By: Hugh Sherborne
Date: 5/12/2007

Introduction

This guide is to show you how to set up hard wired and wireless cameras to a DVR.

Position the cameras

If using Wireless cameras, when deciding on where to position the cameras, keep in mind the distance to the receiver. In ideal conditions line of sight distances of 100m are achievable. Realistically, most spy camera setups will be going through at least one wall. The more walls or solid obstacles in the way, the more interference and thus the shorter the distance of transmission. With this in mind, it is ideal that you keep the distance to less than 30 metres.

For Hard wired cameras, the main consideration will be the field of view required, together with the ease of running cables.

Positioning the DVR

When Considering the position of the DVR, with wireless cameras you need to take into account the positioning of the receiver in the best possible place for optimum reception from the cameras. The DVR needs to be kept a distance from the receiver, in order to minimize interference. 2 metres is ideal, but at least 1 metre is necessary.

For hard wired cameras, the major consideration is the ease of collecting all the cables from the cameras, and ensuring sufficient room to comfortably use the DVR controls.

Connecting wireless cameras

If you are connecting wireless cameras, remember we recommend a maximum of 2 cameras be used. the reason for this is that the wireless receiver is a switching unit, which means it switches from channel to channel, only allowing you to see one camera at a time. To see more than one camera, you will need a receiver for each camera, but if you have more than 2 receivers together, they will interfere with each other.

To connect a wireless receiver to the DVR, use the leads supplied, using the BNC to RCA adapter to connect to the DVR end as shown below:

These cables are connected to the appropriate Channel numbers on the rear of the DVR:

Full sized image

Please note the Video out connection, which is used to connect to your monitor or TV set. With most monitors you will need one of the BNC to RCA adapters shown above to connect to the DVR.
Note: The TV cannot be connected through the normal aerial socket!

Connecting Wired Cameras

The hard wired cameras are connected using Coaxial cable, with each camera being wired directly to the corresponding channel on the DVR.

After running the cables to the required places, each end of the coax has to be terminated with a BNC connector. The connectors we supply are crimp type, meaning a special crimp tool is needed to fit them. This tool is available from most electrical wholesalers, or we can supply one at the time of the order:

The coax is stripped back as shown below, ensuring that the inner signal wire is long enough to ensure that the pin is in the correct position, i.e. as far forward as it will go when the fitting is assembled, to ensure a good connection. I usually recommend soldering the pin to the signal wire to ensure good connections. Ensure that none of the shield wires are touching the signal wire.

The final BNC crimp fitting is shown below in position:

The final joint should look like this, with the pin clearly visible.

Wiring the cameras

Some cameras have an individual power supply, in which case they will need to be close to a power point. The standard power supply cable can be extended if needed, by inserting a length of figure 8 twin core cable between the transformer and the terminal.

For camera systems which come with one central power supply, the wiring for the cameras can be laid at the same time as the coax. We normally supply 12volt terminals which are soldered onto the end of the cable to connect to the camera:

Final setting up

For setting the system up, you will need a monitor or TV attached, using the video out port on the rear of the DVR, as shown above. This will be connected to the Video in jack of the monitor or TV.

Note: The TV cannot be connected through the normal aerial socket!

The setting up of the DVR can be carried out using the manual supplied, as each DVR uses different settings. However, normally each camera can be set up individually, setting the frames per second, the recording schedule and motion detection. Some DVRs also allow you to set the brightness, colour and contrast of each camera, and some allow you to set the sensitivity of the motion detection.

The DVR settings also include Date and TIme, buzzer settings for picture loss etc.

If you are having problems with a particular DVR, we are able to advise on an individual basis.