IP network server for CCTV

[rfisher]

If I rig one of these up to check my CCTV system remotely how much data is it likely to send?

I'm on a limited broadband service and don't want to chew it all up sending video down the wires all day.

Ta.

[randlemarcus]

Bit more information required, really.

What CCTV system?
How do you mean check? i.e send all frames from all cameras to remote server, or only retrieve frames when watching?

as much info as possible, otherwise the answer is going to be how long is your string...

[rfisher]

Looking at something like this http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dl

CCTV system has s-video output providing 'live' stream and motion detection used to switch VCR recording. Presumably the least network usage would be achieved using motion detection to ftp a couple of minutes of video.

[ss hsv]

rfisher said:

Looking at something like this http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dl

CCTV system has s-video output providing 'live' stream and motion detection used to switch VCR recording. Presumably the least network usage would be achieved using motion detection to ftp a couple of minutes of video.

I have one of those and I'm very pleased with it. IRC I bought it from 'Digidave'. They also do one in exactly the same box but with a camera built in. This box will allow 4 cameras to be connected and it comes with motion detection software. It can even email you pics, but bear in mind that its max resolution is only 640x480 so we are not talking professional cctv circa 900 lines here.

I also bought from Digi Dave an IP Input/Output module which is web based. It can use the same software as the camera uses and I can switch 6 outputs on or off over the web. I have the six inputs connected to my alarm system so I can monitor my whole house by pulling up the correct web-page.

The bad points are the manual - the translation is not good but you can find your way around ok. I used to run my own security company in 1995 and stuff like this then was thousands. For £80 odd quid it represents real value although you have to add some cameras to that price and fiddle with port forwarding on your router which was a pain until I worked out what to do.

[rfisher]

So how much data does your system send down the line?

Can't believe it's more than a few Mb per month but I'd be upset if I get one and use up my upload quota in a week.

[SS HSV]

rfisher said:

So how much data does your system send down the line?

Can't believe it's more than a few Mb per month but I'd be upset if I get one and use up my upload quota in a week.

To be honest, I have never measured it! I have Blueyonder 10mb (down) but the u/l is puny 384kb/s I believe. Even so, I never notice unviewable performance, but the resolution is not exactly hi-def so it should'nt present a problem.

These day there are plenty of ISP's which provide un-limited bandwidth. I believe that there are a few that do it from £10pm, so I would have a look at that first.