Help me with small PC based system using Dahua camera.

[bcblair@gmail.com]

I am awaiting a large bonus after this year and will be putting together a full Surveillance System(probably Hikvision) for my home. I want to go ahead and play around with a PC based system with one camera to become familiar with the systems.

Can anyone point me to a guide to setting up a PC based system like the one described below?

I have a 3.2 Ghz PC with an HD 23" Monitor I plan to use
I just ordered this Dahua camera. http://www.woot.com/offers/dahua-3mp-1080p-dome-ir-network-ip-camera

If the camera comes with no software in the package, I will probably buy Blue Iris(Should I buy the 1 camera LE & upgrade later or the $59 one?)
It says Power over ethernet. What do I need for that. or can I run a different power source?

I'll need the wiring. What spec?

What else, do I need a card for the PC?

Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[zero-degrees]

I am awaiting a large bonus after this year and will be putting together a full Surveillance System(probably Hikvision) for my home. I want to go ahead and play around with a PC based system with one camera to become familiar with the systems.

Can anyone point me to a guide to setting up a PC based system like the one described below?

I have a 3.2 Ghz PC with an HD 23" Monitor I plan to use
I just ordered this Dahua camera. http://www.woot.com/offers/dahua-3mp-1080p-dome-ir-network-ip-camera

If the camera comes with no software in the package, I will probably buy Blue Iris(Should I buy the 1 camera LE & upgrade later or the $59 one?)
It says Power over ethernet. What do I need for that. or can I run a different power source?

I'll need the wiring. What spec?

What else, do I need a card for the PC?

Thanks in advance for any help.

Welcome to the forum - you might want to do some basic reading up on POE and POE as it relates to the security camera world.

Basically to use your POE camera you will either need a POE switch, an NVR with POE ports built in, or a POE plug/injector to power your camera. If you are a real novice with minimal/no understanding of IP/Security Cameras/Networking but want high quality IP cameras I would suggest you simply get an NVR with POE built in. This allows you to purchase the IP/POE cameras you want and just run standard Cat5e network cable from the NVR to all your cameras. The NVR will power/program/controll all your cameras and make things fairly easy for you.

Some Basic Reading
http://www.veracityglobal.com/resources/articles-and-white-papers/poe-explained-part-1.aspx

Here is another source
http://homefixated.com/how-to-install-a-network-surveillance-camera-system/

And another
http://auto-chess.blogspot.com/2015/08/how-to-increase-power-of-my-security.html

 

[digger11]

You can power the camera via a 12vdc power supply plugged into its power pigtail, or by using power over Ethernet to bring the power in over the Ethernet cable. Since you have to run the Ethernet cable anyway, in most cases it makes sense to use POE so that you only have one cable to run to the camera.

Most IP cameras take 12vdc external power supplies with a 5mm x 2.1mm plug, like this one...
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00XM5L9QY
But again, I would suggest using POE to power the camera.

If you only want to run one or two cameras, and want to power them via POE, you can buy an injector like the following for each camera.
http://www.amazon.com/iCreatin-Injector-Supply-802-3af-Polycom/dp/B00NRGJCM6

Many of the users on this board buy the following POE switch, which could power up to 4 cameras via POE.
http://www.amazon.com/TP-LINK-TL-SF1008P-100Mbps-8-Port-802-3af/dp/B003CFATT2

As to wiring up the camera, you can use standard CAT5 or CAT6 Ethernet cabling. If you are going to buy bulk cable and crimp on your own ends, make sure that you get cable with solid copper conductors. Stay away from copper clad aluminum (CCA) or stranded conductor cabling.

Initially, you can download and run Blue Iris in evaluation mode for 15 days for free to see if you like it. I wouldn't buy the LE edition. I can almost guarantee you that you will end up wanting to add additional cameras in the future.

 

[bcblair@gmail.com]

Thanks so much. That should get me going.

 

[bcblair@gmail.com]

The diagram below has my notes and questions in red.


Can I just plug my 12vdc external power supply to the camera. Is 1.5 amp output enough?
Then connect Ethernet Cat 5 wire to the camera and to my Router.
Then install Blue Iris on my I7 Desktop with dual monitors and a brand new 3tb Hard Drive.
Then Configure and aim the camera(Dahua IPC-HDBW4300E 3MP 1080P Dome IR Network IP Camera) . Where can I find info on configuring the camera or will Blue Iris let me know?

Do I need something else or should this work till I decide to get the full system?