct?

 

I also had a hard time finding the minimum system requirements for the PC. I know Intel is the chipset but how fast must it be? Could a recycled Celeron with 512MB Ram handle this? Harddrives are not an issue but I am concerned about spending too much on an overkill system but it does have to be functional for the video capturing.

 

Finally, I appreciate your suggestion on cameras. Doing some more searching I see that the 1/3 CCD is not that much more expesive (as you mentioned) than 1/4 so I assume I will go with that. I do not need IR so it looks like it will be a very basic camera. Are there brand names to go by when choosing cameras? I found tons on eBay with "Sony" and "Sharp" lenses but they are just the lenses which are branded, is that fine?

 

Thank you for any suggestions!

 

-Stephen

[picks 0]

Well it looks like "DVS" is specifically for a full system (pc, monitor, etc) while DVB is the board only.

I did come across the DVB-9060 which can have up to 16 channels and isn't too much more than the 9030. Does anyone what a PC has to have to run something like this? I'm sure it's a lot more and it's certainly overkill at this point but later in the future it may be worth it.

I'm still looking for a reputable store but I am also still finding it difficult to even locate these cards outside of cheap yahoo personal store websites.

[eyeonutech 0]

I've seen them built them on P4 2.4 with 256 MB RAM. since you only have 2 cameras, anything around those specs should be fine.

 

By the way, the processor is different from the chipset. Make sure your motherboard has an intel chipset.