cctv Security

SnagIt and PrintKey

Instructions are included with all software purchased. SnagIt and PrintKey have many different functions and the only functions you will use are those functions that relate to capturing images or video remotely or locally.

hardware acceleration

Be sure to set the hardware acceleration to none in your PC, because this interferes with SnagIt and PrintKey capturing capabilities. Search under Help on your PC for "hardware acceleration" for instructions on how to set this.

TV capture cards

Any TV capture card with RCA connectors for audio and video can be used to attach your existing analog cctv system (you may need to use adapters to convert BNC or other connectors on the analog system to RCA). With this 1 input and your analog system set to scanning mode, you can view the number of cameras you have connected to your analog system on your PC and on the internet. The instructions for installing the card are included in your package. Set TV source to Line In or External video source, then exit sw.

To make this system work on the internet you will need to install Microsoft Windows Media Player 7.1 and Encoder 7.1. The Encoder will be used to set up the video capture card and the cameras to be viewed over the internet and will identify the port and IP address of the internet connection. The Media Player (this software is standard on any Windows PC) will then be used to connect to the identified URL (IP address and port number where your cameras are located) from any PC around the world.

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Another way to view your cameras on the internet is to have a website created and create a page to view your cameras. In this case, you can use Internet Explorer browser on any PC to view your cameras. This is a little more complicated and requires a web designer. Telecast TV can do this for you.

Something to consider is your camera connection speed to the internet and the connection from where you are viewing. A dial-up connection will be much slower then a DSL or cable connection and viewing the cameras over a local area network will be very fast. So for home or business use you may want to consider a DSL or cable operator.

DigiCam video capture cards - multiple inputs

DigiCam video capture card is similar to a TV video card, but have a lot more capabilities. For instance, the system allows you to add multiple cameras on one card and view the cameras at the same time, unlike scanning each camera one at a time. With the addition of the DigiCam software, you will have a digital cctv system unlike any analog cctv system and with a lot more functionality as described here - DigiCam Digital System.

The system can be viewed via PC locally or globally through any PC in the world with any Windows compliant browser. The installation instructions of this system with the video capture card and software are included with any purchase of a DigiCam system.

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Windows Media Player 7.1 is used with the TV video card configuration and this software is FREE from Microsoft. Go here to download and install MS Media Player 7.1 - Player.

MS Player 7.1 is best for W98 2nd Edition, ME and Windows 2000 and MS Player 9 is best for XP users. The software is easy to install and there are some instructions. The following is how to use the Player to view your camera(s) over the internet:

Download and install MS Media Player 7.1.
Execute the program.
Put the mouse arrow on the screen and press the right mouse button. Choose "Open URL" and enter your IP address and port number that you previously wrote down during the Encoder setup. Enter in this format example "http://64.220.151.134:1517", without the quote marks and use your IP address and your port number. 64.220.151.134 is the IP address. The number following the colon :1517 is the port number that you assigned your camera.
The image of your cameras should now show up. If you are using another computer, make sure that you are using Media Player 7.1, otherwise upgrade the computer to Media Player 7.1 by going to this website Player.

Windows Media Encoder 7.1 is used with the TV video card configuration and this software is FREE from Microsoft. Go here to download and install MS Media Encoder 7.1 - Encoder.

MS Encoder 7.1 is best for W98 2nd Edition, ME and Windows 2000 and MS Encoder 9 is best for XP users. The software is easy to install and there are some instructions, so I am going to just give you some highlights:

Before you start this make sure that you previously configured your TV capture card and exit that program. It should be set for an external connection, not regular TV viewing.
Connect the camera or the analog system to the RCA TV capture video connection. For sound run an audio wire from your TV card to your sound card.
Download and install the Encoder software.
Execute and select "Broadcast....". Click OK.
Select "Broadcast live event...". Click Next.
Under Device Options select video device. This will be the name of the video capture card you installed. Configure the device to your liking.
Select "default audio device". Click Next.
Select "Find Free Port" to automatically give you a port number. Write this number down somewhere.
View "URL for Internet connections" and write this down somewhere. NOTE: If you have a firewall setup, then this setup gets more complex and you will have to determine what the firewall settings are for accessing the camera over the internet. These instructions do not include firewall instructions.
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This is where you select the type of connection your cameras are connected to - Dial-up (28k/56k), DSL, Cable or LAN. Experiment with different settings until you pick the right one for your system.You should select whatever connection speed your users will be using to view your cameras over the internet. If your users are dial-up users, then you should select dial-up speed. If you have a DSL connection at home and you want to see your cameras at work (also on a DSL connection), then set the connection speed to DSL or LAN. A dial-up setup will not be as clear as a DSL setup over the internet. The higher the speed, the more bandwidth and computer resources are used (more memory and more CPU usage). Minimum hardware is Pentium III or better with at least 128MB of memory, 256MB is better.
The rest of the selections are obvious and optional.
Click "Finish" after all selections are made.
Press "Start".
Your camera image should now appear on your Encoder screen. If not, make sure that the TV video card was configured correctly. Does the TV video card work, as a regular TV? If so, then now you can configure it for an external device and then exit the program. Try the above instructions again.

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