Video Surveilance System - Home Video Systems

[MikeSD]

I'm curious about what hardware and software is required to have 2 or 3 cameras feed video to ones pc, such that they can monitor these cameras video from a central location.

There is another requirement. That being that this video can be sent over the internet such that the home can be monitored remotely.

This doesn't seem much harder of a problem than video cams but I'm not sure what all is required.

Requirements:
1) 2 to 3 cameras feeding video to my PC
2) Software to display these 3 cameras on the PC simultaneously
3) Remote viewing via the internet

Anyone have a starting place for me to begin looking? I have searched for home surveilance but that just returns a bazillion security companies. I'm looking for a cost effective, home-brew system where I can just purchase inexpensive hardware and software.

Thanks,

[Buck]

I've used 2 different systems in the last couple of years, bith of which might work fod you.

Just this fall I bought a Panasonic web camea. It has it's own built-in web server, so it just needs an internet connection. You can run multiple cameras, too. They have indoor & outddor version, and either wired or wireless. From the internet, you can control the pan & scan of the camera. One thing you'll need is a way to resolve the DNS to find the camera, but there are ways to do that.

The other system I've used is from Inetcam. I have a 4-port switcher, running 2 cameras right now. Each camera must be direct-wired (Cat 5) to the switcher, they can't run through a router or switch (the Panasonics each have their own IP address, which you can change to match your LAN). The color cameras from Inetcam are only about $100-$120 each. Their software gives you a Dynamic DNS so you can access them from the internet. They also have a variety of recording options, and things like e-mail notification, and motion detection.

Panasonic Web Cameras

Inetcam Info

And no, I don't represent either company, just have been a consumer!

[MikeSD]

Ok, say I went with either one of these network cameras. What other hardware do I need?

For example:

I have a cable modem connected to my PC. There is an ethernet connection between my PC and the modem.

Say I want 2 cameras.

Do I need a basic Ethernet hub or do I need a special Video switcher?

What would the connection look like? Would it be two cameras coming into a hub along with the modem with a single connection from the hub to the PC?

I'm just trying to understand what changes I have to make to my system. The camera part of this says that I don't need any special software; that there is server software built into these cameras. Since you have done this, you probably understand the configuration.

[Bill211]

If you're looking for a "quick and dirty" solution, X10 has a kit with 3 wireless cameras and a USB receiver. The receiver is software switchable between the cameras, and software is included to upload the images to a website, or email them. I believe it also lets you email the pictures only when they change.

The downside is that the image quality is less than spectacular (my own personal experience with it anyway). http://www.x10.com/products/sk10a_deal.htm

[Buck]

With the Panasonic cameras, all you'd need is a router to connect all of them to. You'd need to configure it properly (firewalls, etc.) but that's easy to so if you follow the directions. Best bet is to get a broadband router that accepts your Ethernet cable from your cable modem. Then there's a Cat 5 cable running from each camera (unless you got the wireless ones) to the router. Once you've configured the router the right way, your PC and all your cameras would have internet access. Again, you have to keep security in mind. Don't want hackers to find you an easy target! At that point, you just need a dynamic DNS server to get your cameras recognized on the web. Panasonic offers 1 suggestion, which turns out to be Intecam (see below). By the way, these cameras need to be plugged into a wall outlet for power. The cameras are configurable through any standard web browser.

With the multiple Inetcam configuration, you have each camera with its own cable running to a little video switcher. It has a serial connection on one end, and an RCA cable end on the other, with 4 ports for Ethernet cabling for the cameras. You do need a video capture card that has an RCA port to hook in to. These cameras don't plug in, they get what little power they need from the Cat 5/switcher. There’s a software package that comes with the system that lets you broadcast audio & video, set up recurring FTP's of the images, set up motion detection, etc. Fairly impressive set of features for a cheap (relatively speaking) package.

Quality is good on both, although the Panasonics are certainly better, but they're more expensive.

I have both on the web; check them out if you want.
Panasonic Camera. If you have a Mac, the Full Motion camera won't work (at least, not with Explorer). You may have to let your browser install an Active X controller, just let it. There are other options availble for controllong the camera, too. You can change the size, see an archive of captured images, etc. We just don't have them turned on yet.

The Inetcam is currently off-line, as I am in the process of installing a new workstation in my office. I should have it back running tomorrow or Friday. I'll post that link as soon as its on-line again.