Help required.

[handimick]

I have been veiwing this site for a while now and its benefits have been invaluble, there always seems to be good advice somewhere in the posts, old or new, Ive always found a solution but on this occasion I can`t find anythink covering this query, I have had my system for a few years now, I started with a plug and play and have slowly improved it as my knowledge and my pocket allowed, currently I have four cameras through a quad, video and monitor(nothing fancy), however I would like to add more cameras, keeping my basic setup how can i add cameras using PIR`s, any advice would be welcome.

Regards Mick.

[handimick]

Thanks for your help guys, it may take me a while to get through all the replys..

[Jim]

Hey there handimick.
The site was down for a while so that may have stopped replies, though I admit participation here ebbs and wanes. As for myself, I've had a few home emergencies that have taken my time for several months.

I'm not an expert but have shopped around myself for a while. Are you running on your PC? That's what I have at home, a 4 channel system (usb) tied to either the laptop or main PC. You may need to check into replacing the device with a PCI card having 8 or more inputs. That would probably be the most cost effective.

If you're running a wireless then it's not easy to piggyback another system. You will soon run out of effective bandwidth channels unless one system is 2.4G and the other 1.2G. In most cases a 4 channel wireless system is about the limit unless you want to spend lots of cash.

If you are running hard-wired then if you get a PCI card you shouldn't need the existing 4 channel. You may also start pushing the limit of your PC to where it can only monitor cameras and do little else.

[Jim]

I think I misread this post. Please ignore my first response.

It sounds like the system is independent of a PC. Is it just for surveillance or does it also record? Also is it wireless or hard wired?

Generally if you have a four channel feeding into a single monitor and you want to add cameras you will need to scrap the old 4 channel in favor of a larger system with 8 or more inputs. I don't think that PIR makes any difference to the overall system. They're just another camera as far as the video device cares and you can just replace an existing visible light camera with a PIR. The only thing that matters to the video multiplexing system is how many cameras you have and what type of video outputs they have. If you're wanting simply to expand your system with multiple cameras then the only thing that will hold you back is if the system is wireless and you're adding extra wireless cameras. Channel bandwidth becomes a massive issue in that respect whether or not a PC is in use.

I may not be following closely what you're asking though so my apologies if I'm off base.