How to Build a PC-Based DVR
Digital Video Recorders (DVRs) have become agnostic with one's home entertainment system. Whether a cable or satellite television subscriber, many home viewers have become used to being able to pause live television and record their favorite episodes through set-top boxes with their TV remote control. More recently, a market has emerged for home consumers to turn their desktop computers into DVR's for both television use as well as for home security systems. Using a PC-based DVR for home security offers a number of advantages. First, is the ability to provide real time monitoring that the home owner can view remotely. And second is the ability to record dynamic events for future use.
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Instructions
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Find a PC DVR package that fits your needs. If using for home security, WorldEyeCam.com has a great comprehensive package that is easy to install.
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Install the PCI card that comes with the DVR package you are installing. To do this you will need to remove the computer's outer casing and insert the DVR PCI card into an open PCI slot. A lot of the cards will require you to plug in to the reset switch on the computer's motherboard to allow remote rebooting of the computer in the event of a computer crash.
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Mount the surveillance cameras on the wall or ceilling in the desired areas. If choosing an external location one may need to acquire specialized cameras that are more water resistant.
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Install the software that comes with your DVR card. The software will typically walk the user through configuring the cameras, times to be activated, as well as any remote viewing options available through the acquired service.
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Tips & Warnings
If enabling remote viewing of your cameras ensure you read literature on how to avoid 'false positive' system alerts to make your system usable.
Resources
- Photo Credit Wikimedia Commons by Digon3
