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Can I use non-network surveillance cameras and somehow display and record the videos on a computer? Is there a way it can connect to a network? Also, the wires used to connect the cameras to the tv look like phone cables, only a bit larger, but not as large as ethernet cables. Any ideas?
Answer
You can connect analogue cameras to a PC using a capture device (or sometimes called a DVR card). You either fit these cards inside your computer, or use cheaper USB versions like the one from Grandtec http://www.grandtec.com/products/surveillance/xguardusb.html which is easier to install. This will allow you to watch & record video on your PC as well as give remote access.
For genuine network based solutions, you would need a video server which converts analogue video source to IP video stream, like the Axis video server. You can use this with CCTV surveillance software like EyeSoft from BiKal IP CCTV http://www.bikal.co.uk/network-surveillance/ip-software.html which allows you to connect analogue and IP cameras to your computer.
It sounds like you have RJ11 connectors on your cables. You can convert these to standard CCTV connections. Type in RJ11 to BNC in your favourite search engine to find your nearest dealer.
You can connect analogue cameras to a PC using a capture device (or sometimes called a DVR card). You either fit these cards inside your computer, or use cheaper USB versions like the one from Grandtec http://www.grandtec.com/products/surveillance/xguardusb.html which is easier to install. This will allow you to watch & record video on your PC as well as give remote access.
For genuine network based solutions, you would need a video server which converts analogue video source to IP video stream, like the Axis video server. You can use this with CCTV surveillance software like EyeSoft from BiKal IP CCTV http://www.bikal.co.uk/network-surveillance/ip-software.html which allows you to connect analogue and IP cameras to your computer.
It sounds like you have RJ11 connectors on your cables. You can convert these to standard CCTV connections. Type in RJ11 to BNC in your favourite search engine to find your nearest dealer.
Cheap surveillance cameras?
Lauren
I want to put up some small, easy to hide/be hidden cameras around my property and house. Preferably ones that let me stream the live video feed to my laptop. The cheaper the better. Post everything you find. Thanks.
Answer
"Cheap" generally denotes poorly made and fast to break requiring replacement.
A better suggestion is to buy the value and "less expensive". Generally, you get what you pay for.
Before we go too far... there are basically two different technologies and both work fine.
1) Analog cameras connected to a security DVR that is connected to the local area network. The DVR generally has a hard drive and embedded operating system that records the video and the network connectivity provides for computer or smartphone access.
2) IP based cameras connected directly to the local area network. If video is to be stored, generally, some sort of network device is needed to record the video. Sometimes this is a "network attached" storage device. Sometimes this is a computer dedicated to do nothing else but record/store the video. The cameras are contacted directly by your laptop (or smartphone.
In either case, we assume you have a need for night vision. Even if you don't, the cameras still need some sort of power. We assume there is power available to these "hidden" areas where you want to install the cameras.
Your requirement of "cameras around my property" tells me that you need outdoor rated cameras. These are generally more expensive than "indoor only" cameras.
"Wireless" is deceiving... we already know that the camera needs power - so that is basically one wire. With an IP based camera system, then the wifi at your house needs to be on and the cameras all need to be on that network - and when you add the network attached storage device or computer for recording the video, then all that configuration and attention is needed. And wires. If the cameras are analog connecting to a network connected DVR, then the cameras send only the video wirelessly to a base station "mate". Each camera has its own base station. The base station needs power (another wire) and the base station video connection plugs into the DVR (another wire) and the DVR plugs onto the network (another wire).
I strongly suggest using known, decent quality gear. I've learned the hard way that when you go "cheap" you pay for it 3-4 times more than if you target decent quality for a few more dollars.
For residential, consumer grade, equipment, I like/use/own/installed on my property, equipment from Swann and Lorex. The analog cameras are usually wired and start at around $140 each (outdoor rated and night vision). The cameras included with the DVR kits will get replaced pretty quickly, but are a good place to start and learn how everything works. Getting an 8-camera or 16 camera network enabled DVR allows you to grow the system with other cameras as you identify the need and you don't make the entire investment upfront. The DVR also has a video output so if you want, you can attach that to TVs throughout the house (with a spare AV-input) and computer connection is available (through the computer network) but not required for monitoring.
D-link makes decent IP network based cameras. You can use whatever windows based computer to be the storage computer - assuming it has enough available hard drive space to store the amount of video you want stored. Network Attached storage devices are cool - but have their own maintenance and administration issues to deal with. Getting this video on non-computer or non-smartphone monitors (like a TV) is difficult.
In either case, accessing the video when you are connected to the local area network (wired or wireless) is generally relatively easy to do - if you need to access the video from a remote location, then you need to be sure the access to the home network through the router is secured and that takes a different skill-set...
At the pro-level, Pelco makes good gear. It is by no means "cheap", but is robust...
"Cheap" generally denotes poorly made and fast to break requiring replacement.
A better suggestion is to buy the value and "less expensive". Generally, you get what you pay for.
Before we go too far... there are basically two different technologies and both work fine.
1) Analog cameras connected to a security DVR that is connected to the local area network. The DVR generally has a hard drive and embedded operating system that records the video and the network connectivity provides for computer or smartphone access.
2) IP based cameras connected directly to the local area network. If video is to be stored, generally, some sort of network device is needed to record the video. Sometimes this is a "network attached" storage device. Sometimes this is a computer dedicated to do nothing else but record/store the video. The cameras are contacted directly by your laptop (or smartphone.
In either case, we assume you have a need for night vision. Even if you don't, the cameras still need some sort of power. We assume there is power available to these "hidden" areas where you want to install the cameras.
Your requirement of "cameras around my property" tells me that you need outdoor rated cameras. These are generally more expensive than "indoor only" cameras.
"Wireless" is deceiving... we already know that the camera needs power - so that is basically one wire. With an IP based camera system, then the wifi at your house needs to be on and the cameras all need to be on that network - and when you add the network attached storage device or computer for recording the video, then all that configuration and attention is needed. And wires. If the cameras are analog connecting to a network connected DVR, then the cameras send only the video wirelessly to a base station "mate". Each camera has its own base station. The base station needs power (another wire) and the base station video connection plugs into the DVR (another wire) and the DVR plugs onto the network (another wire).
I strongly suggest using known, decent quality gear. I've learned the hard way that when you go "cheap" you pay for it 3-4 times more than if you target decent quality for a few more dollars.
For residential, consumer grade, equipment, I like/use/own/installed on my property, equipment from Swann and Lorex. The analog cameras are usually wired and start at around $140 each (outdoor rated and night vision). The cameras included with the DVR kits will get replaced pretty quickly, but are a good place to start and learn how everything works. Getting an 8-camera or 16 camera network enabled DVR allows you to grow the system with other cameras as you identify the need and you don't make the entire investment upfront. The DVR also has a video output so if you want, you can attach that to TVs throughout the house (with a spare AV-input) and computer connection is available (through the computer network) but not required for monitoring.
D-link makes decent IP network based cameras. You can use whatever windows based computer to be the storage computer - assuming it has enough available hard drive space to store the amount of video you want stored. Network Attached storage devices are cool - but have their own maintenance and administration issues to deal with. Getting this video on non-computer or non-smartphone monitors (like a TV) is difficult.
In either case, accessing the video when you are connected to the local area network (wired or wireless) is generally relatively easy to do - if you need to access the video from a remote location, then you need to be sure the access to the home network through the router is secured and that takes a different skill-set...
At the pro-level, Pelco makes good gear. It is by no means "cheap", but is robust...
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