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Posted: 5/6/2011 2:24:58 PM EDT
[#1]
Any free or easily torrented DVR software?
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Posted: 5/6/2011 3:31:34 PM EDT
[#2]
Originally Posted By jeffco55:
Any free or easily torrented DVR software? None that are user-friendly... or that don't require a very high degree of Linux proficiency. |
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Posted: 5/7/2011 11:23:30 AM EDT
[#3]
Originally Posted By jeffco55:
Any free or easily torrented DVR software? I misspoke... there IS a "free" software suite. You can get Milestone Xprotect Go. It does eight channels, but only records for a max of five days. |
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Posted: 5/24/2011 2:00:36 AM EDT
[Last Edit: TheGrayMan]
[#4]
Difficulty rating: low
Materials required: Lenovo Thinkcentre M55 SFF computer 2TB (or other large-capacity) drive 3.5-to-5.25 adapter/cooler Gigabit NIC (PCIe) Encoder card (if using any analog cameras) Basic computer-building skills A frequent question in these forums is what kind of DVR to purchase for your home CCTV system. The two main options are either embedded DVR, or PC-based DVR. An embedded DVR is a box that comes from the manufacturer as an all-in-one solution. Q-see, Lorex, Dahua, Dedicated Micros, etc... and they have certain advantages: they are small, reliable, and largely plug-n-play. You put in a hard drive (if not already included), plug them in, connect a computer monitor, hook up the camera cables, and go to town; you can connect over your home network, or from the internet. Disadvantages primarily have to do with their tightly-integrated, proprietary nature. You cannot get replacement parts for them easily, if at all (and if you can, they are quite expensive), hard-drive upgrades can be expensive or difficult, you generally cannot expand numbers of cameras, and most of them are analog-only (eg. they cannot support higher-res cameras, like megapixel IP cameras). The other alternative is some sort of PC-based solution. PCs are ubiquitous... everybody has one in their home (or more than one). Replacement parts are commodity-type items, and very inexpensive. You can rebuild them yourself if you bork your system, and you have your choice of software for your cameras. Expansion is as simple as buying a drive online and plugging it in. In that vein, we're going to show how to build your own PC-based DVR, using a cheap and popular business-type computer. The computer we're using here is an IBM/Lenovo small-form-factor PC. They're quiet, 2U tall (if you don't know what this means, it probably doesn't apply to you), and available all over Ebay as off-lease, former-corporate desktops. 
You'll need a large hard-drive or two. An option is to Ghost or image the system drive that came with it (they usually include an OS on a 40 or 80GB drive, or have an OS-sticker on the right-rear of the case), and put that image on a large 1-2TB drive. If the system is lightweight (No antivirus, no extra crap running in the background), you can record to that system drive, usually without any problem (as long as you set a quota in your software, and don't fill the drive up with images until the system locks). 
Another option is to remove the CDROM drive and put a second hard-drive in its place. This usually requires an adapter/caddy to make it fit, since hard-drives are 3.5in, and CDROM drives are 5.25in. In this case, we have an adapter/caddy that's also a large heat-sink. 
If you remove the CDROM right from the start, it's handy to have an external CDROM to install software, etc. 
Opening them up is trivial... button on each side. Press in, and the cover hinges up-and-back: 
These cases are virtually tool-less... you don't need anything more than your hands to do 90% of this. They're also color-coded. Most of what you're likely to touch will be purple. Notice the purple handle on the left/rear of that case? That expansion-card riser assembly pulls up-and-out, and supports one PCI and one PCIe card (second pic, highlighted in red). Note the already-installed analog capture card in the white PCI slot? The network card shown earlier would go in that lower black PCIe slot. 
Accessing the drives is trivial. Note the purple again? There are two sliding lock-tabs that need to be moved in order to open the case... note the lock/unlock markings in the last picture? (circled in red). 
Once it's open, look again for the purple... see the drive caddy? That's the system drive: 
Now to remove the CDROM and install a second drive. Unplug the cables, slide out drive out the front of the case, and note the SATA ports: 
Now we put the hard-drive in the drive-cooler/caddy. If you want the best possible heat-conduction, smear some heat-sink compound between the top of the drive and the caddy (drive goes upside down). Once secured, slide the drive/cooler combo into the case, and hook up the cables. Depending on the case, the caddy may have a tendency to slide back out the front... so a cable-tie or bit of tape isn't out-of-line to keep it in there. That upper bay is designed for a CDROM, and has tension-tabs designed to grip one... so you have to improvise a bit 
Once all that is done, close the case, and install your software-of-choice. |
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Posted: 7/17/2011 5:38:27 PM EDT
[#5]
another awesome thread GM. Awesome. Picking up a thinkcentre off ebay, as i opened my old dell that i had laying around and realized it still used the IDE harddrive cables.... oh well.
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FL, USA
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Posted: 7/25/2011 12:43:37 AM EDT
[#6]
This a good one for use ? http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=260797995575#ht_2747wt_922
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Posted: 7/25/2011 7:46:23 AM EDT
[#7]
Originally Posted By andrewbp:
This a good one for use ? http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=260797995575#ht_2747wt_922 Might be OK for a few cameras, but I would recommend a dual-core instead... I think the m55 series are core2 duo machines. |
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Posted: 8/1/2011 4:44:05 PM EDT
[#8]
Great thread.
So maybe I'm just misunderstanding here, but with this approach of using a PC based DVR, are we using network cameras? Because I'm not seeing anything about a video card with camera inputs and I'm just trying to understand this setup a little better. |
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Posted: 8/1/2011 8:13:24 PM EDT
[#9]
Originally Posted By niceguymr:
Great thread. So maybe I'm just misunderstanding here, but with this approach of using a PC based DVR, are we using network cameras? Because I'm not seeing anything about a video card with camera inputs and I'm just trying to understand this setup a little better. You can do it either way. Network cameras would be easiest, of course... but using an encoder card inside your PC-based DVR is a way to add analog cameras to your installation. I prefer to use Axis 241Q camera servers for my analog cameras... saves CPU cycles on the DVR-machine, and allows me to access those analog cameras as network cameras via my Ipad or Droid. |
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FL, USA
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Posted: 8/2/2011 10:46:55 PM EDT
[#10]
Do you think enterprise class hard drive is necessary or just overkill. Needing to buy a 2tb drive and the. $89 green drives are intriguing or do I spend the 250 for the same drive but enterprise level that is meant to run at much worse conditions, or am I just overbuilding it since who knows what is in the dvr boxes that you see for sale in the camera kits.
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Posted: 8/2/2011 11:39:58 PM EDT
[#11]
Originally Posted By andrewbp:
Do you think enterprise class hard drive is necessary or just overkill. Needing to buy a 2tb drive and the. $89 green drives are intriguing or do I spend the 250 for the same drive but enterprise level that is meant to run at much worse conditions, or am I just overbuilding it since who knows what is in the dvr boxes that you see for sale in the camera kits. I mostly use regular consumer-grade hard-drives. The Enterprise drives are nice... they have a higher MTBF, and theoretically stand up to the constant writes better, but I've never seen a difference in any of the machines I've built. And at >2x the price, I'd just as soon change out the consumer-grade drives twice as often. |
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Posted: 8/12/2011 10:24:54 AM EDT
[#12]
tag
Thanks CJ and Grayman |
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Posted: 9/20/2011 10:07:50 PM EDT
[#13]
Tagaroni
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NY, USA
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Posted: 11/28/2011 12:58:01 PM EDT
[#14]
I have several Panasonic ip camera's at a second home and I would like to record the feed from my primary location. Based on your reviews I think I will go with Blue Iris. However I only have imacs and it seems most software, including blue iris, is windows based. Instead of building my own pc is there any that would be capable of the job right out of the box? Of course the cheaper the better since this is all I woud be using it for...Thanks.
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Posted: 11/28/2011 1:01:38 PM EDT
[#15]
Another awesome thread.
Can't wait to get my new place. |
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SC, USA
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Posted: 2/19/2012 10:28:24 AM EDT
[#16]
Could you offer some advice on the minimum hardware requirements for the PC DVR? I have a couple of old machines sitting around not doing much that I could use for such a project. Alternately, I could get something newer. You had mentioned a large hard drive, but exactly how much processing power and RAM are needed for a multi-camera system that may include both analog and IP type cameras? I'm guessing more cameras require more computer, or do the cameras process the images and the computer simply stores them? Thanks for the informative writeup.
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Posted: 2/19/2012 2:37:41 PM EDT
[#17]
Originally Posted By Stan_TheGunNut:
Could you offer some advice on the minimum hardware requirements for the PC DVR? I have a couple of old machines sitting around not doing much that I could use for such a project. Alternately, I could get something newer. You had mentioned a large hard drive, but exactly how much processing power and RAM are needed for a multi-camera system that may include both analog and IP type cameras? I'm guessing more cameras require more computer, or do the cameras process the images and the computer simply stores them? Thanks for the informative writeup. Generally speaking, that's true. More cameras = more processing power required to collect and store all the images. Also, using motion-detection on those streams will increase the processing power required, since the NVR has to examine every frame and compute the differences to detect any motion. A small CCTV system might do OK with a cast-off computer and a large hard drive, but you could run out of horsepower, depending on how heavily you're loading the host machine with motion-detection, etc. Also, using MB-integrated networking isn't recommended, since cheaper integrated network chipsets tend to lack the on-chip processing power of a proper Intel Pro or 3com networking card. Checksumming, scatter/gather, etc often aren't done on-chip with integrated cards (it's offloaded to the CPU), and that takes precious processing power that an older system might need just to stay running. |
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GA, USA
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Posted: 3/7/2012 6:09:49 PM EDT
[#18]
So, with what you outlined did you leave the system hard drive in place and just use the installed hard drive as a secondary disk?
Assuming you did leave the system hard drive in place, did you simply install the Xprotect Go software on the new hard drive and then operate completely off of it? Using the NIC do you connect to the network switch that the cameras are all attached to directly? I am interested in building an IP based system and intend to do it in stages. In the end I would like to have 5-6 cameras, so expansion is certainly necessary. The first stage would be one IP based dome over the front door to allow ID of whomever is at the door. With expansion in mind is the PC based DVR the way to go? What else would I need, UPS, Network Switch? Or could I get by with the single camera connected directly to the NIC in the beginning with the intent to add a network switch and more cameras in the future? |
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Posted: 3/7/2012 6:16:07 PM EDT
[Last Edit: TheGrayMan]
[#19]
Originally Posted By dogface_313:
So, with what you outlined did you leave the system hard drive in place and just use the installed hard drive as a secondary disk? Assuming you did leave the system hard drive in place, did you simply install the Xprotect Go software on the new hard drive and then operate completely off of it? Using the NIC do you connect to the network switch that the cameras are all attached to directly? I am interested in building an IP based system and intend to do it in stages. In the end I would like to have 5-6 cameras, so expansion is certainly necessary. The first stage would be one IP based dome over the front door to allow ID of whomever is at the door. With expansion in mind is the PC based DVR the way to go? What else would I need, UPS, Network Switch? Or could I get by with the single camera connected directly to the NIC in the beginning with the intent to add a network switch and more cameras in the future? I'm mobile at the moment... let me get back to a proper PC and I'll see if I can answer your question ETA: OK. With a PC-based system, you're only limited by the size of your hard drives, and how many "channels" your software allows (in the case of X-protect Go, it's eight channels). My system consists of a rack-mount PC (with 4x1.5TB SATA drives) running 16-channel Luxriot. It is a Micro-ATX MB, with a quad-core Intel processor, a couple gigs of RAM, and a PCI-Express Intel Pro-1000 server-grade gigabit network card. MAKE SURE you don't go with a gigabit network card on the older PCI bus... it won't have enough bandwidth if your system grows sufficiently. That PC is hooked via a network cable to a 48-port gigabit PoE switch (any port that's not delivering power runs at 1000mb/s). All of the cameras hang off of that switch, which gathers all the streams and delivers them down that gigabit pipe to the rackmount PC. Between gathering all the video streams, and simultaneously delivering those streams to a remote Luxriot client (which runs on a second monitor on my desktop computer in the other end of the house), it sucks up 200-300Mb/s of pipe... so gigabit was absolutely required. For a smaller system (four cameras or so), you don't have to go gigabit; regular 10/100 Ethernet with PoE will be fine. Everything in the rack (including firewall, and PBX) gets filtered power from a rackmounted UPS, which is further backed up by an onsite automatic backup generator. If I were you, I'd start with a single IP camera, a PoE switch (start small... an eight-port PoE switch would be fine), a regular APC UPS, and the PC of your choice. You don't have to go super-hardcore-geek rackmount. |
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Posted: 3/7/2012 9:25:54 PM EDT
[#20]
Reply added.
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GA, USA
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Posted: 3/8/2012 7:50:28 PM EDT
[#21]
Thanks for taking the time to give such a thorough repsonse.
I am going to go with a PC based DVR as described in the tutorial. For the PC based DVR http://www.ebay.com/itm/IBM-Thinkcentre-M55-Desktop-Core-2-Duo-1-8-Ghz-2GB-80GB-DVD-ROM-XP-Home-/230757812761?pt=Desktop_PCs&hash=item35ba3cca19 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148681 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817121909&cm_re=drive_cooler-_-17-121-909-_-Product http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833166015 PoE switch (4 channel PoE) http://www.amazon.com/TRENDnet-8-Port-100Mbps-Switch-TPE-S44/dp/B000QYEN1W/ref=pd_cp_e_3 APC UPS http://www.amazon.com/APC-BE550G-Back-UPS-Outlet-550VA/dp/B0019804U8/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1331253819&sr=1-1 Final step is the camera. Pictured below is the location. 
As you can see, there are no windows with ability to view this area. I am thinking a simple IP based Dome camera with a seperate IR illuminator would be a good option. I have looked at many cameras but I am simply overwhelemed with the options. Purpose of the camera would be identification of whom is at the door and judge intent. If mounted on the ceiling it would be very protected from the elements, however the low arch would dramatically impact it's field of observation. How are my choices looking? Any and all help is much appreciated. Once again thanks for |
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USA
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Posted: 3/8/2012 8:07:13 PM EDT
[#22]
Originally Posted By TheGrayMan:
Originally Posted By jeffco55:
Any free or easily torrented DVR software? None that are user-friendly... or that don't require a very high degree of Linux proficiency. ISPY open source........? |
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Posted: 3/8/2012 10:19:48 PM EDT
[#23]
Originally Posted By dogface_313:
Thanks for taking the time to give such a thorough repsonse. I am going to go with a PC based DVR as described in the tutorial. For the PC based DVR http://www.ebay.com/itm/IBM-Thinkcentre-M55-Desktop-Core-2-Duo-1-8-Ghz-2GB-80GB-DVD-ROM-XP-Home-/230757812761?pt=Desktop_PCs&hash=item35ba3cca19 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148681 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817121909&cm_re=drive_cooler-_-17-121-909-_-Product http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833166015 PoE switch (4 channel PoE) http://www.amazon.com/TRENDnet-8-Port-100Mbps-Switch-TPE-S44/dp/B000QYEN1W/ref=pd_cp_e_3 APC UPS http://www.amazon.com/APC-BE550G-Back-UPS-Outlet-550VA/dp/B0019804U8/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1331253819&sr=1-1 Final step is the camera. Pictured below is the location. http://img594.imageshack.us/img594/710/doorx.jpg As you can see, there are no windows with ability to view this area. I am thinking a simple IP based Dome camera with a seperate IR illuminator would be a good option. I have looked at many cameras but I am simply overwhelemed with the options. Purpose of the camera would be identification of whom is at the door and judge intent. If mounted on the ceiling it would be very protected from the elements, however the low arch would dramatically impact it's field of observation. How are my choices looking? Any and all help is much appreciated. Once again thanks for I can see why you want a camera there... it's a perfect application for one. That's a very solid-appearing door... I hope the frame is appropriately reinforced (StrikeMaster or similar). I'd probably anchor the camera into the brick, directly over that door, just out of easy reach (I'd use an IP-based dome), and either run conduit up the outside of that wall and through the ceiling into the attic, or go through the wall and run it on the inside. That's also a shaded area, looking out into a well-lit area... so anybody approaching that door will be backlit. That's a nasty lighting challenge for most standard cameras, so you're definitely going to want WDR/SDR (wide dynamic range). |
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GA, USA
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Posted: 3/9/2012 8:00:41 AM EDT
[#24]
Reinforcing the frame and strike plate will be one of the first things I do. We haven't closed, few more weeks!
I will look into WDR/IP/Domes. I'm going to get going on the PC DVR so when we close we can install immediately. Do the components I listed above meet the criteria for the PC base DVR? |
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Posted: 3/9/2012 9:54:27 AM EDT
[#25]
Originally Posted By dogface_313:
Reinforcing the frame and strike plate will be one of the first things I do. We haven't closed, few more weeks! I will look into WDR/IP/Domes. I'm going to get going on the PC DVR so when we close we can install immediately. Do the components I listed above meet the criteria for the PC base DVR? Here's a camera suggestion And I'd do a different network card than you listed... I like the Intel Pro/1000 series. Something like this, or this one... or you can grab one off ebay. The "Server" adapters have more features, and do more of the work on-card, but that's probably overkill for a small system. The cheaper one I listed should be fine. |
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GA, USA
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Posted: 3/10/2012 3:14:02 PM EDT
[Last Edit: dogface_313]
[#26]
Looking at these two cameras.
I would like to get the TCm-7411 but it is a bit of a stretch. Arecont AV 2155DN ACTI ACM 7411 |
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Posted: 3/10/2012 4:24:08 PM EDT
[#27]
Originally Posted By dogface_313:
Looking at these two cameras. I would like to get the TCm-7411 but it is a bit of a stretch. Arecont AV 2155DN ACTI ACM 7411 The ACM isn't WDR, if memory serves... and for that location, WDR is probably worth it... so I wold do the TCM. The TCM should run you about 500 and change. And I had an arecont camera in my system, and took it out. It lacked a lot of the email features I wanted, and would not interface with my Droid's software. |
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GA, USA
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Posted: 3/10/2012 4:49:05 PM EDT
[#28]
Ok, I will hold out until I find a deal on the TCM or once it gets closer to closing date I will bite the bullet. Sorry for the thread hijack by the way.
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Posted: 3/10/2012 5:18:23 PM EDT
[#29]
Originally Posted By dogface_313:
Ok, I will hold out until I find a deal on the TCM or once it gets closer to closing date I will bite the bullet. Sorry for the thread hijack by the way. No apology necessary... this thread is here for questions. |
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IA, USA
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Posted: 3/23/2012 2:28:28 AM EDT
[Last Edit: yammerschooner]
[#30]
basic skills person here, so please pardon if the question has too obvious an answer.
Is there any reason that someone couldn't just run an external 2TB hard drive instead of going through the trouble of replacing the CD drive? It seems the usb cord would allow the external to be located nearby in a more secure area like in the place of a goldenrod. Does the difference between transfer rates of usb 1, usb 2, or usb 3 and sata play in at all? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136471 For $105 it seems like the cost could compete with an internal and be more user friendly. Am I missing something? |
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Posted: 3/23/2012 8:49:23 AM EDT
[#31]
Originally Posted By yammerschooner:
basic skills person here, so please pardon if the question has too obvious an answer. Is there any reason that someone couldn't just run an external 2TB hard drive instead of going through the trouble of replacing the CD drive? It seems the usb cord would allow the external to be located nearby in a more secure area like in the place of a goldenrod. Does the difference between transfer rates of usb 1, usb 2, or usb 3 and sata play in at all? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136471 For $105 it seems like the cost could compete with an internal and be more user friendly. Am I missing something? USB tends not to be as reliable, and can't sustain the transfer rates of SATA. You could try it... you're not out much if it doesn't work, and you could always use it for other backups. |
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GA, USA
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Posted: 3/23/2012 10:07:54 PM EDT
[#32]
My m55 arrived yesterday. After spending some time updating to the newst service packs and .net framework I was able to install milestone go. My first camera arrived today. I picked up an entry level GE security PoE IP camera. Going to check out how that works and go from there. I will report back with results. Once this is complete I will look into a new Ethernet card and HDD.
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FL, USA
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Posted: 8/26/2013 2:19:02 AM EDT
[#33]
any recommendations on a 8 port capture card?
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Posted: 8/26/2013 10:26:09 AM EDT
[#34]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Blackoperations:
any recommendations on a 8 port capture card? Don't know any good ones. |
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Posted: 8/26/2013 10:46:17 AM EDT
[#35]
Any good linux software suggestions? I have a readyNAS with 9T on my network already and it would be bad ass to be able to pipe everything to that instead of bringing up another machine.
Also, are you going to include some suggestions for camera choices? I've embarked on this quest a few times and been buried in choices of cameras to which I don't know enough about. I'm looking for one for my driveway, one for the back door, one for the street, and I'd like one that mounts in the door so I can get a face view of whoever is knocking. All day/night compatible. IP cameras would be preferable, wireless a nice option.. Thoughts? |
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Posted: 8/26/2013 11:33:05 AM EDT
[Last Edit: TheGrayMan]
[#36]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By DoctorNo:
Any good linux software suggestions? I have a readyNAS with 9T on my network already and it would be bad ass to be able to pipe everything to that instead of bringing up another machine. Also, are you going to include some suggestions for camera choices? I've embarked on this quest a few times and been buried in choices of cameras to which I don't know enough about. I'm looking for one for my driveway, one for the back door, one for the street, and I'd like one that mounts in the door so I can get a face view of whoever is knocking. All day/night compatible. IP cameras would be preferable, wireless a nice option.. Thoughts? Zoneminder is free (but a real challenge to set up)... Exacqvision is a pay-per-channel option... both will run on linux. Avoid wireless IP cameras unless you have no other options (aside from putting one in your system as an ultra-portable camera). Hell... I've put one in the trunk of my car to watch my "Go bag"... but I wouldn't base a whole system on wireless. You'll also need a very robust wifi infrastructure in the house. Don't count on getting more than 3 cameras on the average access point... and you're going to get a maximum of 3 wireless-N access points in a single installation before they start interfering with one another. And even with all that, running anything serious over your wifi (streaming to a laptop, backups, etc) will knock your cameras off-line. I'm just not a big fan of wireless IP cameras, except for the occasional camera thrown into an existing system. Check out some of the new bargain-range Acti cameras. Some of them go 3-5 megapixel, and for a very reasonable price. |
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TX, USA
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Posted: 11/16/2013 7:43:52 PM EDT
[#37]
so with this post starting so long ago what bare bones system would you start with now ? still the thinkcenter m55 or something with a bit more pep in its step :) I really dont know how much strain ? for a system running up to 6 1-3mp ip wired cameras possibly 1 wireless.
would this poe switch be ok or should I spend more for a smart one. I doubt I ever would use the smart features. I know if I get to the 6 wired cameras I will need 2 more poe ports. Or should I get a gigabit capable switch for 2x the cost ? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833156229 I have a pcie nic not sure what brand I have had it in a box for years lol. and this for the hard drive http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136828 |
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Posted: 11/16/2013 8:03:21 PM EDT
[#38]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By shadycoh:
so with this post starting so long ago what bare bones system would you start with now ? still the thinkcenter m55 or something with a bit more pep in its step :) I really dont know how much strain ? for a system running up to 6 1-3mp ip wired cameras possibly 1 wireless. would this poe switch be ok or should I spend more for a smart one. I doubt I ever would use the smart features. I know if I get to the 6 wired cameras I will need 2 more poe ports. Or should I get a gigabit capable switch for 2x the cost ? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833156229 I have a pcie nic not sure what brand I have had it in a box for years lol. and this for the hard drive http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136828 I still like the Thinkcentre SFF computers. For a smaller system (6-8 cameras) they work just fine. I outgrew mine because I'm running a 16-camera system of multi-megapixel cameras. The little thinkcentre just didn't have enough horsepower or storage (I have six terabytes of storage in my current rack-mount server, which is a quad-core). A PCI-E network card should be fine, just make sure it's gigabit. I like the intel cards the best. A single PCI-E intel card successfully handles my entire data-stream, so it should more than carry what you're doing. The switch you have may be fine, depending on how much bandwidth each camera sucks up. If you record eight 1MP cameras via MJPEG, you'll probably use every bit of that switch. MPEG4 or H.264 will use MUCH less bandwidth. Two of those switches should serve your system just fine. |
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TX, USA
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Posted: 11/16/2013 8:15:39 PM EDT
[#39]
thanks
One more question and It might be because I have been looking at computer parts all day lol. So I take it you would plug the 4 ip cameras into the poe ports on the switch. Then plug the m55 sff box into one of the other non powered ports and then connect my wireless router/modem into one of the non powered ports on the switch to alow me to access the cameras from the internet correct ? |
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Posted: 11/16/2013 8:23:22 PM EDT
[#40]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By shadycoh:
thanks One more question and It might be because I have been looking at computer parts all day lol. So I take it you would plug the 4 ip cameras into the poe ports on the switch. Then plug the m55 sff box into one of the other non powered ports and then connect my wireless router/modem into one of the non powered ports on the switch to alow me to access the cameras from the internet correct ? Yes. The PoE switch will act as an extension/expansion of your wireless router. You know how most wireless routers have four wired ports? Connecting that PoE switch to one of those wired ports basically adds eight more ports to your router. Just make sure you forward the ports through your border router (the one that sits behind your cable modem... unless your cable modem has a router built into it) to the DVR or the individual cameras. If you don't, you won't be able to access the cameras/DVR from the internet. |
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TX, USA
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Posted: 11/16/2013 8:36:12 PM EDT
[#41]
thanks again I can sleep now lol
so its cable modem--->wireless dual band router---->PoE switch and then everything else :) I have an aquarium monitoring system on there already that I port forward from dyndns I assume I can use that address to access the camera system also just using different ports I do not have a static ip so assume the only way for it to work is use something like dyndns right. |
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Posted: 11/16/2013 8:40:09 PM EDT
[#42]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By shadycoh:
thanks again I can sleep now lol so its cable modem--->wireless dual band router---->PoE switch and then everything else :) I have an aquarium monitoring system on there already that I port forward from dyndns I assume I can use that address to access the camera system also just using different ports I do not have a static ip so assume the only way for it to work is use something like dyndns right. 'zactly. You forward the ports just like you did for your aquarium. |
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TX, USA
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Posted: 11/17/2013 11:24:32 AM EDT
[Last Edit: shadycoh]
[#43]
I ended up snaging a TRENDnet (TPE-S160) 16-Ports Rack Mountable Switch all 16 ports are poe at 15 watts each. 3.2 gbs cap for 160 shipped from ebay. it was used so if he was honest and it works I think I got a screaming deal and no need to upgrade <i hope lol>
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GA, USA
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Posted: 3/22/2014 12:48:34 PM EDT
[#44]
Hello all. I am new to this site. I found it by googling "build a home security camera system using an old dvr".
The information provided is AWESOME. But I still would like to know if anyone has any information on how to use an old dvr to do this? I bought a house that had an old comcast hd dvr in the attic. I would love to be able to use it for SOMETHING! Thanks for any info! Mack |
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Posted: 3/22/2014 1:58:14 PM EDT
[#45]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By mackthefatpug:
Hello all. I am new to this site. I found it by googling "build a home security camera system using an old dvr". The information provided is AWESOME. But I still would like to know if anyone has any information on how to use an old dvr to do this? I bought a house that had an old comcast hd dvr in the attic. I would love to be able to use it for SOMETHING! Thanks for any info! Mack This is a DVR that was being used to record TV shows from cable? That sounds like a LOT more hacking than you would want to do. I'd skip it. |
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Posted: 8/17/2014 6:11:41 PM EDT
[#46]
I kinda get the pc upgrades as i'm not a geek but wondering if there is a wiring diagram for a system and type of wire needed. Also is it best to run everything to a secure location. I have a vault room but figure it would be a pain to make home runs from each camera if that is whats needed.
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TN, USA
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Posted: 8/18/2014 3:55:19 PM EDT
[#47]
Hey all - this thread is incredible. Quick question: will I be able to set this up even though I don't have either wired or wireless internet at the house? I don't mind getting a router or other essential piece of equipment as long as the system doesn't need that router to have internet. Sure seems like it wouldn't matter but I am an idiot!
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Posted: 8/18/2014 4:05:46 PM EDT
[#48]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By 50BMGdoesitforme:
Hey all - this thread is incredible. Quick question: will I be able to set this up even though I don't have either wired or wireless internet at the house? I don't mind getting a router or other essential piece of equipment as long as the system doesn't need that router to have internet. Sure seems like it wouldn't matter but I am an idiot! You need some way to connect to the internet if you want to access it remotely. If you just want to record locally, you wouldn't need it. |
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TN, USA
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Posted: 8/18/2014 4:13:47 PM EDT
[Last Edit: 50BMGdoesitforme]
[#49]
Perfect! I'll just record locally until Obama hooks up my free Obamanet. I'm certain it will be any minute now...
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Posted: 8/18/2014 6:59:59 PM EDT
[#50]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By 50BMGdoesitforme:
Perfect! I'll just record locally until Obama hooks up my free Obamanet. I'm certain it will be any minute now... *snort* 
As long as you have a local network to send streams back to the NVR, you don't actually need an internet connection. I'd still put in a Wifi AP so you can use your tablet/smartphone to monitor the streams from anywhere in the house. |
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