Mirror suggestion

Do you have any photos of the section of track you are working on? You can label on them where the camera will be, where the mirror will be, etc. If you do, I might be able to help you as I too have been thinking of using CCTV on my layout, mainly for recording videos of the trains in action. Just send em over, and I'll see how I can help

Berkshire, Thank you, but what I am looking for is someone with a working experience with a convex mirror on their layout.  I would like to  avoid a large flat screen at my control location if it is possible.  If I go with the close circuit system the camera locations are already planned.

The area involves a walk in "U" shaped space w/ two levels of benchwork around three walls with an interchange and yard on the west end and a town with diesel and steam facilities on the east leg plus an upper and lower staging entrance / exit.  I just need to confirm which engines/trains are moving in which direction.

That portion swaps power between two DC  controlers and two AC controlers.  Sometimes one is just not too sure which is doing what when out of view.  Its a busy spot with 31 turnouts which could use five cameras. 

Just wondering if a wide angle mirror would simplify things??

No one uses mirrors  to monitor hard to see train movements?

Tom Tee posted:

No one uses mirrors  to monitor hard to see train movements?

Well, I don't use any mirrors for train use.  But with a very little seat-of-the pants experience, I can tell you this: The further away YOU are from a mirror, the LARGER it needs to be in order for you to effectively see as big a picture as possible.

That being said. if you're 30' away from a mirror and need to see a reflection located 25' away, you'll actually be looking at something as if it were 55' away.  Therefore, a 36" dia. parabolic mirror would sure do a lot better job than anything smaller, I would think.

Just my logical opinion, of course.  Hopefully the mirrors you mentioned are somewhere that you can look at them before buying one.  Lean the mirrors up, step back 30' and see what you think.

Have you considered the wyze cameras for you situation, the standard camera costs about $20.00 and you can view on cell phone or tablet. Just a thought.

Here is a link:  https://www.wyzecam.com/

Ray

The other way to go is to use a baby monitor.  They are wireless and have IR LEDs so you can see in dark areas.

Thanks for the info. I did get a large convex mirror.  No good.  Now to try the other ideas.

If you go the camera way you don't need " a large flat screen " at your control panel.  Most of the newer systems have built in switchers that will bring the active camera up full screen.  My equipment is much older and I have a few separate 4 channel switchers and I just wire the alarm input per channel.  The only advantage is I can have the camera come up on screen before it comes into view.  Disadvantage - I have to wire the inputs.  The newer ones come up when it detects movement - no special wiring.