Best Way To Implement a Remote Video Monitoring System

The best way to implement and purchase a video monitoring system in order of preference is:

1. Recommendation:  get a complete system package e.g. Video Surveillance 4 WebCam System which contains all compatible parts e.g. software, drivers, capture card, CD - all that you need to make your monitoring system work. Reason parts are tested known good to work together. Result easier to install, quicker to install and get running. Saves time, effort, and gets right to the main point of successfully implementing a video monitoring system in the least amount of time.
2. Do it yourself by combining various parts. Can take a little more time and requires a little more computer experience. For example using your already existing video capture card and just purchasing the Surveillance WebCam Software. Or using your own video capture card and turning it into an 8 camera/port system, with the 8 Port Expansion Kit. In that case some of the recommended video drivers might be helpful, and other technical information available from this web site. 

Best Way to Build a System

• Try to get a set of know compatible parts in a package e.g. Video Surveillance WebCam Systems by FG Engineering, else build your own from parts and drivers some of which can be found at this web site.
• Buy your video monitoring system first e.g. monitoring software, video capture card, multiplexer etc together built and tested first, after buy and get your your cameras as add on peripherals.
• Not all cameras are created equal some work better than others. Buy one camera first, test it make sure it works good with your system, if so then buy more. Try not put the cart before the horse and get all cameras first then your central monitoring system last - the video monitoring core processing system e.g. video capture card and software is the most important component.

Best Software Version

• Surveillance 4 WebCam Edition software version is best since it supports 1-4 cameras and can be expanded to use up to 11 cameras later. It has advanced features like real multiple camera scanning, remote video live streaming to your computer from anywhere over the internet, remote viewing of captured video files, advanced motion detection and recording, email alarms to your cell phone, sound alarms, uploading captured video files to remote computers for file backup, scheduled day/night light adjustment, hide options, passwords and auto IP Address Tracking on the internet and more. Remote control of most of the program parameters. Among the first to do live video monitoring over the internet, developed with practical features for the novice to the most advance users of internet video monitoring systems. 

Best Hardware Configuration

If using a system package from FG Engineering Inc.

• Video Surveillance 4 WebCam System: easiest to install - just one video capture card - with all compatible parts.
• Video Surveillance 8 or 11 WebCam System: install one video capture card plus a video multiplexer card - with all compatible parts.

If doing it yourself building with parts try to use.

• 4 Port Video Capture Card From FG Engineering
• or Hauppauge WinTV Go PCI  Card or 
• running on Windows Vista,2003, XP, or 2000
• with Hauppauge video driver
• use the Video Multiplexer from FG Engineering for multi-camera scanning
• with CCD type cameras
• Surveillance 4,8 or 11 WebCam Software
• Reason: excellent video, easy installation, and super stable performance.
• if video monitoring is your number one goal this is the way to go. 

More Recommended Video Capture Cards and Drivers.

Best Motherboards

• Generally, Intel based processors and bus chip sets are best on various motherboards, since most video capture hardware, drivers and software is developed and tested on Intel standard type chips. Older motherboards with non-Intel chip sets most often work fine, if not consider BIOS upgrades from their manufacturers or fixes from video capture device manufacturers.  Before buying Surveillance WebCam software download the 30 day demo version and test it on your computer system to insure compatibility and satisfaction with the product. Experience has shown most all motherboards, with Intel or AMD processors work just fine, even old computers with slow processors eg 160 MHz work surprisingly well too. You do not need a new computer, recommend try using your existing or spare computer first.

Best Cameras

• CCD type cameras are best, as opposed to CMOS cameras. Reason much better video quality. CCD type cameras produce much sharper, better color or black and white images than CMOS cameras. CCD cameras work well in dim light conditions. CMOS cameras need a heck of a lot light, and have more noise in the image. CCD cameras cost more, than lower quality CMOS cameras but the price difference is worth it. Surveillance WebCam works best with CCD cameras - color or black and white, and can work well with CMOS type cameras too. Most good quality or professional monitoring systems invariably use CCD type cameras. 
• Black and White Cameras
  Black and White CCD cameras give excellent imaging results for motion detection. They are better than color cameras in low light conditions e.g. viewing outdoors during night time. Black and white CCD cameras have clearer images and less image noise than color cameras. Black and white CMOS cameras have more image noise and require more lighting than CCD black and white cameras. Black and white cameras cost less then color cameras and give excellent results for video monitoring. If using BW cameras with Surveillance WebCam program, set Hue to 0, and the Saturation to 0 under menu item, Video Source or Video Color - result image will be seen in black and white and motion detection is very good.
• Mixing Camera Types
  Balance your video monitoring systems with cameras of the same type for best results. Try to use either all black and white or all color cameras with your system - if you do mix camera color and B/W types, set hue and saturation to 0 in program settings to balance the difference. In your video monitoring system try to use cameras which all have approximately equal light sensitivity e.g the camera LUX parameters,  so all cameras will appear to have the same brightness when being seen and viewed. Otherwise some cameras may appear too bright and others too dark.
• Lighting
  Lighting is the most important element in any imaging application. A camera is like an eye it needs light to see, therefore try to insure that your cameras and video monitoring systems  operate in adequate and balance lighting conditions for optimum performance. For example if using cameras outdoors at night provide some lighting nearby so objects can be illuminated and seen.    
• USB Cameras that plug into the USB port are usually restricted to a cable length of 15 ft, and usually cannot be used in multi-camera configurations. Analog output e.g. CCD cameras, can have cable lengths of approx. 700 ft, and can be used in multi-camera configurations e.g. with multi-port video capture cards or multiplexers.

Best Audio Sound Recording

• use an amplified microphone. 
• adjust the volume or gain to pickup the sounds required even long distances from the computer and microphone.
• best for video streaming live audio, audio recording, sound detection recording with Surveillance WebCam Software.
• non-amplified microphones like most low cost computer microphones sound faint on recording, and streaming live audio. Non-amplified microphones work fine, but the user must speak or be close to the microphone.

Camera Cables

• For long cable runs use RG59 coaxial cable or any 75 ohm coax cable, with RCA or BNC connectors on the end of them. Standard cable TV coax is fine - Home Depot. Thinner coaxial cable may be an option. This applies to analog output cameras like standard CCD security cameras, not to USB connectorized cameras. Using coax cable is a must if using FG Engineering's video multiplexer for long cable runs. Cables are always better than wireless for best quality video - use wireless cameras or transmitters only when cables runs are not possible.

Internet Connections

• Cable modem from your cable company is best, since they usually provide you with a static IP address. With a static IP address you can always use the same URL address in your web browser to find your running copy of Surveillance WebCam software on the Internet when accessing Surveillance WebCam remotely. Next best is an ADSL modem usually available from your telephone company - but the problem is that you always get a different IP address every time you connect to the internet i.e. a dynamic IP address. No problem that is why Surveillance WebCam software has the auto "IP Address Tracking" feature - it uploads your address to the FG Engineering server when your computer re-starts so if your away from home you still can find your Surveillance WebCam program on the internet. Last is a analog 56K modem - OK but they disconnect frequently and the speed is slow - but it still provides a great remote view with live video and audio streaming, and you can use Upload IP feature with it. Cable is fastest, ADSL second fastest - and they are always on connections, and last is analog modem 56K - but still gets the job done. 

Operating Systems

• Surveillance WebCam Software works best on Windows Vista, 2003, XP, 2000 - super stable and easy installation. Surveillance WebCam also works fine on Windows NT, ME, 98, and 95. Windows Mobile, Pocket PC, and Smartphone can be used to remotely view live video streaming.