DIY Mobile DVR

[IdahoMan 0]

Hi y'all. Very new to this (only have experience with Trail/Game cameras).

 

Been browsing the web, forums, etc. for a while now trying to do some research for a camera system (DVRs, cameras, sensors, IR types and lighting, optics) I want. I'd like to ask a few questions on a forum of people that have experience with this.

 

Wanting to capture events covertly is my goal. Trail Cameras are ideal for this: They are a self-contained DVR, video/still camera, IR, PIR, power-source sealed up in a weather-proof little box. If they work the way you expect them to, they really fit the bill: 1-2sec response-time, time-date stamp, good battery-life and image quality. The problem is their shape. When you come upon an area/situation where you need surveillance, you find the ideal spot you would like to place it and realize were you to put it there it would stick out like a sore thumb.

 

What would be nice is to have a "Trail Camera" that does not have the sensors, camera, IR, Mic and whatnot on the unit itself, but instead has ports that cables can plug into and then be run to to any camera/sensor/mic/receiver/IR of one's choosing. Such a system could be used in the field, installed in a vehicle, or used at home.

 

Specs I'm guessing toward:

 

Power:

12v DC (Car Batt or AC Adapter)

 

Size:

Small as possible

 

Capacity:

SD card most likely

 

Ports:

12v DC in

SD card (unless SSD HDD)

1to4channel Vid in

1to4channel Audio in (optional but preferred)

1to4trigger for sensors

Some kind of trigger out for IR lighting(?)

USB(optional)

 

Here are a few DVR ideas that look interesting:

 

http://www.safetybasement.com/Undercover-Law-Enforcement-Surveillance-System-p/px-sb-uci001.htm

http://www.ovation.co.uk/miniature-H264-AVC-digital-video-recorder.html

http://the-gadgeteer.com/2013/09/15/xtreme-life-dvr-and-landscape-stone-surveillance-camera-review/

http://www.supercircuits.com/resources/learn/surveillance-for-parks-and-recreation-areas/portable-covert-video-for-parks-video-cams

http://www.ebay.com/itm/4-Channel-Mobile-DVR-Car-Vehicle-Security-SD-Card-Video-Recorder-Black-Box-/130988708613

http://www.dhgate.com/product/anne-hot-gsm-home-dvr-alarm-system-with-sms/135857049.html

 

(I have no experience with any of these devices and have no idea if they would do what I expect them to, or even if they work at all (could be ChiCom junk))

 

Cameras, sensors, and IR:

 

I don't really know yet. My head is still spinning there. I know my Trail Camera captures nicely (Ex: Bushnell Trophycam HD Max 8MP - 1280x720 video w/audio) and that the flash is invisible (unless the BGs have NVGs of course), but would love to know what is possible.

 

 

Any of you have any experience with these kinds of devices? Any good quality sources? Anything I need to avoid? (BTW, is there any company out there that deals with custom lenses -like for cameras or PIR sensors?)

[IdahoMan 0]

Bump.

 

And an interesting link from a UAV hobby site:

 

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1146016