How to make video surveillance with your own hands?

2024 Author: Aaron Duncan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 03:30

In our article we will talk about how to make video surveillance at home with your own hands. This is not only an additional security function, but also a means of controlling children or servants (if any). Probably, if you have servants, you are unlikely to want to manufacture the system yourself - you will give this work to specialists. But you still need to know what you are paying your money for. If you want to install the equipment yourself, then read our article, we will try to put everything on the shelves.

CCTV system components

First, let's look at what components a video surveillance system consists of. Such designs can be found today in many places - in schools, kindergartens, shops. Let's single out the main components of the system:

1. Camcorders are eyes, and sometimes ears, as some models are mountedmicrophones. There are analog and IP cameras.
2. The video recorder is the main part of the system, since it is to it that all cameras, monitor and controls (mouse, keyboard) are connected.
3. The hard disk is the part of the system where video files are recorded. But the disk size is limited, so when working, old files are erased, new ones are written instead. The larger the disc, the longer the recording. This is important to consider when choosing items.
4. Data wires and power supply.
5. As a rule, a DVR is the simplest computer that has its own operating system. But sometimes a TV, PC or smartphone is required for full operation.

If you contact companies that design and install video surveillance, you will pay 2-3 times more than with self-installation.

Why is it better to do it yourself?

In fact, all procedures are not much different from installing lighting in your home. The easiest option - you only need to install a light bulb, socket and wires. Sometimes put a switch (simple or automatic). If you take a closer look at the system, you can see that this is a simple constructor, which contains several components (we talked about them above). They are all ready, and there is no need to even configure them. The maximum that needs to be done is to strip the wires and make the connection.

BIn the process of work, you may need a screwdriver, a screwdriver, as well as twisted-pair crimping pliers (if one is used). But you can also enjoy the installation - putting the whole structure together and making it work correctly is quite an exciting experience. Moreover, it is completely safe, since the operating voltage of all cameras is 12 volts. If you can install the system yourself, then you will get tired of the intrusive offers of neighbors and friends. The cost of self-assembly is several times less than when contacting a specialized company.

A little introduction

You can build your own video surveillance system from a simple webcam. To do this, you must use an extension cord, but its length should not exceed 5 m, otherwise the device will not have enough current and it will not start. In order to start recording when there is movement in the room, it is necessary to use special programs. You can even customize the VLC player, however, you will have to write batch files for it.

If the device does not have enough current, you will need to use an additional power source. The USB cable has 4 wires - two signal and the same number of power wires. The longer the wire, the greater the loss. Therefore, it is necessary to put a 5 V power supply next to the webcam. Such a system is quite enough if you need to monitor one room. But at the same time, the computer must be constantly turned on. In addition, for greater reliability, the light should always be on in the room. In the absence of lighting, it is unlikely to worksee what will be shown on the record.

CCTV planning

Before you buy all the equipment and start installation, you need to draw a sketch on which to depict the entire territory of your site. You should also answer a number of questions:

1. Where will the DVR be located? This, in fact, is a miniature personal computer that processes signals from video cameras, records them on a hard disk and displays them on a monitor screen. Some models can be connected to the Internet, so the signal from it can be viewed anywhere in the world. If there, of course, there is access to the Internet. The room in which the recorder is installed must have an optimal ratio of humidity and temperature.
2. What area will the video cameras cover? You should also consider the height and width of the horizontal corner. The next question is how many cameras do you need to monitor the territory? When designing, you need only two devices - a ruler and a protractor. All necessary parameters (for example, viewing angle) are specified in the passport for the video camera. Calculate how many cameras you need to implement the entire system. It is recommended to use cameras with a narrow horizontal angle (no more than 90 degrees). Use devices with a wide-angle lens (up to 150 degrees is not recommended). The maximum number of cameras depends on how many channels the recorder has. There are designs in which there are from 4 to 16 inputs.
3. The maximum distance from the recorder to the cameras isone of the most important parameters. Keep in mind that beautiful cable management is a significant waste of material, so you should always make a margin of at least 10%.
4. Implementation of remote access to the registrar - decide right away whether it will be possible to access it via the Internet? It is best to connect the device to the network through a provider that provides access not through wireless communications. Needless to say, such networks are much more expensive than wired ones. In addition, their declared speed is not only higher, but also more stable - therefore, it is recommended to trust providers that provide access to the network via optical fiber or ADSL. It is also recommended to use a static address.
5. Decide whether to connect the entire system to a TV set in a room? After all, any registrar has the ability to connect to a monitor or TV to broadcast a picture. If the distance from the recorder to the TV is not more than 20 m, then such a system can be implemented. But whether it makes sense to do it depends on your decision.

And now let's talk about what accessories are needed for the normal functioning of the video surveillance system. With your own hands for the home, you can make it literally in 1-2 days, having everything you need available.

Using optional system accessories

What do you need to use besides the main components? Let's break it all down. You will need the following materials and tools:

1. Boxes for neat wiring.
2. High power lamp with motion sensor - it is necessary for lighting. Sometimes infrared sources are not enough to fully illuminate the area.
3. To enable wireless broadcasting between the router and the DVR, you must use a Wi-Fi adapter. But it will be much more reliable and cheaper to use a simple cable, which we used to call twisted pair. It is recommended to learn in advance how to make video surveillance with your own hands in order to avoid mistakes during installation.
4. Uninterruptible - this device is necessary if you need constant power to the system. Power cuts are common in some areas. This device allows the system to work offline for at least 2 hours.

In some cases, it is even allowed to use gasoline generators, unless, of course, they are included in the power supply system at home.

A little about the DVR

And now about how to make video surveillance with your own hands and choose the right system components. Let's describe the possibilities that even a simple DVR gives you:

1. It can receive and broadcast video from multiple cameras (regardless of what type they have). Number of cameras - from one to 16.
2. It can record the signal to hard disk or flash drive. Without it, it will not be possible to make a full-fledged video surveillance system at home with your own hands.
3. Provides the ability to write files to a flash drive, MicroSD card. Usually at the registrarthere are several USB ports to which you can connect any external device - even a mouse.
4. Connection to a personal computer. Therefore, it can also be connected to a router and transmit a signal via the Internet to a remote workplace.
5. You can send the signal to your TV or monitor using VGA or HDMI cables.
6. Some models can send emails to email addresses. The main thing is to specify the correct address and connect the device to the network. Here's how to make video surveillance at home with your own hands and receive a message about all problems to your personal address. This will be useful if you are designing a dacha system to guard it in the winter.
7. You can control the cameras, rotate them around the axis, if such functions are available.

If you look closely, it turns out that a consumer disc player takes up less space than a DVR. Quality models are not cheap, but the price is constantly decreasing. The approximate cost of the registrar is about 5000-10000 rubles, you should not spend more than 15000.

This is already wasteful. Pay attention when choosing a resolution - FullHD is enough to see people's faces even in difficult conditions. Making a high-quality video surveillance system in an apartment with your own hands is much easier - all cameras can be used without protection from moisture. And this significantly reduces the cost of the entire system.

Hard Disk Requirements

Let's look at a simple example. For example, you have a spindle-type hard drive with a capacity of about 1 TB. The cost of such a gadget on the market is about 4000 rubles. Let's say that when recording video files with a resolution of 720p, you only fit 25 days on a disk. Therefore, you will be able to store a maximum of one month. Cheaper discs will hold less information.

Recommended to use discs with green labels in recorders. High speed is not needed, but power consumption and the degree of heating are minimal. In recorders, it is best to use 2.5-inch drives (these are used in laptops). It is quite easy to implement a do-it-yourself CCTV system even in the absence of hard drives - you need to use flash drives.

Wiring and data cables

Do not think that if the cost of wires is low, then the requirements for them are the same. You need to make the highest quality food - you can not allow the presence of power surges. The resource of all components directly depends on this. The better you organize the power supply, the longer the entire system will last. The wires will work in very extreme conditions - they are affected by rain, snow, high and low temperatures. It is necessary that the wires have a strong base, good insulation and the highest quality braid. Only in this case, surveillance cameras in the country (it’s quite easy to install them with your own hands) will last a long time and various electronic diseases will not appear.

A little about power supplies and uninterruptible power supplies

These are parts of the systemwhich are entrusted with a responsible task - to make the conversion from 220 V to 12. All components of the video monitoring system need a stable and high-quality power source. As a rule, video cameras break down in the presence of power surges. Less often, breakdowns occur due to bad weather, factory defects or the actions of hooligans. Don't skimp on power supplies.

A device of average functionality can ensure stable operation of a couple of cameras, a router and a recorder for several tens of minutes. Of course, such a source is not enough for the night. But with frequent and short-term shutdowns, such an uninterruptible power supply will be very useful. If you are not confident in your abilities and think that you will not be able to correctly connect all the electrical wires, find an experienced fitter. Otherwise, you cannot vouch for the quality of the installation. If you decide to do your own video surveillance via the Internet, consider the consumption of network adapters.

What about the cameras?

There are two types of surveillance cameras:

1. Stationary.
2. With swivel mechanisms.

By mounting type:

1. To vertical surfaces.
2. To the ceiling.

You can also find devices with infrared illumination, vandal resistance, microphones and speakers. Some models can change the focal length. On some, you can change the lenses, the width of the vertical or horizontal angles. Almost all cameras have a degree of reliabilityhigh, the main thing is to organize proper nutrition.

One of the main characteristics of a camera is its resolution. Of course, devices with a resolution of 360 × 288 or less cannot be used - they are obsolete. Even devices with a resolution of 640 × 480 are already a thing of the past. Use devices with a resolution of at least 720p in the video monitoring system. Most of the devices capable of recording video in FullHD quality make very high demands on the recorder, data transmission channel and hard drive. Chinese devices are suitable for video surveillance systems for private houses (it’s easy to install them yourself) - they are easy to install, and the cost is quite low.

Output picture to PC or phone

The signal comes from the cameras to the recorder, which records to the hard drive. It is also possible to transmit a signal (already recorded or current) to various consumers. A simple case is through a twisted pair cable to a laptop or a stationary personal computer. But it is much more convenient to connect the registrar to a router and a local network. In this case, the signal will be transmitted to the Internet via cable or Wi-Fi. If wireless communication is used, then literally any device can be connected to the registrar - a phone, an e-book, a tablet.

The DVR can be accessed either through a specialized program called CMS or through an Internet browser. The program displays all camerasvideo surveillance. Any user can install and configure the software with their own hands. What the program can do:

1. Set up all DVR functions.
2. Control cameras (adjust brightness, backlight, color, motion detection).
3. Record the broadcast signal, edit already recorded files.
4. Provide the ability to warn the user about events that have occurred - loss of signal, power surge, etc.
5. Display images online to one or even several sources.

If your provider provides access to the Internet with a static address, then you can easily make remote control of video surveillance. You only need to set up the recorder and the personal computer connected to it.

It should be noted that most mobile operators do not allow you to work with a static IP address. At the next connection to the network, the operator issues a new address to the client. In this case, the best solution would be to connect the recorder to the cloud storage, which will act as an intermediary between the signal source and the viewer. But if the provider provides access to a network with a static address, remote video surveillance is much easier to implement with your own hands.