Turn Your Home Computer Into a Surveillance System

Turn Your Home Computer Into a Surveillance System

A great way to protect your home is to install security cameras. However, a multi camera surveillance system with recording, night vision and professional installation can easily run upwards of a thousand dollars or more. A relatively inexpensive option is to use your home or spare computer as the center point of your home based surveillance system.

Computer

If your home computer was purchased within the last 5 years or so, then most likely it is a good candidate. A Multi Channel Digital Video Recorder (DVR) PCI Card is the major component that you would need to add to your computer. The minimum specs for a candidate computer would be 500mb of RAM (memory), 60 GB or more of hard drive space (recorded video storage), 1 GHz processor, video card (with 32mb or more video memory) and an available PCI slot.

DVR PCI Card

A DVR PCI card can be purchased through most online consumer electronics retailers like Amazon, Newegg, Tiger Direct or even eBay. Which card you choose depends on the features and functions your willing to pay for. A basic 4 channel card, supporting up to 4 cameras, usually costs less than a hundred dollars.

Camera Selection

There is a large variety of consumer grade, inexpensive cameras on the market today. Select cameras based on your needs. If you plan to install cameras outside then consider weatherproof, color or black and white with infrared night vision capability. If installing cameras indoors, you might consider cameras with audio capture capability. Security cameras also come in wired and wireless flavors. If you're going with wired make sure you have enough cable length to run from the computer to the mount point. You also need to consider power. The most convenient camerashave the power and video cabling integrated into a single cable connecting to the camera. The power source will usually plug into a break out cable at the video output end (the end that connects to your DVR card). Ensure that the DVR PCI card and cameras both use same style video connectors and that they match up. The more common connectors for home use is the RCA style. The cameravideo output endis usually RCA male while the DVR PCI card is RCA female.

Installation

Mount your outdoor or indoor cameras and run the cabling back to your pc. Make sure you have additional outlets for the camera power if needed. If you can remove the cover from the computer, then most likely you can self install a Digital Video Recorder PCI Card. In some cases you will need a Phillips screwdriver to remove the PCI slot cover. Locate an available PCI slot, and insert your card. With your DVR PCI card installed use the same screw to secure the card (some computers may have a bracket or some type of pressure clip instead of screws). Replace the cover, connect your cameras, and power up. Install your DVR capture and playback software, test your camerasand start recording.

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