CCTV Target Monitoring

juanvaldez

juanvaldez

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Location
Sudbury, Ontario
Currrently pieceing together a system out of cheap Chinese electronics. Should be around 200$ by the time I'm done. This is with me supplying a used flat panel monitor and a 12v power supply and inverter.

Here is what I have bought so far:

For conversion of receiver RCA signal to vga input to monitor - 40 USD

http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...384364&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT#ht_1433wt_939

1000mW Transmitter/Receiver for sending and receiving video signal 500-800 yards - 45 USD

http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...614543&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT#ht_2779wt_939

Sony ccd camera - 39 USD

http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...56152&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT#ht_2138wt_1018

Auto Iris zoom lens for camera - 35 USD Not sure if I needed this but...

http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...122913&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT#ht_1836wt_962

Transmitter/Camera Power Supply 23 USD

http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...029813&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT#ht_2033wt_962

Total in so far is 192 USD including shipping and I already have the monitor and inverter/battery so I should be done, hopefully...


I'm winging it on this one so if anyone has some experience feel free to chime in.

Cheers
 
I had thought about doing something like this as well, especially if you feed the video into a laptop so you can record and replay it.

As long as the camera doesn't get shot all is well... But even if it does they are so cheap replace in this day and age.
 
There are commercial set ups available, I looked into them a couple of years ago, the cost was prohibitive I thought at just over $5000.00

Keep us in the loop as to how your set up works. I hope it works well as to have something that can monitor a target and broadcast signal to a distant shooting position would be fabulous.
 
Put a system together a few years back using a similar idea.

TX/RX off ebay - don't have the link anymore but similar in spec. Will go 750yds line of sight. The ratings were much more generous :)

LCD monitor from car entertainment stuff.

Canon digi cam with a video output. Most every digi cam has some output and we got it as a 'family' camera. It has a 10X zoom and that is a good idea. Keep the camera a safe distance away but still see the holes clearly. Camcorder would work just as well and likely easier as it is designed for constant output.

Power is from 3 cell LiPO packs used in RC planes. Gives a wonderful steady 10V power supply and since I fly, got all the gear. small lead acid batteries would do the same thing.

I bit of wiring and it works just fine. Dirt cheap too.

Works great.

Jerry
 
The only reason this 'basic' stuff can't is due to being able to boost the signal and proper antennae. I have been told that is not a big deal but have not pursued as 750yds is further then I need to practise.

Anyone know anything about high gain antennaes and signal boosting?

Jerry
 
Anyone know anything about high gain antennaes and signal boosting?
Click to expand...

Oddly enough the best info on this comes from the people who use high gain line of sight antennas for getting free wifi internet over 802.11 networks. There are also enthusiasts who extend their 2.4ghz networks over several miles as long as they can maintain line of sight. They use inexpensive 50 ohm high gain directional antennas.

Of course if you can get reasonable performance from 802.11 at 1000 yards you may as well just use a cheap IP camera downrange and feed it right into the laptop... The problem is the high gain antennas look like very tempting targets for other shooters:

usba201.th.jpg


This could be a fun project come spring time...
 
If you want to use an IP camera, a trick you can do is connect it to one of the wireless routers that can be upgraded with software like DD-WRT. This software can boost the output of the router from the typical 50 milliwatts or so to up to 250mw in some models. This gives you a 4 times improvement in signal strength. Additionally, if you use a a router at both the camera end and the laptop end, you will again improve the performance. These types of routers are quite cheap these days.

By using routers, you can also then connect to external high gain antennas, such as the one pictured in the post above. That particular one may be better used at the laptop end, for the obvious reason mentioned, but you can also get antennas that look like a piece of pipe ( or a thick rifle barrel, heh ) that you could use at the camera end and when they are aimed back toward you present a very small cross section..

The RF end of this kind of system is trivially easy these days. To my mind, the most important piece of the puzzle is the camera. You want one with an auto iris to adjust for changing light levels, and some sort of zoom capability so you don't have to put the camera right in front of the target. This not a problem if you use cheap video cameras, but most of the IP type cameras are pretty basic, so that is where I would concentrate my search.
 
c3pppo
You seem knowledgable on this so maybe you can answer something for me.
What if I hook my hi def Handi cam which has auto focus, auto light adjust and remote control zoom to a wifi laptop, then hook the laptop up to the router/transmitter and on the recieving end another router and wifi laptop for veiwing?
I want to be able to see better at 1000 yards minimally and well beyond.
I am quite technology handicapped, am I working in the right direction with my plan?
 
alberta tactical rifle said:
c3pppo
You seem knowledgable on this so maybe you can answer something for me.
What if I hook my hi def Handi cam which has auto focus, auto light adjust and remote control zoom to a wifi laptop, then hook the laptop up to the router/transmitter and on the recieving end another router and wifi laptop for veiwing?
I want to be able to see better at 1000 yards minimally and well beyond.
I am quite technology handicapped, am I working in the right direction with my plan?
Click to expand...

Why not hook the camera up to a transmitter then receive the signal on the other end with the receiver displaying on your laptop? You don't need 2 laptops. A 2.4 ghz transmitter/receiver will cost you under 200$ Your handi cam will hook right up to the transmitter via rca cable. Your receiver will input into your laptop via the tv/video card or something like a hauppage video stick.

This article got me started, definately more then one way to skin a cat.

http://www.6mmbr.com/targetcam.html
 
mr_trout said:
Oddly enough the best info on this comes from the people who use high gain line of sight antennas for getting free wifi internet over 802.11 networks. There are also enthusiasts who extend their 2.4ghz networks over several miles as long as they can maintain line of sight. They use inexpensive 50 ohm high gain directional antennas.

Of course if you can get reasonable performance from 802.11 at 1000 yards you may as well just use a cheap IP camera downrange and feed it right into the laptop... The problem is the high gain antennas look like very tempting targets for other shooters:

usba201.th.jpg


This could be a fun project come spring time...
Click to expand...

Could you tell us more about the 2.4Ghz set ups. That is what my Tx/Rx has and although rated for huge distances, really poops out at 750yds.

Pics and links would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Jerry
 
Rick and Jerry, you are approaching the issue from different directions, both of which will work.

Starting with Rick's question. Yes, you can use a laptop/camera combination to connect to a router at the target end. Again, one problem here is the camera. If you have a laptop that has some kind of video (analog) input, then you can use any video camera, from cheap surveillance models on up to your camcorder (which is probably the best choice since it will have all the features we need for this). The problem is that very few laptops have a video INPUT. A lot have a video OUTPUT, typically an S-video connector, but that doesn't help us here. One way to fix that is get a USB video adapter that will allow you to connect a standard analog video camera to your laptop. Then, you could connect the laptop to an appropriate wireless router, which will give you more power (higher gain) and will also give you a way to connect to a high gain antenna ( you will notice that your laptop doesn't have an antenna connector on it ).

Then, at the receive end, another high gain antenna connected to a wireless router, connected to another laptop, and you're good to go. As a bonus, all those guys with an Iphone or Itouch will also be able to get the signal from the wireless router at the receive end and display the picture on their devices.

Of course, this is all predicated on the idea that we want to use an analog camera; i.e. your camcorder. If we find a good IP camera (also known as netcams) then we can connect it directly to the router and save ourselves from having to use a laptop at the target end just to convert the video from analog to digital for use by the router. Again, the problem here is finding the right camera (at a reasonable price).

Now Jerry has a slightly different problem. If he is using an analog transmitter & receiver pair, then he can connect to a good analog type camera directly, which is what we want. What he needs is more gain (higher signal strength). There are a number of ways to accomplish this. Increase the transmitter power; increase the receiver sensitivity; or increase the antenna gain. The last option would likely be the easiest option. High gain 2.4 ghz antennas are quite easily available nowadays. in various configurations. Because Jerry's system is designed to use external antennas that is the easy fix for him .

In both cases, if you want to get longer range, the easiest and cheapest fix is to use higher gain antennas. There are a number of common manufacturers (Comet or Larsen come to mind) Do a google search for "2.4 ghz antennas".

I would be remiss if I didn't mention that for those with a modicum of mechanical skills, 2.4 ghz high gain antennas are very easy to build, cheap in material cost and would likely save you a few hundred bucks if you did it yourself. More info forthcoming if you're interested..

Did I miss anything ?
 
I was looking at building a similar system a ways back and I found small battery powered monitors designed for satellite TV repairman....I believe they are called service monitors. Lightweight and durable for carrying to and fro the range.....B&H photo carries a lot of the stuff, researching on there website got me to the point where I new what was needed and what would work.....Good luck guys, interesting to see what different systems can do
 
mysticplayer said:
Could you tell us more about the 2.4Ghz set ups. That is what my Tx/Rx has and although rated for huge distances, really poops out at 750yds.

Pics and links would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Jerry
Click to expand...

I think that question is better directed at c3pppo then myself, but I will answer it as best I can.

Your transmitter may be rated for very long distances but if it came with cheaper/smaller antennas they will be the limiting factor. Especially on ebay you see these 1000mw 2.4gh transmitters paired with little 4" long antennas plugged in the back.

Keep in mind that you don't have to use expensive antennas, especially downrange where they risk getting shot at. There are some great homebrew sites out there with great info on extending your wifi range to 3km LOS using $5 items like "asian parabolic cookware".

diydish.jpg


Here is a page full of basic antenna designs using anything from cookware to pringles chip cans:

http://www.seattlewireless.net/AntennaHowTo
 
C3po...so I take it the set up I am looking at would benefit by adding a higher gain antenna as well.

Is it possible to exceed the distance rating the manufacturer suggest you can get with just an antenna and not increasing transmitter power.

Is there a point of diminishing returns? Ie how much of a higher gain do I look for?

Do you know what connector is likely to be on a transmitter? RP-SMA?


The receiver transmitter I bought is listed below but I see no mention of the antenna connection type

http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?...#ht_2779wt_939

Cheers
 
juanvaldez, yes the antenna is the most important part of the equation for longer range. If you can increase the transmitter power that's just a bonus.

As far as connector type goes, it could be any of a number. It could be BNC, TNC, SMA or N or variations thereof. You have to have the unit in hand to find out.

The gain of an antenna is generally related to it's size, either in diameter for flat panel or dish type antennas, or in length for Yagi or Helix type antennas. So, yes, there is a point of diminishing returns, but for our purposes here I don't think we will be troubled by that. Since we will obviously be dealing with line of sight situations, antenna gains/size requirements should not be too much of a problem even out to a mile or more.

Your first link to Jerry seems to fit the requirements, but the second link is to an all in one unit that incorporates the wireless transmitter in the antenna enclosure. While a good idea for some purposes, my concern is that it takes away the flexibility, both hardware and software-wise, that we can get by using a wireless router of our own choice.
 
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