Home Security System

[rvstyr]

Hello, first of all, please forgive me if I posted this on the wrong section. I couldn't think of a better place to ask than here.

I need a computer for my home camera system. I just recently moved into my house, and the previous owner had 4 cameras installed and wired to a central location. He took his computer when he left, so now I have to figure out what exactly do I need.

This is what the wires look like: https://imgur.com/Tx9WhdB

What I'm looking for is:
-What kind of pc recommendation (preferably pre-built) do you recommend?
-Do I even need a PC for this, or just some kind of DVR.
-If I do need a PC, do i need a special software to record/watch the video feeds?
-Would you recommend uploading the video to a cloud service, or just keep it locally on a hard drive.

Please feel free to ask me any additional details that you might need to help me with this. I don't know the brand of the cameras right now, but I can find out tonight if needed. All I know is they're those standard half dome shaped cameras already wired, with the wire ends coming out of my living room right next to the tv.

 

[Ralston18]

Determine the make and model of the cameras. Copy down everything you can see on the each camera's labels: Make, model, serial number, MAC, version, dates, serial number, version number, etc..

Also take a close look at the cables being used. The cables should have some printed specifications continually printed along the length of the cable. Those specifications also matter.

Never hurts to sketch out a diagram of the cameras, locations, and connections. Trace the wires to look for other components, connections, etc.. to avoid surprises later on.....

Check the camera's manufacturer's website for the applicable User Guides/Manual and related software.

The objective is to match what PC's, DVRs' etc. that you have to the requirements of the existing home camera system.

Hopefully the results of your work will make it easier to learn about: 1) what you have, 2) what you need, and 3) how to get it all put together.

 

[punkncat]

Do you also have a location where a few small transformers are to be plugged in?

By appearance, you have a rather oddly wired IP camera system. Odd that normally there would be a male connector there to plug in to a switch or poe switch. If it was using poe on the switch there will be no transformers/splitters to inject power.
This could be some manner of proprietary system. I would parrot what the above poster said in seeing about finding a model/make and do a bit of searching. Either way there are various ways to get "DVR/Recording" software both pay and free which will come down to a hard drive(s) to record to. Being a DVR in itself isn't very intensive, but it can be helpful to have something half capable with good RAM that you aren't using for anything else, or much else.

 

[The Original Ralph]

after doing the above, a few suggestions

first, i run 5 cameras, current generation 2588 x 1520 resolution (which is pretty high and storage space hog). I've dialed the resolution down to 1920x1080 on most of the cameras.

You'll want to look into an aftermarket software to be able to record the video stream - i use Blue Iris, and iirc it will handle 64 cameras. BI offers features you're going to find on OEM video management software, plus some of the OEM's software will not allow you to record to your own computer or HDD - they'd rather you purchased their DVR or NVR. Plus BI is considerably easier to set up - depending on the cameras, you may still have to use the mfgr's software to initialy set the cameras up, but once set up, you can use BI to control the cameras. Once you've got the make and model of the cameras, you should be able to go to the mfgr's web and download the software.

One nice feature to BI, they offer both android and iOS phone apps, so that if it detects motion on any camera's field of view, it will both email you and text you an alert, so even if you're at the hardware store or wherever, you can view the camera view - my front door camera has 2 way voice comm, so i can even answer the front door, no matter where i am, without the visitor knowing i'm not home

All five of my cameras feed, via Cat 5E POE cable to a TrendNet switch hub https://www.amazon.com/TRENDnet-Switching-Capacity-Lifetime-TPE-TG80G/dp/B008OJM0T8/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1526642230&sr=8-7&keywords=trendnet+8+port+gigabit+switch. POE means power over ethernet cable, so no need for a separate power cable or power source with transformer at the camera - mucho simplified installation

from the Trendnet Switch i feed the video streams via a single ethernet cable to the computer, and using BI direct all streams to record to a dedicated 1 TB SSD - it gives me approx 14 days recording before recording over the oldest recorded file.

The above assumes your cameras are not wireless - if so, trash them. I know that sounds harsh but a friend in the security business (works with the gov't) told me when they find a "target" with wireless cameras, they're happy as they're all real easy to hack.

If your cameras use coaxial cables, you still won't need a separate computer - a DVR or NVR will do fine, you may need a separate display but most will connect to your computer to view on your computer's monitor

hope that helps some