Advice on how to record a remotely accessible video network

[Christian123]

Could anyone describe firstly how a camera network of say four or so cameras would be recorded on location and secondly how a remote recording would work.

So you need:

Camera's (cables, power etc..)
a DVR unit
a Router

Anything else?

1. On Location Recording:

So on location would the DVR unit have a hard drive of some sort where the recording is contained? How is this viewed when on location?

Can this type of recording be accessed remotely and deleted remotely?

2. Remote Recording:

So as far as remote recording is there a means where the recording can be sent directly to an FTP site or some storage space accessible from a remote location.

Thank for any help anyone may be able to offer with this

[scorpion]

Here are some pointers to set up cameras.

http://scorpiontheater.com/cameraproblems.aspx

On location recording:
Yes, your DVR will have a hard drive. You cannot remove the hard drive and install it in to a DVR. If you install the hard drive in to a computer then the hard drive becomes an offline file and you will not be able to see any video.

If you buy a DVR without a hard drive and you install one yourself then you may need to install the hard drive straight out of the package, and straight in to the DVR. Read your instruction manual.

You can view your DVR locally using the monitor out. You may need the BNC to RCA adapter:
http://eclipsecctv.com/ECL-1030_connector.html

This will allow you to use the yellow, red, and white video cables to connect the DVR to your TV.

Here is how to set up some of the VCRs, and TV for the yellow video input.
http://scorpiontheater.com/videosourceproblems.aspx

Scroll down to SOURCE, OR INPUT.

There may be another video output called spot monitor. This provide a view of camera one, and then it sequences through each camera one at a time, and goes back to camera one, and starts all over again.

You can also hook the DVR up to your router, and you can see video over you computer in your house.

You can see this video remotely, but you may not be able to delete the video. If this could be done then a crook could erase the video, or an employee could erase the video. This is not a good option.

You can buy a DVR that allows you to erase the full contents of the hard drive, and you start recording again on an empty hard drive.

Most DVRs are set for overwrite. When it fills up the hard drive it goes back to the begining of the hard drive, and records video over top of the oldest footage. It basically goes in to a loop. The time that the video stays on your hard drive is dependant on the size of your hard drive, and what settings your DVR is set to. You may get a long record time, but you may sacrifice quality of the video, or the frame rates. DVR that look like watching a movie is at 30FPS. If the DVR is set to a lower FPS then it looks more like a series of snapshots.



Remote recording:

How do I find my outside IP address?
http://ipchicken.com/

Write this number down, and this is what you will use to log in to your DVR remotely.

How do I set up my router?
http://portforward.com/english/route...outerindex.htm

Scroll down to your router brand, and then select your router model number.

Scroll to G, and select Gadspot IP camera. This should be close enough for your brand of DVR.

http://scorpiontheater.com/videonetw...ithavtech.aspx

AVTech DVRs will allow you to send video to a remote PC, and record it to that PC. Other brands will require you to do your homework.

When using a remote PC to record your video then you may have to spend more money. You may have to give up your PC running Windows 98SE! You may have to upgrade to a newer computer!

Most destop PC may only have an 80GB hard drive. You will have to buy a 500GB hard drive or go in to the terabytes.

You may have to upgrade the PC if you need large size hard drives as the PC may not handle larger size hard drives.

If you have a computer with IDE hard drives it may be to your advantage to get a PC with SATA hard drives. Get Windows 7, and you will be "future proof".

IDE hard drive prices are climbing higher, and higher, and SATA prices are dropping, and dropping!

For remote video: Is security of the essence? You may have to set the remote PC up with a RAID system.

Now your costs are really starting to climb!

How much are you willing to spend?

Now you have your answer!

Take care,