Security camera help

[jir107]

I have a couple of security cameras that I want to setup to record on my PC. I currently have them connected to a monitor. I want to pass the video from the monitor to the PC. This will allow me to view the cameras from different monitors around the house and record on my PC simultaneously. The monitors video and audio out are BNC. I found cables that have BNC on one end and S-Video or connection for TV-Tuner on the other end. If I buy a capture card and connect my PC from the TV-Tuner to the monitors BNC, will I be able to view the video or would there be anything else I would need to do? Please advice!

[kschang]

No idea. Why don't you try to connect it and see if your TV tuner, set to Cable (instead of Antenna) will pick up the input?

[gadgetguy]

I believe the BNC connector on the camera provides a composite output, so you would need to connect it to the composite input of a video card. (At least that's how mine works.)

[jagabo]

A BNC connector on a camera is almost certainly composite. So a simple BNC/RCA adaptor will work. I usually use this type of adaptor:

http://www.svideo.com/bncpigad.html

Then I use a standard RCA composite cable to the PC, VCR, whatever.

One possible problem with video capture though: some black and white cameras run at 60 fields per second, not 59.94. Some video capture cards might have problems with that.

[TBoneit]

Simple solution look at

http://www.ctncom.com/product.htm?ls=ZW5n&it=2&pd=Q0RCLTQwMCwgQ0RCLTgwMA==

I used this product in a 16 camera configuration for a customer. 4 camera config is available. BNC or RCA input. Software let me have equal sized screeens for each camera or I could click on a camera and bring it up larger with the others around it. Record to the Hdd.

Not super cheap but a dedicated capture chip for each camera.

I got these because the customer liked the product and wanted another computer with more inputs than his current model.

[jir107]

Thanks everybody for the reply's! I am on a tight budget so my solution has to be inexpensive. This is the camera system I currently have. The cards I am looking at are the ones below:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16815100121
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16881104003

Any opinions on those cards? [/url]

[MJA]

I have no clue about these thing,but isn't wireless less hassle than wired cam? I think dlink some cheap ones

[redwudz]

Wired cameras are usually more dependable, unless you go for a high end camera with a separate wireless transmitter. Some of the cheaper ones are on the broadcast band and your neighbors can pick them up. Some are also susceptible to microwave oven noise or cordless phones. Somethimes they have problems transmitting through concrete or stucco walls also. If you don't mind stringing a little wire, wired is fine.


jir107, either of those cards would probably work for your setup. The more expensive one looks to be a little more modern, but it's hard to tell from the specs.

Don't know if you have used the cameras at night, but most need some infrared light to see. Florescent lights or mercury vapor don't put out much IR. A plain old light bulb, or better yet, a quartz halogen works well.

And welcome to our forums.