Recording a security monitor to computer.
July 7, 2005 6:08 PM Subscribe
What would be the easiest way to record the output of a security monitor to My PC?
This is a standard (ntsc?) monitor with 4 security cameras running in to it. I would like to record all of it on to my hard disk, at a maximum rate of say, a gig an hour. It would also be super if the files would be broken up in to days or even hours.
The PC in question is also being used as a DVR and has three tuner cards, all of which are being used. I'd also like to keep this under $800 or so.
This is a standard (ntsc?) monitor with 4 security cameras running in to it. I would like to record all of it on to my hard disk, at a maximum rate of say, a gig an hour. It would also be super if the files would be broken up in to days or even hours.
The PC in question is also being used as a DVR and has three tuner cards, all of which are being used. I'd also like to keep this under $800 or so.
Could you not add another tuner card? I'm just thinking through this now, but there is software for webcams that will record only when there is motion. Surely there is something like that for this video feed. Or Maybe that software will work with any standard windows video feed.
Given that most 1-hour video clips on a DVR are anywhere from 0.4 to 1 GB, you should meet your requirements. Subtract the need for higher def, color, and periods of no motion and you could be looking at 100 MB.
So, there's still the problem of four feeds on one screen, if I'm understanding your post correctly. Does this monitor have a video out RCA jack?
This is a great question. I'll be checking for follow-ups. Thanks for posting this!
I know this doesn't quite fit your requirements, but would a dedicated MythTV box with four tuners work?
Great question. I'll be watching out for responses. Thanks for asking!
posted by kc0dxh at 6:33 PM on July 7, 2005
Given that most 1-hour video clips on a DVR are anywhere from 0.4 to 1 GB, you should meet your requirements. Subtract the need for higher def, color, and periods of no motion and you could be looking at 100 MB.
So, there's still the problem of four feeds on one screen, if I'm understanding your post correctly. Does this monitor have a video out RCA jack?
This is a great question. I'll be checking for follow-ups. Thanks for posting this!
I know this doesn't quite fit your requirements, but would a dedicated MythTV box with four tuners work?
Great question. I'll be watching out for responses. Thanks for asking!
posted by kc0dxh at 6:33 PM on July 7, 2005
Okay, you want the long or short version?
First of all, is the PC in question running Linux or Windows (or, I can't believe Mac).
If it's Windows, I'm not too familiar with the packages out there, but there are a ton of them. Most of them cost some money, but you can use them with basic tuner cards.
For Linux, we use ZoneMinder. It integrates with either network cams, or a Tuner card based camera using the Video For Linux (VFL) architecture. There is a Mandrake LiveCD that somebody makes for ZoneMinder, which will guide you through the installation with very little hassle. I'd suggest that for your first go-round if possible.
We use the Axis 206W wireless cameras, just for convenience. They do support WPA it creates a motion JPEG stream that is captured in whatever software you use.
If you want to continue to use your existing camera infrastructure, you need a multiplexer. I'm assuming there is currently a multiplexer sending the four video feeds into the monitor. If it is one big system without a separate multiplexer, then you'll need to buy one. The multiplexer takes in four video feeds, and sends it out on one coax connection. You can then just plug this into a tuner card on your system.
ZoneMinder isn't the prettiest software, but it is open source, and free. It has a large number of customizable features. You'll need to play around with the motion detection settings until you get it right, but once you do, it makes it way easier to see when somebody crossed the field of your camera.
If you have questions about the cameras, multiplexers, or any of this, the best place to ask on the web is www.cctvforum.com
Let me know if you have other questions.
posted by stovenator at 11:41 PM on July 7, 2005
First of all, is the PC in question running Linux or Windows (or, I can't believe Mac).
If it's Windows, I'm not too familiar with the packages out there, but there are a ton of them. Most of them cost some money, but you can use them with basic tuner cards.
For Linux, we use ZoneMinder. It integrates with either network cams, or a Tuner card based camera using the Video For Linux (VFL) architecture. There is a Mandrake LiveCD that somebody makes for ZoneMinder, which will guide you through the installation with very little hassle. I'd suggest that for your first go-round if possible.
We use the Axis 206W wireless cameras, just for convenience. They do support WPA it creates a motion JPEG stream that is captured in whatever software you use.
If you want to continue to use your existing camera infrastructure, you need a multiplexer. I'm assuming there is currently a multiplexer sending the four video feeds into the monitor. If it is one big system without a separate multiplexer, then you'll need to buy one. The multiplexer takes in four video feeds, and sends it out on one coax connection. You can then just plug this into a tuner card on your system.
ZoneMinder isn't the prettiest software, but it is open source, and free. It has a large number of customizable features. You'll need to play around with the motion detection settings until you get it right, but once you do, it makes it way easier to see when somebody crossed the field of your camera.
If you have questions about the cameras, multiplexers, or any of this, the best place to ask on the web is www.cctvforum.com
Let me know if you have other questions.
posted by stovenator at 11:41 PM on July 7, 2005
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It makes indexing easier, you only need one cable instead of four, it's totally PC native, you don't need to futz with RF-coax, and you'll be updated for years to come, not to mention an increase in image quality and usability - which can totally Cover Your Ass in prosecution, court cases, theft prevention and more, because there's less ambiguity.
It'll be better money spent than trying to interface two foreign technologies.
posted by loquacious at 6:25 PM on July 7, 2005