Question:

Hi Guys

I have a DVR with 16 channels  and 16 cameras, i need to add cover more areas, i was wondering if there are cameras that covers a wider range, the one that i currently have cover 50%.
What is dome camera?
Also i do not have more channels to put more cameras, can i install wireless cameras?
do they come with a reciver, can i attach them to my current system.
Please advise
thanks

Solution:

First,  the unit will only do 16 video feeds.  Thats a hard limit so wired or wireless each camera still requires a port on the unit.  Analog wireless units would be wired from the DVR to a wireless receiver unit.  A multiple camera receiver would have 1 output port per camera.  So yes you can connect them but they do not give you more ports/views,  would only replace existing camera.

It is likely that your current camera’s are quite wide angle.  Most of consumer camera’s have 3 to 4 mm lenses which are about as wide as you can go.  There are special lenses and camera’s that are capable of 180 or 360 degree view but these require compatible equipment to manipulate the images to something useful.

I think the only simple and relatively inexpensive way to expand your system would be to get a quad splitter, also called a multiplexer or processor.  One of these units takes several camera inputs and combine the 4 feeds into one video feed with multiple views.  This is how it used to be done with VCR’s or for analog monitors.  A unit to support 4 cameras in color usually runs well under $200.  Probably have to shop at places that specialize in CCTV gear to get one.

Here’s an example unit,

http://www.everfocus.com/product.cfm?productid=103

The downside is that the picture you record is now half the resolution.  So if your original picture for 1 port on the DVR was recording at 640×480,  the quad view effectively gives you a group of 4 pictures each at 320×240.  So you do sacrifice resolution but 1 quad unit would let you get 3 more cameras without getting another DVR.

Here’s some example dome camera’s,

http://www.cctvcamerapros.com/Dome-Security-Cameras-s/22.htm

On top of what the link mentions about appearance one other difference with dome’s is that when properly installed there is usually no connections exposed.  Also the actual camera cannot be easily tampered with as the dome has to be removed,  so somebody cannot push the camera off view easily or tamper with the lens focus.

The other two categories that most camera’s fall into are ‘box’ style and ‘bullet’ style.  Most camera’s fall into these three groups.

Box style is just the camera with no real housing,  everything is exposed wires, connections and lens.  Often these are put into a housing for environmental protection or to prevent tampering.  Tend to be the lowest price for the same specification and are somewhat ‘old school’ these days.

http://www.cctvcamerapros.com/Professional-Security-Cameras-s/30.htm

Bullet style are generally built into a tube that provides environmental protection.  Look a bit cleaner than box camera’s as the connections and lens are not exposed.

http://www.cctvcamerapros.com/Bullet-Security-Cameras-s/25.htm