Newbie Question - Please help!

rsdvd · Post by **rsdvd** » Mon Jan 09, 2006 12:30 pm

Hi All

I am new to zoneminder, so please be gentle

I currently have a 2 camera hardware CCTV system, which just flips between the cameras ever few seconds. I experimented recording this to a VCR via it's composite out, but not very successfully.

Now we are moving premises I am looking for a better solution and someone recommended Zoneminder.

I woudl like to build a dedicated ZM server from various unwanted PCs around the office, but I cannot tell how mush horsepower the server needs to have?

Also, I would like some advice on capture cards? especially how cheap I can get them and where from. I have a couple of cameras already which terminate to scart plugs.....woudl I be able to use them or is there a better (cheap) solution.

Thanks in advance
Phil (UK)

Post by **cordel** » Tue Jan 17, 2006 6:28 am

Hi Phil,
I don't know how you slipped by, sorry it took so long to respond.

It depends on your setup as to what is required. For just two cameras I would recommend a min of PIII 750 with no desktop installed. Actually I highly recommend no desktop at all period on the server to best utilize it. If you do decide to put a desktop and x on the server then you should get something faster and more memory.

As far as capture cards everyone seems to be really happy with the ituner cards. I don't have on of these my self so I could not say. I run kodicom cards which require a bit of coaxing to get working so I don't suggest them for anyone new to Linux. As for cheap you can pick up a four video input card with a single bt878 chip on it for around $25 to $30 USD from ebay and it should serve you well for two cameras and depending on your expectations maybe 3 cameras.

Corey

rsdvd · Post by **rsdvd** » Tue Jan 17, 2006 10:50 am

thank you cordel!

I have ordered a card and some cameras from a seller on eBay........not suer if they will arrive as they are in Hong Kong

The card is Mpeg4 @ 25frames/sec, but it does not say what chip it uses.

I suppose I will just have to wait till it arrives, and hope for the best.

I may be back in 7-10 days

Post by **zoneminder** » Tue Jan 17, 2006 10:53 am

If the card was relatively cheap then it will probably only have one bttv chip on it, if it's bttv based at all. The quoted 25fps will be shared between all inputs, so with one camera attached you should get around 25fps, two cameras might get 10fps each and three possibly 4fps. It's not a simple division as switching between inputs takes some time as well.

Good luck and I hope it works

rsdvd · Post by **rsdvd** » Tue Jan 17, 2006 11:13 am

Hi Phil

I guessed the frame rate would have to be shared between the inputs, the kit I have bought comes with 4 cameras so I thought is the frame rate looks to slow, then I could buy another card only and split the cameras 2 per card.

Is there any retriction on the number of bt capture cards I can add?

As a fellow Brit, can you recommend anywhere to buy cameras/cards?

Phil

Post by **zoneminder** » Tue Jan 17, 2006 11:26 am

rsdvd wrote:Is there any retriction on the number of bt capture cards I can add?

In theory mostly no, in practice I think four would be your limit, plus some types of card come in variants that can't be mixed. So when you get your first card it may be a type A, B, C or D. If you get another one you need to make sure you get a different flavour. It's something to do with interrupts or port addresses I think, it's all a bit technical for me

The other thing you have to watch out for is overloading your PCI bus with too much video but I think you are a little way off that yet.

rsdvd wrote:As a fellow Brit, can you recommend anywhere to buy cameras/cards?

.

Well since you ask, I can, cough, recommend somewhere to get cards (http://www.zoneminder.com/shop.html)

These are full four chip cards that will support up to eight inputs off the one card though and may be more than you are after. As for cameras, there are several places which are all pretty much of a muchness in what they sell. You could do worse then click a few of the ads and see what comes up. I've never used them but I think Henrys (www.henrys.co.uk) has had some good comment.

JimNoble · Post by **JimNoble** » Fri Jan 20, 2006 10:31 am

Capture cards:

http://www.simplyautomate.co.uk/product ... rodId=5462
(Not 100% sure that card works with bttv though...)

http://www.wordsworth.co.uk/site/pages/ ... hp?pid=423

(Sorry phil - they both undercut your cards by a fair bit...

Neither have the 2nd set of 4 inputs though...)

Cameras from Henrys, rfconcepts, or ebay.

Jim

jameswilson · Post by **jameswilson** » Fri Jan 20, 2006 6:09 pm

the price for phils cards include software and support though Jim

rsdvd · Post by **rsdvd** » Tue Jan 24, 2006 3:03 pm

Hello All,

I finally recieved my card and cameras from Hong Kong. But I have a problem and was hoping one of you lot might be able to explain something to me.

The mini Cameras that have come have 3 leads, 1 for video, 1 for audio and 1 for power. I was not expecting small CCD cameras to need power, so I assumed this was only for the built-in IR LEDS for low light use.

I plugged a camera into a scart cable, and expected to get a picture on the TV - but got nothing.

As you can tell I am new to all this stuff, am I expecting too much? Would these cameras require power?

I want to make sure they work before I install the capture card in the server and install ZM.

Thanks in advance
Phil

jameswilson · Post by **jameswilson** » Tue Jan 24, 2006 4:40 pm

so you have a video OUT, Audio OUT and a power lead. Where did you think it was gonna get its power from? lol
Yes it will need power to function, usually 12v dc but it should say on it somewhere what it wants and how

James

rsdvd · Post by **rsdvd** » Tue Jan 24, 2006 4:44 pm

Thanks James.....I am not suer how I expected it to work, It had not occured to me that it would need power. All the similar projects I have worked on are USB so take power from there.

I have tried a 'wall-wart' power adapter and provided it some voltage, but I still don't get any picture on the TV.

Am I right in expecting a picture using a cheap RCA-> scart cable?

rsdvd · Post by **rsdvd** » Tue Jan 24, 2006 5:00 pm

Please ignore my rant...they now work fine!

It seems the cheap power socket on them is rather loose, and the power adapter was nto connecting properly.

A few minute with a multi-meter worked it out.

Now to install the capture card and ZM

jameswilson · Post by **jameswilson** » Tue Jan 24, 2006 5:15 pm

good news

rsdvd · Post by **rsdvd** » Tue Jan 24, 2006 11:22 pm

I have been trying to get ZM installed all evening....will someone please take pity on me and help me out

I have installed by bt878 card, and installed the Mandrake from the LiveCD.

I do not have any new items in /dev....should I not have 4 new videoX type entries?

Is there a simple HOWTO on setting up ZM? I am having difficulty wading through the website.

Thanks
Phil

jameswilson · Post by **jameswilson** » Tue Jan 24, 2006 11:48 pm

what card you using?