Setting up a system using Cat6 between multiple locations

[PBX8944 0]

Hi all!

 

Here is my current situation. We are a business with offices on two separate floors of an office building. We have an existing unused Cat6 run between the two offices.

 

Ideally, I'd like to use a 16 channel DVR with 3 cameras and the DVR in Office A (this is our main office) and 8 cameras in Office B.

 

Is it possible/practical to run the signals from the 8 cameras in Office B to the DVR in Office A using the one existing Cat6? Or would I be better off just having two separate DVRs in each of the offices.

 

The purpose of the system is just for review of any incidents that might happen in the future. Remote access is nice, but not a primary need. I want to use 16 channel because office A may get more cameras in the future. I'm mainly thinking DVR rather than NVR because of the cost savings.

 

Thanks for your help!

[TERRANCE 0]

I have a similar setup on my property. My house and an out building about 75 feet away. I have 6 cameras mounted on the out building and 2 cameras inside the house.

 

I have my incoming internet feed to the modem, in the house. Off the modem is my main router. I have cat6 run out to the outbuilding where I have another router (configured as an access point (AP)- very easy to do). So the two routers are connected via the cat6. At this point I could add cameras to either router, and the camera software (and my NVR) sees them no problem.

 

I am using POE cameras, so I have two separate POE switches (which eliminates the need to external power), the power is in the cat6. So my router in the out building I have a POE switch hanging off it, and the 6 cameras are plugged into that POE switch which is plugged into the AP router,, which makes it way back to my NVR hanging off the main router.

 

Once the cameras are connected, the IP address is available on your 'home network' and you location makes no difference other than the cat6 limit which is like 100 meters. And i might add, all the camera 'data' makes it way through the single cat6 cable, not individual runs or anything.

[aibudo 0]

Just did another installation/upgrade for a business that had a retail location that was 400' from the main office location. The owners wanted to be able to monitor and access their 16 channel "analog" DVR in the retail location within their offices. They had "talked" to another CCTV expert who, evidently was trying to get into their "wallet" over and beyond what was necessary. That is becoming quite common in this industry. I explained how what they wanted done could be done at a fraction of what the "expert" was proposing. They also gave them the "option" of upgrading to an IP system or running 16 Siamese cables from the retail location to the office building. I told them that neither of what was being proposed was necessary. It could be done with only 2 individual cables or a compound of both. The also didn't want to dig up their parking lot to run cables. I also told them that that wasn't necessary either. There were existing poles between the locations that the power, telephone and cable company's were already using. With only a RG59 and cat6 cable, they could have what they wished and would not have to totally change their existing "analog" system of which they were happy with. I got the job and ran the RG59/cat6 cable between the locations overhead. The RG59 was connected at the output of the 16 channel DVR and connected to the video input(s) of existing wall mounted TV's within the office and anyone at anytime could monitor all of the camera's anytime they wished. Also the cat6 was connected from the DVR to the network router within the office location. Now any computer within the network could monitor and/or control the DVR within the retail location. A 10th of the cost of the "experts" proposal and relatively trouble free. This is not the first time that I have done something similar when separate, same business, locations were involved. Of course, as of an added note, the system is also accessible remotely. Now if money is no object,,,,,,, then go with the "expert(s)!

[ilk 0]

Just did another installation/upgrade for a business that had a retail location that was 400' from the main office location. The owners wanted to be able to monitor and access their 16 channel "analog" DVR in the retail location within their offices. They had "talked" to another CCTV expert who, evidently was trying to get into their "wallet" over and beyond what was necessary. That is becoming quite common in this industry. I explained how what they wanted done could be done at a fraction of what the "expert" was proposing. They also gave them the "option" of upgrading to an IP system or running 16 Siamese cables from the retail location to the office building. I told them that neither of what was being proposed was necessary. It could be done with only 2 individual cables or a compound of both. The also didn't want to dig up their parking lot to run cables. I also told them that that wasn't necessary either. There were existing poles between the locations that the power, telephone and cable company's were already using. With only a RG59 and cat6 cable, they could have what they wished and would not have to totally change their existing "analog" system of which they were happy with. I got the job and ran the RG59/cat6 cable between the locations overhead. The RG59 was connected at the output of the 16 channel DVR and connected to the video input(s) of existing wall mounted TV's within the office and anyone at anytime could monitor all of the camera's anytime they wished. Also the cat6 was connected from the DVR to the network router within the office location. Now any computer within the network could monitor and/or control the DVR within the retail location. A 10th of the cost of the "experts" proposal and relatively trouble free. This is not the first time that I have done something similar when separate, same business, locations were involved. Of course, as of an added note, the system is also accessible remotely. Now if money is no object,,,,,,, then go with the "expert(s)!

 

 

Interesting approach.

 

Can you let me know how you dealt with using solid core cables on an overhead hanger wire and did you have any problems with earth differentials?

 

Ilkie

[videoVIP 0]

Would also like to hear how you ran a customer's cable on the power/telco companies poles. Did you get right-of-way permissions or does the customer own the poles? Did you run aerial cable with a built-in suspension wire? Did you ground/protect each wire at each building entrance with the appropriate lightning protectors?

 

The limit for ethernet (Cat6) is 100m/339'. Are you able to connect reliably @ 400'?

[zr1 0]

For an IP system (whether applying to your situation or those Googling in from the "home game")

It's way easy...

Main Floor - NVR and whatever cams - can be plugged into the office network or directly to the NVR via POE

2nd Floor - The incoming CAT6 (or CAT5e for others Googling in) would run to a regular network switch (or POE switch if you want). Then plug any of the 2nd Floor cams into that 2nd Floor switch.

 

For an analog system...

Several ways to approach it. For the lowest install (and cost), I'd probably look at:

* Main Floor - DVR + cams + coax cable to each of the Main Floor cams

* Main Floor - DVR connects to office network via Ethernet Cat5e/6

* Main Floor - Cat6 that goes between floors, this end also connects to office network

* 2nd Floor - DVR #2 + coax cable to 2nd Floor Cams

* 2nd Floor - Cat6 plugs into network connection of DVR2 to connect it to the office network downstairs

Login to either each DVR separately (I find this more common for smaller/midsize businesses), or use management software to tie the DVR imaging together.

 

If the CAT6 is more than about 300 feet, then there's other solution add-ons to make it more interesting, but to still tie them together.

You also don't have to have either solution above on the office network, you can simply run a 2nd network solely for your camera system with a $30 router.