Advice re simple/inexpensive CCTV system

[davidkent 0]

I have tried over the last year to set up a CCTV/monitoring operation in my front garden, but this has been unsuccessful. I bought a wireless camera

Image: http://imgs.inkfrog.com/pix/orcface/10057.jpg

but cannot get the camera output signal to appear on my TV video channel: wishing to avoid buying a DVR card for my PC (as I have so little success with installing new things on my PC), I bought a 'USB DVR LEAD - 4 CHANNEL USB SECURITY CCTV VIDEO RECORDER DVR' through ebay

Image: http://images.channeladvisor.com/Sell/SSProfiles/73000535/Images/5/USB%20DVR%20Lead.jpg

but could not install the program necessary to use this as my PC (Win XP) kept giving error messages (I subsequently returned this item). NB. I have run a webcam on/from my PC without any problems.

Apart from the above-mentioned difficulties, my main problem now is the cost: I have been trying to keep the expenditure down to the smallest amount possible and I still need to do this. Things are not helped by the fact that I find some of the terminology used in advertisements confusing as they lack a full explanation, e.g., some refer to a wireless camera and then say only 'and connect this to your TV' although this clearly needs far more detail.

Anyway, in an attempt to try and keep things as simple as possible, I've decided not to use anything that works through my TV (which is being used for normal TV-viewing most of the time anyway), or my PC, but get a system that is complete, i.e, it includes *all* the parts needed, i.e,

camera (wireless)

receiver device required

recorder (2 hours max)

monitor (b&w or colour)

I have seen references to a monitoring process through IP, but this seems far too involved for me considering my success so far with using a computer for monitoring.

As it will be gathered from the above, apart from the set-up being complete and inexpensive, it will have to be fairly idiot-proof to set up and run. Can anyone point me in the best direction please. Thanks

David

[Soundy 1]

You don't say where you're located, but that picture says the camera came from a "UK seller", meaning it's probably using PAL video standard... if YOU'RE not in the UK or other country that uses PAL, that would explain why it doesn't work with your TV.

 

These sort of wireless systems are very limited in distance and quality, and if you're not within probably 50' and line-of-sight from the camera to the receiver, that could explain why you're not getting anything, too. Have you tested it with your TV with the camera and receiver close together?

 

If you're putting the camera outside and the receiver is inside a brick/concrete building, that would certainly explain lack of reception.

 

If you want to record, but don't need to monitor in realtime, you might be better off with a camera that has built-in recording, like those from MemoCam. These aren't overly cheap, and you could probably find some cheap knock-off designs on fleaBay, but you really do get what you pay for in this industry.