layout cameras and single monitor display

Garrett,

IP cameras will work but will also require some configuration.

You are on the right path with the "boxed" solutions,they can be picked up on amazon, Lowes, Home Depot and Menards and should do the job. SWAN is a brand that I see a lot of. They would typically be classified as home security recorder and would be wired cameras that are hooked in to a central DVR box. That box then can be plugged into a TV (or in some cases a cheap spare computer monitor) of your choosing.

These kits vary in price but I'd think you could get one that handles two cameras for around $150 or less.

@Garrett76  @H1000  Ditto the comments re: Menard's and SWAN. They even allow remote viewing so you can see what your trains are doing when you're not around. Or, in my case, what the wife has decided to sell out from under me :-) 

How many cameras are you thinking about? I have a 16 camera security system on my layout, one monitor. Of course it's huge, 55". Doubt you'll need anything that big. Mine are not IP though, they are analog CCTV and are wired back to a hub, which could be connected to a computer and have internet access that way.

I would probably only want no more than 4 feeds on screen at a time on a 20" monitor.  I would consider additional cameras if there was the ability to change feeds on screen but keep the simultaneous view to 4

Hi Garrett

I'm not trying to be a wise guy , but 150 bucks may be a wee bit of a stumbling block for any decent  cameras. That of course is a statement based on how much quality in viewing you want to achieve.

And thats even if you already have a monitor of some kind.

The monitor can be any TV. The amount of viewable cameras is determined by the system you get. That's based on the recorder that comes with the system.

I have the same as Big Boy and am very happy with them.

Sam's had the complete 4 camera system ( Samsung) , expandable to 6 cameras for around 500. Just no monitor. I also have the 16 camera system for the housed and both have been excellent.

Any HD TV works as a monitor. It's just a different input channel on your TV.

If I can be of any more help on these just e mail me and I'll give you all the numbers and other info I have on the smaller system so you can research it on Samsung's web site if you wish.

Good Luck with your project regardless.

Larry

Larry Sr. posted:

Hi Garrett

I'm not trying to be a wise guy , but 150 bucks may be a wee bit of a stumbling block for any decent  cameras. That of course is a statement based on how much quality in viewing you want to achieve.

And thats even if you already have a monitor of some kind.

The monitor can be any TV. The amount of viewable cameras is determined by the system you get. That's based on the recorder that comes with the system.

I have the same as Big Boy and am very happy with them.

Sam's had the complete 4 camera system ( Samsung) , expandable to 6 cameras for around 500. Just no monitor. I also have the 16 camera system for the housed and both have been excellent.

Any HD TV works as a monitor. It's just a different input channel on your TV.

If I can be of any more help on these just e mail me and I'll give you all the numbers and other info I have on the smaller system so you can research it on Samsung's web site if you wish.

 

Good Luck with your project regardless.

Larry

 

 

Thanks.  I'll reach out when I get closer to making a purchase.  I don't need HD cameras since the subject will only be 1-3 feet away.  I was thinking that some new in box sets from 4-5 years ago ought to be significantly discounted

Not so fast on the cost Larry, this might be able to be done on a budget. I have a friend who has put together camera, monitor and hub systems for some of the guys in our group. The cameras are really small, not the big clunky ones that come in the packages. I think he was getting them for around $30 each. The hub is where I don't know the price. You just have to shop for what you want. Monitors are a dime a dozen, he uses really small ones, about the size of a cell phone. Those are often used for backup cameras in cars. By the time you get cables, you might get away for under $200 for a four camera system.

A while back I bought a Uniden all in one camera system. It included 4 wireless cameras, a 7" monitor with the wireless receiver built in, and all the cables & software. Whole thing cost $100 on eBay. 

Picture quality was okay, it included IR for low light situations and was pretty easy to use. The 7" monitor required to be plugged in at all times, but there was also a 3.5" monitor with a built in battery so that you could put it in your shirt pocket and take it on the go... Very handy baby monitor.

One nice thing about it, both the 7" & 3.5" monitor had an A/V output to display the image on any TV of my choosing.  You could display one or all four cameras on the screen at one time on the 7" only.

I found an 8-ch 720p wired system at Wal-Mart for $145.  8 sounds like a lot of cams but better to have a few extra than not enough

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Tec...on-500GB-H/188259924

Big Boy.

It's very possible I might be to far on the quality side of what Garrett really wants.

Larry

I'm just in the last stages of building my (Mianne-based) layout in a 12'x10' room.  The layout is two levels with tunnels and mountains.  My idea was to add four wired cameras, HDD/DVR, 1080, HDMI output, web accessible (with LAN plug-in), etc. - and I found one on Amazon.  Web accessible seems like a good idea since the trains can be viewed on a phone or tablet, too.  Kids love it.

Since I'm doing layout electrical now, wired cameras are all good.  

Cost was around $160, shipped, with an Amazon coupon.  The main DVR unit can handle eight cameras - but four should be sufficient.  I'll output to a 32" mounted HDTV already in the train room.

I did spend another $12 to buy four 25' cables - to be used in place of the 65' cables that come with the unit.

Photos & additional reports soon, I hope.  

Harbor Freight has inexpensive security camera systems. 

Tom

Am now at the point where I absolutely need a 6 or 8 camera system.  I have several storage  yards and a couple of towns our of view.  My train room is "T" shaped, about 1975 sq. ft. with several view blocks.  Varied enough to be interesting,  awkward enough to bust up some equipment.

Been looking at U of Tube  "experts" comparing wired/wireless, wireless that is not wireless, different fidelity 720..1080..etc..etc..systems, license plate read capability and so on.  I just need to be able to clearly see when one train is going to "T" bone another train or telescope into a caboose.

I am also curious to know what degree of field at what distance the cameras can  pick up with an acceptable level of clarity. 

Need to see if trains have cleared turnouts or sidings and what forgotten tracks are occupied or empty. 

Can I shoot the line of sight down a lower level and upper level from beyond a curve and view both levels?

Elliot, if you were to do a do over would you choose another format?

Can one camera shoot 28' down a 10 foot wide room  and see both sides?

Considering tight available  monitor space would a 32" screen be suitable for up to 8 cameras at a 3 to 4 foot viewing  distance?

Tom, I actually did do it over once already. It wasn't about the technical capabilities, just the number of cameras. I started off with an 8 channel system, but later bought a 16 channel. I'm using all 16, and have plans to re-employ the 8 in the future to watch the aisles.

Seeing as how you and I have similarly sized layouts, and lots of places that need watching, you should really plan out where you think you'll need coverage.

I'm just using the cameras that came with the kits. I'm not sure what you can see at distance, because my cameras are mounted in fairly confined areas. The larger the image, the more you should be able to see. Most systems will allow you to either have all cameras visible at once, or select which camera to view. My screen is 55" and I have all 16 on at once. It produces an image large enough for me to see what I need to.

It just takes a little work to figure out the exact placement and aiming of the cameras to capture what you need. It might not be a bad idea to buy a system with a larger hub than you think you need, so you don't end up with two like I did.

has anyone found a wireless camera mount that would use the little NANO wireless cameras they use on tiny FPV drones. 5-7 volts dc.