In search of a way to increase our coverage area with more cameras during investigations, the solution was to build a DVR system that would allow multiple cameras and record straight to a hard drive instead of video tape.
The first item that was needed was a base computer system. This was donated by Lost Horizons Computers in the form of a Dual Pentium III 500 mhz server, 384 meg ram, 200 gig hard drive storage, 64 meg video card with video out capability, Sound Blaster Awe 32 sound card and an Intel Server Pro 100 Intelligent Network Card.
Second item needed was a DVR card, this is a card used to connect surveillance cameras to a computer. The only problem we encountered was that adapters were needed to convert from BNC connectors on the card to RCA-type adapters for our cameras to connect. Also, sound can only be recorded from only one camera at a time.
Along with the cameras we already had, each is an infrared camera with a 60 foot cable length along with one Wireless infrared camera, plans are to buy additional wireless cameras with a transmit distance of over three hundred feet and additional extension cables for our hardwired cameras.
Everything was assembled and tested by Lost Horizons Computers (LHC and Great Escape Video Productions are sponsors of GCPRI) and field tested by GCPRI team members for the first time on December 18, 2004 during an investigation.
Results were varied, but the overall comments by those involved were all positive. While the frame capture rate drops a little with the addition of each camera, the capture rate still stays at about twenty frames per second, still allowing GCPRI to capture video from multiple sources that we were unable to before.
With the current setup, the operator can view four camera views all at the same time, while the DVR is recording all the video input, at any given time, the video can be reviewed while recording continues. Without the extension cable for the cameras at the current time, a radius of 100 feet can be covered by the cameras.
Recording to the hard drive with four cameras over a period of eight hours only uses a maximum of three gigs of hard drive space. With sound recording on one camera, this doubles the space used. When considering that vhs tapes can hold 2 hours of high quality recording, up to 8 hours of lower quality recording, this is very practical.
With the addition of the DVR, new tactics had to be laid out to work with the new equipment setup.
Where the DVR is placed is now called Control, and basically is the control center for all investigations now. From this location, the Lead Investigator can monitor what is going on during the investigation, direct human element investigations, send investigation assets where they are needed and more.
We hope to start placing video on the website soon that was captured by the DVR system. So check back often.