Magic box

[aussiemike 0]

Hi Guys,

I'm an old dog trying to learn new tricks. Have been studying for the past week or so about how to begin the setup of a wireless cctv system over a very large residential site. The prices I am encountering are rather large so I would seriously appreciate if someone could answer a small question. Please excuse me in advance for my ignorance on the subject but I must start somewhere.

Question. Is there a magic box I can buy ie wireless amplifier, that I can connect in situ to a wired camera and send a wifi signal back to my wireless router. The distances I have to cover require boosting anyway so do I really need a wireless camera to start with?

TIA

Aussiemike

Kenya

[Soundy 1]

There are a couple options... you could use a wireless "video server" box to take signal from an analog camera and digitize it for IP/WiFi... or you can use the likes of a "gaming adapter" (the type designed to plug into a gaming console's network port to make it wireless) to connect a wired IP camera to.

 

Either way, you'll still need to upgrade your antenna... an amp may not be necessary, as a high-gain directional antenna may well do the trick. The only catch with that is, your WiFi device (camera, adapter or game server) must have the ability for you to remove the included antenna and connect an external one.

[aussiemike 0]

Dear

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Thanks for taking the time to help.

The reason I am trying to do things this way is because I believe the range and cost of cameras I could use would be far better than the range available in the IP wireless selection.

Am I correct in assuming that all wired cameras are analog?

Thanks again.

Mike

[Soundy 1]

Not sure if we're quite on the same page here... "IP wireless" and "WiFi" *are* the same thing. Whether you take an analog camera and plug it into a WiFi video server, or just use a wireless IP camera, you'll get the same range out of them (all else being equal).

 

And no, all wired cameras are not analog... there are also hard-wired IP cameras.

 

IP, or "internet protocol" (more properly, TCP/IP) is just a communication method than can be carried over a number of different media. That media can be a wired type, such as ethernet (like most workplace computers) or less common types like token-ring, fiber-optics, etc. It could also be a wireless connection, such as WiFi (short for "Wireless Fidelity", a very poorly chosen marketing name - the technical designation is IEEE 802.11a, b, g, or n).

 

If you want to send the signal to your wireless router, then you MUST use WiFi, as that is the standard that wireless routers use. That means either using IP cameras of some sort, or a device called a "video server" that will take analog (NTSC or PAL) video in, and digitize it into a data stream for transmission via TCP/IP... and in your case, one that will then send it over WiFi (there are also models that just plug in to the network).

[aussiemike 0]

Hi

(\__/)

(='.'=)

(")_(")

The first thing I am going to do is put a beer in my fridge with your name on it, so if you ever get to the coast of Kenya you will not go thirsty.

I will then come back and attempt to digest all you have said.

I will study it, analyze it and hopefully come back to you with a more intelligent and thought out question.

 

Appreciate your help.

Mike

[zmxtech 0]

that`s easy to fix just add a high gain WIFI antenna to one side or both.

Amps are usually unnecessary and expensive. -rarely used in pro-setups

 

spend $50 on a 20db gridpack and bamm you`ll have a great picture\strong WIFI signal

[aussiemike 0]

Hi Soundy,

The beer is in the fridge.

Am I barking up the right tree now re your method? See attached.

 

Hi Zmxtech,

Due to the fact that most of the stuff coming into Kenya via mail is stolen I must rely on friends from O/S delivering personally so I therefore must take size and weight into the smuggling option. If I understand correctly you are saying that I should just get a directional Ariel and hook it up to a WiFi camera. If I was to do that on both ends as you suggest what happens when I need to hook up another camera diametrically opposed to the receiving router?

 

Thanks to you both.

Mike

[zmxtech 0]

depends on the distance ? and whats in the way ?

 

can you mount them high ?

[aussiemike 0]

Best explain overall needs first.

The plot size is 25 acres and is covered with trees. ie 800 meters x 130 meters.

There will be six separate houses and each house will need to see the front gate cameras via their own laptops.

The distance of the first house is only 30 meters from the main gate and the other houses can be 300 meters away. I will eventually need a camera at the back of the property which is 600 meters away from most houses.

I will build this system slowly to start so want to get it right straight off and then build on it. The plot is also full of monkeys so will have to have the cameras high up on "Greased" poles. If you guys could point me in the right direction to start with it would be a great help.

Regards from Kenya

Mike

[zmxtech 0]

ah theres no doing that on the cheap or using bits, you will need proper equipment.

 

@600m you will need directional antennas pointing at each other.

[camera to WIFI repeater then to dvr/laptop in the house]

 

If you dont use a repeater in the house your results will be poor as the laptop is a big variable . having a stable link [camera to repeater] will fix that. the home owner will have a good signal all the time. -into the repeater.

 

@30m

if the gate IP camera is only 30m you could put a directional antenna up high pointing at the house. that will give good coverage.

I have done this at some farms and sheds. its cheap and works well.

[aussiemike 0]

Cheers M8,

Think I best jump in at the shallow end before I learn to swim.

God bless the kangaroo.

Mike

[Soundy 1]

Okay, here's a thought: if I'm reading this right, you have only one camera needed initially, to watch the front gate?

 

Now, do all of these houses have internet access (preferably broadband)? If so, it becomes a lot easier, because all you need to do then is get the camera signal to the nearest house - the others will all be able to view it via internet.

 

That's one of the beauties of IP cameras (wired or wireless) for this purpose - once the camera is on the network, anyone with the proper access is able to view it.

 

Now, the camera at the back of the property will be another matter.... 600m is a LONG run for any sort of networking, especially if there are trees in the way. Wired ethernet maxes out at 100m without repeaters; wireless will be limited party by how much money you throw at high-gain directional antennas, and partly by how line-of-sight your path is - anything in the way will adversely affect the signal.

 

What I might suggest for that, is a standard analog camera (don't forget, you have to get power to it as well), running signal over Cat5 using baluns, back to the nearest building, then using a video server box to tie it into the internet connection there. This would probably require either burying the cable (don't forget you need to get power out there as well; over that range, you'll want a pretty hefty cable, maybe 16/2 or even 14/2), or stringing it out there tree-to-tree. Not a long-term solution as the trees grow, but perhaps a serviceable one until either wireless technology improves or cable burial becomes more cost-effective.

 

Again, though, the beauty of connecting this into the internet is, it doesn't have to go to the same place as the other camera, and anyone on the internet that you give access to, will be able to see it. This would even allow the owners to check in on their cameras when they're away from home!

[aussiemike 0]

Thanks Soundy,

You're a gem. Will start on Monday. At the back of the property I will have another completely independent system working the same way.

Great stuff.

Regards

Mike

[zmxtech 0]

for sure if you can hardwire the system do it !