connect security camera system to computer?

[a_ump]

I bought a new 8 camera system with a dvr. its a Swann DVR8-1450 8camera/channel system. anyways i want to use 4 in my bosses store and 4 in his bar. little too far away from each other for both to connect to a single dvr.

So how can i connect 4 of them to a pc? it comes with a software cd so im assuming it can be done. any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[a_ump]

No one . im guessing i can just buy a BNC pci card and plug in the cameras. just dont know if it'll go that smoothly and if anyone could confirm that it'd be greatly appreciated

 

[stinger608]

Hmm, I would also be interested in some input on this subject as well.

I have often wondered how this task would be done.

 

[TRWOV]

I run a 32 camera server (using only 20 ATM) with a couple of Techwell TW2867 based cards (16 inputs per card) I got from eBay. I'm using cheap CMOS cameras so I can't comment on how they perform with Hi-res cameras.

There are a few caveats: the included software is 32bit only (won't run on W7x64, not even in compatibility mode) and it outputs files that not even VLC can open so you must always use the built in viewer.

Also this being directly imported from China documentation is scarce to say the least but nothing a few nuts like us can't take on.

You don't need a beefy CPU as the codecs do all the heavy lifting. I was using these with a single core Sempron at first. Now it has a 1090t because I also crunch on it and performance doesn't drop the slightest.



Since you already have a DVR wouldn't it be more effective to just buy a signal booster and more cable? That way you'll just have to monitor a single, err, monitor.

 

[a_ump]

I run a 32 camera server (using only 20 ATM) with a couple of Techwell TW2867 based cards (16 inputs per card) I got from eBay. I'm using cheap CMOS cameras so I can't comment on how they perform with Hi-res cameras.

There are a few caveats: the included software is 32bit only (won't run on W7x64, not even in compatibility mode) and it outputs files that not even VLC can open so you must always use the built in viewer.

Also this being directly imported from China documentation is scarce to say the least but nothing a few nuts like us can't take on.

You don't need a beefy CPU as the codecs do all the heavy lifting. I was using these with a single core Sempron at first. Now it has a 1090t because I also crunch on it and performance doesn't drop the slightest.



Since you already have a DVR wouldn't it be more effective to just buy a signal booster and more cable? That way you'll just have to monitor a single, err, monitor.

I had indeed thought of this, however that would run about $120-150 or so on 4x150ft cables, not to mention digging about 1'6" deep ditch running about 80 ft. then there's how would he want to run the lines into the bar's dvr room, which requires more drilling holes through block.

Seems much simpler to not spend the 150 plus all the labor, and just run two seperate systems. Plus i'm not sure what running 4 cables that distance would do to the quality of the recordings, and with the wifi over the whole bar and all those wireless devices our customers use.

So i came to the conclusion i'm going with this CCTV 4 channel basic PCI dvr card. Mostly all good reviews and fairly simple setup it said so i suppose i'll find out soon how it works out. Mainly curious to see how the pc setup compares to the dvr the system came with.

 

[TRWOV]

Take in mind that is a 30fps card so you'll get 7.5fps per channel

 

[McSteel]

GeoVision has some surprisingly decent stuff (used and seen a lot of it over the years), so perhaps you could take a look at their offerings as well...

 

[a_ump]

Take in mind that is a 30fps card so you'll get 7.5fps per channel

Really? that's kind of trixy on the companies part. because it says 30fps recording, yet doesn't explain it can only run one camera at the speed or divided among 2-4. You're 100% sure on this?

I looked up 120fps pci cards and they're like 300 bucks....wtf, i'd think it'd be cheaper than buying a dvr.

 

[TRWOV]

Well, we'd need to know what Conexant chip it has (can't make out the model in the picture) but based on the price I'd say that it's 30fps in total between the four channels. The two cards I mentioned earlier are rated at 240fps but each one comes with four TW2867 chips and a muxer.

Anyway for 4 cameras a 60fps card will do, 15fps gives enough fluidity. Make sure it can do D1 (720x480) or VGA at least , most of the cheaper ones do CIF (356xtwo hundred something). Also, HD1 isn't Highdef-D1 but Half-D1.

 

[a_ump]

Well, we'd need to know what Conexant chip it has (can't make out the model in the picture) but based on the price I'd say that it's 30fps in total between the four channels. The two cards I mentioned earlier are rated at 240fps but each one comes with four TW2867 chips and a muxer.

Anyway for 4 cameras a 60fps card will do, 15fps gives enough fluidity. Make sure it can do D1 (720x480) or VGA at least , most of the cheaper ones do CIF (356xtwo hundred something). Also, HD1 isn't Highdef-D1 but Half-D1.

yea i did some more research last night and found that out, any 30-50 dollar 120fps cards seem to only do that low resolution too. bummer. thanks for the info, learned alot

EDIT:I looked up some FPS comparison videos, and 15fps/60fps card for 4 cameras really doesn't look that much different. Thanks for the help buddy, i should be able to find a decent 60fps card with d1 or 4cif resolution for a decent price. I love technology and project like these are awesome, you learn a lot.

EDIT2: also, i'm trying to purchase a 60 fps card, 40 bucks tops, but i can't seem to find a D1 recording card, just HD1 recording, D1 display. i'm guessing that's expected/common?