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https://www.askthetrades.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl DIY Forum >> Alarms, Phones, Aerials, CCTV & Datacomms >> CCTV https://www.askthetrades.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1211381932 Message started by Andyco11 on May 21^st, 2008, 3:58pm

Title: CCTV
Post by Andyco11 on May 21^st, 2008, 3:58pm

Do any of you chaps know how to get a computer based CCTV to be displayed on to a normal TV.

Title: Re: CCTV
Post by Lectrician on May 21^st, 2008, 4:33pm

Is it a single camera? How is it connected to the PC? Via a capture card?

It really depends on the camera type and how it is connected.

Title: Re: CCTV
Post by CWatters on May 22^nd, 2008, 9:20am

What he said.

If it's just one video camera connected to a capture card then you can split the signal using a video distribution amp (or just a passive splitter if quality isn't important) and feed one output to a TV either directly or via a UHF modulator and loftbox system etc.

If the camera is a USB then you need to look at the output of the PC. Some fancy PC graphics cards support two monitors one of which can be a TV. You could either connect that directly to the TV or use a UHF modulator etc.

If the cameras are "network cameras" it might be possible to use something like this..
http://www.limitedgoods.com/itemView.php?ProdID=220790&source=FroogleUK&medium=free&campaign=FroogleUK
..but I'm not sure if it works with all network cameras or just panasonic.

If you want sound as well then that can also be done.

Title: Re: CCTV
Post by Andyco11 on May 22^nd, 2008, 2:43pm

This is what i have http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Four-35IR-waterproof-day-night-camera-4-CH-DVR-Card_W0QQitemZ310051264733QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item310051264733&_trkparms=72%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C65%3A12&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

Title: Re: CCTV
Post by Lectrician on May 22^nd, 2008, 4:12pm

Do you want to watch one camera, or all?

The BNC inputs on that capture card are composite video. This is the same as the yellow phono input on TV's and videos. You could split the feed between camera and capture card if you wish.

A modulator changes the composite signal to a UHF frequency suitable for your TV aerials socket, and you would then tune your TV into the frequency of the modulator.

Title: Re: CCTV
Post by Andyco11 on May 22^nd, 2008, 4:33pm

I haven't got a clue what you are talking about ;D

think i am in way over my head with this

Title: Re: CCTV
Post by CWatters on May 26^th, 2008, 9:02pm

Perhaps I can explain..

The simple answer is yes, it's possible.

The solution might be trivial depending on the capabilities of your PC. Can you find someone locally to tell you what graphics card you have in your PC? Do you know the make and model of your PC?

Do you want the cameras to work with the PC and TV at the same time? or with a TV instead of the PC?

Do you want the TV to show all four cameras at once (eg quarter of the screen each) or do you want each camera on a different TV channel?

Do you want to record the pictures going to the TV? If so, do you want to record all four cameras at once on one recorder (eg quarter of the screen each) or four seperate video recorders, one per cameras?

Title: Re: CCTV
Post by Andyco11 on May 27^th, 2008, 9:14pm

Ok here goes

The PC system is a Etower 733 combi 733
733 MHz processor
64 MB Sync DRAM 256 max
3D AGP Intel Graphics card
20GB main Hard Drive
250GB hard drive for cameras

I would like to send the quad picture to a TV as the camera system is in a culbard under the stairs which is small and kept locked.
yes i would like the picture to be recorded on the PC but displayed on the TVs around the home but it would be nice to have each camera on a different channel.

Thanks for any help

Title: Re: CCTV
Post by CWatters on May 28^th, 2008, 7:46pm

What connectors are on the back of the 3D AGP Intel Graphics card. You will probably have a VGA connector shown below but have you also got an S-Video?...

Title: Re: CCTV
Post by Andyco11 on May 28^th, 2008, 8:56pm

Sadly its part of the mother board and only has the VGA out put on it.

would i be able to do something if i put in a different graphics card then

Title: Re: CCTV
Post by CWatters on May 30^th, 2008, 11:17am

Possibly. Basically there are several ways to something close to what you want but none seem perfect...

1) Connect the PC to the TV

Could do this using a VGA to TV adaptor or a new graphics card that has a TV output. Anything displayed on the PC would be displayed on the TV but you need to find a way to remote contol the PC from the TV (eg to change camera). You wouldn't have each camera on a different TV channel.

Your PC sounds a bit old and might not cope with a new graphics card very well so an external adaptor might be the answer if you can figure out how to control the PC from a distance.

This sort of device converts VGA to AV..
http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=223833&C=Maplin&U=SearchTop&T=PC%20to%20TV&doy=30m5

Then one of these converts AV to UHF (eg TV aerial) for distribution around the house..
http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=33050&C=Maplin&U=SearchTop&T=UHF%20MODULATOR&doy=30m5

2) Connect cameras to both the PC and the TV.

You could possibly do this with four of these and some cables..

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=33050&C=Maplin&U=SearchTop&T=UHF%20MODULATOR&doy=30m5

..but it might not work or work well. Technically you shouldn't connect a camera to two devices (PC and TV) without using an amplifier. Amplifiers are likely to be another £29 each so potentiall we're talking a total of about £240 for this approach unless a multi channel amp can be found at a good price. Picture quality might not be that great.

Hpwever this route would get each camera on it's own TV channel but not the "four at once". That would still only be available on the PC.

3) Use a box like this.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=370049056776&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=024

This does a similar job to the video camera card in your PC. It allows you to select each camera or display four in one. It has two video outputs. One could be connected to the PC and one to the TV system (via a UHF modulator if necessary).

Still two problems: The PC could only display the output of this box so it's functionality is reduced. You would also need an IR Link device to get the remote to work from where the TV is.

Basically it all possible just messy and hard to explain.

Got a local CCTV expert?

Title: Re: CCTV
Post by Andyco11 on May 31^st, 2008, 1:29am

Thanks all for your input.

Think i best stick with my original idea......buy a monitor lead extension and place a new flat screen monitor on the office wall and the use one of them remote mouse keyboard doohickeys to manipulate the system.