Not Sure Where to start

[chaesman 0]

I am wanting to setup a security system at my home.

 

I need to do this on a small budget so I plan on doing it in baby steps so the end result is good.

 

I want to do a dedicated PC based system.

 

my home is a little over 1000sq ft. with an open floor plan so 2 cameras should cover all common areas pretty easily I would think.

 

my property on the other hand is 220 ft wide by 400+ ft deep ( a little over 2 acres)

 

so I am thinking 4 cameras to cover most of the property (maybe) and I would like 1 more at the front door area)

 

so that would be 7 cameras total.

 

What I have so far.

 

Pulled a dell Insperion C521 out of storage - got pushed aside do to a failed network connector.

 

added second hard drive 500 gigs

 

upgrade ram to 4 gigs.

 

17" lcd monitor

 

added Wireless network card (B/G)

 

fresh format and install of windows Xp home 32 bit

 

updated drivers.

 

have an old camera that uses an RCA connection (probably 10 years old)

 

Smi usb Grabber (the fake one) odd enough it wont work with the old camera

 

just got a Cheap dome camera (wont make that mistake again) utilizes BNC (it does work with the grabber but i dont like the grabber or its software)

 

so I guess my First step will be to get a dvr Capture card

 

I think 8 channels will be pleanty

 

however I dont want to get stuck having to use specific software and would love the option

 

to get a Card and Software that will allow me to add IP or Wireless cameras as well as 8 analogs if the need where to arise.

 

I really dont want to spend more than 100.00 on the card and it does need to be a Half height card (slim PC)

 

 

thanks for any advice you can provide.

[bigglebowski 0]

My advice would be to keep researching, it will pay off in the end. There is a forum for computer based DVR and there are 2 subforums of the 2 most popular DVR cards Geovision and Avermedia.

 

Check here: viewforum.php?f=2