Video system with multiple monitors

[tswirka 0]

I have the following scenario:

 

A dance school with 4 separate dance rooms. What we would like is to install a camera in each room and set up 4 separate monitors in a common viewing area for the parents to watch their kids dance. We need to have the ability for each monitor to display one room only, IE., Dance room 1 displays on monitor 1, dance room 2 displays on monitor 2, etc., plus a central monitor than can view all of the cameras.

The only information I have been able to find on how to do this involves a lot of equipment and cabling. Since we are not trying to utilize an existing camera system (we have to purchase all new), is there a system that has this type of functionality built in? Or would we have to use a basic camera system with one video output and add all of the equipment necessary to accomplish what we need? Also, we do not need DVR capability. This system is strictly for viewing and recording capability is not required.

 

Thanks in advance.

[the toss 0]

I dont know where you are getting your info but this should be a pretty simple (& cheap) setup. Ironically the cheapest & easiest way to do it WILL be to use a DVR. Ensure the DVR you get has monitor outputs for each channel.

 

1) Cable from each camera location back to where ever your central monitor (& dvr) will be. You will also need a couple of power points here. The dvr output is fed to your central monitor & can view any or all cameras.

2) Cable from each channel monitor point to each monitor screen. ( chan 1 cable to monitor 1, chan 2 cable to monitor 2 etc)

 

You will end up with 4 monitors each displaying one camera and a central monitor that can display any single camera or all cameras together. PLUS the capability of recording if required.

The cameras dont need to be anything special assuming there is good light in the dance rooms

[Boogieman 1]

What is your budget?

If you are going to be displaying these cams for parents to watch, I would suggest HD cameras....

[ak357 0]

I dont know where you are getting your info but this should be a pretty simple (& cheap) setup. Ironically the cheapest & easiest way to do it WILL be to use a DVR. Ensure the DVR you get has monitor outputs for each channel.

 

1) Cable from each camera location back to where ever your central monitor (& dvr) will be. You will also need a couple of power points here. The dvr output is fed to your central monitor & can view any or all cameras.

2) Cable from each channel monitor point to each monitor screen. ( chan 1 cable to monitor 1, chan 2 cable to monitor 2 etc)

 

You will end up with 4 monitors each displaying one camera and a central monitor that can display any single camera or all cameras together. PLUS the capability of recording if required.

The cameras dont need to be anything special assuming there is good light in the dance rooms

I would use TVI not Analog

[the toss 0]

I'm just saying that there is good CHEAP analogue out there if he's on a budget

[tswirka 0]

Thanks for the info guys. We have no particular budget, just trying to find out what the options are. The only place I got my info was from searching the Internet (which is how I found this forum). I was hoping that the solution would be a DVR with a monitor output for each channel but I couldn't find any (guess I'm not searching the right way). Since you guys obviously know this stuff better than me would you have any recommendations on brand names for the DVR systems and / or cameras?

 

Thanks again.

[tswirka 0]

Hello again.....

 

So I'm looking for a DVR with a "monitor output for each channel" and I can't seem to find one. Is that what the feature is called or is it called something else? I understand the solution I just can't find the right equipment.

 

Thanks

[Boogieman 1]

Hello again.....

 

So I'm looking for a DVR with a "monitor output for each channel" and I can't seem to find one. Is that what the feature is called or is it called something else? I understand the solution I just can't find the right equipment.

 

Thanks

First determine the picture quality you want...if you want good quality imagery get an HD cameras...you can use ip cameras and a cheap amazon fire stick at each monitor if you have a good wifi network..

[tswirka 0]

Thanks, but I was asking about the DVR itself. I'm being told that I need a DVR with a monitor output for each channel and I can't find any DVR's that have that feature in its description, unless it's called something else.

[Boogieman 1]

Thanks, but I was asking about the DVR itself. I'm being told that I need a DVR with a monitor output for each channel and I can't find any DVR's that have that feature in its description, unless it's called something else.

Before you ask about the dvr, you need to determine the quality you want...this is the first question...

[tswirka 0]

OK. The cameras will be in dance rooms, so people will be watching kids dance. It doesn't have to be high quality, just good enough to make out the kids. The rooms are well lit. 2 of the rooms are 18' by 31', one is 20' by 60' and one is 20' by 20'. It doesn't necessarily even have to be in color, depends on how much of a price difference there is between color and B/W cameras. We won't need to record anything, so recording does not factor into the quality question. No close ups, no zooming in, etc. We just need each camera to show the entire room, or as much of it as possible. The only thing I can think of that we definitely want to avoid is choppy video.

[Boogieman 1]

OK. The cameras will be in dance rooms, so people will be watching kids dance. It doesn't have to be high quality, just good enough to make out the kids. The rooms are well lit. 2 of the rooms are 18' by 31', one is 20' by 60' and one is 20' by 20'. It doesn't necessarily even have to be in color, depends on how much of a price difference there is between color and B/W cameras. We won't need to record anything, so recording does not factor into the quality question. No close ups, no zooming in, etc. We just need each camera to show the entire room, or as much of it as possible. The only thing I can think of that we definitely want to avoid is choppy video.

if you put standard definition cameras in on large screens it will look terrible.

You can easily do this with a 1080p IP camera and an amazon fire stick for each TV..cost will be about 150 total for each setup..

[tswirka 0]

Thanks for the info, that's good to know. I'm still stuck on the original question on the DVR though.

[ak357 0]

Thanks for the info, that's good to know. I'm still stuck on the original question on the DVR though.

You will not find DVR that can do exactly what u want

You been given few different ways to do it

[tswirka 0]

Well, ak357, according to the toss, I can do exactly what I originally asked. (Have you read this entire post?) He said that I needed a DVR that has "monitor outputs for each channel" The question I posted today was that I couldn't find a DVR with a "monitor output for each channel" I am assuming that this is not a standard feature on every DVR system because the toss made sure to specify that that is what I needed. My only problem now is finding one. None of the DVR's I have found have this as a listed feature, that is why I was asking if this feature "monitor output for each channel" is called something else.

[Boogieman 1]

Well, ak357, according to the toss, I can do exactly what I originally asked. (Have you read this entire post?) He said that I needed a DVR that has "monitor outputs for each channel" The question I posted today was that I couldn't find a DVR with a "monitor output for each channel" I am assuming that this is not a standard feature on every DVR system because the toss made sure to specify that that is what I needed. My only problem now is finding one. None of the DVR's I have found have this as a listed feature, that is why I was asking if this feature "monitor output for each channel" is called something else.

why are you seeking a subpar solution that will likely cost you more than using ip cameras and result in inferior image quality.

Want a simpler solution? Buy a few camcorders with hdmi out..run an hdmi cable to the tv

http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-Camcorder-Recording-Certified-Refurbished/dp/B00PNWEYB6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1436987153&sr=8-1&keywords=camcorder+with+hdmi+output

Double check that it can output live video from the hdmi, many can.

Edited July 15, 2015 by Guest

[ak357 0]

Well, ak357, according to the toss, I can do exactly what I originally asked. (Have you read this entire post?) He said that I needed a DVR that has "monitor outputs for each channel" The question I posted today was that I couldn't find a DVR with a "monitor output for each channel" I am assuming that this is not a standard feature on every DVR system because the toss made sure to specify that that is what I needed. My only problem now is finding one. None of the DVR's I have found have this as a listed feature, that is why I was asking if this feature "monitor output for each channel" is called something else.

What is your budget ?

Where are u located ?

[tswirka 0]

Boogieman: I wasn't seeking a sub par solution. A solution was recommended to me by the 1st person (the toss) who responded to my original question and that's what I worked from. I was trying to get more info on that option. When you suggested an IP camera, I didn't realize that were you suggesting that instead of a DVR solution. The old location of this dance studio had the same setup, except only 1 room had a camera. All we were trying to was to expand on that. I guess if I understood that you were offering me a different solution I wouldn't have kept asking you the same question.

 

ak357: Budget could be as high as $1,500. I'm doing this research for the owner. It's ultimately up to them how much they want to spend. We are located in Daytona Beach Florida.

[Boogieman 1]

Boogieman: I wasn't seeking a sub par solution. A solution was recommended to me by the 1st person (the toss) who responded to my original question and that's what I worked from. I was trying to get more info on that option. When you suggested an IP camera, I didn't realize that were you suggesting that instead of a DVR solution. The old location of this dance studio had the same setup, except only 1 room had a camera. All we were trying to was to expand on that. I guess if I understood that you were offering me a different solution I wouldn't have kept asking you the same question.

 

ak357: Budget could be as high as $1,500. I'm doing this research for the owner. It's ultimately up to them how much they want to spend. We are located in Daytona Beach Florida.

The cheapest and simplest way to do this is to use a video camera with live hdmi out.

The next step is to use HD ip cameras - dont use anything low resolution, it will look terrible and reflect on your business.

[tswirka 0]

OK, now that I understand that....

 

Back to my 1st original post from 7/6/2015. I was hoping to have a central monitoring station also. I guess 1 of these options would not give me a central monitoring station like I would get with a DVR system. It looks like you're suggesting just going from camera directly to the monitor. If the owners don't want (or need) a central monitoring station then they might go for this. Once again, based upon what I was originally looking for, a DVR system seemed like the right way to go.

[Boogieman 1]

OK, now that I understand that....

 

Back to my 1st original post from 7/6/2015. I was hoping to have a central monitoring station also. I guess 1 of these options would not give me a central monitoring station like I would get with a DVR system. It looks like you're suggesting just going from camera directly to the monitor. If the owners don't want (or need) a central monitoring station then they might go for this. Once again, based upon what I was originally looking for, a DVR system seemed like the right way to go.

Then you can use IP cameras with a dedicated NVR for the central monitoring and a 40 dollar amazon fire stick at each tv to view independent channels..This is the best and also the cheapest way to handle this.

http://www.costco.com/Lorex-8-Channel-HD-NVR-Security-System-with-2TB-HDD-and-4-1080p-Cameras.product.100153164.html

http://www.amazon.com/Amazon-W87CUN-Fire-TV-Stick/dp/B00GDQ0RMG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1436996685&sr=8-1&keywords=fire+stick

[the toss 0]

It would normally be labelled "loop out". So on the back of the DVR there will be a row of BNC inputs labelled as cam 1 cam 2 etc OR chan 1 chan 2 etc and below each of these will be the associated "loop out" for each chan. Now keep in mind that this was a fairly standard feature on Analogue (SD) DVRs and may not appear on IP or HDcvi/tvi DVRs

[tswirka 0]

To:

the toss: Thanks for the info.

Boogieman: Thanks for confusing the he!! out of me.

ak357: Thanks for nothing.

 

I guess I'll go elsewhere to find out what I need.

[Boogieman 1]

To:

the toss: Thanks for the info.

Boogieman: Thanks for confusing the he!! out of me.

ak357: Thanks for nothing.

 

I guess I'll go elsewhere to find out what I need.

Please dont help this loser. She PM'ed my ranting about how I my responses were not to her liking. I guess she expected us to make a trip out there and install the equipment for free. Quite frankly if I was a parent I would be really concerned about sending my child to that dance school.

[tswirka 0]

Boogieman:

 

She is a He.

I didn't expect anyone to make a trip and install anything for free.

I am not employed by the dance school.

 

I don't think a public forum is a place for name calling, so I will not post anything further here. I guess I should have kept "Thanks for confusing the he!! out of me" private.